foteb.org.uk | Friends of the Emm Brook

Latest Sightings August 2013

Click on the link to send in your sightings info@foteb.org.uk

For previous months sightings see Archive

The "Area Seen" refers to the 10 sections that the Brook has been split into for monitoring purposes (see Wildlife page under Monitoring ). .

All sightings unless stated are from personal observations by Eddie Napper

Click on any picture to see a larger image

Birds
31/08/13 2 confused Swallows were seen heading N over Area 5, and a singing Chiffchaff was to the rear of Morrisons today. In Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field, 3 Redstart were still present.
30/08/13 2 Redstart were still in Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field today.
29/08/13 2,Yellow Wagtail , and 3 Redstart 1male and 2 female were all seen in Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field by Fraser Cottington.
28/08/13 A Yellow Wagtail , female Redstart and a Linnet were all seen in Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field today.
27/08/13 Richard Marsh was in Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field today, where 2 Raven a solitary Swallow , Sparrowhawk and a Hobby were all seen.
26/08/13 Not much to report today, however at 09:30 a Kingfisher was seen flying downstream towards Woosehill Roundabout in Area 5.
24/08/13 A total of 25 birds were seen today in Area 4 & 5 before the rains came in the afternoon. Highlights were a Moorhen and Kingfisher seen near Kingfisher Bridge, and 4 species of Tit Long-tailed, Coal, Great & Blue seen.
23/08/13 Trevor Guyatt, found a Lesser Whitethroat in the central bushes in Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field today.
22/08/13 Paul Bright Thomas saw a fly over Yellow Wagtail in Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field this morning , later Fraser Cottington briefly saw a Redstart before it disappered. It was however found again later in the afternoon by Stephen Day.
20/08/13 Across Area 4 & 5 this afternoon were approx 50 Black-headed Gulls feeding on what I can only assume was an eruption of flying Ants. They were in the same area for approx 15 mins before heading N. In Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field today were 2 Ring necked Parakeets seen by Richard Marsh , and 3 Garden Warbler seen by Fraser Cottington.
19/08/13 In the Lavells Lake car park field in Area 10 today Peter Scuadmore, spotted a flycatching Spotted Flycatcher , and a Whitethroat . Picture courtesy of Fraser Cottington.
18/08/13 Across Area 4 & 5 this morning, highlights were 2 Pied Wagtail , what was believed to be a Hobby heading N at 06:30, a calling Chiffchaff and a Buzzard being mobbed by Carrion Crow .In Area 10 the Lavells Lake car park field, 1.5 hrs were rewarded were for Fraser Cottington with a flyover Yellow Wagtail , 2 Willow Warbler and a solitary Nuthatch .
17/08/13 In Area 10 this morning seen from the Lavells Lake car park field were 4 Swift seen by Fraser Cottington. During the Balsam pulling on Molly Millars Lane (Area 2) 2 Grey Wagtail were seen on the Emm on Ashville Way by Liddl.
11/08/13 In Area 10 this morning flying across the Lavells Lake car park field were a Hobby , 2 Sand Martin and a flock of Swallows were seen on the wires by Fraser Cottington.
10/08/13 A pair of Bullfich were in the Balancing pond in Area 4 this morning by Smiths Walk and a female Blackcap was seen near Ripplestream Bridge. In Area 10 this morning flying across the Lavells Lake car park field were a Hobby , and then a total of 4 Raven were seen from the field by Fraser Cottington, Trevor Guyatt et al.
08/08/13 A walk around the Lavells Lake car park field in Area 10 this morning by Fraser Cottington 4-5 Chiffchaff chasing each other, a Nuthatch calling, 2 House Martin over, 1 Blackcap , and a Jay
07/08/13 2House Martins were seen heading E over Area 4 this morning by Paul Bright Thomas. A Kingfisher was seen flying close to Dragonfly Bridge at 11:00 by Pam Small.
06/08/13 In Area 10 the car park field at Sandford Lane this morning Fraser Cottington was out and about . Heard were distant Ring-necked Parakeet calls, Coal Tit were calling nearby too and a Little Egret was seen flying over high.
03/08/13 At 07:40 this morning in Area 4 , 2 Kingfishers, were seen flying through the trees and then downstream along the Emm by Ripplestream Bridge. A few minuites later 1 flew back upstream towards Kingfisher Bridge.
02/08/13 In Area 4 this morning , Paul Bright Thomas saw a juvenille Hobby, Chiffchaff and 3 Linnett all over and in his garden.
01/08/13 I thought that they had all returned, but over Area 2 to the rear of Tesco's , 31 Swift were drifting and calling, whilst heading South.
Insects & Spiders
25/08/13 The moth trap was put out in my Area 5 garden overnight and this morning it held 102 moths of 28 species (more to follow).
22/08/13 In Area 5, I left the outside light on over night and a Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata moth was on the front door in the morning.
14/08/13 In Area 5, today during the FOTEB Family Picnic, the wildflower meadow came under close scrutiny. Armed with Butterfly and Sweepnets and lots of eagle eyed children, the following were seen: Butterflies Meadow BrownManiola jurtina , Common BluePolyommatus icarus , Large White Pieris brassicae , Green-veined White Pieris napi, Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola This brings the years total so far to 17 species. Moths: Silver Y Autographa gamma, several Straw Dot Rivula sericealis and lots of Grass Moths , mostly the Common Grass Veneer Agriphila tristella. Also seen and examined were Roesel's bush-cricket Metrioptera roeseli ,Common Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus , and a new species for me a Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi .Several Southern Hawker Aeshna cyaneairgo dragonfly were seen hunting along the river banks. Not a bad haul for 3 hours.
10/08/13 In Area's 4 & 5, today a lot of Grass Moths were seen .Most species typically rest head down on grass stems, from where they are readily disturbed during the day. Pictures to follow.
02/08/13 In Area 5, todays butterflies were PeacockInachis io and Large White Pieris brassicae .
01/08/13 In Area 5 butterflies were again out and about with a Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus , Large White Pieris brassicae and Meadow BrownManiola jurtina .

Plants/Trees
24/08/13 Despite its fluffy white flower heads MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria is in fact a member of the rose family that favours wet habitats such as ditches, damp meadows and riverbanks. It can be seen alongside the Emm at numerous locations. If you get a chance take a good smell of this superb plant.
10/08/13 Along the Emm the RowanSorbus aucuparia can now be seen heavily laden with its bright red berries . The berries are rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and contain up to 8 small seeds, although 2 seeds per fruit is most common. They are eaten primarily by birds, who disperse the seeds in their droppings. Another plant with Red berries at this time of the year is Lords and LadiesArum maculatum .
Other Wildlife
Reptiles & Amphibians
Also seen in Area 5, today during the FOTEB Family Picnic, was a Common Frog Rana temporaria . It was found in the wildflower meadow .
Mammals

21/08/13A Red Fox was seen running over Meadow Road by the Bridge in Area 4 before disappering into the open space by the Emm at 22:00.
01/08/13What was probably a Muntjac Deer was seen by the Balancing pond off Woosehill spine road. .
Fish
06/08/13 This Koi Carp was caught by Graham Holt along the Emm today.
Molluscs

For a review of 2012 sightings click here 2012 Sightings