Birds

31/07/23 At mid-day a Grey Heron flew over my Area 4 garden.In Area 10 a Sparrow hawk and a Hobby were seen over the Car Park field by Brian Crathorne.

30/07/23 Down by the river this morning in Area 4 were 2 possibly juvenile Kestrel calling from a tree before being harrased by Jay and then Magpie .

29/07/23 Heard around Area 4 this morning were Great spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker . During the Balsam pulling in Area 3 a Swift was feeding amongst the flats in Ashville Way and the resident Herring Gull families were noisily calling all morning.

22/07/23 Judging by my Area 4 garden feeders its been a good breeding season for Blue Tit with plenty of Juveniles seen, also seen at the feeders was a Nuthatch .

18/07/23 Not seen for a long time but a Great spotted Woodpecker appeared on my Area 4 garden feeders.

16/07/23 A morning stroll arond Area 1 near Ludgrove School today, produced a Kestrel hunting over the rough grass in the fields near the School and 3 House Martin feeding over the main buildings.

09/07/23 Swift numbers over my Area 4 garden have suddenly swelled to 11, with I guess recently fledged birds adding to the numbers. Circling over Morrisons Car Park this morning was an escaped Cinnamon Cockatiel calling loudly before flying West.6 Jay were seen flying through the car park field in Area 10 by Fraser Cottington , possibly a family party.

07/07/23 Blackcap and Chiffchaff were both heard singing from his Area 4 garden by Paul Bright Thomas.

06/07/23 3 Screaming Swift were over my Area 4 garden this afternoon. In Area 10 a Garden Warbler was in the central scrub in the Car Park field, seen by Nick Kightley.

05/07/23 20+ Swift were ranging between Bittern hide and Activity Centre airspace in Area 10 and 2+ adult Grey Wagtail were feeding young on the reed cutting machinery parked by the Jetty. Both sightings by Fraser Cottington.

02/07/23 A Jay was on my Bird table this afternooh before being chased off by a Magpie .

01/07/23 Seen and heard during the Area 4 & 5 litter pick today were Wren , Robin , singing male Blackcap and singing male Chiffchaff singing Blackbird , and on the river Mallard . A Kingfisher was seen near the Green Bridge in Area 10 by Steve Clarke.

Insects

30/07/23 In my Area 4 garden I always plant a few extra Brassica's for the Large White Pieris brassicae caterpillar to feed on.

29/07/23 Seen during the Balsam pulling along the Emm in Area 3 this morning were Comma Polygonia c-album and Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina .

28/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 27/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and it was another good night with 115 moths of 33 species caught . Highlights were the Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae and another micro moth Aspilapteryx tringipennella , This species rests , with the forepart of the body raised on the front legs. Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria Aptly named after the canary-yellow thorax, or 'shoulders'. and the micro moth Phycita roborella . All new for the year. The best of the rest was Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella A distinctive moth with a "diamond" like pattern along the length of its back. With 6 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 187 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. Also in the trap was a Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes and 48 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris .

27/07/23 In Area 3 near Lidl this morning the caterpilar of the Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae moth were seen.

25/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 24/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and it was another reasonable night with 78 moths of 28 species caught . Highlights were the micro moth Agapeta hamana and another micro moth Acleris forsskaleana , This yellowish species has a distinctive reticulated pattern on the forewing and a variably sized greyish suffusion across the centre, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe and Cloaked Minor Mesoligia furuncula . A very variable species with a wide range of colour forms and patterns. This form, bicoloria, has the forewing sharply demarcated between pale and rufous. Other forms often show less contrast. All new for the year. The best of the rest was Early Thorn Selenia dentaria There are two distinct generations (except in the far north), the first of which flies in April and May. The summer brood, which appears in August and September, usually produces smaller and paler moths.. With 6 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 181 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

21/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 20/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and it was another busy night with 98 moths of 30 species caught . Highlights were White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla , The micro moth Oncocera semirubella , A beautifully-coloured little moth, with pink and yellow forewings. European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis A rare migrant before the 1930's, this species then began to colonise the area around London and the south-east, and has spread to several other areas since, and Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura .All new for the year. The best of the rest was Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata . The intricate and wavy pattern on this unmistakeable moth resembles that of some seashells giving the moth its name. With 7 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 175 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

20/07/23 Ironically on the Basil in my Area 4 garden was the day flying Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata an often overlooked jewel of the herb garden.

18/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 17/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning another good catch with 103 moths of 40 species caught . Highlights were Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix , a Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria , Nut tree Tussock Colocasia coryli and Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria The largest and commonest of the 'Hook-tips'.All new for the year. The best of the rest was Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi . Big, bold and full of character. An encounter with a hawk-moth is always special, and this species is the one most likely to make your acquaintance. With 4 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 168 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/07/23 With the sun shining, good numbers of Butterfly were on the wing in Area 1 .Seen were Comma Polygonia c-album , Large White Pieris brassicae , a very battered looking Peacock Aglais io , Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus and Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina .

13/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 12/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning another good catch with 77 moths of 34 species caught . Highlights were Grey Dagger Acronicta psi , a Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata , Bright-line Brown-eye Habrosyne pyritoides and Maple Pug Eupithecia inturbata all new for the year. The best of the rest was Juniper Webber Phalera bucephala . The forewings are uniformly brown in colour with a fine white outer cross-line forming a W (the bright-line) and an orange blotch kidney-mark (the brown-eye). With 6 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 164 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

12/07/23 2 very fresh looking Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta were seen by the Green Bridge in Area 10 by Trevor Guyatt.

10/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 09/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and it was a far better catch with 82 moths of 30 species caught . Highlights were Black Arches Lymantria monacha , living up to its name a Bordered Beauty Epione repandaria , Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides and Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula all new for the year. The best of the rest was Buff Tip Phalera bucephala It is so easy to miss this clever little moth. It is a master of disguise, blending in perfectly as it looks just like the twig of a birch tree! With 5 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 158 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 06/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning with the temperature at 9.5 C .After a bumper spell in June , the moth-trap has quietened down in recent nights. A total of 39 moths of 20 species were caught .There were no real highlights with just the standard moths for this time of year caught. With no new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is still 153 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

03/07/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 02/07/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and following a cooler night numbers were reduced with 56 moths of 20 species caught . Highlights were Lunar Thorn Selenia lunularia , Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens , Anania coronata and V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata all new for the year. The best of the rest was a Iron ProminentNotodonta dromedarius With 2 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 153 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/07/23 Visiting my garden in the afternoon was a Large White Pieris brassicae butterfly.

Plants/ Trees

30/07/23 Along side the river in Area 5 by Ripplestream Bridge Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria are showing really well. The Wildflower Meadow seems to have been taken over by Wild Carrot Daucus carota .

01/07/23 Whilst clearing litter fron the central reservation in the Woosehill Spine Road 4 Pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis were seen at varying locations in the long grass.

Fungi Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified , some are DEADLY when ingested .

01/07/23 During this mornings Monthly litter pick in Area 5 a Ruby Bolete Hortiboletus rubellus mushroom was found growing on the woodland edge. It is a scarlet red at first, fading to an olivaceous red at maturity.

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

31/07/23 After another succesfull raid on my Area 4 Sunflower Heart feeders the Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis was enjoying the rewards of its endeavours.

26/07/23 Whilst walking her dog down by Kingfisher Bridge in Area 4 , Angie Taylor saw what was probably an American Mink Neovison vison leaving the river and run along the bank.

10/07/23 A very thin looking Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was heard barking and seen running around Brookside in Area 5 in the early hours of the morning.

Molluscs