Click on the link to send in your sightings info@foteb.org.uk to help us monitor Emm Brook wildlife.This type of ‘citizen science’ allows us to get a clearer picture of what is happening along the Emm.

For previous months sightings see Archive

The "Area Seen" refers to the 11 sections that the Brook has been split into for monitoring purposes (see Wildlife page under Monitoring ).

For what you can expect to see on the Emm this month, click here May

All sightings unless stated are from personal observations by Eddie Napper.

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May 2025

What is this life if full of care , we have no time to stand and stare.

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

11/05/25 2 Swift were feeding over my Area 4 garden this morning.

10/05/25 A Swallow was flying along the Ashridge stream at Ashridge Meadows in Area 7A a male Reed Bunting was singing around the eastern ponds and 2 singing Whitethroat were in the eastern boundary hedge.A male Stonechat was also at the eastern ponds. All sightings by Paul O'Neill.

09/05/25 A pair of Mallard with 7 ducklings were on Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A also seen was a Kingfisher and a pair of Mute Swan all sightings by Paul O'Neill.

07/05/25 Singing Robin A Robin was on its favourite perch in my neighbours garden singing very loudly at lunchtime.

06/05/25 In Area 10 a Common Sandpiper was on the beach by the Dinton Activity Centre seen by Fraser Cottington.

05/05/25 In Area 10 on the bridge over the Emm Brook at Lavells Car park field a female Bullfinch was seen, also seen were 20 Swift over Black Swan Lake both sightings by Tim James.

04/05/25 A Kingfisher was calling and seen heading downstream on the Emm Brook towards Ripple stream bridge in Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas and in Area 10 a large passage of Swift and a few Swallow were seen over Black Swan Lake by Patrick Crowley.

03/05/25 In Area 10 a Mistle Thrush was singing just East of the Activity Centre car park by Fraser Cottington.

01/05/25 A Whitethroat was singing from the bushes at the Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A and the first returning Swift of the year were seen high over Eamer Crescent both sightings by Paul O'Neill.In Area 10 a Whitethroat was heard singing by Alan Jackman and a Garden Warbler was heard By Colin Hughes.

Insects

08/05/25 European Hornet The moth trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 07/05/25 and emptied this morning. A terrible catch of 1 moth of 1 species.A Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata .I was however shocked when I found a European Hornet Vespa crabo in there. With no new moth's added ,the total for 2025 is still 42 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/05/25 Bagworm Moth Larval Case Currently stuck at home, so I have my Area 4 back garden to look at. Seen on the garden fence was the larval case of a Bagworm Moth. I believe it is the Common Bagworm Psyche casta Bagworm Moths construct cases from fragments of plant material, in this instance, pieces of grass. The case is attached to a tree trunk or foliage, or quite often to a wooden fence or gate.A European Hornet Vespa crabo was also seen.

06/05/25 Banded Demoiselle In Area 10 ,male Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens Damselflies were flying.Photo Courtesy of Keith Boseley.

04/05/25 Bee Fly Seen in my Area 4 garden was a Dark Winged Bee Fly Bombylius major feeding on the flowers before alighting on the wall.

02/05/25 Maybug Right on cue the Common Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha or Maybug have appeared in my Area 4 garden attracted to my patio light at night.

Plants/ Trees

Every year the leaves on the trees and hedgerows change colour from green to a yellow/gold before falling , find out why at Why do leaves change colour .

04/05/25 Horse Chestnut On the central reservation of the Spine Road in Area 4 the showy flowers of the Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum are putting on a really good display.

Fungi/ Lichen

Fish

Mammals

Molluscs