Birds

30/10/13 In Area 10 this morning a Bittern appeared by reed pile in middle of scrape at Bittern Hide , then flew to middle left of main island reeds. It later flew to Emmbrook behind scrape. At the car park field off Sandford lane were 2 late Swallow, a Mistle Thrush and 13 Skylark all seen by Fraser Cottington.

29/10/13 In Area 4 this morning a solitary Skylark , 2 Goldcrest and 5 Long tailed Tits were seen by Paul Bright Thomas.

27/10/13 In Area 10 this morning 6 female Phesant were at the top of the Car Park field as the distant record shot proves. A handfull of Redwing were feeding in the Hawthorn bush. Flying over was a Kestrel and 16 Lapwing . In Area 5 behind Morrisons a Buzzard was mobbed by Carrion Crows and a Grey Wagtail was under Kingfisher Bridge.

26/10/13 In Area 4 and 5 today a Kingfisher was seen flying downstream near Ripplestream Bridge. A Tit flock to the rear of Morrisons , contained at least 15 Long tailed Tits . In the Balancing pond a Sparrowhawk was hunting. A solitary Cormorrant flew W. In Area 5 behind Morrisons a Buzzard was mobbed by Carrion Crows and a Grey Wagtail was under Kingfisher Bridge.

20/10/13 In Area 4 this morning 2 Meadow Pipit and 7 Linnet were seen flying s by Paul Bright Thomas.

19/10/13 In Area 5 the berries on the Rowan Tree were proving popular with the Blackbirds , other Thrushes were a flock of 11 Redwing and 2 . A flyover by a male Sparrowhawk showed how many Finches were in the nearby trees. A minimum estimate of a mixed flock of 50 exploded from the trees. These included Goldfinch, Greenfich & Chaffinch. Meanwhile in Area 4, 11 Fieldfare and a solitary Siskin were seen by Paul Bright Thomas.

13/10/13 The birds of the day today were definitely 4 Pintail that flew over Lavells Lake car park field and the Emm Brook in Area 10 this morning at 09:00. After this the rain set in for the day.

11/10/13 In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas had 3 Skylark and at least 280 Redwing flying over in 2 and a half hours in groups of about 40 .This appears to be the start of the Redwing migration from Scandinavia with high counts in northern England yesterday, and in Bedfordshire 33,082 flew over Sandy in 4 hours

07/10/13 A misty start to the day and in Area 10 by the green bridge where the Emm Brook joins the Loddon , 3 Chiffchaff were seen with a tit flock by Marek Walford. By the afternoon the sun came out and 2 Buzzard and a Red Kite were enjoying the thermals together over Area 5.

02/10/13 Today in Area 10, Fraser Cottinton spent an hour in Lavells Lake car park field, seen were 7 Ring necked Parakeet, 1 Blackcap ,3 Chiffchaff , a few Swallowand 50 House Martin .

01/10/13 In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas gazing up over his garden this morning and reported, 2 Meadow Pipit flying E,4 rattling Mistle Thrush a Grey Heron and the first Redwing of the autumn.

25/10/13 A good day for Insects with the weather still staying mild. In Area 5 a female Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum was on my garden table.This Bush-cricket is pale green with a pale line running down the centre of the head and thorax and abdomen, There is a pair of brown smudges on the back of the thorax, each proceeded by a small black spot. The Oak Bush-cricket is nocturnal and usually not noticed during the day. At night it becomes active and is attracted to lights. In Area 6 a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta was on the wing.

24/10/13 Resting in my Area 5 garden was a Silver Y Autographa gamma this morning. A well-known immigrant species, this moth can turn up in thousands under the right conditions, especially at coastal migration watch-points. It can occur anywhere in Britain, and in autumn, the breeding population from spring migrants is swelled by further migration.

19/10/13 Found flying inside my Area 5 house this afternoon was a Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata this common and remarkably variable species, is found all along the Emm. There are two broods, flying in May and June, and again from August to October.

15/10/13 Coming to a lighted window in Area 5 tonight was a Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana This originally Australian species was probably accidentally introduced into Cornwall in the 1930's and since then has spread quickly northwards, and is now regular along the Emm.

12/10/13 A fairly sunny day despite the weather forcast of rain that didn't happen ,meant that quite a few Insects were on the wing. Gathering nectar from the Ivy flowers were Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris , Cluster Fly Pollenia rudis ,Bluebottle Calliphora vomitoria,Common Drone Fly Eristalis tenax and nearby a Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria was fluttering around an Oak tree.

07/10/13 In the afternoon sun in Area 5 this hoverfly, Helophilus pendulus was making the most of it.

05/10/13 In Area 10 a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua moth was seen in the Lavells Lake car park by David Rimes.

01/10/13 In Area 5, a Large White was seen flying in the afternoon gloom.

Other Wildlife

Reptiles & Amphibians

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Fish

19/10/13 Seen in the Emm in Area 5 near Woosehill Roundabout were, what I believe to be 3 Chub Leuciscus cephalus .

Mammals

19/10/13 In Area 5 a dead Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus was brought into the garden by my cat. There are two broods, flying in May and June, and again from August to October.

19/10/13 At this time of the year Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis are more visible as they look for acorns.

17/10/13 In Area 5 on Arthur Road a Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus bat was seen flying around the rooftops at 18:30.

Fungi

12/10/13 In the wooded section of Area 5 to the rear of Morrisons today was a , Jelly Ear Auricularia auricula-judae . These gelatinous fungi are shaped like a floppy ear and are more often than not found on Elder trees.

08/10/13 In Lavells Lake car park field in Area 10 was this , Pleated Inkcap Parasola plicatilis . These small Inkcaps are fairly easy to identify as their cap is shaped like a Japanese parasoll.

Plants/Trees

12/10/13 One of the Crack Willow Salix fragilis in Area 5 suffered under the overnight winds.Crack willow is aptly named, not only due to the twigs making a 'cracking' noise when broken but also because old trees often develop a large crack in their trunk and are prone to collapse.

Why do leaves change colour in the Autumn?

Find out here Autumn Leaves

Molluscs

For a review of 2012 sightings click here 2012 Sightings

For a review of 2013 sightings click here 2013 Sightings