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 February

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

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February 2026

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

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

27/02/26 At Morrisons car park in Area 5 a Chiffchaff was heard calling from a hedge.

23/02/26 In Area 10 a Treecreeper was seen in a tree adjacent to the Emm Brook. In the car park field calling Ring necked Parakeet were heard calling. In Area 5 Redwing and Siskin were in the riverside Alders. In Area 7A at Skinner Drive balancing pond, Michael Hubbard saw a Mute Swan , a hovering Kestrel , a male Stonechat , Grey Heron , 10 Goldfinch and 30 Linnet .

22/02/26 A Common Buzzard was flying around the Spine Road in Area 5 and a Green Woodpecker was heard calling. In Area 10 a Grey Wagtail was seen on the bridge over the Emm Brook near the Car Park field by Philip Giles.

21/02/26 A Tawny Owl was calling in Area 4 at 03:15 heard by Peter Burden

19/02/26 Paul O'Neill was out in Area 7A at Skinner Drive balancing pond. The solitary Mute Swan looks healthy at the moment, following the death of its partner from suspected avian flu. In the flooded grassy area between pond and Ashridge Stream were 4 Snipe and 12 Linnet .

18/02/26 At the Dinton Activity Centre Beach in Area 10 were a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail seen by Philip Giles.

16/02/26 In Area 10 at Lavell’s Car Park Field were 2 Green Woodpecker and a calling Greenfinch seen by Alan Jackman. On the Old Golf Course by the Archery area a Mistle Thrush was seen by Philip Giles.

13/02/26 On the Old Golf Course in Area 10 seen by Stephen Clarke were 20 Siskin and 10 Redwing . Meanwhile on Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A were 2 Mallard a Mute Swan , 2 Coot ,2 Moorhen and a Reed Bunting singing from a sappling behind the reeds.Seen by Michael Hubbard.

12/02/26 On Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A were 2 Cormorrant a Mute Swan , Coot and a Grey Heron .

09/02/26 In Area 10 a pair of Bullfinch were seen in the Car Park field by Nick Kightley. Black Swan Lake – 3 Oystercatcher flying around, Grey Wagtail & Kingfisher flew by DAC beach (FJC)

08/02/26 Paul O'Neill was at Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A and saw 2 Mute Swan a pair of Stonechat and 4 Reed Bunting .

07/02/26 You could have been tricked into thinking that Spring had arrived in Area 5 to the rear of Morrisons this morning. Singing and calling were Song Thrush , Robin , Nuthatch , Blue Tit and Great Tit .

02/02/26 Barn Owl Seen in the entrance to the Barn Owl box in Area 10 was the Barn Owl photo courtesy of Grant Evans.

01/02/26 In Area 10, seen by Simon Hugginns at the Dinton Activity Centre were 3 Grey Wagtail , 3 Goldeneye and a Kingfisher

Insects

26/02/26 Twin-spotted Ouaker The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 25/02/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 19 moth's of 10 species. Dotted Border Highlights were Twin-spotted Ouaker Anorthoa munda , Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria and Early Reveller Diurnea fagella , Early Reveller With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 20 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/02/26 Satellite The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 23/02/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 11 moth's of 9 species. Small Brindled Beauty Highlights were Satellite Eupsilia transversa , Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria , Double - striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata , and the micro moth Hemlock Moth Agonopterix alstromeriana . Hemlock Moth With 4 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 17 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

23/02/26 At my Area 4 garden a Buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris flew into my kitchen through an open door.

22/02/26 Oak Beauty With a mild night predicted the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 21/02/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 30 moth's of 9 species. Hebrew Character Highlights were Oak Beauty Biston strataria , Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana , Grey shoulder Knot Lithophane ornitopus , Small Quaker Orthosia cruda , Chestnut Conistra vaccinii and Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica. Oak Nycteoline With 7 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 13 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

21/02/26 Common Quaker The patio light was on in my Area 4 garden overnight on 20/02/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 5 moths of 2 species. These were a March Moth Alsophila aescularia and 4 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi . With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 7 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

20/02/26 Buff-tailed bumblebee Seen in an Area 5 garden on a Hyacinth by Pat Taylor was a Buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris a first for the year. Buff-tailed bumblebee Buff-tailed bumblebees are the biggest of the bumblebees and emerge in early spring.

12 /02/26 March Moth The patio light was on in my Area 4 garden overnight on 11/02/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 1 moth of 1 species. This was a March Moth Alsophila aescularia .The male has a distinctive way of resting, with the wings overlapping. With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 6 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/02/26 Pale Brindled Beauty The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 31/01/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 3 moth's of 2 species. Agonopterix heracliana They were 2 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria and the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana . With no new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 5 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

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 .

18/02/26 Lesser Celandine Seen during a stroll around Area 5 were Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna .As one of the first flowers to appear after winter, they provide an important nectar source for queen bumblebees and other pollinators emerging from hibernation, and other early insects.

17/02/26 Loddon Lily In Area 10 adjacent to the Emm Brook , Loddon Lily Leucojum aestivum are now in flower.

07/02/26 Crocus Down by the Emm just as it goes underneath the Woosehill Roundabout in Area 5 the annual display of Crocus Crocus sativus are out and putting on a great display.

Fungi/ Lichen

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

07/02/26 Hairy Curtain Crust Seen on a fallen branch during the litter pick was the fungi Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum also known as False Turkeytail.

Reptiles

Fish

Mammals

20/02/26 Heard barking in Area 4 at 22:00 was a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes .