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 July

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

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July 2026

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

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

06/07/26 Common Sandpiper On the jetty at the Activity Centre in Area 10 was a Common Sandpiper seen and photographed by Philip Giles. A Coal Tit was around the Activity Centre by Alan Jackman.

05/07/26 Seen by Paul-Bright Thomas, flying over his Area 4 house were 15 Swift.

04/07/26 Seen during the Litter pick this morning in Area 4 & 5 were singing Greenfinch and a Song Thrush . Feeding over my Area 4 house this afternoon were 6 screaming Swift .

03/07/26 At the Activity Center in Area 10 this morning were 45 Swift and a Kingfisher seen flying towards the Old Golf Course by Fraser Cottington.3 Grey Wagtail were on the Activity Centre jetty seen by Philip Giles.

02/07/26 Flying over Heath Lake in Area 1 was a Hobby .Seen by Tim Alexander.

Insects

07/07/26 Waved Black Another good night for moths in my Area 4 garden . The moth trap was out overnight on 06/07/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 82 moth's of 25 species. Scalloped Oak Highlights were the Waved Black Parascotia fuliginaria , Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria and Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria . Oak Hook-tip With 7 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 180 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

05/07/26 Jersey Tiger It looked like a good night for moths , so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 04/07/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 48 moth's of 23 species. Elephant Hawk-moth Highlights were the Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria , Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor and the very attractive moth, Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata . Rosy Footman With 7 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 172 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

04/07/26 Cinnabar Caterpiller In the car park field in Area 10 on a Ragwort Hadena bicruris were the caterpillars of the Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae moth. The caterpillar’s bright colours warn predators not to eat them, giving a strong signal that they are poisonous! At Dragonfly Bridge in Area 5 on the banks of the Emm Brook a Common red soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva Common red soldier beetle When I was a child (many years ago) we always called these the 'bloodsuckers' for its striking red appearance, but it is harmless.

03/07/26 The Lychis The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 02/07/26 and checked this morning . The temperature was only just in double figures. The catch was 32 moth's of 19 species. Common Lutestring Highlights were the The Lychis Hadena bicruris and the migrant moth Common Lutestring Ochropacha duplaris . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 165 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/07/26 The Clay The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 30/06/26 and checked this morning . Due to a malfunction of the trap the catch was down with only 24 moth's of 11 species. Highlight was the The Clay Mythimna ferrago. With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 163 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

08/07/26 Meadowsweet All along the Emm Brook Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria is in flower with its 'froth' of creamy-white flowers.

04/07/26 Purple Loosestrife Seen during the Litter pick in Areas 4 & 5 were Purple Loosestrife Anacamptis pyramidalis and on the banks of the Emm Brook was Horse-Radish Lotus corniculatus . Horse-Radish . Also on the river bank is Rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium The tall, pink flower spikes of Rosebay willowherb can often be seen crowding together in thick stands . Rosebay willowherb . The leaves are long, narrow, and willow-like, with a red base or a red flush.

Fungi/ Lichen

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

Reptiles

07/07/26 Grass Snake Swimming across Lavells Lake in Area 10 was a Grass Snake Natrix natrix seen and photographed by Mark Lauri.

Fish

Mammals/Amphibians

07/07/26 Seen running down the road in Area 4 at 21:40, was a tatty looking Red Fox Vulpes vulpes .