Late Summer Nature Notes

It is pleasing to be able to say that butterflies seem to be everywhere at the moment. Large and small whites can be seen at every turn and are particularly abundant amongst the more neglected areas of the allotment behind the house and in the adjoining field. Small browns, peacocks and small tortoiseshells are taking advantage of the late summer sun along with painted ladies that have arrived in large numbers this year.

Although the swifts have left, large numbers of swallows and martins grace the skies above the village and collect in large numbers on telephone lines and rooftops. One of the resident mallards has brought a new batch of ducklings to the village pond.

Brambles are now producing masses of fruit and attracting many birds and animals to the feast including woodmice and voles that can be seen climbing amongst the barbed stems. Thrushes, blackbirds and greenfinch are regular visitors along with the less common bullfinch.

A late evening walk along the quiet back lanes will reward you with views of roe deer and hares out in the open field. As dusk gathers listen and watch out for badgers and hedgehogs snuffling about in the undergrowth seeking worms and grubs. Bats can still be seen pursuing insects into the night and the call of tawny owls floats across the village. As darkness falls listen for the eerie screech of little owls calling from the outlying fields.