Nature Notes - September 2022
Sicklehome Nature Notes
We saw a true mix of weather during September with some bright sunny days, early morning mists, heavy overnight rain and then a complete white frost during the last week of the month. It was clear overall, however, that the very dry summer was producing an early autumn and that showed in our trees with a number changing colour earlier than normal, and others shedding leaves already.
One of the more impressive species is the Rowan (aka Mountain Ash) such as the one in this month’s photo image which is near the 12th tee. The red berries are a favourite of thrushes and a small party of Mistle Thrushes were feeding on this, and other trees, from mid-month. During October, our resident birds will be joined by incoming Redwings, Fieldfares (both from northern Europe) and an influx of Blackbirds from the Continent. Sickleholme’s berries will be an important food source for them all.
For a couple of weeks, the course saw a large number of Craneflies (Daddy Long Legs) and these also provided food for the birds, which included the sight of one of our Pied Wagtails “looping the loop” in its efforts to catch as many as possible. Bird sightings were less than usual as some common species were keeping out of sight whilst moulting feathers, but the 17th saw at least 280 Pink-footed Geese in four separate skeins overhead. These would have arrived from places such as Greenland, Iceland and NW Europe and feed up initially on the Lancashire Mosses before heading south-east, as these were, to winter in North Norfolk.
We are reaching the end of the butterflies, but notable exceptions were several Red Admirals and quite a few Speckled Wood. The latter are often seen along the hedgerows as their preferred habitat includes dappled sunlight. A few wildflowers hung on and the first of the autumn fungi started to appear. A close look at Matt’s “Bug Hotels” also showed increased activity as the wood rots down. Many small insects will winter in these log piles, and some will remain there to breed next year.
As ever, thanks to all who have contributed and please keep your sightings coming in.
Bryan Barnacle
