Did you see a grass snake in Old Weston in August?

Birds - Butterflies - Moths - Galls - Grass snake

Note: If you don't like snakes, don't worry the grass snake photo is right at the bottom of the page!

Birds

August continued as July finished, very quiet for bird movement in Old Weston, Cambridgeshire.

The highlight was the third local record of a Green Sandpiper, which was present from the 1st to the 5th. This is a species which breeds in Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia. Unusually for a wader, it breeds in woodland, utilizing old bird nests. Green Sandpipers begin to return to the UK from late June remaining until Spring, spending the Winter as solitary birds by small ditches and ponds.

A new species for this year was a flock of eight Common Terns on the 17th , flying over and being kept low by strong Southerly headwinds. Common Terns nest throughout Europe and winter off the west coast of Africa.

The mixed flock of House Martins and Swallows steadily increased throughout the month, numbering approximately 150 by the end of the month. A single late Swift on the 17th was seen battling against the strong winds. This is a species which leaves early for Africa.

Large flocks of Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull were seen following tractors ploughing fields, along with smaller flocks of Lapwing and occasionally a Red Kite.

A flock of about 100 Linnets were seen on the 24th along the uncultivated headland of a cultivated field.

Yellow Wagtails are recorded annually passing through, from mid-August, on their return migration to Africa. This year the first Yellow Wagtail was seen on the 26th a little latter than usual.

A single sighting of a Hobby on the 15th was seen harassing the House Martins and Swallows.

A Wheatear on the 31st was the first recorded this autumn.

Butterflies

Despite the mixed weather, the mild conditions resulted in an improvement in butterfly numbers.

Three sightings of the migrant Painted Lady butterfly during the first week, were the best records for the month.

The number of species recorded, 19, was the same as during July, but of a different mix. Peacock and Red Admiral's were quite common especially on Buddleia, as were Large and Small White. The most frequent species was the Gatekeeper butterfly, especially in the first half of the month.

Moths

Warm evenings at last produced an increase in moth numbers.

Two quality moths were recorded in the village for the first time. Convolvulus Hawk-moths on the 1st and 21st; these are large migrant moths having a wing length of about 50mm similar to that of a Wren. The photo below shows how well camouflaged they are until their wings open to display the pink and black striped abdomen.

The second species of note was the White-spotted Pinion, found on the 25th. It is a nationally scarce species. Its national stronghold is Huntingdonshire, breeding on Elms which have been drastically reduced in number by Dutch Elm Disease.

The next photograph of the Humming bird Hawk moth shows how it gets its name. It feeds through its long proboscis which it keeps stationary whilst hovering in front of flowers similar to a Hummingbird.

Galls

Galls are abnormal plant growths which arise in response to parasite attacks. They can be seen throughout the year but are particularly noticeable at this time of the year.

Galls range in size from very small to large and also in colour and shape. Trees such as the Oak can have many species of gall on them. The photos, below, are of two common species of gall, both caused by different species of parasitic wasps, showing the range of colour and form.