There was a Spotted Flycatcher family on the edge of Pennsland Lane overlooking the rewilding area on the 2nd. A Barn Owl was seen hunting over the crop before sunrise on the 3rd and a flock of 140 Linnets was seen in early daylight. Daniel BTO ringed 20 Linnet, 3 Blackcap and Blackbird, Stonechat, Robin, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff and Wren on the reserve. More ringing on the 6th of 33 Linnet (1 retrap from 03/08/25), 4 Willow Warbler & Blackcap, 3 Stonechat, 2 Robin, Chiffchaff & Blue Tit (1 from nestbox), Tree Pipit, a Sedge Warbler (16.5g!! ready to migrate to France), Blackbird, Wren. Now a total of 125 Linnet & 8 Stonechat ringed since mid-July. A Barn Owl was seen over the lower part of the Main Field on the 10th and 3 Tree Pipits were seen flying over. The Swallow Pond by the Top Field Sheter was refilled by Daniel and Harry on the 11th after much of the water had evaporated.
On the 13th it was very quiet early morning, with few birds around. Activity picked up at 8am with: a family of Spotted Flycatchers (5 birds), a flock of Long Tailed Tits with Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Goldcrest, 8 Tree Pipit flew over, a pair of Kestrel were seen and 10 Swallows around Top Field Shelter, also Grey Wagtail and a flock of 120+ Linnet over North Park but mainly feeding in neighbouring clear-fell plantation. Pip and Daniel ringed the 3 surviving Owlets in the Polebox in the Main Field and invited staff and volunteers to come along. This is the first time Barn Owls have bred on the LLP since 2008. A camera was fitted in the box so the owlets could be viewed without disturbance. A Moth trap on the 14th caught 50 Moths of 25 different species. Also, 7 Tree Pipit were recoded and a female Sparrowhawk hunting Linnets over new crop. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen in the orchard and 2 Grey Wagtail along river/Flo Pond.
The extreme dry weather here in March, May, July and most of August has resulted in Blackberries, Rowan, Spindle and Sloe berries ripening early and by the end of the month most of the Blackberries were going over. Much of the grass on the paths had browned and died and the rough grassland had turned golden with little sign of fresh growth except below the ponds. We were luckier than much of the country, which was in drought, having had above average rainfall in April (216%) and June (123%) however the effect of less rain in March (2%) May (52%) and July (35%) with a higher-than-average mean temperature here every month since March could be seen. Many of the trees were losing leaves but Butterflies have had a much better year than last and, in the orchard, whilst some of the apple trees have poorer crops with smaller apples than usual whilst others are positively dripping with fruit. Some of these will be bagged up and stored to provide food for wildlife during the ‘hungry’ months.
Rainfall in August was 78.8mm, 98% of our 20-year average but most of this fell in the last 5-days of the month. The mean temperature for the month was 16.6°C, 4% higher than average which is 15.9°C.
