Nature Notes
T
he arrival of September heralds in our blight picnics, the common wasp, and the erratic
minds the very first signs of autumn and and flimsy cranefly. although the wasp appears to
we tend to think of it, quite rightly, as a time increase in number at this time of year it actually
of change. However, many of the birds that becomes obvious because of a change in eating
are familiar to us have considered it autumn habit. During the summer, they have been preying
for some time now and have already started on insects to feed to wasp larvae which secrete a
their autumn migrations. Swifts, for example, sweet saliva for the wasps to feed on. Come the
disappeared from our towns well before end of the summer there are no larvae to feed and
the end of August and we are now seeing the wasp’s taste switches to anything sweet such
gatherings of swallows on wires and at as ripe fruit, spilt sugar or an unguarded jam pot!
reedbeds as they start their journeys back to the craneflies or daddy long legs appear, having
Africa. been a destructive (to cereals) larvae for much of the
one of those well known and almost
summer – what we see are the delicate adults that
charismatic birds, the osprey, is also starting on
have avoided being a food source for birds or fallen
its journey back to africa. hence I thought it was
prey to the farmer’s pesticide.
worthwhile to remind readers of the excellent the hedgerows are also showing real signs of
D
O
G
L
O
D
highland Foundation Website, http://www. autumn with numerous types of ripening berries
G
roydennis.org. the work done by this charity is being evident such as blackberry, elderberry, sloe,
T
H
E
Slapton
E quite amazing. It’s great to learn that the
rowan and hawthorn. not only do these offer
ospreys visiting Britain have been such food to birds but also attract many insects
a breeding success (since re-colonisation to feed which in turn are again a
in the late 1950s) that young good source of food for birds.
birds are now being taken Watch a well laden elderberry
from scotland to try and bush for warblers such as
re-introduce ospreys to chiffchaff and blackcap.
mainland spain where they
What to look for in
• Small friendly kennels died out some 70 years
September
•
Centrally heated building ago. Indeed the local
look for migrating ospreys either
• Luxury heated beds
airline, Flybe, took part in
fishing on estuaries or passing high
• Safe & secure paddock
the process in flying them
overhead. at least two are currently present on the
• Lots of exercise
from scotland to spain via
exe estuary and are seen regularly fishing in the
• Day Boarding or Long term stays
river and using either Powderham park or Bowling
• Licensed by Local authority
Green Marsh topsham for roosting. other birds are
southampton. being reported throughout the County. Wheatears
Inspections welcome by appointment
e
arly autumn
will be obvious on any cropped clif
f top grass, their
For more details call Cathy
can give
upright stature and white rump making them quite
or Johnny on 01548 581159
surprisingly good
easy to identify. the
warm weather
coastal path between
with sunny
Berry head and
days and cool
Kingswear is a
clear nights.
good location.
k
a
D
a
d
d
y
L
o
ng
leg
s
two insects that
are often in
fl
y
a
e
abundance at
n
a
r
this time of year
C
are ones that
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