Overton Biodiversity Society

August 2013

1^st

one Station Hill garden held six Gatekeeper, a Ringlet, six Small and two Large White butterflies.

2^nd

a Brimstone was added to the butterflies being seen in a Station Hill garden, both Small and Large White, and many bumble-bees, also being present there today.

4^th

a hatched Woodpigeon egg shell was found in a Woodlands garden.

5^th

rain later in the day saw a surge in the local snail and slug activity.

6^th

a further Woodpigeon egg, also appearing to have hatched successfully, was found in a Woodlands garden. 5 Large White were noted on a Buddleia in a Greyhound Lane garden as well a a Comma butterfly and a Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar.

Right: Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor - Picture: Adam Trickett

7^th

a Tawny Owl was heard singing early morning, not far from Town Meadow.

11^th

17^th

a Clouded Yellow graced a Station Hill garden, the first reported locally this year of a large influx underway from the continent.

18^th

a large number of 'red aphids' were found adorning Tansy-type plants in one garden.

20^th

seven-spot Ladybird were reported as being few and far between this year with most sightings having been very recent.

21^st

bumble-bees were again very evident in gardens, particularly Red-tailed.

22^nd

three+ Clouded Yellow were still among butterflies about the 'dog field', a Herring Gull moving low south-west there. A Eel was seen in The Test.

Right: European Eel, Anguilla anguilla - Picture: Adam Trickett

26^th

three Clouded Yellow remained about the 'dog field', Common blue remaining obvious there. Other butterflies made the most of the more clement weather with many being seen in gardens about the village. A pet rabbit escaped and made the most of its brief freedom in Woodlands, perhaps the reason for a Red Kite seen to be lingering there mid- / late morning? 30+ House Sparrow were seen atop garden shrubs, also in Woodlands.

30^th

at least four Clouded Yellow remained in fields off Turrill Hill, both Red Kite and Buzzard on the wing in the still summery weather there, parties of Swallow feeding over the recently mown fields and Yellowhammer and Linnet being in the hedgerows, where Roesel's and Dark Bush-cricket 'chirped', and on roadside wires.

Contributors: David Cluett, Mike Duffy, Alison Hutchins, Bryher Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Doug. Kelson, Veronique Kerguelen, Margaret Rainford & Adam Trickett.