Single newly hatched moorhen chick spotted on Shed pond (6th Aug).
Cormorant diving on Scrapes (4th Aug)
2nd hatch of Barn Owls now flying but returning to box. No shortage of voles being brought in.
Frogs noted as far less than usual.
Cabbage white butterflies in abundance. Brassica’s covered in caterpillars
Geese noisily moving overhead, up and down River Douglas heading to Hesketh Outmarsh?

Grey Squirrel in garden
Buzzard (breeding pair) very active over old bank / sheep field
Dragonflies are back on Island pond (6th Aug) even though pond levels remain very low.
Moorhen juvenile diving on scrapes

New Little Owl nest box fitted in Barn (8th)

Heron on Island pond – very low water level (11th)
Moorhen chick on Island pond
All four Barn Owls seen back in the box
Hen Mallard on Island pond looked to be nesting
Magpie – noted that far fewer this year
Hen pheasant and single juvenile put up.
Lime Hawk Moth? caterpillar on basket making willow

Geese moving down river en masse on evening of the 13th and early morning on 14th.

A disturbed molehill revealed three Sextant Beetles which I don’t recall ever seeing before. They quickly scuttled away, digging themselves under the soft soil.

A Heron, Moorhen with single young chick and two female Mallard all on the Island pond this morning (14th).

Moorhen with two new chicks on Shed pond.

22nd Swallows are having a big feed over the newly cut grassland. Lots gathering on the tops of the overlooking hawthorn.

Hazelnuts are starting to be ready for harvest.

Only seen two barn owls at the box for a few days now (24th). Presuming youngsters have fledged?

25th – Wren eating cabbage white caterpillars off the brassicas.
Single snipe got up from around lily pads on the scrapes.
Many 100’s of geese this evening leaving the marsh going inland.

26th Swallows have gone.

31st The last day of August and four swallows are back over the cut grass, a few dragonflies are back on the ponds and the hedgerows are shedding leaves but are hanging heavy with a bumper crop of fruit.