What a splendid September. Can this weather go on indefinitely?

Needless to say, the natural environment was taking advantage of the sunshine, and all creatures and plants seemed to be flourishing. Still quite a number of butterflies and dragonflies to be seen, and a late flush of small coppers for an end of season treat. As last year, I expect red admirals to go on for weeks yet. There was a Website just to report the latest sighting, last year.

Birds are coming back, with our own residents returning from the fields to the gardens, and migrants passing through on the way to their Winter home. Went on a walk round the golf course the other morning, and saw flycatchers, one single wheatear and a flush of swallows passing through. Also a limited view of a hobby, and a show performance from a kingfisher.

There was an interesting programme on the radio the other day, about the environmental problems caused by releasing large numbers of pheasants, for shooting. These are essentially foreign birds, and can decimate the local areas of insects and small reptiles, which have not got any inbred defences against the invaders. One of the speakers was Dr Keith Corbett, who was the prime mover in the defence of the remainder of Canford Heath.

He is still trying hard on behalf of the reptiles and amphibians.

Conservation work is back in favour, and the slash and burn brigade are sharpening their tools. The Friends of Broadstone Nature Reserve are cutting away in the Reserve on Sunday 5th (10.00AM, Fontmell Road), and Poole RSPB start work at Arne on Sat and Sun, 10.00 AM car park, and Dorset Conservation Volunteers are at Dunyeats Hill on the same days.

The Greenlink Guide has an extensive list of guided walks and events, and copies of the guide covering events up to the end of the year can be obtained from the local Library.

Conservation tasks will be starting up again, with DWT and DCV to the
fore.

Useful numbers:

Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:

http://www.greenlink.co.uk/

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset

http://www.dorsetbutterflies.com

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dudley.hull

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