Yet another hot sunny month, which pleases everyone except the keen vegetable growers.

Most of our plants and animals seemed to flourish, and somehow we had just enough rain to stop things burning up, but as September starts, trees are beginning an early drop of nuts and leaves, and grassy areas are starting to look ominously brown.

Plenty of seeds and nuts for the birds, and several times I have heard jays busy disputing acorns. Plenty of butterflies, but the migrants from across the channel have not been very plentiful. A handful of clouded yellows, and a single humming bird hawk moth are all I have seen, but as yet no painted ladies.

Soon be time to see migrant birds gathering to go to warmer countries. Poole RSPB will be visiting Winspit on 10th Sept. AM (01929 480248) and the harbour Bird Boats start next month.

DCV are working on Ham Common on 10th ( probably 10.00AM) and Borough of Poole are having an evening walk on the 8th (261334 for details.

Dorset Bird Week runs from 3rd to11th Sept. (01929 424443), with lots of events, mainly along the coast from Weymouth to Poole. One or two walks in East Dorset, but most activity later in the month looks to be fossil hunting along the Heritage Coast (01297 560772)

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

Prepared for Broadstone.net by
dudley.hull

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