Environmental News September 2009
In general, August has been a kind month for both flora and fauna.
Several species of butterfly have produced quite sizeable second broods, and prospects for them look good for next year, provided we do not get aspell of very cold and very wet weather.
Butterfly triumph of the year has been the influx of painted ladies. The RSPB estimates around one billion crossed the channel, and they have been breeding in UK all summer.
There were still immigrants in mid August, but mainly large whites with a few small tortoiseshells. As with most established species, the August brood of adonis blues was colourful.
Visiting birds are preparing for the journey home. Durlston is a good place to visit, with swallows and martins getting a last feed, and wheatears looking busy.
One question locally, is 'where have all the squirrels gone?', as whilst most animals sem to be thriving, there is certainly a widespread shortage of squirrels. Climate, disease, predation? Any ideas?
Not so many walks, now that school holidays are over. Dorset Bird Week (first week of Sep, Durlston) provides several related activities, and there is a moth trap and identification (BoP) on Sep 19th at Upton House.
Most of the areas run practical conservation groups, and details of these and further interesting walks should be available at the numbers below, or for a wider picture ring 01305 224214 for a copy of Coast and Countryside, or try your local library.
Useful Numbers for tasks and events :-
| Local Dorset Wildlife Trust | 01202 692033 |
| Durlston Country Park | 01929 424443 |
| Avon Country Park | 01425 478470 |
| Poole Countryside (BoP) | 01202 265265 |
| Moors Valley | 01425 470721 |
| NT (Studland) | 01929 450259 |
| Natural England | 01929 557450 |
Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:
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