Summer

Studies have shown that feeding birds in spring and early summer does increase the success rate of nesting birds especially when weather conditions such as cold, wet weather in spring make foraging for natural foods more difficult.

Regular feeding throughout the year will ensure that birds become accustomed to the sites of feeders and bird tables.

Natural foods for many species are at a peak in late summer and early autumn and this is probably the time when birds benefit least from supplementary feeding but continuing to feed suitable foods will do no harm.

Avoid feeding peanuts from feeders that allow whole nuts to be taken during the breeding season to avoid any chance of young birds being choked.

Adult birds will keep themselves in good condition by using your bird feeders but continue to forage for appropriate food such as invertebrates to feed their young.

Winter feeding, especially during cold spells, can be a lifeline for many birds. As well as providing supplementary foods from feeders it's well worth also managing the habitats in your garden to provide more natural foods.

Picture by Steve Andrews

The commonest reason that ponds have a duck problem – too many ducks leading to fouling of the water and destruction of pond plant life – is that people are attracting them by providing food. If you want to discourage ducks, the first thing to do is stop supplementary feeding. Ducks, like other wild birds, are protected by law and you should not attempt to catch wild ducks and remove them elsewhere.

Picture by Barbara Clarke

If rats become a problem at bird feeding sites, it may be necessary to cease feeding for a period to discourage them. Rats are most active at night so removing feeders at night and ensuring no uneaten food remains on the ground overnight will also reduce the likelihood of this problem. Careful location of hanging feeders away from walls covered with ivy or climbing plants will make it harder for rats to access them and pole mounted feeders can be made inaccessible to rats if a slippery metal or plastic pole is used or a collar is mounted below the feeder.

If you wish to deter squirrels from hanging bird feeders, then use squirrel proof metal feeders which allow access to small birds but have a squirrel proof metal mesh preventing access to squirrels. Alternatively use pole mounted feeders sited away from overhanging trees.

Picture by Sue Seeley

Good hygiene at bird feeding stations is important especially during periods of warm weather. Birds are subject to a range of diseases many of which are transmitted by droppings. If food is contaminated with droppings, this can spread avian diseases. Bird tables and feeders should be kept clean and free from droppings. Feeders and tables can be cleaned using a 10% disinfectant solution or boiling water. 

Moving feeders around your garden will help prevent a build up of droppings on the ground below. Food should not be allowed to go mouldy. When cleaning feeders, it is advisable to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. On bird tables, or if feeding birds on the ground, do not provide more food than is eaten in a single day and put out new food each morning.

Picture by Robin Blackmur

The swallowtail butterfly is now limited to the Norfolk Broads choosing sites with a vigorous growth of milk parsley, where it lays its eggs on the tallest plants. Although a rare British insect, if you go to the right place, such as NWT Hickling Broad, NWT Ranworth Broad or RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, at the right time, early morning on a windless day (usually from late May to mid-July and if there is a second brood from mid–August through September), then with luck you will spot one.
Picture by Michael Cole

Many horse chestnut trees in Norfolk are suffering from an infestation of the horse chestnut leaf miner which causes patches on the leaves to go brown in July and early August. Bad infestations will cause the leaves to become dry, brittle and brown and eventually they will curl and drop off. This leaf miner which is part of the life cycle of the moth Cameraria ohridella was first recorded in the UK at Wimbledon, London in 2002 but has rapidly spread northwards reaching Norfolk in 2004 and becoming widespread in 2006 and 2007. The good news is that trees are not killed by this moth. Despite the browning of leaves and early leaf fall there is no evidence that damage by this caterpillar leads to a decline in tree health, die back of branches, or tree death. Affected trees will releaf and flower the following spring so please do not chop down affected trees.

There are some simple actions which may help reduce the infestation to a tree the following year. Sweep up fallen leaves and burn them. Alternatively composting the leaves and covering them with a 10cm layer of soil or a 15 – 30 cm layer of other plant material will kill the pupae as long as the compost heap is left until May the following year. Leaf removal works because it eliminates the first generation of moths next spring and though trees may become re-infested later by the adult moths it will reduce the amount of damage to the tree. Be alert to other diseases of horse chestnuts such as bleeding canker which causes weeping lesions on the bark of trunk or branches. This disease can kill horse chestnuts and if this is suspected advice should be sought from a tree surgeon or arboriculturalist.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

The natterjack toad is one of the rarest of Britain’s seven native amphibians and may be found living in coastal sand dune systems, coastal grazing marshes and sandy heaths. It can be distinguished from a common toad by the yellow stripe which runs along its back. It also differs from the common toad by having shorter legs and preferring to run rather than hop or walk.
Picture by Karl Charters
 

There are many garden flowers which provide nectar attractive to both butterflies and bees. If you want to attract butterflies try and ensure that you have some nectar producing plants in flower from late winter and early spring all the way through until late summer and autumn. There are a huge range of plants that butterflies will feed from but among the best are mint, catmint, marjoram, oregano, buddleia, iceplant, honesty, sweet rocket, lavender and wallflowers.

The nectar from ivy flowers in autumn is very attractive to red admiral butterflies. Remember too that fallen fruit in autumn will be fed upon by red admirals, commas and peacock butterflies.

Wildlife gardens should also include the food plants for butterfly caterpillars. A small patch of nettles in a sunny location may attract red admirals, commas, peacocks and small tortoiseshells to lay eggs. Holly blues lay their eggs on holly (first generation) and ivy (second generation), orange-tips on garlic mustard and painted ladies on thistles. So try and ensure both nectar for the adult butterflies and food plants for their caterpillars are available. For further information visit www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk
Picture by Jenny Johnson

Modern research challenges the old belief that only male birds sing. This was a relic of anthropomorphic assumptions about birds' 'family life', like the long-held belief that small birds are faithfully monogamous partners, now disproved in many species by DNA analysis.

A particular problem in the field is that in many of our common songbirds, such as robin, dunnock and wren, we cannot tell male from female. But, by catching birds of known sex (in the breeding season) and marking them, for example with unique combinations of coloured leg rings, it has been found that in fact females do sing in all these species.

Both male and female robins sing in autumn, a softer, quieter song than the spring song which is mostly (but not exclusively) produced by males. Some female dunnocks sing more than others, for unknown reasons, although their song is shorter and less elaborate than that of the male. Dominant paired females may use it to manipulate their complicated menages of two or more males.

Most singing wrens are indeed male, but females can sing when they choose, and have in addition a unique 'whisper-song' they use to communicate with their chicks.

In fact, all female songbirds produce a wide repertoire of sounds, while feeding, as alarms and for communication with mates and young; many of these could be described as 'song'. The quieter, softer song produced by female birds is often known as 'subsong'; in many species it is produced all year round and is no less important in the birds' lives than the loud territorial song of the male.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

You should clean your nest box out each year, you should wait until the autumn in case there are any second broods in the box. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 only permits the cleaning out of nests between 1 August and 31 January, and states that any dead eggs must be destroyed. Make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards as nesting material can contain parasites and bacteria.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

The Swallowtail’s breeding sites are restricted to the Norfolk Broads. The Swallowtail requires sites which have a vigorous growth of Milk Parsley – its favoured food plant - where it will lay its eggs on the tallest plants. They can usually be found at
NWT Hickling Broad, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen and How Hill nature reserve.

Any rising of water levels or increase in salinity will effect the growth of the Milk Parsley. However Milk Parsley has the potential to grow in other areas and will move if there is suitable habitat. Active management of fenland, where sedge is cut to allow other plants to grow, plays an important part in the survival of the swallowtail in Norfolk.

Occasionally migrant Swallowtails from the continent can be found in Southern Britain but these are a different sub-species (gorganus) to those found in Norfolk (britannicus).

Picture by Joe Lenton

Their back legs will emerge after a few weeks, followed by the front legs, then most tadpoles will turn into frogs by June or July.

Picture by Hilary Tate

Yes. The solitary bees that will use artificial bee homes are non-aggressive and can be observed at close quarters without risk.
Picture by Elizabeth Dack.

Solitary bees need pollen, nectar and mud. Ensure you have plants in flower from early spring to autumn and some bare areas of soil in your garden.
Picture by Elizabeth Dack

On warm sunny days you may observe the bees coming and going but when nests have been built you will see the ends of the bamboos sealed with mud (red mason bees) or small pieces of green leaves (leaf cutter bees).
Picture by Tony Brooks

Of the four species of reptile occurring in Norfolk only two,the grass snake and slow worm are likely visitors to your garden.

The other two species, the adder and common lizard, are creatures of more open and undisturbed habitat such as heathland and only rarely visit gardens. Even then it is likely that the garden in question adjoins an area of suitable countryside.

If you wish to attract slow worms or grass snakes you will need to keep some areas of your garden undisturbed and uncultivated. Unkempt areas of long grass, wild areas of scrub and hedgerow with plenty of undergrowth and other nooks and crannies, such as provided by log piles, would be ideal. A compost heap is particularly useful since both slow worms and grass snakes will inhabit these either to feed on the abundant slugs and worms or to lay their eggs. A garden pond is also of great value to grass snakes because it provides ideal habitat for them to hunt frogs and newts.

If you are lucky enough to see any reptiles in your garden you should report sightings to Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service so that distribution and population trends can be monitored.

Picture by Tabs Taberham
 

The best way to see reptiles in Norfolk is to join one of the special guided walks organised by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. These guided walks will take you to the best sites for reptile spotting within the county and you will have the services of an expert on hand.

Other sites that are generally rich in reptiles include the heathland areas of north and north-west Norfolk including the NWT reserve at Roydon Common, the dune systems of north-east Norfolk between Waxham and Horsey, and Broadland where NWT has nature reserves at Ranworth Broad , Hickling and Upton Fen.

Picture by Elaine Payne

The adder is the only venomous snake that can be found in Norfolk. It mainly inhabits areas of open heath and sand-dunes but can be found in woodland and is particularly active in spring and early summer.

Adders are very shy and retiring creatures that will readily move away from any human presence well before potential contact. Adders will usually only bite if an attempt is made to pick them up but their bite is rarely fatal. If you or somebody with you is bitten it is very important that you stay calm and seek immediate medical attention. If possible the affected body part should be immobilized. Symptoms that may occur include dizziness, vomiting and swelling.

Adder bites can sometimes, though rarely, be fatal to pets and care should be taken when walking dogs through likely habitat particularly in February,  March and April when the snakes are recently emerged from hibernation and may be slower to move out of harms way.

It should be stressed that you are very unlikely to encounter an adder and that if you do you should not try to handle or provoke them in any way. Adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill, harm or injure them or to sell or trade them in any way.

Picture by Edwin Peace

The white admiral butterfly has increased its range within the UK over the past 20 years and seems to be expanding its Norfolk range where it inhabits a number of widely separated sites. In fact the UK site with the largest recent increases is the Bure Marshes area of Broadland. The butterfly does inhabit a few sites along the North Norfolk coast. Despite the expansion in range the species seems to be in general and long term decline with some sites in central southern England experiencing significant decreases in numbers.

The butterfly inhabits areas of open woodland which supports the common honeysuckle – the sole foodplant for the larva of the species. Adults come frequently to bramble blossom.

The main flight time is from mid June through to end August with a marked peak in July. However there have been occasional sightings recorded in late September. Sometimes unusual weather patterns, with prolonged periods of cold and wet during the summer months could upset the usual cycle for some individuals resulting in late emergence.

The species is quite large and has a distinctive gliding manner of flight. It is unlikely to be confused with any other species except perhaps its close relative the red admiral which is often abundant in the autumn months.

Picture by Ron Scott

The comma is bright orange with dark brown markings on its wings. The underside displays a distinctive small, white ‘comma’ shape from which it takes its name. Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of this butterfly is not the colour of its wings but their ragged appearance. The butterfly is hard to spot when its wings are folded as it looks remarkably like a dead leaf.

The caterpillar is flecked with white and brown markings and, when fully grown, becomes the master of disguise, camouflaging itself as a bird dropping.

Picture by Julian Thomas

Four of the six UK reptiles occur in Norfolk the exceptions being the smooth snake and the sand lizard which are largely confined to the heathlands of southern Britain.

The reptiles you can see are:

Adder. The adder is a quite common species in Norfolk and can sometimes be disturbed from areas of heathland, dune systems or woodland glades especially during early spring when they are reviving from their winter hibernation or are engaged in courtship.

Grass Snake. These are quite common, especially on or near wetlands where they will hunt for frogs, newts and other such prey. Broadland has a large population and the best time to see them is on warm early spring days.

Slow-worm. These ‘legless lizards’ are not very common in Norfolk. They do occupy a variety of habitats but prefer grassy meadows, woodland margins and open fields. They can also sometimes be found in gardens.

Common (or Viviparous) Lizard. These reptiles are very common and widespread in Norfolk. They are best looked for on sunny days basking on fenceposts and other exposed objects.

Picture by Duncan Westlake

Buxton Heath (Northern side) is a prime spot for this butterfly.
The butterfly is on the wing during July and August.

Picture by Ian Saggers

Adder
The adder is found on heathland, dry commons and in sunny clearings in woodland.

The basic ground colour is variable ranging from off white through to brown, but whatever the colour the distinguishing feature is the wide, dark zigzag stripe running along the back. This stripe is usually flanked by a row of spots running along each side. Occasionally, they can be plain brown or even black.

The adder has a distinct "V" or "X" shaped marking on its head and the eye has a pupil with a vertical slit.

Adders appear quite chunky and males can reach a length of up to 60cm, females up to 75cm.

Grass snake
Grass snakes are usually found in wetland habitats. The basic ground colour is olive green and there is a distinct yellowish/off-white and black collar around the neck. There are dark side markings along the whole length of the snake

The grass snakes’ eye has a round pupil.

The grass snake has a smooth appearance and is the largest indigenous UK reptile. Males can reach a length of up to 100cm and females up to 130cm.

Slow worm
Slow worms are very secretive creatures but can be found in a variety of habitats including gardens. They are not actually snakes, but the UK’s only legless lizard.

The colour of slow worms varies from light or dark brown through to brick red but they are far less well marked than the adder or the grass snake. However, males and females show marked differences when fully grown.

Females very often have a thin dark stripe running along the length of the back and the flanks are speckled and stripped with dark brown or black.

Adult males are more uniform in colour and occasionally have very distinct blue spots.

Length of both sexes is between 40 and 50cm long.

Picture by Tony Brooks
 

There are three newt species found in the UK – the great crested, the smooth or common newt and the palmate newt. Only the great crested and smooth newts are now widespread in Norfolk with the palmate newt being confined to a very small number of sites.

The great crested newt is the largest species at about 15cm long. Their topside is very dark brown or black and the underside is orange or yellow with irregular black spots. The males have a distinctive and large serrated crest during the breeding season. Great-crested newts have full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The smooth or common newt is about 8-10cm long and has a pale grey-brown body with a bright yellow or orange underside with dark spots. A distinguishing feature is the presence of spots on the underside of their throat. During the breeding season males have a continuous wavy crest running along the back and also along the underside of the tail.

The palmate newt is very similar in size and colour to the smooth newt; however the males do not have a very pronounced crest and have webbed hind feet. Females are more difficult to differentiate but the best way is to look at the throat which in palmate is usually a pale/translucent pink colour without spots.

For more information visit Froglife

Picture by Rob Peacock

 

Common frogs have a moist smooth skin which can be quite variable in colour ranging from brown, green or grey with dark blotches to yellowish or orange with red blotches. However, all common frogs have a distinct brown patch behind each eye which is not present in common toads. Common toads are far less variable and are usually a mottled mid-brown colour and have a granular or warty appearance.

Another useful feature is to look at the nose – that of the common frog will be pointed whereas that of the common toad will be blunt giving a much more rounded profile. The method of locomotion also varies with common frogs tending to leap and common toads tending to waddle or crawl along.

During the breeding season male common frogs make a quiet low-pitched call and inhabit ponds and ditches with shallow edges whereas common toads make a louder, higher croak and favour deeper water. Frogspawn is laid in familiar jelly-like clumps, while toads lay long, gelatinous ‘strings’. Frog and toad tadpoles can also be told apart: frog tadpoles are mottled brownish-grey to olive with gold speckles, while toad tadpoles remain jet black.

Picture by Pat Adams

Grass snakes mate during April after they come out of hibernation in March. The female will then lay her eggs in June or July in a warm place where the heat will allow the eggs to develop. This takes around 10 weeks and the young will hatch from late August through September. If the weather has been particularly cold then hatching may be delayed until October.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

Bumblebees do not die when they sting. Unlike hive bees which leave their sting in their victims, bumblebees withdraw their sting. Bumblebees are unlikely to sting unless they are severely provoked.

Picture by John Lincoln

Unlike frogs, toads tend to remain loyal to a relatively small number of traditional breeding ponds and have an instinctive desire to return to the pond in which they were born. In many areas this prevents them from utilising garden ponds for breeding. It is estimated that for every ‘toad pond’ there are 6 ‘frog ponds’. You may have toads in your garden pond during the summer months, but they are probably simply cooling off and may not stay long.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack