Well, no one can say we haven’t had a long hot summer, and we still have August and September left! Firstly, a mention of all those members of reserve staff and their volunteers who are, in this heat, mowing paths (and not on a ‘sit and ride’ but with a heavy reciprocating mower, each with its own wilful and disobedient personality), cutting sedge-beds and tall-herb fens (it may be with a ‘powered’ scythe but it still needs someone to swing it), or off into the wilderness roguing (the removal of undesirable tree saplings from a heath or fen, which for some sadistic reason always seems to be carried out in the heat of late summer). One’s eyes itch from pollen in the spring, and sting with sweat in the summer. And of course, there’s the fencing and gate repairs - a hanging post doesn’t carry itself! WELL DONE reserve staff – it’s not all birdwatching and handing out hedgehog stickers to children you know! One of the hardest working, capable and dedicated conservationists I’ve worked with didn’t even own a pair of binoculars but, boy, he could put a shift in on a hot day.  

Purely from anecdotal observation, it is shaping-up to be a fantastic summer for butterflies and moths. Peacock butterflies are everywhere, and on buddleia bushes they are joined by small tortoiseshell and our county’s three ‘white’ species. The long distant migrant, painted lady, is in fair numbers too. As we slip into August it’s worth looking out for clouded yellow butterflies and, who knows, something rarer! NWT Foxley Woods is witnessing a particularly good purple emperor summer, tribute to the hard work over many years to recover and improve this ancient woodland. The expansion north of the purple emperors’ range means there is an ever-increasing chance of seeing this handsome butterfly in a mature woodland near you! Although, as it doesn’t nectar on flowers, some old-fashioned fieldwork is required to find it. It often remains high in the oak canopy feeding on aphid honeydew. Although a sap run or a decaying carcass can tempt them down, and dog poo is a favourite. Some lucky individuals have found them landing on their clothes or an arm to ‘drink’ the salty sweat from their bodies. Preferably this is before, rather than after, their visit to a dog latrine.

After decades of decline, the silver-washed fritillary is well and truly back, and still spreading and increasing. It can be found right across Norfolk now, and is even spreading out from large broadleaved woods into mixed hedgerows and rough uncultivated land. Foxley Woods has done particularly well for silver-washed fritillary, and there is a high proportion of the unusual female form called valezina. These are a beautiful olive-green colour with an underside washed with pink. Nationally about 15% of female silver-washed fritillaries are found in this form. 

Long lost micro-moths were appearing again after a protracted absence, and NWT Weeting Heath warden, James Symonds, recorded some unusual finds. Elachista serricornis at NWT Thompson Common is only the second ever record for west Norfolk, and is likely due to the conservation work that has seen an increase in cotton-grass, the food plant of its caterpillar. Phiaris micana and Monochroa consperella at Swangey Fen were the first post-Victorian records for west Norfolk, and a Monochroa arundinetella at Mere Farm was only a second modern record - the first was at Weeting Heath, with no guessing who recorded it there!

Lepidoptery excitement was more than matched by avian news, with plenty of media coverage for the osprey pair at NWT Ranworth Broad. Their two chicks are the first, for two hundred years, to peer down from their lofty nest at an East Anglian Broad. The adults have been wide ranging while on their hunting forays, with sightings at Upton Broad, Alderfen Broad and Barton Broad. The spoonbills at Hickling have returned to nest again, seemingly quite late, although it is not unusual for them to settle to nest in July. The month finds waders starting to arrive back, or passing through on migration, and wood, green, spotted and curlew sandpipers have been using the facilities at Cley. A Caspian tern stayed at the reserve for a few days in early July, and a night heron popped by on the weekend of the 12th.

What to look for in August                 

Why not look and listen out for Roesel’s bush-cricket. Until the early 20th century, Roesel's bush-cricket was only found on the south-east coast. Recent years has seen a rapid expansion in its range, and it has become increasingly common in Norfolk. It favours damp meadows and grassland, but can be found elsewhere, even in gardens with an area of long grass. It is usually wingless, but a rare winged form does exist, and appears to be more numerous during hot summers. The Roesel's bush-cricket is dark brown with orangey legs, a green face, a creamy border to the thorax, and two or three cream spots on its sides. It is best recognised by its song, which is a long, monotonous, mechanical noise.

Take Action

If you are thinking about having a wildflower plot in your garden, August is the best time to collect wildflower seeds from verges, fields and hedgerows.