The transformation through the spring into the summer months is remarkable, in the summer things change but you notice things in stages. In the middle of summer the breeding animals peak their numbers with the large total of adults and baby animals. The plant life is growing and over the weeks their colour changes from a fresh lime green to a duller shade of dark green. Things changing are a part of life that some people might not notice but for me I am constantly looking and I have noted a few subtle changes within only a week. The weather over the past weekend hasn’t helped with the remnant of hurricane Bertha hitting the UK so the climate could be confused leading to these changes but it often is around this time of year where you do see autumnal changes and possibly due to the effects of climate change that we see them early.
Many of the hawthorn hedges are full of ripening bright red berries, it may only take a short time for the berries to turn a red colour but it gives a whole different feel to the hedgerows when they are glowing orange/red instead of the bright green that we see in the middle of spring.
One of the fruiting plants below shows the leaf colour that changes but with it already losing its pigment that it gets from the plant and therefor changes colour before it drops to the ground – That is still some time off, but we cannot say for sure with a number of unexpected events happening each year. One change in the pattern can trigger off many. I wonder how nature will perform this autumn or has it already begun?
The sand martins are still at the reserve but have just about finished their breeding at the sand bank but are still here, I saw a number of them skimming the top of the water as they feed across the different ponds and lakes.
The young greenfinches are not so aware of the dangers that surround them, but they do follow their parents that guide them away from danger (such as the kestrel and sparrowhawk). Especially at the Wildlife Watchpoint hide the juvenile greenfinch and goldfinch are gathering and begging for food.
I managed to get a picture of the volunteers today working hard against the winds, our work consisted of collecting the cut grass from the edges of the dragonfly path and cutting down large thistles.
- Josh McGowan