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As September gives way to October, we are experiencing an ‘Indian summer’ and a further chance to enjoy the Dorset countryside without pullovers and waterproofs.
My final 42todo challenge to Brownsea a few days ago was just such a day and the red squirrels, avocets, spoonbills, greenshanks and black-tailed godwits put on quite a show. If you haven’t experienced the magic of Brownsea, then there is still time to visit the island this month.
Back down South
Throughout Dorset you can see birds on the move as swallows and house martins continue to pass through on their way south, and flocks of meadow pipits and skylarks follow suit. Our local linnets, greenfinches and goldfinches are gathering into larger flocks and the goldfinches in particular are showing up on the birdfeeders.
As autumn advances, the wintering avocets and black-tailed godwits will be joined by increasing numbers of additional waders and waterfowl at coastal and inland water bodies. However, you don’t have to visit the coast to see birds wintering with us in order to escape the cold of northern and continental Europe. For example, step into the garden late in the evening on a cool starlit night and listen for the distinctive ‘tseep’ overhead as flocks of redwing arrive from Europe.
Insects still to be seen
In the meantime, whenever we have a sunny day there are still quite a few insects around. Red admirals seem to be quite common on garden flowers at the moment, commas can be found along hedgerows with brambles and the speckled wood produces a third brood in October. Interestingly, this last species in unique amongst our butterflies in having the ability to overwinter either as a caterpillar or a chrysalis.
In late September, on a warm day with southerly winds, I saw my first clouded yellow butterfly of the year on our DWT Higher Hyde Heath reserve. This migratory butterfly from southern Europe and north Africa reaches our shores each spring, but numbers vary greatly from year to year. The immigrants use clovers and lucerne as their foodplant and produce a first brood around August and a second, which can be substantial, in September and October so it is still worth looking out for this attractive species. Had my specimen bred in England or arrived on recent favourable winds?
The field grasshopper, a very widespread species of waste ground, verges and both acid and calcareous grassland can still be found in October. It can be identified by the long wings, which extend beyond the hind knees, the brownish colours and a red tip to the abdomen in the male.
Careful where you pick your fruit!
As I’ve been picking apples and pears in the garden I have disturbed wasps taking their share using their powerful jaws. Unlike bees, which feed their larvae on nectar and pollen, wasps feed their young on insect larvae and carrion etc. However the adults of commonly encountered species such as common and german wasps, do consume sweet things when available. The largest of our social wasps, the hornet, which is brown and yellow, is still on the wing. Their nests are normally built in holes in trees but, like other social wasps, the colonies thrive during the warmer months and only the newly-mated queens survive the winter.
Sika rut
And finally, the sika deer rut takes place in October and November when the curious high-pitched whistles of the stags can be heard around the Poole Basin and beyond. When walking in woodland look for trees with deep vertical scarring caused by the stag’s antlers and also wet wallows. Last year I watched a stag at a wallow flicking up mud with its antlers, stamping in the wallow and then laying down and anointing itself with mud. However, rutting stags are unpredictable and it is unwise to approach them at this time!
Written by John Wright
Dorset Wildlife Trust Member & Volunteer
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Greenshank by Ken Dolbear
Goldfinch by Ken Dolbear
Clouded Yellow butterfly by Ken Dolbear
Field grasshopper by Ken Dolbear
Sika stag by Michael Wright
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