teal in flight © Arthur grosset

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

Round the reserves

Month by month, what to look out for...

May
A trip to the coast can be exceptionally rewarding this month if you get your timing right. On a high tide during the beginning of the month a visit to Blake’s Pools or Walborough may bring you into contact with flocks of migrating waders, still heading towards northern breeding grounds. The incoming waters will encourage dunlin, black-tailed godwit and whimbrel closer to the shore, where their fine plumage can be observed. At Littleton Brick Pits you can look through the reed bed where reed and sedge warblers will be singing. The first dragonflies will be on the wing and large red damselfly can be seen hunting around the open pools in search of food.

June
A visit to Walborough, Purn Hill and Hellenge Hill can be managed in just one day. Get down on your hands and knees and immerse yourself in the species-rich grassland! Look out for the low growing honewort or Somerset hair-grass as it grows on very thin soils. In early June at Purn Hill, white rockrose can be seen flowering next to common rockrose, with the sulphur coloured hybrid between the two found as well. Insects are in abundance and common blue butterflies can be seen flitting above the grassland with their cousin, the brown argus.

July
The deep shade of our woodlands can be refreshing during high summer but at Weston Big Wood the sunshine along the ride and within the new coppice coupes will be the place to find most of our resident species of butterfly. Speckled wood are the most common, but towards the end of July purple hairstreaks can be seen flying high above the canopy and feeding on the honey dew secreted by aphids. It is hoped that the recent management may attract silver-washed fritillary, a large species of butterfly that can be found in reasonable numbers at Tickenham Ridge less than two miles to the south.

August
Back to the coast at Walborough or inland to Chew Valley Lake and you’ll begin to see the return flight of the wading birds and wildfowl that have come back after a successful breeding season elsewhere. Mallard and teal numbers will grow as young birds begin to join the visiting migrants. If warm weather persists over central Europe warm south-easterly winds will bring in moths and dragonflies from afar. In recent years hummingbird hawk moths have managed to over-winter and a further summer influx will increase the local population. Even within the city of Bristol a visit to either Brandon Hill or Stockwood Open Space could bring you face to face with any of these insect visitors. Be on the look out for bush crickets such as long-winged conehead or even Rosel’s bushcricket as these invertebrates increase their range across southern Britain.