About Mountsorrel > Outdoors > Nature Diary > Summer 2006
After a cold and wet spring the summer brought us drought and very hot temperatures.
Although gardens suffered, plants in the countryside seemed to thrive with
the result that blackthorn and hawthorn blossom was superb and there is a
very good crop of berries in the field margins and hedges that will sustain
our wildlife through most of the winter.
It has been a very good time for dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies
and compared to last year numbers have been well up. The hawker, chaser and
darter dragonflies have been in evidence all round the village but more easily
seen near water, although currently can be seen in all areas. Some will be
flying until October. There has been an abundance of damselflies all round
the village, and together with the dragonflies have been very evident in gardens.
Most of the migrant bird species arrived on time many of them continued through the area to other parts of the county but those that remained in the village appear to have raised their broods successfully. The House Martins were late and I was beginning to fear the worst however they did eventually arrive although numbers were down. Numbers of swallows and swifts seemed to be up on last year. There were the usual kestrels and sparrowhawks about and I saw a buzzard over West Cross Lane. A first for me in the village.
The big bonus for me surrounded the two fields on the north side of Halstead Road with access from the roundabout. The farmer has not sown them for a couple of years and wild flowers are beginning to take over from the remnants of previous crops. As well as attracting dog walkers they are attracting and managing to maintain small populations of nationally threatened birds. Inspite of some dogs being allowed to run anywhere in the fields, three skylark territories were established in the face of the disturbance. Young skylarks have been seen but it is not known if each pair managed to raise young. There have also been two pairs of yellowhammers (a bird once very common in the countryside) occupying territories in the hedgerows. It is not certain if they raised young but this was their third year in the fields. Walking through the fields it was very gratifying hearing the singing of the two species. There has also been a small population of linnets in the same fields. They will appreciate the seed heads in the autumn and winter. Last winter I saw a flock of some sixty birds so hopefully they will again be around in the coming months.
I wonder if readers have noticed the increased numbers of song thrushes around the village. It has been very pleasant hearing them singing and less often spotting them in gardens and under hedges.
Although things appear to be slowing down it will not be long before the
winter migrant thrushes (redwing and fieldfare) and blackbirds and robins
from the north and the continent begin to arrive. There is an abundance of
fungi at the present time most of which will disappear with the first of the
frosts they can be found in damp sheltered places and in meadows. Watch out
for the ivy flowers whose nectar provide a valuable late nectar bar for numerous
insects.
THE NAVINS
Readers may have noticed that the patch of ground next to the church in
The Navins has been cleared of brambles and resown with a mixture of slow
growing grasses and wild flowers and that "Froggy" has been exposed and fenced.
This trough has been here for well over a century and was in the past used
by cattle grazing the green and the area in and around The Navins. Several
decades ago the trough was walled and the man who did the work etched the
name "Froggy" into the wall. Look carefully and the name can still be seen.
We must thank Messrs Lafarge and their contractors Geo Walker for doing
the work on behalf of the village heritage group and for the benefit of the
village. The heritage group is hoping we will be able to carry out similar
work on the piece of ground opposite on the right hand side of The Navins.
Species sown in the area are: - Yarrow, Common Knapweed, Wild Carrot, Lady's
Bedstraw, Oxeye Daisy,Hoary Plantain, Meadow Buttercup, Common Sorrel, Salad
Burnet and Red Campion
Grasses sown: - A general slow growing species together with Common Bent,
Crested Dogstail, Red Fescue and Slender Creeping Red Fescue.
Ken Wiblin
Heritage Warden
September 2006