August in Bicknor Wood
August has confounded the weather experts again with record cloud cover and rain. August should be the time for plants to be ripening their fruits and seeds in the warmth of late summer, but if my tomatoes are anything to go by, we won't have the abundance that we experienced last year.
The woodland canopy bears testament to the cool, wet weather. Leaves are still very green and there seems to be little sign of them turning yet. A hot August would commonly cause a tree to start dropping leaves to avoid moisture loss, but there is no problem with that this year.
Early in the month, we had a warm spell that brought the insects out to gorge on pollen, nectar and each other. The predatory dragonflies were abundant on the meadows surrounding the wood, but the grass borders of Bicknor Park Development were cropped in the first week of August, leaving only small patches for the pollinators.
Yellow from the Common Ragwort was the dominant colour early in the month, replacing the purple of the hardheads and thistles and willowherbs.
The Rosebay Willowherb will take its chances on the wind.
Butterflies are still abundant with Peacocks, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers taking full advantage of the ragwort.
Broad-leaved Willowherb attracted this peacock who hid its fantastic patterns by closing up and showing only its dark underwings.
The wood has been almost silent this month. The birdsong which has been such a feature of any walk earlier in the year has pretty much ceased. A Chiffchaff and two Blackcaps were seen on the 21st, gorging on ripe elderberries, but are likely to be heading south very soon if they have not left already.
Along with the elderberries are the bright fruit of the Lords and Ladies.
I apologise that I have not been able to chase any bats this month, but that has been made up for by some charming encounters with the vixen and her cubs.
One cub is quite bold and has taken to napping in sunlit spots.
😀
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