August

2008

With the exception of some good conditions late in the month, there was a more autumnal feel than a summer feel to August this year. The butterfly transect suffered, with only one being carried out in the first week. There were still good numbers of browns on the wing and, at long last, some common blue & brown argus. Purple hairstreak & marbled white could still be found early in the month and the 2nd generation of holly blue had emerged during the second half of the month.

The moth trap came alive later in the month, with hundreds of various rustics:eg. square-spot, rosy, flounced, common & Vine's. The first autumnal moths like the sallow & feathered gothic also appeared. Other common species included various yellow underwings, straw underwing, flame shoulder & white-point.

Nothing too startling, although Webb's wainscot, Kent black arches, reed dagger, maiden's blush & scorched carpet were all notable.

Huge numbers of migrant hawker dragonflies appeared/emerged during the first few days of the month: almost every hawthorn bush in the wood appeared to have a decent sized "flock" hawking from the outer foliage!

After a quiet summer, adult badgers are being seen more regularly as they forage around Bromhey Farm for the brambles & elderberries that seem to be ripening early this year.

2006

Another good year for badger watchers - cubs have been much in evidence around the Marshland viewpoint, often well before dusk, and one lucky visitor was able to watch a couple of animals chase and catch a rabbit! The stoat family has moved away from Bromhey, but animals are still being seen regularly.

The rather indifferent weather hasn't been great for butterfly enthusiasts, but there have been good numbers of common blue, with a few brown argus later on. Purple hairstreaks were still on the wing to 25th at least. Browns like meadow brown & gatekeeper have been declining in numbers all month. Not a classic clouded yellow year, but 1-3 noted during the middle fortnight.

Moth-trapping was carried out about 1 night in 2 and provided a number of interesting records. Migrant moths featured, with 1st reserve records of small mottled willow, great brocade, pearly underwing & scarce bordered straw. Other migrants recorded were dark sword grass, rush veneer & rusty-dot pearl. There were several other notable records, including the nationally rare (Na) sandhill rustic, and nationally scarce (Nb) star-wort, mocha & rosy wave (also a reserve 1st).

Many dragonflies on the wing, but variety decreased through the month. From a regular 11 species early in the month (inc. scarce emerald & small red-eyed damselflies), by the end the vast majority are either common darter or migrant hawker.

2005

Badgers can still be encountered around dusk just about anywhere on the reserve, although they are probably seen with the greatest regularity around Bromhey Farm, where they can be found hunting for beetles and earthworms in fields with livestock, or in the out-buildings. Alternatively, they are also found in the scrubby areas around the Marshland trail, foraging for brambles and other berries.

August starts to see a decline in insect activity, although it is probably the best month for grasshoppers and bush-crickets. These 2 groups of Orthopterans are easily separated by the length of their antennae (short on g/hoppers & v. long on crickets), but distinguishing the species is a bit more tricky! 3 spp of grasshoppers are commonly found - lesser marsh, meadow & field; and there are 6 spp of bush-cricket - speckled, oak, dark and Roesel's and both long- & short-winged coneheads. Often, the easiest way to seperate the species is to listen for the males stridulating ie Roesel's sounds like overhead electricity pylons!

Attempting to catch these agile insects is a newly arrived predator in North Kent, the spectacular wasp spider. First discovered at Northward Hill in 2002, this large yellow-and-black spider has now been found in areas of long grass at both Shorne, Cliffe and Higham Bight.

The number and variety of butterflies has now just passed it's peak, but there are still plenty on the wing. The last purple hairstreaks are seen this month, as well as most of the browns, but there will be the emergence of 2nd generations of holly blues and various vanessids eg comma, peacock & small tortoiseshell. Migrants like painted lady & clouded yellow are regularly seen in August. The variety of dragonflies is also starting to decline. By the end of the month most records are of only 3 spp - common & ruddy darters and migrant hawker.

Moth records for the month saw a 2nd generation cream-bordered green pea on 4-5th, several records of dark sword grass, southern wainscot & white-point, 3 nationally notable (Nb) species - maple prominent, starwort & Webb's wainscot; and 2 new reserve records - bordered sallow & clay triple lines. Plenty of various rustics (eg.flounced, common, square-spot), straw under-wing & lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing. What will almost certainly turn out to be "moth of the year" was trapped on 18-19th - a female rest harrow was a complete surprise, and another reserve "first". This RDB3 moth is known from only 2 breeding sites in the south-east of the county, although it is a suspected immigrant. Other late summer moths included chinese character, centre-barred sallow, hedge rustic and antler moth.