Wildlife this Month - September 2010

• September is the month when the mass bird migrations begin, with waders and waterfowl arriving in large numbers. For those species departing the UK, timing depends on the weather here, while for those species arriving, it is dependent on the weather in Russia, Iceland and other northern lands. There is consequently always the chance of some unexpected species turning up this month.
• Horse chestnut trees will begin to drop their conkers this month. When many of us were younger, this was a time for conker fights in the playground but Play Station and other technological toys have perhaps tempered the excitement felt by previous generations at this time of year. Many trees will begin shutting down for winter this month and their leaves will be turning red, yellow or brown prior to falling.
• Many hedgerow species will now be displaying fine crops of berries, including: hawthorn (haws), bramble (blackberries), elder (elderberries), wild rose (hips), blackthorn (sloes – see photo)). Hazels will carry ripening nuts and oak trees will be dropping their acorns. Jays are important partners to the oak tree, as they store the acorns for later use and often forget where they left them, thus assisting in the spread of oak trees.
• The last of the butterflies will still be on the wing in September but the variety of species is less at this time of year. Watch out for Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Gatekeepers, Walls, Speckled Woods and Red Admirals. Some species, such as the Red Admiral (see photo), will take advantage of fallen fruit and blackberries as autumn approaches.
• For orchid enthusiasts the finale of the British flowering season is provided by Autumn Ladies Tresses, named for the spiral flower spike that resembles the plaited hair of a mediaeval damsel. These are small plants and easily missed among the grasses but look carefully for them in unimproved meadows on well-drained calcium-rich soils. In favoured locations they should be in flower until mid-September.
• September can be a good month for dragonflies. These spectacular creatures brighten up a late summer walk along rivers and beside lakes.

• Many birds will be coming out of moult this month and appear in fine winter colour. Waterfowl go through a period of being flightless, as they shed all their flight feathers at once. During this period known as ‘eclipse’, the males lose their bright colours and skulk in camouflaged colours more reminiscent of their females. This month the new feathers will be coming through and brightly coloured males will appear again.
• The last of the summer flowers can be found this month. On unimproved chalk grassland, species such as the Autumn Gentian provide a splash of colour; in damp places Purple Loosestrife is in flower; while in the hedgerows, the white trumpets of Hedge Bindweed can be seen.

The WildCare Team