September in the Valley

What you can expect to see...

As much as we like to think of September as part of the summer it is officially an autumn month. In the natural world autumn is a time of all change and the bird migrations of the Valley are the highlight of the bird-watchers’ year. By September bird migration is well underway. Birds that have spent the summer breeding in the Valley will be moving south. Some, like Swallows, gather to form large flocks before setting out en masse. Others, such as the Chiff-chaff, move as a constant procession of individuals.

The autumn migration is a chance to see birds that do not stay in this area over winter, but do use the gravel pits for re-fuelling during passage. Black Terns and Sandpipers are two examples of birds that may call in for no more than an hour or two before flying on. Find out more about the Common Sandpiper, our Bird of the Month.

It will be interesting to see what the weather conditions
will be like this autumn and how it will affect the Valley’s wildlife. Cool, damp conditions will allow many plants to extend their season. Late flowering species such as
Devils-bit Scabious, Hardheads, Toadflax and naturalised Michaelmas Daisies will last to the first
frosts. This will help support any autumn-flying, nectar-seeking insects. Damp conditions also benefit berry-producing plants allowing the fruit to develop properly. Look for hedgerows filled with the fruits of Hawthorn, Sloe, Rowan and Crab Apple. These support great numbers of berry-eating birds such as Redwings, Fieldfares and other Thrushes that flock to this country especially for the feast, as well as our permanent resident breeding population.

If the weather remains warm and sunny your chances of seeing the many species of butterfly still flying will improve greatly. One to watch out for is the Comma our Butterfly of the Month, found in moist places in the Valley nectaring or hovering around banks of nettles in the sun.

Sightings

Have you seen anything interesting, unusual or just something that has captured your imagination in the Valley this month? Whatever it is please send us details so we
can put it on our Valley sightings page. We would love to receive your pictures as well.
This month’s sightings...

Things to do ...

• Join our guided walk around Yatelely Common on Thursday 3rd...
• Find out more about Bats of the Blackwater Valley on Friday 18th...
• Come along on a guided walk around the Finchampstead Ridges on Thursday 24th...
• For details of these and all other events taking place this month visit the September events calendar.
   

   Bird of Month
   Common Sandpiper >>>

   Butterfly of Month
   Comma  >>>

   Sightings  >>>

   Events   >>>
                

 Did you know...?

Elder Sambucus nigra flourishes wherever the nitrogen content of the soil
is high, such as near abandoned dwellings, in churchyards and around rabbit warrens and badger setts. In these places the
soil has been enriched by the breakdown of organic matter like dung and refuse. Seeds from elder berries are spread by birds who eat the berries,and dispose of the seeds in their droppings.The plant can colonise an area quickly as it grows very vigorously.

At this time of year the branches of Elder bushes
are laden with dangling umbels of black berries,
a great favourite of birds
and small mammals such as voles and mice. Rich in vitamin C the berries make excellent wine and jam.

As you pick the berries take some time to admire the tree’s bark. Elder doesn’t often reach tree proportions but when it does the corky bark is a deeply furrowed network of ridges.

You’ll also find that the pith is easily cut from the stem and generations of children have hollowed out the stems to make whistles and peashooters.

The old twigs are often decorated with yellow Xanthoria parientina lichen, which thrives on elder bark enriched with nitrogen from the droppings of birds that eat the berries.
 

FASCINATING FACT

The Horse Chestnut is a Balkan native and was only introduced to Britain in 1615, It was another 200 years before the chestnuts were used to play conkers.