Common Blue                            Purple Loosestrife                Large Red Damselflies

This month in the Valley 

Wildlife happenings taking place in August...

• This is the peak time for Dragonflies and Damselflies so keep your eyes
  and your identity book open…  
• If you’re walking near the river look for water plants such as Purple Loosestrife, Water Forget-me-not and the ‘sausage-on-a-stick’ seedheads of Reedmace...
• House Martins and Swallows begin to mass and
  Swifts are already leaving for their winter grounds… 
• In meadows and grasslands listen for Grasshoppers and Crickets as they ‘sing’… 
• Many waterfowl drakes moult their flamboyant breeding plumage and adopt ‘eclipse’ plumage, so for a few weeks they become drab, flightless and sulky… 
• Berries ripen attracting birds such as Thrushes and Blackbirds…  
• Watch for female Wolf Spiders as they carry their young around on their backs... 
• Look for the yellow button-shaped flowerheads of Tansy, crush the foliage and smell the intense aroma it gives off… 
• The fruiting bodies of Puffballs may start to appear… 
• Make time to visit the many heathland areas surrounding the Valley which will be looking their best covered in a mass of purple and pink…  
• Bats and their young will be flying after dusk on warm evenings...
• Follow the smell of the Stinkhorn which is instantly recognisable
  and effective at attracting Blow Flies.
   

More about August in the Valley  >>>

Things to do this month ....

• From walks to workshops have a look at our August diary of events to see what you can do this month. More details   >>>

Your sightings

• What have you seen in the Valley this month? Details of all your sightings   >>>

 
  Tell Us...
  ...about your wildlife sightings or anything else of interest that you see in the Valley.
  Submissions will be included on these pages so we can build up our own monthly wildlife 
  diary for the Valley. We would also love to receive any pictures.
  Please Email us with brief details, not forgetting to tell us where and when you made your
  sighting. Thank you to everyone who has sent us sighting details and pictures. Please
  continue sending them in.