Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 10th August 2026

Date: 10th August 2026

Time: from 8:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 19°C to 22°C

I had a further visit this morning to the northern section of the site, primarily to photograph butterflies. There was a large number in the Knapweed and Ragwort meadow but much reduced on the super-abundance that I saw on my last visit on 3rd August 2026.

I recorded 9 species of butterfly: Painted Lady (1), Common Blue (at least 4), Holly Blue (1), Brown Argus (at least 2), Small Heath (1), Gatekeeper (at least 3), Meadow Brown (at least 15), Green-veined White (at least 2), Small White (at least 15)

Dragonflies and damselflies continue to be very scarce this year both in terms of the number of species and abundance. Yet again, I saw none on this visit.

It was again remarkably quiet for birds with only 9 species heard and/or seen, the notable records being:

Blackcap: 2 birds heard alarm calling in the northern section of the site but none seen

Green Woodpecker: 1 heard calling in the northern section of the site but not seen

Goldfinch: a mobile flock of c.10 birds seen, presumably a post-breeding flock

With regard to mammals, I had a very brief view of a Red Fox. I think I inadvertently disturbed it basking in the open in the sun as I arrived in the northern section of the site since it quickly disappeared into dense vegetation.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Blackcap

Green Woodpecker

Goldfinch

Blue Tit

Robin

Wren

Herring Gull

Carrion Crow

Woodpigeon

Red Fox

Painted Lady

Common Blue

Holly Blue

Brown Argus

Small Heath

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Green-veined White

Large White

Small White

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: Common Blue

Photo: Common Blue

Photo: Common Blue

Photo: Green-veined White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Bumblebee sp.

Photo: Bumblebee sp.

Photo: Bumblebee sp.

Site totals for 2026 to date (2025 and 2024 totals in brackets): 

Birds = 39 (50) (49)

Mammals = 3 (4) (3)

Butterflies = 22 (23) (17)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 6 (11) (11)

Reptiles = 0 (0) (0)

Amphibians = 0 (0) (0)

Total species list for the site

Birds = 70

Mammals = 8

Butterflies = 26

Dragonflies and damselflies = 15

Reptiles = 1

Amphibians = 0

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Record from my flat - Common Buzzard

This morning at 11:50 a.m., I initially heard a "mewing" Common Buzzard and then quickly located the bird flying north, albeit very high and distantly.

This is only my third sighting of a Common Buzzard from my flat this year, the first being on 7th June 2026, although I have also seen them on my nearby St. Nicholas Church local patch site.

Summary of Common Buzzard records during the last 6 years:

2021: 11 dates involving 13 birds

2022: 26 dates involving 38 birds

2023: 8 dates involving 8 birds

2024: 3 dates involving 3 birds

2025: 16 dates involving 25 birds

2026: 3 dates involving 3 birds

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Visit to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve – 6th August 2026

Date: 6th August 2026

Time: from 8:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 17°C to 19°C

My first visit to the reserve in August was relatively quiet with few species seen or heard. However, I was able to add another species to my 2026 site list: Green-veined White

During my visit, I recorded 8 species of butterfly: Painted Lady (1), Common Blue (2), Brown Argus (at least 5), Green-veined White (at least 5), Small White (at least 15), Speckled Wood (1), Gatekeeper (1), Meadow Brown (at least 5)

Sightings of dragonflies and damselflies continue to be scarce but at least on this visit I did see 2 “blue” damselflies (presumably Common Blue or Azure) plus a single unidentified damselfly species and a single unidentified dragonfly species.

The notable birds during my visit were as follows:

Blackcap: 1 alarm calling bird heard but unseen

Chiffchaff: 1 calling bird seen plus 2 others heard but unseen

Green Woodpecker: 1 bird heard calling loudly between the Eastfield Road entrance and the storage shed but unseen

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Green Woodpecker

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Robin

Woodpigeon

Magpie

Painted Lady

Common Blue

Brown Argus

Green-veined White

Small White

Speckled Wood

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Common Blue or Azure Damselfly

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: Brown Argus

Photo: Brown Argus

Photo: Brown Argus

Photo: Brown Argus

Photo: Green-veined White

Photo: Green-veined White

Photo: Green-veined White

Photo: Green-veined White

Photo: Green-veined White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Small White

Photo: Meadow Brown

Site totals for 2026 to date (2025 and 2024 totals in brackets):

Birds = 32 (34) (39)

Mammals = 2 (3) (3)

Butterflies = 16 (17) (12)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 5 (7) (11)

Reptiles = 0 (1) (0)

Amphibians = 1 (1) (1)

Total species list for the site:

Birds = 52

Mammals = 5

Butterflies = 24

Dragonflies and damselflies = 15

Reptiles = 2

Amphibians = 3

Love nature .... act now

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Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 3rd August 2026

Date: 3rd August 2026

Time: from 11 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 24°C to 27°C

I had a delayed start to my visit this morning and when I arrived butterfly activity was very evident but photography was challenging due to the hot weather. I only managed to get a few photos, especially of Painted Ladies, when they briefly landed to feed.

Nonetheless, the spectacle of the super-abundance of butterflies in the Knapweed and Ragwort meadow in the northern section of the site was amazing.

I only recorded 7 species of butterfly but the numbers of 2 of them were far higher than I ever seen in a single location anywhere: Painted Lady (at least 80), Common Blue (at least 40), Small Heath (3), Brown Argus (1), Gatekeeper (at least 15), Large/Small White (at least 10)

Dragonflies and damselflies continue to be very scarce this year both in terms of the number of species and abundance. I saw none on this visit.

It was again remarkably quiet for birds with only 9 species heard and/or seen, the notable records being:

Common Buzzard: initially heard “mewing” and then 2 birds seen soaring together high over the northern section of the site

Blackcap: 1 heard alarm calling in the northern section of the site but none seen

Green Woodpecker: juvenile seen and photographed in the eastern section of the cemetery and another heard calling in the northern section of the site but not seen

With regard to mammals, I recorded a single Grey Squirrel in the eastern section of the cemetery.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Common Buzzard

Blackcap

Green Woodpecker

Long-tailed Tit

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Woodpigeon

Painted Lady

Common Blue

Small Heath

Brown Argus

Gatekeeper

Large/Small White

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: Painted Lady

Photo: Painted Lady

Photo: Painted Lady

Photo: Painted Lady

Photo: Brown Argus

Photo: Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Photo: Hornet Mimic Hoverfly

Photo: Juvenile Green Woodpecker

Site totals for 2026 to date (2025 and 2024 totals in brackets): 

Birds = 39 (50) (49)

Mammals = 3 (4) (3)

Butterflies = 22 (23) (17)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 6 (11) (11)

Reptiles = 0 (0) (0)

Amphibians = 0 (0) (0)

Total species list for the site 

Birds = 70

Mammals = 8

Butterflies = 26

Dragonflies and damselflies = 15

Reptiles = 1

Amphibians = 0

Love nature .... act now

Restore and rewild our natural world

Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature