August Wildlife 2019

An early morning walk a couple of days ago disturbed two muntjac, who went off in different directions barking very loudly for several minutes.  In heat and full sun today, everything is beginning to look a bit autumnal, with leaves falling, blackberries nearly over and as last summer, the pond completely dried out again.  In the river were lots of fish, both minnows and also larger fish up to about 30cm.  I spent some time looking for the Musk Beetle (3cm, iridescent green, with long antennae) but without success. It needs willows for its larvae to feed on and has been recorded here in the past, though is rare generally. Please let me know if you see one.  Brown Hawker and Ruddy Darter dragonflies were around, a Mint Moth and some Wasp Mimic Hoverflies.  The White Geese flock is now reduced to 9, with yet again no goslings this year.  Although the Chicken of the Woods fungus near the river has gone – first decayed and then shed with the massive branch of its willow tree, there is a new growth on one of the picnic logs.  

This spring, I have released 3 hedgehogs in Eltisley Ave, having assured the Shepreth Hedgehog Refuge that there were no badgers in the vicinity.  Sadly, however, this is no longer the case, as they have been seen in Grantchester Meadows.  Have you seen either hedgehogs or badgers in Paradise?  We will perhaps find out on Sept 4^th, when there is an evening walk with heat-seeking camera.  Olwen Williams  olwenw@gmail.com