Nature Notes - August 2026

Sickleholme Nature Notes

When I had completed last month’s notes, I did wonder if a report dominated by invertebrates would find as much interest amongst members, but it actually produced more feedback and questions than are usual, and some added value. An August comment that most butterfly sightings were of white species (Large White, Small White and Green-veined White can be seen at Sickleholme) led to the explanation that the pale wings of these butterflies absorbed less solar radiation, and thus they overheat more slowly and can remain active at higher temperatures. Quite logical when you think of our white clothing in tropical areas, but not something that I had been consciously aware of. One colourful butterfly that did appear for two members was a Speckled Wood, a species that favours dappled rather than bright sunlight.

Paul Ince solved another identification issue when he photographed a Robin’s Pincushion during a round. This red fibrous mass is most usually found on wild roses and is a gall created when the tiny Gall Wasp lays eggs on a rose bud. The larvae feed inside the chambers and emerge the following Spring. After Paul’s report, I found several in our own garden.

David Gilder saw a Brown Hare on the course and several members commented on noisy Buzzards overhead. It is the time of year when adult Buzzards are trying to persuade their young to feed for themselves, but the immature birds continue to track the adults and demand food by constantly calling. Otherwise, bird reports have been thin but usually common birds such as Dunnock and Blackbird are moulting their feathers. This limits flight ability until the new feathers have grown through, so they tend to hide away as much as possible.

Although the last few days of the month saw the end of another heatwave, there had already been signs of a false autumn with early leaf fall and a few trees and shrubs having a distressed appearance. Many of those will recover well, so are best left alone rather than removed for now.

Photo images this month show the Robin’s Pincushion and a Speckled Wood butterfly.

Bryan Barnacle

Robins Pincushion

Speckled Wood