September 2008

Phil Stevens tells me that he often sees a Hobby Hawk on his travels near the crossroads at Normanton on Soar and Sutton Bonington. Also, he has seen this bird twice in Long Whatton, near the 'Finger-post' and at the end of the village. Phil tells me there was no mistaking this bird because of its scythe-shaped wings, and the speed of the bird.
Butterflies seen during the second week of August include Comma, Green-veined White, Large White, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Large Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, and a small dark specimen I could not identify; one or two of them were looking a little ragged around their wings.
Seven Hedgehogs have been killed along Main Street and The Green, and one was found with an injury to its head in the garden of Paul Wilkinson. This creature died next morning. Straight across the road another one lay dead along with a male Blackbird. The next one near the Royal Oak, the fourth near Manor Farm, another two near the Cricket Field; one very large one near Barnfield Close and yet another near the Church. One evening at twilight hour 1 saw what I thought was a Bat flying around the street light in Barnfield Close - as I got nearer I saw it was a large Dragonfly, and it was still there half an hour later.
One of my broody hens that hatched off nine chicks on 8 March, and six more in May has just emerged from under a shed with eight more chicks, two brown, two white, two black and two very dark brown; this hatching was on 10 August.
During the second week of August I discovered blight amongst my late potatoes. It started near a Hawthorn and spread straight across seven rows. I cut the tops off straight away and a few days later started to lift all three varieties: King Edward, Desiree and Sante seemed to be alright - and the skins had set so I'm lifting the lot. I'll find out later on if this disease has got to the tubers. And now the best crop of Onions I've had for years has got Mildew, so I've lifted those as well and hope for the best.
On 11 and 12 August the call of the Green Woodpecker could be heard from mid-morning to late-afternoon, and sure enough rain for the next day or two. These birds were flying to and fro from the old orchard across to two large Ash trees and I had a clear view of them every time as they mostly call in flight when rain is near.
As far as the 'wonders of nature' are concerned, I am more fortunate than most people as I can sit in my garden chair under an old Crack Willow and see sheep grazing on the hillside, Longhorn cattle in the next field, the old mare, 'Goldie', grazing away just the other side of the fence - she is well over 30 years of age. I can also watch Geese and Ducks swimming on the pond and the wash-pit stream along with three or four Water hens and two Heron. I have been known to nod off in this chair (which was made for me by the late Tommy Robinson, just before he died) but I always seem to wake up before The Falcon closes!

Weather wisdom for September:

"Should you notice a goat graze with its head to the wind,
expect a fine day;
But when he crops with his tail to the wind,
look out for rain during the day"

Eric Scott-Parker