July
July 2010 (updated on Wednesday 28 July)
July was originally the fifth month of the old Latin calendar and was known by the Romans as Quinctilis. It was renamed Julius in honour of Julius Caesar who was born in this month.
July has been a mixed month with some warm humid conditions (see picture below, top left) and heavy downfalls of rain plus some sunny days.
Most breeding birds seem to have fared reasonably well this year and nightjars have done well with their first brood (see below). After a slow start there are reasonable numbers of butterflies to be seen including silver washed fritillary in the woodlands (see picture below, top right) and small copper on open ground (see picture below, bottom left)
Dusk Walks and Nightjars
The local nightjars are active from dusk onwards. The warm humid evenings with lots of flying insects suit these birds and at the last dusk walk we saw no less the six individual birds of which three were churring males.
Also known as Goatsuckers or Nighthawks (see picture below, bottom right), nightjars are associated with lowland heathland habitats and arrive locally during the first week of May. They are active from sundown onwards – the size of a cuckoo, they spend the day sitting flat on the ground where they are superbly camouflaged. The males make an amazing churring noise which ends in a bubbling trill. There are also contact calls made in flight when the male bird can be distinguished by the white flashes on its wings.
The first clutch of eggs is laid on bare ground in late May. The eggs take about 17 days to hatch and another 17 days before the chicks are ready to fly. They are then cared for by the male parent whilst the female makes herself available to other males before starting a second brood!
Future Events -
Moorland Wildlife in Summer
Walks start from Haytor Information Centre at 13.30 hrs. on Wednesday 4 August and Wednesday 18 August. Approx. 3 hours. £5.00 per adult (under 14s are free)
Forest On The Hill Walk
This 5 hour storytelling walk starts from Haytor Information Centre and re-traces characters and settings from Eden Phillpotts’s Edwardian novel. Starts at 11.00 on Wednesday 11 August. Charge is £8.00 per adult (under 14s are free). Please bring packed lunch.
Further walks can also be arranged on request – please ring Phil Page on Tel: 0785 8421 148 or e-mail to: enquiries@dartmoornaturetours.co.uk
July was originally the fifth month of the old Latin calendar and was known by the Romans as Quinctilis. It was renamed Julius in honour of Julius Caesar who was born in this month.
July has been a mixed month with some warm humid conditions (see picture below, top left) and heavy downfalls of rain plus some sunny days.
Most breeding birds seem to have fared reasonably well this year and nightjars have done well with their first brood (see below). After a slow start there are reasonable numbers of butterflies to be seen including silver washed fritillary in the woodlands (see picture below, top right) and small copper on open ground (see picture below, bottom left)
Dusk Walks and Nightjars
The local nightjars are active from dusk onwards. The warm humid evenings with lots of flying insects suit these birds and at the last dusk walk we saw no less the six individual birds of which three were churring males.
Also known as Goatsuckers or Nighthawks (see picture below, bottom right), nightjars are associated with lowland heathland habitats and arrive locally during the first week of May. They are active from sundown onwards – the size of a cuckoo, they spend the day sitting flat on the ground where they are superbly camouflaged. The males make an amazing churring noise which ends in a bubbling trill. There are also contact calls made in flight when the male bird can be distinguished by the white flashes on its wings.
The first clutch of eggs is laid on bare ground in late May. The eggs take about 17 days to hatch and another 17 days before the chicks are ready to fly. They are then cared for by the male parent whilst the female makes herself available to other males before starting a second brood!
Future Events -
Moorland Wildlife in Summer
Walks start from Haytor Information Centre at 13.30 hrs. on Wednesday 4 August and Wednesday 18 August. Approx. 3 hours. £5.00 per adult (under 14s are free)
Forest On The Hill Walk
This 5 hour storytelling walk starts from Haytor Information Centre and re-traces characters and settings from Eden Phillpotts’s Edwardian novel. Starts at 11.00 on Wednesday 11 August. Charge is £8.00 per adult (under 14s are free). Please bring packed lunch.
Further walks can also be arranged on request – please ring Phil Page on Tel: 0785 8421 148 or e-mail to: enquiries@dartmoornaturetours.co.uk
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