What to Look Out For - August

Tue 28th Jul, 2015

August is the best month for seeing Vanessids, a family of large and colourful butterflies including Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Painted Lady. A good place to see big numbers is in the North Yorkshire Forests, where they are especially attracted to flowers of Hemp Agrimony growing along woodland rides. Small Copper is another butterfly to look out for this month in open areas. They often prefer sparse ground and love feeding on the nectar of Ragwort!

Red Admiral © Dan Lombard

In the North Yorks forest Marsh and Willow Tits can be found in family groups feeding their young Forge Valley feeding station is a fantastic place to see Marsh Tits well. One of the best places to see Willow Tits is Wheldrake Ings YWT reserve near York.

Marsh Tit © Dan Lombard

It’s also a great time to see Redpolls and Siskins gathering in flocks with many juveniles in tow. Crossbills could be more numerous than in previous years as there has been a recent influx. Additionally, it’s an excellent time for Honey Buzzards – there have been up to three regular birds in the North Yorkshire Forests.

Male Siskin © Richard Baines

The North York Moors are now at their most colourful with great expanses of purple Ling, but they also play host to two specialist dragonfly species: Golden-ringed Dragonfly and Keeled Skimmer. The moors are fabulous places for insects, Jugger Howe Hawk and Owl Trust reserve north of Scarborough is a great place to see these and many other species.

Keeled Skimmer © Richard Baines

Along the East Yorkshire coast Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills are beginning to leave the cliffs where they bred and head out to sea, but numerous Gannets can still be seen, while out to sea skuas and shearwaters are on the move. August is a great month for spotting cetaceans such as Minke Whales. Several have recently been seen from Staithes and Whitby recently, along with White-Beaked and Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Harbour Porpoises are perhaps best seen from Marine Drive, Scarborough, opposite the castle.

August is a time of passage for many birds and wading birds are certainly on the move! In the north of the county Flamborough’s Thornwick Pools and Filey Dams regularly attract waders such as Little Ringed Plover, Common and Green Sandpipers, Greenshank and Snipe. Spurn YWT and Kilnsea further south are fabulous places to watch waders especially on a falling or rising tide.

Greenshank © Mark Pearson

This monthbats are weaned and becoming independent, venturing out to catch their own insects. Common Pipistrelle, Noctule and Brown Long-eared are some of the commoner species. Occasionally you may come across a young bat which has fallen to the ground, having tried to fly from its roost. Maternity roosts start to break up and mating roosts are formed. Noctules usually inhabit holes in trees but Common Pipistrelles will also utilise buildings.

Hedge Bindweed proliferates this month anywhere with hedges or shrubs which it can climb. On waste ground and in grassy places Teasel heads turn purple and the yellow button-like flowers of Tansy are also opening. The rare and famous Tansy Beetle is out this month try checking the banks of the Ouse near York for this amazing creature!

Tansy Beetle © Richard Baines