Late summer wildlife spotting guide

by Mark Dinning

Mark Dinning

Head of Conservation

August is considered a quiet month for wildlife, as, by now, chicks have fledged and most flowers have bloomed. This is in contrast to spring and early summer months when plants and animals were busy ensuring their genes are passed on to a new generation. But nature doesn’t rest, so August isn’t really a quiet month and there is still plenty to see.

Berries

Spare a thought for our busy pollinators when you’re out enjoying the August sunshine. We have pollinators to thank for every third mouthful of food we eat. Not only do they pollinate our food crops, but they’re also vital for the survival of other wild plants that support so much of our wildlife. Pollinators have seen a significant decline over the last 40 years, many species seeing a reduction in their UK range by more than a quarter. Much of our August fruits and berries are the result of their hard labour through the spring and summer. A good number of bumblebees and solitary bees you will see at this time of year are nearing the end of their life cycle, but a new generation of bumblebee queens are preparing for their autumn hibernation.

Autumn Gentian – Bishop Middleham Quarry

The blooms aren’t quite done yet! Autumn gentian is a late flowering plant (July, August) found on our limestone grasslands. Its purple flowers standing out as other plants start to fade.

Top photo: Greenshank by Bertie Gregory/2020Vision Left: Autumn gentian by Lesley Hodgson

Back to the Beach – anywhere on the coast including Durham Wildlife Trust’s Blackhall Rocks

There’s plenty of excitement to be had at the coast in autumn as birds return to winter feeding grounds, or pass through as they migrate south for winter. For many species, their normal route will take them along the Durham coast. Autumn migration lasts from the end of July through to early November. Keep your eyes peeled for a wading bird bonanza that includes greenshank, little stint and turnstone amongst many others.

Flight of the Dragon – Rainton Meadows

A family of insects that can be seen for a large part of the year, the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) continue to fly well into the autumn. The ruddy darter is a species that has expanded its range from the south east of England in recent years, and is now a common sight at Rainton Meadows. Distinguished from the similar-looking common darter by its all-black legs.