Exciting news for us this month - a beautiful, White Barn Owl is once again resident in our barn. Is it the old one returned, or a completely new bird? How are we ever going to tell? The original Owl has not been sighted for 18 months or more and, neither has there been any sightings of fresh droppings piling up in the barn. (The one advantage of its disappearance). I came upon the new, (or returning), Owl whilst entering the top barn to search for some piece of equipment, and there it was, just sitting on a shelf about 3 foot away. We both scared the living daylights out of each other and when the Owl made a bid for freedom by flying straight towards a closed glass window, I made a hasty retreat. I left the doors opened and when I next looked, the Owl had gone. I have seen glimpses of it at dusk, circling the top of the field. Such a beauty. We are now in contact with the barnowltrust.org.uk who have provided us with construction designs to build a, 'deep indoor nestbox'. Another project - just what we needed!
In addition to the Barn Owl, I counted 35 Swallows sitting on the telegraph wires and many more diving up and down and across the field. It's wonderful to watch them, warmng themselves in the sun, (yes, we did get some), chattering away with each other and then showing off their acrobatic skills, but it also signifies their impending departure. A final flourish before they disappear into the skies on their epic journey to Africa. The Rooks too, gathered in their dozens, still performing their daily flyby in the early morning. A rowdy mob. And adding to this sonic landscape were the Grasshoppers and Crickets. We had both, in plentiful supply, unlike previous years in which they have rarely appeared. Why this year? I did a brief bit of research about this and according to 'Specieswatch' in The Guardian, the climate crisis has enabled some species of Cricket to spread all over the UK. A government report (www.gov.uk), stated there had been, 'extraordinary changes in the fortunes' for many of these species since 1997 when they had been put on the endangered list, but are now 'showing signs of range change in response to climate change'. It is somewhat confusing, given that their preference is for hot, dry weather, quite the opposite of what we have experienced this month. However, according to wildlifetrusts.org the Meadow Grasshopper is found in 'damp, unimproved pastures and meadows', I expect that's the one putting in an appearance in our field. More research I think.
Generally August is the month for setting new temperature records, not so in 2024 in which it will be known for the lack of sun, a few mighty bouts of wind, and some heavy rainfall. Exactly the same sort of weather I experienced throughout my childhood, camping in Britain in August. Here on The Lizard, the sun was out in full blast for the first part of the month, which sent the sweetpeas wild, exploding into magnificent blooms and the raspberries, tomatoes and corn ripened and sweetened on the vine. But 'changeable' weather arrived in the middle of the month, meaning everything and anything could be, (and was) experienced in a day. The rain and winds were warm, the days and nights were muggy and close, and the sea was the perfect temperature for daily swims.
In the field the Fleabane won the star of the month award, both the Mexican and the Common species. Feverfew was a close runner up, it doesn't appear in the field but it lines all the hedgerows around the house and along the track to the road. Down by the riverbank the Wild Angelica was unfolding its purple stems and showing hints of its future flowers, and at its side the skeletal forms of Hemlock Water-dropwort were moving into the golden colours of Autumn. Blackberries still ripened into juicy fruits giving us the joy of regular crumbles for pudding. Bright green chestnuts hung in clusters from the trees and the red berries of the Rowans started to appear. And as the month drew to a close, the air at dawn and dusk offered a hint of the cold autumn chills, waiting in the wings, to play their part in the coming season.
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