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Flowers
The only species to begin flowering in September is the Ivy which provides a great late food source for insects. Lots of late summer species are still flowering and Eyebright is in flower in the short grass just north of the cattle corral and near the east fence - a small, very pretty white flower and unusual in this part of Derbyshire. It was first recorded in Darley Nutwood during the bat walk in 2018!
Butterflies & other insects
Grasshoppers and bush crickets will still be active. You may be able to hear the bush crickets’ continuous ‘song,’ around the reserve, though they are hard to spot!. The large (and harmless) hornet-mimic hoverfly, Volucella inanis, might pay a visit. Not so welcome, Harlequin ladybirds will probably be increasing in numbers at this time of year.
Silver-Y and Large Yellow Underwing moths will still be around, the Silver-Y flying by day, while the Yellow Underwing may be flushed from the undergrowth.
Quite a few butterflies can be seen, if the weather is reasonable - any of the three species of Whites, the attractive little Small Copper and Common Blue, and perhaps a Red Admiral or a Comma feeding on ripe blackberries.
This summer for the first time we have seen Brown Argus butterflies (similar to female Common Blue); we are hoping we may have a colony here! Two were seen late August, so worth looking out for them in September.
Birds
September and October see a transition from the summer visitors, most of which leave during August and September, and the arrival of several winter visitors.
September: Most of our warblers including Whitethroat and Willow Warbler will leave with their young by the end of September. A few Chiff Chaff will stay. Swifts have already left, but you may well see swallows
and martins for a while yet, especially seeking insects over the cattle dung when the cattle arrive. Green Woodpeckers are often heard making a characteristic yaffling sound, and you may see one feeding at one of the
ant hills, larger than the Great Spotted Woodpecker and with a large bright yellow rump. Nuthatch are noisy at present, a characteristic "chwick - chwick" sound, and picking at tree bark for grubs.
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