HARDINGTON WILDLIFE IN AUGUST
A Common Lizard found by Sue Philips in her garden, is possibly a new species for Hardington. These interesting creatures are usually found in dry, warm and rocky places, often near the sea. However, the fields at the top of High Street are fairly exposed and may be a suitable habitat. 
Another good sighting was of a hare being stalked by a fox in the field next to Merry Moles and there were further sightings of the Red Kite which seems to frequent the skies over Coker Wood, Pendomer and Hardington Marsh.
This year does seem to be poor for butterflies and July was quite disappointing with only a few sunny days. However, I have seen a few of all the species one would expect to see. Tortoiseshells have been very scarce for several years but have now made a bit of a comeback and at the moment seem more plentiful than Peacocks or Red Admirals. One reason for the ups and downs of butterfly populations is the activity of ichneumon flies which parasites on caterpillars, so maybe it is a good year for the ichneumon flies and a bad one for butterflies! Our garden produced one unusual find which was a Purple Hairstreak butterfly. These small butterflies are rarely seen close to, because their habitat is among the top branches of oak trees. This one must have just emerged from its pupa as it stopped to pose for a few photos before finally flying away.
Hardington Moor Nature Reserve will soon be cut for hay, but it remains a good place to see butterflies in August, both in the hedgerows and on the small patches of flowers left especially for them.
Mike Bickerton, July 2008.