July on the Moor
More nights on the Moor. The weather starts hot this month, but then goes wet. Very wet. Before being generally mixed. Still, it gives me a chance to try my new harsh weather clothing before my winter at Abernethy.
Highlights from the month include…
I quickly get over the stomach cramps; I see my first Willow tit (whilst just sat in my van!); on one of the night watches I watch lightning light up the sky to the South, without any thunder; Damo, from Aylesbeare, comes back to help out and regale me with stories of the East London gangsta scene; a nightjar flies over my camper pretty much every night then, suddenly, there are at least 4 nightjars around the van towards the end of the month; I watch two roe bucks rutting about 20m away from me one day in some woods – they walk side by side scraping their hooves on the ground and occasionally turn and lock horns – eventually the winner stands and bellows for a while, even though he can see me watching; we regularly see a red hind with a spritely little fawn; John and Chris, the two residential volunteers from the Exe (RSPB) come and help out; I see the bands of Jupiter and its 4 moons through the scope on a couple of clear nights, fantastic.
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