August is a good month for mammal spotting. The population will be at its peak, with youngsters becoming independent, but prior to the hunting season. You will notice rabbits and hares, roe deer, hedgehogs, red squirrels, badgers, martens, mice and foxes are much more visible. Sadly, at this time, the roadkill numbers increase dramatically, especially badgers and hedgehogs.
Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius is not scarce at all, and the somewhat paler second generation, like this one below, will be flying.
One day in August you will notice that the swifts have gone (in fact, I'm beginning to wonder if they have already left, since I don't think I've seen one for a couple of days!). No more screaming scimitars in the sky. I miss them and look forward to their return next spring.
Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris, with striking dusty purple stems, is one of the later flowering umbels, found in damp places.
If you have orchids in your lawn it should be safe to mow over them at the end of the month because the seed should have matured and been dispersed.
Huge adult Stag Beetles
Lucanus cervus are still out and about, arriving in their ludicrous out of control way at the lights if you have a barbecue, or just going about their business on the forest floor. This one's a female, so she doesn't have the impressive 'antlers', photographed in the Fôret de Loches.
Usually the first half of the month is hot, but it will cool down to pleasantly warm in the second half. According to Méteo de France, today is set to be a record 37°C.
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