Holidaying House Martins, menopausal birds and seashore safaris

With their characteristic flash of a white rump, the last broods of House Martins will be emerging from their mud cup nests, encouraged by the adults who swoop and chatter around them. If the weather turns bad, the newly fledged chicks may return to roost in their nests for a few days. Sensibly, in the next month or two, they will be on the move; leaving these shores for sunny, warm Africa on their winter holiday, where food is more abundant.
Most of the rest of the birds are virtually done breeding; therefore it's quite quiet in the garden. They are also undergoing their annual moult, which is energy-sapping and tiring; a bit like the bird equivalent of the menopause! So if you do come across a rather bedraggled bird in the hedge, just leave it, as it will soon be back on the wing.

August is a great month to take the kids to the seaside and spend time doing some serious rock-pooling. The water is warm(ish), and at low tide you can find loads of brilliant creatures of all shapes and colours e.g. goby fish, shrimps, crabs, sea anemones, snails and shellfish. You may even find some pipefish, a close relative of the seahorse – how cool is that?