Saturday, 31 May 2025
Only had an hour this morning for a quick sortie onto the Downs, but had only just arrived when I got a photo of another new insect species, a rove beetle (Staphylinus dimidiaticornis?) that scuttled across the path ahead of me (which is why the photo is not totally in focus – it was moving […]
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
A second Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), one of the summer migrant birds, was noted this morning. It was very windy again today, but some good overnight rain meant that in the more sheltered areas there was still a lot of insect activity. Yet again there were lots of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies on the […]
Monday, 26 May 2025
It was windy again, with a very gusty southwester blowing, so I stuck to the woodland paths and those along the eastern edges of woodland. The Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterfly is still to be seen, as are Small Blue (Cupido minimus) and increasing numbers of Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), but not a Brimstone (Gonepteryx […]
Friday, 23 May 2025
Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticola) beetles are out in large numbers and I have my first sighting this spring of Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) dragonfly. I have not seen this dragonfly too often over the past decade but there are two spots in particular where they are most likely to be seen. It looks like this […]
Thursday, 22 May 2025
The Cuckoo has gone silent (or maybe just gone). Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) was out in large numbers today and new insects were a jewel beetle, the Oak Borer (Agrilus angustulus) and having first seen it at Warnham Nature Reserve 9 days ago I have now recorded Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis) on the Downs. […]
Monday, 19 May 2025
I have only heard a Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) calling on the Downs twice in the last 10 years, but there was one around this morning. I could locate the general area that he was in but could not see him. Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Small Blue (Cupido minimus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies are still […]
Saturday, 17 May 2025
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Small Blue (Cupido minimus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies are still around in good numbers. The Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) continues to support a wide variety of insects, with all of these seen within a few metres of each other – Cinquefoil Strider (Macrophya annulata), Flecked Strider (Macrophya blanda), Red-thighed Macrophya […]
Friday, 16 May 2025
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) and Small Blue (Cupido minimus) are the most numerous butterflies in the open areas with a good number of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) on the woodland paths. The Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is beginning to blossom and is supporting a host of insects and spiders. Those photographed today were Small Blue butterfly, […]
Tuesday, 13 May 2025 – Warnham Nature Reserve
Something different today. I spent the morning at the Warnham Nature Reserve, near Horsham in West Sussex. I will just post a gallery of some of the things that you cannot or may not see on Banstead Downs. […]
Saturday, 10 May 2025
Both Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies are out in good numbers today, as are Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus). Also my first sighting on the Downs of the Rustic Sailor Beetle (Cantharis rustica). Latest flowers to appear are Common Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) and Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa). […]
Thursday, 8 May 2025
It was a good day for insects today. Forest Bug (Pentatoma rufipes), Lucerne Bug (Adelphocoris lineolatus), Common Dance Fly (Empis tessellata) and Plain-winged Spring Beegrabber [Myopa testacea] were seen before adding Buzzing Spider (Anyphaena accentuata?). As there are 3 very similar species in this spider genus, which can only be separated under a microscope, I […]
Friday, 2 May 2025
The Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is now blooming across the Downs, the May blossom adding a touch of colour to the otherwise green hedges and woodland. In the grassland areas the latest flowers to appear are Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) and Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). On the leaf of one as yet non-flowering Salad […]
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Many of the dandelions now have full heads of seeds – ‘dandelion clocks’. The strong breeze today has them blowing around like snow. Indeed, some paths have sections that look as if there is a light frost or snow cover such is the concentration of the seeds. There are other windblown seeds resembling dandelion seeds, […]
Monday, 28 April 2025
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Peacock (Aglais io) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies are all now present in large numbers, as is the Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major). New today were Raspberry Beetle (Byturus ochraceus) swarming all over the dandelion flowers in one area, a Small Green Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius roboretanus) that landed conveniently on the back […]
Saturday, 26 April 2025
Only one new sighting today, a rove beetle scuttled across the path right in front of me. No photo as it disappeared quickly into the long grass on the verge and definitely no ID. […]
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
What a difference 5 days makes. The trees on the Downs have all leafed and the visual impact of all that greenery is quite stunning. While the trees may be looking very different there is little to add on the wildflower front, with a just few Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) and […]