Tuesday, 22 Jul 2025
Chalkhill Blue is still present in amazingly large numbers. New sightings included Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata), Tortoise Shield Bug (Eurygaster testudinaria) final stage nymph and Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax). On an English Oak (Quercus robur) the galls of the Knopper Gall Wasp (Andricus quercuscalicis) were found, as well as the egg sacs of the Sputnik Spider […]
Wednesday, 16 Jul 2025
It is still the most prominent butterfly and today I found the female of a mating pair of Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) carrying a parasitic Trombidium breei mite. A new insect added was the Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis). On 3rd May I posted an image of a Currant Gall caused by the Common Spangle Gall […]
Monday, 14 Jul 2025
What a start to my walk today! Just 3 minutes after setting foot on the Downs I realised that there were a Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) doe and her fawn walking towards me along the path. So I fired off a quick couple of shots and ducked into the trees to my right, trying to […]
Wednesday, 9 Jul 2025
An unexpected curtailment of this morning’s walk, but 30 minutes was enough for me to locate a 22-spotted ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) larva on Hogweed. Also found another new flower, one of my summer favourites, Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris). […]
Friday, 27 Jun 2025
Having seen my one and only Green-veined White (Pieris napi) this summer yesterday, another presented itself for a photo opportunity this morning. New additions to the insect list are Ringed Tubetail (Fagisyrphus cinctus) hoverfly and Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva), a major emergence of these, swarming all over Cow Parsley and Hogweed. Also, on the large […]
Monday, 23 Jun 2025
We need rain. There is a distinct straw-coloured tinge to all the greenery now. Marbled White is still the most numerous butterfly, Meadow Brown and Small Heath numbers are increasing and the latest to emerge in good numbers is Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus). Two weeks ago today I posted an image of the spectabilis form of […]
Wednesday, 11 Jun 2025
On a heavily overcast and quite breezy morning I saw literally one butterfly, a Marbled White. Other insects added to the year’s tally were Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana) and a Running Crab Spider (Philodromus albidus) on Hemp-agrimony. On some holly near the prison, I noted the presence of the Holly Leaf Miner (Phytomyza ilicis) as […]
Monday, 9 Jun 2025
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) butterflies are starting to appear, while it was yet another good day for other insects. New sightings were 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana), a leaf-curling sac spider (Clubiona lutescens), Variable Tenthredo (Tenthredo livida) and a Lauxaniid fly (Minettia inusta). On a large stand of as yet non-flowering […]
Wednesday, 4 Jun 2025
Several Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) calling this morning but still no clear sighting. It was a very good day for insects with lots of new additions – Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius), Yellow-lined Plant Bug (Deraeocoris flavilinea), Small Green Pot Beetle (Cryptocephalus hypochaeridis), Meadow Tortrix (Grapholita compositella) moth, Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipes?), Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) and Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis […]
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 […]
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 […]
Saturday, 3 May 2025
Some very early Small Heath butterflies (Coenonympha pamphilus) are on the wing today, while an English Oak (Quercus robur) tree revealed another type of gall, a Currant Gall caused by the gall wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum. These can occur either on a leaf or the male catkins of the oak tree. On a leaf of the same […]
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 […]
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 […]