Wednesday, 5 Nov 2025
Having seen my first Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae) of the year just 4 days ago I came across a cluster (what is the collective noun for a group of Birch Catkin Bugs?) of them this morning, again on a bramble. Found on leaf litter was a female wolf spider (family Lycosidae), possibly the species […]
Saturday, 1 Nov 2025
A lovely morning for a walk and I thought that’s all it might be until I turned over a bramble leaf and found two insects and a spider within inches of each over. They were a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), two adult Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae) and a well-camouflaged female Green Crab Spider (Diaea […]
Thursday, 9 Oct 2025
Common Banded Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) and Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) are still the most numerous hoverflies, but I managed to pick out a Plain-faced Drone Fly (Eristalis arbustorum). Both Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) and Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) are about in good numbers, particularly on sycamore and dogwood leaves. I also found a Cucumber Green […]
Monday, 6 Oct 2025
It looks like ‘Fall’ has started. After some rain and very strong winds in the last few days the ground is becoming covered in leaves. It is a great time of year for spider webs too, as the low angle sun picks them out very well. By far the most common insect […]
Wednesday, 1 Oct 2025
It may be autumn but I can still add some new insects to the year list. This morning’s sighting was a soldier fly, the Twin-spot Centurion (Sargus bipunctatus). Other species photographed include the European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus), which seems to be very abundant right now, and another Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea), this one on a […]
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2025
Maybe the butterfly season is now officially closed. ZERO count this morning. With the area of the old sheep enclosure now accessible I decided to check out some of the trees in this area and added a few things to my lists. On a Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) leaf I found a leaf mine possibly […]
Monday, 29 Sep 2025
A very heavy dew this morning after an early mist. A distinct autumnal feel and look about the Downs today. The first patch of brambles I came to I watched for a few minutes as one of my favourite birds, a Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), searched for insects, larvae or spiders. […]
Saturday, 27 Sep 2025
Exactly 2 butterflies today, both Speckled Wood. I added a new spider, the Common Sun-jumper (Heliophanus flavipes), on one of those nameless yellow composites. Two new galls were found on English Oak (Quercus robur) leaves, the Smooth Spangle Gall and Oyster Gall, caused by the agamic generation of the gall wasps Neuroterus albipes and Neuroterus […]
Thursday, 28 Aug 2025
Only Speckled Wood and Small Copper butterflies to be seen today. Some of the Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) took a liking to some rotting apples beneath a Crab Apple tree. New species added were a leafhopper (Arboridia ribauti) on a Wild Cherry leaf, a Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) and a possible Banded Comb-Footed Spider […]
Sunday, 17 Aug 2025
New insects added were the caterpillar of the Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi) and a female Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis). This is my first species of damselfly recorded on the Downs and together with the Southern Hawker dragonfly only the second member of the Odontata. I discovered an Apple Leaf Miner moth (Lyonetia clerkella) leaf […]
Friday, 1 Aug 2025
Good numbers of Brown Argus and Small Copper around this morning. Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown are increasing, and the large numbers of Chalkhill Blue are beginning to tail off. New insects for the summer were Long-legged Plant Bug (Phytocoris varipes), Alder Spittlebug (Aphrophora alni), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and Spotted Wolf Spider (Pardosa amentata), the latter […]
Monday, 28 Jul 2025
Good numbers of Brown Argus present today, outnumbered by Small Copper, which are in much greater numbers than recent days. Insects added today were Tiger Ichneumon Wasp (Ichneumon xanthorius), a tiny (+/- 5 mm) Orthocentrus ichneumon wasp that landed on my watch strap, European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) and Kite-tailed Robberfly (Machimus atricapillus). Also photographed were […]
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 […]
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2025
Second scorcher in a row. I even aborted my walk at 09:30 as it was a good 4-5 degrees hotter than yesterday at the same time. Not too much insect activity either. Most of the plants are looking distinctly frazzled, even the hogweed. Did manage a nice photo of a Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) on […]
Saturday, 14 Jun 2025
Very windy again today. Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) still the dominant butterfly, seemingly on every patch of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) are definitely increasing in numbers. An insect added to the year’s list was Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) moth. On a Hogweed I came across a Flower Crab Spider (Misumena […]
Friday, 13 Jun 2025
On a very hot humid day with only a gentle breeze Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) are still present in large numbers along with Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) but today outnumbered by Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) which seems to be reaching peak numbers. Some new additions were Artichoke Beetle (Sphaeroderma testaceum), Silver Y (Autographa gamma) moth and […]
Thursday, 12 Jun 2025
Not seen since 5th April one of the resident Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) swooped low enough near me that I was able to get a decent photo with just a 135 mm lens. A second wave of Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) butterflies seems to be starting, and there were also large numbers of Speckled Wood (Pararge […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]