Explore the diverse flora and fauna on the Downs from season to season through personal observations and photographs

Migrant Hoverfly

Friday, 2 Oct 2026

It is that time of year when leaves are starting to fall. Very distracting, when a yellowed leaf flutters down ...
Common Crane Fly

Tuesday, 6 Oct 2026

A lovely warm and sunny early afternoon on what is billed as our last day of summer temperatures. There are ...
male Marmalade Hoverfly

Thursday, 8 Oct 2026

The first morning with a truly autumnal feel to it. I put on a light sweater rather reluctantly, but it ...
Kentish Snail

Sunday, 11 Oct 2026

Two new species added today, an ichneumon wasp and a lauxaniid fly. It was another sunny autumn day with very ...
Orange Ladybird pupa

Wednesday, 14 Oct 2026

I don’t see too many Orange Ladybird on the Downs, but today I found an Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) pupa ...
Common Banded Hoverfly on ivy flower

Saturday, 17 Oct 2026

A surprising first photo of the day was a Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly. Flight season for the second (summer) ...
Strawberry Snail

Monday, 19 Oct 2026

A moist morning on the Downs, with a heavy dew and water dripping from the trees, and in places just ...