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

Thursday, 26 Mar 2026

Lesser Banded Hoverfly on Blackthorn flower

A sunny, but cold day. The March winds continue again limiting the number of butterflies on the wing. Total count was just 2, a second Orange Tip to add my first from three days ago and the first Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) of the season. Hoverflies were represented by a Variable Duskyface Fly (Melanostoma mellinum) […]