Although another warm and bright cloudless day today there was a very strong wind keeping insect sightings to a bare minimum. I did notice the first hoverflies of the season but as they were not landing for any length of time was unable to identify them. One gorse bush in full bloom hosted a few 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata).

One of the resident Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) family was having a hard time of it, mobbed by three crows taking it in turns to dive bomb it from above while the other two seemingly tried to peck at its wings. It eventually decided that discretion is the better part of valour and headed to the far side of the common out of harms way.

Flowers that have appeared since my last visit are the Common Dog-violet/Wood Violet (Viola riviniana) growing quite profusely in some areas of the Downs grassland, as well as a few early Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) and White Dead-nettle (Lamium album).

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