A few more butterfly species around today, with one sighting each of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Small White (Pieris rapae). Sighting of the day, however, after 11 years of walking on Banstead Downs was my first Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae). It was seen in an area that I know supports Wild Strawberry, Tormentil, Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) and Agrimony, all of which are the larval foodplants. A few Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) have started to flower, although I’d expect to see a profusion of the blossoms in a few weeks time. It isn’t the ‘Mayflower’ for nothing. 

An interesting shrub a few metres off one the main paths attracted my attention because of its clusters of yellow flowers. Turns out that this is a species introduced from North America to European ornamental gardens in the 19^th century but has now established itself in woods across southern England, Holly-leaved Barberry (Berberis aquifolium), or as it is known in North America, Oregon Grape.

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