Today marks the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Having spent 40 years south of the Equator I still have to remind myself of that.

A cooler morning with hazy sunshine and a touch of light frost in sheltered areas of the Downs. After two days of butterflies flitting around in the sunshine my count today was but a single Peacock. Bee and fly numbers were also down, presumably waiting for the day to warm up a bit.

My searches of evergreen leaves and newly opened Sycamore sapling leaves provided some good photo opportunities.

On the upper surface of a Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) leaf I found a Large Flax Flea Beetle (Aphthona euphorbiae), while on the underside of another I located a Long-horned Springtail (Pogonognathellus longicornis).

On the upper surface of a Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaf I was able to get one of my best images yet of the globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi, and on the underside of another a leafhopper, Arboridia ribauti.

Many trees are budding, but the leaf buds of Beech, Lime and Oak remain tightly closed. Latest to produce leaves and flower buds is the Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). On one leaf/flower bundle I saw a Mountain Ash Sawfly (Pristiphora geniculata). I’m guessing that was a female looking for place to lay her eggs, so I will keep a close watch for larvae eating the fully opened Rowan leaves.

A flower, the Cowslip (Primula veris), widely regarded as one of the main heralds of spring has picked the Equinox to put in its first appearance. Right next to these cowslips was a flower that I have neglected to mention even though it has been around for several weeks already. I have overlooked this common late winter/early spring bloomer for the very reason that it is such a common sight. I am, of course, referring to the Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus).

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