June 2025

Heard a Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) calling this morning but couldn’t locate it. Lots of glimpses of something flitting around the ...

Several Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) calling this morning but still no clear sighting. It was a very good day for insects ...

The first Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) of the summer on the Downs put in appearance this morning – well the ...

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) butterflies are starting to appear, while it was yet another good day for other insects. New ...

On a heavily overcast and quite breezy morning I saw literally one butterfly, a Marbled White. Other insects added to ...

Not seen since 5th April one of the resident Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) swooped low enough near me that I ...

On a very hot humid day with only a gentle breeze Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) are still present in ...

Very windy again today. Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) still the dominant butterfly, seemingly on every patch of Red Clover (Trifolium ...

Something different today. I spent the morning at the London Wetland Centre. I usually go there for birdwatching, but decided ...

Among the butterflies today was the first Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) of the season. New insects added were Brown Oak ...

The oppressive heat of the last week, with the 30°C mark being breached yesterday and no doubt again today coupled ...

We need rain. There is a distinct straw-coloured tinge to all the greenery now. Marbled White is still the most ...

A few showers of rain yesterday, not that you’d notice. Still Marbled White butterflies everywhere you look and both Small ...

Latest butterflies to put in an appearance are Large White (Pieris brassicae), Green-veined White (Pieris napi) and Comma (Polygonia c-album) ...

Having seen my one and only Green-veined White (Pieris napi) this summer yesterday, another presented itself for a photo opportunity ...

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) are now the most numerous butterflies. New insects for this year’s Downs ...

A scorcher today. It was 29°C already at 11:00. I’d normally be on the Downs then but have been home ...