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

Monday, 2 Jun 2025

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

Wednesday, 4 Jun 2025

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

Saturday, 7 Jun 2025

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

Monday, 9 Jun 2025

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

Wednesday, 11 Jun 2025

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

Thursday, 12 Jun 2025

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

Friday, 13 Jun 2025

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

Saturday, 14 Jun 2025

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

Monday, 16 Jun 2025 – London Wetland Centre

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

Tuesday, 17 Jun 2025

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

Saturday, 21 Jun 2025

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

Monday, 23 Jun 2025

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

Wednesday, 25 Jun 2025

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

Thursday, 26 Jun 2025

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

Friday, 27 Jun 2025

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

Saturday, 28 Jun 2025

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

Monday, 30 Jun 2025

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