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

Wednesday, 1 Oct 2025

It may be autumn but I can still add some new insects to the year list. This morning’s sighting was ...

Monday, 6 Oct 2025

It looks like ‘Fall’ has started. After some rain and very strong winds in the last few days the ground ...

Thursday, 9 Oct 2025

Common Banded Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) and Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) are still the most numerous hoverflies, but I managed to ...

Saturday, 11 Oct 2025

Still managing to see some new insects. Today it is the Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) and it is my first ...

Sunday, 12 Oct 2025

It is becoming more difficult to find something new. I will turn my attention to the leaf mines that are ...

Tuesday, 14 Oct 2025

I reached the Downs this morning with a song bouncing round in my head from the year I graduated from ...

Wednesday, 15 Oct 2025

The day dawned looking much the same as yesterday. Since my objective today was to get better photos of the ...

Thursday, 16 Oct 2025

Another new species for me this morning on an Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) leaf, the Ash Whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae). I located ...

Friday, 17 Oct 2025

Another new insect this morning with a Banded Winter Gnat (Trichocera annulata). It belongs to the Diptera family Trichoceridae, the ...

Tuesday, 21 Oct 2025

We may be well into October but the new insects keep on coming. I use the term ‘insect’ loosely here, ...

Wednesday, 22 Oct 2025

Jays, usually quite secretive birds that remain unobtrusive skulking around the canopies of oak trees, are much more prominent now ...

Friday, 24 Oct 2025

There is a distinctly autumnal look to the Downs now. I encountered a large mixed bird foraging party this morning, ...

Tuesday, 28 Oct 2025

Leaves are getting yellower and the carpet of fallen leaves is getting thicker. Another bird foraging party today, but this ...

Thursday, 30 Oct 2025

A very quiet day, not even many flies to be seen. Jays still very active. I concentrated on looking at ...