NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND

If you are a regular visitor to ND&B you will be aware that I have recently written a lengthy account of my formative years birding during the 1970s (you can download it by visiting the rather grandly named 'ND&B Publications' tab above this post and underneath the blog header.) I was only able to bring together such a detailed account because, at the time of the observations, I had written at length about them and kept all of my notebooks. There were some memories strong enough to not have needed a written history to refer to, but many more that did. I have been heartened to have received a positive feedback to the project, and what with the enjoyment that I took from producing it, have started on the next one - based on my 1980s birding experience. I started to look through my notebooks from that period of time and found out something troubling - my enthusiasm for narrative and description was, at times, deserted in the mid-1980s. It wasn't completely abandoned, ...

The afternoon was spent sheltering under trees - my walk, across Epsom and Walton Downs, was a wet affair. Who can remember when it used to just rain? Our precipitation now seems to come in two flavours - none, or deluge. The calcareous footpaths that I was wandering along became chalk streams within minutes, my footwear soaked through. A Yew became a refuge for over 30 minutes, where I was able to feel very wet and surprisingly cold as I looked out at an ever darkening sky. Even when brightness seemed to hold the ascendency another nasty belt of rain rushed in on a brisk north-westerly, sending me to scurry back to my shelter. During one of these periods of incarceration, a Silver-washed Fritillary floated past, alighting nearby. It didn't seem bothered by the rain, and allowed me to spend a few moments in its company. I then let it be, marvelling that such a delicate insect should be able to stay exposed to the heavy rain with seemingly little consequence. It was making far less ...

After yesterday's biblical deluge, this morning at Canons Farm was spent in a visually and aurally muffled arena, the oppressive air weighted, and not a breath of wind. A low, pearly, soapy sky added to the feeling of claustrophobia. I hadn't visited here for a few weeks, so it was good to be back. The footpaths and 'public' areas have never looked so choked with vegetation. Although a bit too early to expect passerine migrants, it was still worth checking the tit flocks that I came across, as it has been known for the odd goody - such as a Wood Warbler - to put in a late-July appearance. Bird-wise, highlights were a minimum of 130 Common Swifts wheeling above the farmland, plus three Sand Martins that moved quickly through. The late-summer build up of Wood Pigeons has started, with 500+ already haunting the fields. The next few weeks should see things pick up here - it is always worth my while checking the crop edges for warblers, and the hedgerows for chats. Easy, lai...

The garden MV is at its busiest during July, with high numbers of 'micro-moths' to keep me busy and push me along that steep learning curve. There is no getting away from it, micros can be difficult, and many are not identifiable unless you resort to genitalia determination, something that I am not prepared to get involved with, not on any moral grounds, just out of sheer laziness on my part. There are other species that vary in colour and patterning, so that two of the same, side by side, look anything but. The two images below are of Eudemis profundana , a common tortrix, and as you can see, are different from each other. I have other images of this species which differ further still, but will not overload you with them here. Where can you go for help? Apart from the printed moth guides - in particular ' British Moths ' by Chris Manley (third edition), I am increasingly using a few of the excellent on-line resources. One stands out from the rest, and that is the excel...

After several days of uncomfortably hot temperatures, it was back to just having to endure a moderately 'hot' day, with the added bonus of a moderate easterly breeze. Yesterday afternoon, Gordon Hay took on the role as a 'Mad dog' or an 'Englishman' by going out to Holmethorpe in the midday sun, and finding a Lesser Emperor, a species of Odonata that we both thought long overdue at the sand pits. This morning, I tried to emulate him. On arrival there was not an awful lot yet on the wing, so I walked along the northern side of Mercer's Lake and kept one eye on the water's edge for any dragonfly action. A few were flying as I reached the north-eastern corner, so edged down to be closer - Black-tailed Skimmers and Emperor Dragonflies, with a few Common Blue Damselflies for company. A fallen tree, partially submerged and only 25m from where I stood, was acting as a perch for a number of Black-headed Gulls. I idly scanned them, realising that in the water alo...

I've stripped the blog down to basics, just plain wrapping, nowt else, time for a change. The hot weather continues to provide an increase in moths to the MV, but certainly not in the numbers that I once would have expected. I leave the trap by the side of a white wall, and in previous years high overnight temperatures would have seen this expanse of white covered in moths at rest when checking the MV in the morning. Now? Just a few, no more. Likewise, the egg boxes inside have plenty of moths (and other insects) at rest, but not the hordes of 20-30 years ago. A few species that are not annual have turned up, but only one species of macro has been new for the garden, this Brown-veined Wainscot, a species that has reduced in range by 60% since 2000 (according to the excellent Atlas). I've been shielding these past few weeks to protect a family member from the possibility of coming into contact with COVID, so by necessity my time out in the field has been cut back. This has allow...

You can download this by visiting the ‘ND&B Publications’ tab above, underneath the blog header.

  A brief visit to Denbies Hillside this morning, just as the air was starting to warm up. At least 200+ Chalkhill Blues (top) were already dancing above the downland sward, but butterfly (and other) invertebrate numbers were generally low. Both Silver-washed and Dark Green Fritillary was recorded. Also pictured above are Comma (middle) and Ringlet (bottom). Maybe the sudden shock of hot weather over the weekend will get more invert action, but you do wonder how our butterfly and moths have fared with this wet and cool summer.

Time in the field has been reduced of late, and my mind is largely elsewhere, so here are a few snapshots of inverts that have come my way rather than having been hunted down. Privet Hawk-moth, Banstead. My second in the garden this summer. Waved Black, Banstead. A smart moth, not annual here. Scorched Wing, Banstead. I don't see too many of these moths, and hadn't noticed the purple staining on the underwing before. Rose Chafer, Banstead Downs. I hadn't seen this large beetle until last month, now another comes along. Smart! Stag Beetle, Banstead. This female was wandering along the pavement outside our house.