17-10-2023 · A very restless goldcrest (Regulus regulus) making a brief visit to some honeysuckle just outside the house. We've never seen one here before.

03-09-2023 · Common darter dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) resting on a reed hanging over the edge of the pond.

22-08-2023 · Pollinators visiting a wild carrot (Daucus carota) flower.

01-08-2023 · A white-lipped banded snail (Cepaea hortensis) resting high-up on a dried stem.

28-07-2023 · The more you zoom-in the more you can see - not far away from the bush cricket we saw a grasshopper (bottom left), but didn't notice the little black-and-yellow beetle (top right).

28-07-2023 · Going out one July evening with the bat detector I was shocked by the din it picked-up - everywhere in the meadow there was a continuous chuffing noise that prevented the detector's auto-id feature from recognising even a pipistrelle bat. The clue is that the sound started in late July, as this is a time bush crickets start to make their mating calls. The next morning we went out with the bat detector again and quickly spied one of the culprits amongst the greenery. I think it's a long-winged conehead (Conocephalus discolor).

20-07-2023 · Peacock butterfly (Aglais io) and a bumblebee enjoying thistle flowers.

09-08-2023 · I made this hole in a shed earlier in the year to give access to nesting swallows, fixed a board inside to facilitate nest-building and played swallow calls from inside the shed for a few hours each day until the sparrow hawk arrived (see above). We just noticed today that the hole was appreciated by hornets that are building a large nest inside. Short video of the hornets working on their nest. (opens in a popup or separate tab/window).

06-07-2023 · Gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus) on a bramble leaf. Large numbers this year, seen almost anywhere except on any gates!

26-06-2023 · Small White butterfly (Pieris rapae) on bramble flower.

26-06-2023 · Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) sunning itself on brambles.

17-06-2023 · Skipper butterfly, probably the Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola).

30-05-2023 · Panorama looking east to south-east down the meadow. [Scroll ↑]

30-05-2023 · First-ever orchid found here for at least 20 years. The Southern Marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa).

15-05-2023 · Spot the Great Spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major).

15-05-2023 · Woodland edge effect created by trees planted in the northern end of the meadow and trees bordering the brook. A good place to sit, listen and watch on a hot sunny day.

15-05-2023 · Male beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo). Large numbers are found in trees and shrubs alongside the brook.

04-05-2023 · This male sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) was attracted to the shed by the sound of swallow calls, played to attract nesting swallows!

30-04-2023 · View down the east side, where a long bramble patch has been left along the bank of the brook.

30-04-2023 · Patch where the harvest mice nested last year.

30-04-2023 · Not much in flower yet apart from cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) thanks to the cold weather.

30-04-2023 · Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) flowering along the northern hedge amongst silver birch trees (Betula pendula).

30-04-2023 · View south-east down the meadow after a cold start to the spring.

23-04-2023 · Green dock beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) mating while one beetle eats.

24-01-2023 · Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) nest found in a neglected patch of long, tufty grass.