Blue-winged Grasshopper

 Following various chores during the morning, including collecting a car load of plants from Pam for David’s new garden we decided to drive to a site in Folkestone for the recently arrived Blue-winged grasshopper. We parked on the side road just off the roundabout and walked along the path westwards. We met up with Dylan and Rob, who had seen one near a pylon across the path, that jumped into the grass so we spent a bit of time wandering around, finding a few grasshoppers and eventually, Dylan called us over for one that had hopped up out of the grass onto a bit of fencing. A few more were found by walking through the grass and,as long as they weren’t disturbed, they would sit on the path for a while, allowing some better photographs.

A very successful trip for a new species.

Long-tailed Shrike - Eastleach-Turville 25th July 2026

 25th July

A Long-tailed shrike in Gloucester eventually tempted us out for a day trip. We invited Sean along, David picking him up before driving to me where we changed cars and left around 10.30am and I drove to the site, near Swindon. Because of hold ups on the M25 we took the M3 and then the A332 up to the M4before exiting just before Swindon and heading to the site in the middle of a lot of farm land.

There was a car park system set up, so we parked, paid our £5 and then walked along the road to a path through a stone wall which took us two fields in to where the shrike was being watched by a smallish group, hunting in a bramble bush a hundred meters or so away. The light wasn’t brilliant until I moved back along the wall where the angle seemed better. 

We spent some time watching it and then it was time to return. We followed the Satnav a slightly different route back heading for the M40, where we had around 50 Red Kites, and back to the M25. We stopped at Cobham services for something to eat before making it home, still in daylight. A very pleasant day out.

Catch up.

A couple of recent days out over the last few months. We went up to Yocklets for the orchids on May 16th. We found three Green Fly Orchids plus a few normal ones, plus lots of Twayblades, a few Lady orchids, not as many as usual, and a couple of White Helleborines.

H

As usual, we also looked around for insects and other things and found this large weevil, Liparus germanus, a striking creature.

We went back via Crete Road where the orchids were almost over, and the Man orchids were almost non existent, seeing only three. 

Clearwings and other animals

 Trying for the later clearwings I had lures out for Yellow-legged, Currant and then Raspberry Clearwings.

So far, no, currant and only one Yellow-legged, after the loads of orange-tailed to that lure. The Raspberry lure brought in 9 moths one day and seven another, so looks like they are doing ok around here.

Yellow-legged Clearwing

Raspberry Clearwing 

Numbers in the moth trap have dropped considerably but there have still been some nice moths, including Gypsy moth, several Jersey Tigers, Twin-spot, a second Light Crimson Underwing, Elephant and Poplar Hawkmoths and a first for the garden, a Garden Tiger.

Twin-spot

Light Crimson Underwing

Elephant and Poplar Hawkmoth and Jersey Tiger

Around Dungeness there is a family of foxes which are very tame, probably due to being fed by many of the visitors. 

We also hade at least 4 Clouded Yellow Butterflies in front of the power station but couldn’t find the reported Helice variety.

Quick trip to Knowle Wood, Barham

 Following help from DB we escaped the shingle and drove to Knowle Wood on the chalk. We were looking for Yellow Bird’s-nest, which I haven’t seen for years. The instructions said to park in a small lay-by car park and walk up the hill, turn to the right and start looking under the beeches. There was a car in the space but plenty of room for us to park.

We got out of the car, looked around and the first thing I saw was a large group of the plant just on the edge between the car park and the road.there were about 75 plants, but most were going over, with a few that were photographable.

We then wandered up footpath to the top of the hill, checking out a fungi at the side of the path. We turned right and David found another group under a yew tree, again, mostly going over. Further on we explored an open space where there were several groups of the plant. We also found some different fungi and some really nice Broad-leaved Hellaborines and the remains of what looked like White Hellaborine.

On the way back down to the car we found a large fungi along the forest track. A lovely wood and hopefully worth a return.

Over the summer 2025

  A couple of trips to Hamstreet woods complex especially for butterflies, White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak, Large Tortoiseshell and a pond full of frogs.

Some moths over recent