Two surprisingly late-flowering rarities for #wildflowerhour. Greater Dodder and Tubular Water-dropwort both on floodplains in Surrey this week

54 straight hours. When will Thames Water 💧 stop sending sewage into our floodplain nature reserve downstream? The channel is already devoid of macrophytes bc of pollutants and I fear we'll lose the kingfishers from our riverbank this year if they're expected to nest in human waste

It's not often I get to see 5 of our 6 native reptiles on a single site in a single day. Fantastic hour's herping on the Surrey stretch of the Thames Basin Heaths today. Great to meet Steve Harley and chat all things nature too. Year first Peacock and Comma were added bonuses.

I found what I suspect to be Inonotus obliquus/Chaga fungus in a small sliver of ancient woodland in NW Surrey this week. Local expert coming next week to confirm for recording purposes. There can't be too many records of this for VC17 SBIC Surrey Wildlife Trust?

Having consulted Steven Falk 's excellent Flickr resource, I'm confident this is Acantholyda erythrocephala beneath Scots Pine in Surrey on 07/04/24. Very few records on NBN but SRS has it listed as spreading in the south east. What a stunner of a sawfly!

A sight and sound that tell me summer is almost here! Nightjar at Chobham Common, 30/4/24

Not often you find a freshly emerged Golden-ringed Dragonfly who's willing to join a quick photoshoot. What a beaut she is too!

Two fragrant orchids from the North Downs in Surrey yesterday, although my hayfever put paid to any chances of smelling them! Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Bird's-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), both firsts for me #wildflowerhour

Nice to add a new dot on the map for White-letter Hairstreak in Surrey. Two individuals on Wych Elm in Chertsey, far from any previously recorded populations

Idiots using a disposable BBQ on Chobham Common this evening. Yes, I do have better things to be doing than "ruining your date", but I also have better things to do than pick up charred birds and reptiles when you start a wildfire

Highlight of the weekend was watching this Furrow Orbweaver attempting to take down an Emperor dragonfly at Surrey Wildlife Trust's Thorpe Hay Meadow SSSI. A real David and Goliath moment!

Just about visible to the naked eye; camera better at picking it up #northernlights over #evesham #worcestershire at 23.30

Two Common Cranes over RSPB Otmoor this afternoon. First I've seen and a nice late Xmas present!

Been a while since I had anything worth sharing for #wildflowerhour but spotted Wood Anemone, Moschatel and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage flowering in damp ancient woodland in NW Surrey yesterday. Spring is here at last.

Hi Surrey Wildlife Trust figure this is easiest way to contact you with emails being down. Someone has cut down trees and built a den at Chobham Common. Possible fire risk if they return? It's at W3W ///party.boring.stack which seems kinda apt

Nightjars have once more returned to the Surrey heathlands. The sound of summer for me!

Staking out posts at Chobham Common finally paid off as this stunning Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) landed mere feet from me last night. Habitat work by Surrey Wildlife Trust to remove invasive pine while leaving perches like this one is a win-win for wildlife (and wildlife watchers!)