Invertebrates - North hill-top downland meadows. Late Summer. 28.08.26

Aphanus rolandri, Order: Hemiptera (the true bugs). A few cm south the monad (TQ 26045 10991)                              

                               

Stictopleurus abutilon Knapweed Rhopalid. Order: Hemiptera (the true bugs)

Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath. Order: Lepidoptera 

Rhodometra sacraria Vestal Order. Order: Lepidoptera 

Phalangium opilio European Harvestman. Order: Opiliones

Plants in flower. North hill-top meadows. Late Summer 28.08.26

Euphrasia nemorosa Common Eyebright

Polygonum aviculare Common Knotgrass​

Jacobaea erucifolia Hoary Ragwort

Succisa pratensis Devil's-bit Scabious

Daucus carota Wild Carrot

Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb

Leontodon saxatilis Lesser Hawkbit

Odontites vulgaris Red Bartsia

Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed

Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle

Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawksbeard

Hypochaeris radicata Common Cat's-Ear

Galium album White Bedstraw

Probably Centaurea debeauxii Chalk Knapweed, but good be a hybrid between Centaurea spp.

Galium album White Bedstraw

Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-Saxifrage

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Scorzoneroides autumnalis Autumn Hawkbit

Lichens - Secondary Woodland. 24.01.23 (published retrospectively 27.08.26)

 Usnea articulata, String of Sausages lichen, in an Quercus robur, Pedunculate Oak

This is on the extreme east of its typical distribution

Plants in flower, Butterflies and Ants. North hill-top meadows. Late Spring. 30.05.26 (published retrospectively 27.08.26)

 Vascular Plants

Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock Rose

Thymus praecox Wild Thyme

Reseda lutea Mignonette 

Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot Trefoil

Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear Hawkweed

Plantago media Hoaary Plantain

Briza media Quaking Grass

Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid

Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious

Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid

Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle (gone over)

Rosa canina Dog Rose

Cerastium glomeratum Sticky Mouse Ear (gone over only flowers March-May)

Neottia ovata Common Twayblade (an orchid) one of the first orchids to flower in spring)

or as I like to think of it: the Demogorgon (stranger Things) orchid

Butterflies

Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper

Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper

Polyommatus bellargus Adonis Blues

Vanessa cardui Painted Lady

Ants

Lasius flavus Yellow Meadow Ant  (on cheese). I was sitting on a nest eating a cheese sandwich and some of the cheese fell out of my sandwich - the ants flocked to it.

The yellow meadow ant is known for creating anthills in grassland habitats. It has a close relationship with the chalkhill blue butterfly - protecting the larvae in return for a sugary substance they secrete. Yellow meadow ant | The Wildlife Trusts