Took this to be a female sparrowhawk, found last week in the Chilterns

Greater protection exists for brownfield sites (from a very low base) with the Open Mosaic Habitat  OMH Survey Form and associated OMH Survey Handbook. This is the first time the UK has recognised brownfield as a Priority Habitat.

In order to qualify the following  5 criteria in the table need to be met. This will help recognise the importance of sites in the Thames Gateway. The photograph shows dead bramble stems on bare ground which offers oppotunities for breeding for some insect species.

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Not really a blog - just a few sightings from the last couple of days. 

Had a wander around Woods Mill (Graeme and Penny's place of employment) yesterday to show mum some bluebells - and she also heard her first Nightingale :) The hoverfly Leucozona lucorum was new for me but only one (poor) photo as the damned thing wouldn't sit still! Saw some interesting spider behaviour in the vegetation by the big pond. One (terrible) photo, but the males were enthusiastically waving their palps around! Also saw my first Large Red Damsel for the year.

A single firebug at the Sompting...

Just a few blog posts which may be of vague interest to PS listers... 

• http://billsbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/noar-hill.html- various invertebrates from Noar Hill (Hampshire).. including Platydracus fulvipes! 
• http://billsbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/incurvaria-masculellapectinea.html- a little, random post on separating Incurvaria masculella & I. pectinea. 

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