Flock of Long-tailed Tits yesterday in my garden.

Perhaps six or more Long-tailed Tits have been flying around my garden for several days now.  Their high-pitched cheep, cheep, cheep: almost like a staccato dog whistle is a joy to hear.

Natural History talks include a feeding Kestrel photographed today.

A Kestrel feeding at a building site next to Surrey Downs golf course.

The amount of material for my public talks now exceeds five hours and it has been collated into subjects as detailed below.

Topic	minutes
Introduction; Geology of S.E. England & habitats	6
Mammals; Deer, badgers, bats and foxes	8
Bumblebees, cuckoo bees, solitary bees & ants	35
Day flying Moths & butterflies of the Downs.	41
Grasshoppers & crickets	9
Damselflies & dragonflies	30
Beetles	10
Wasps & flies including ichneumon wasps	20
Spiders; fascinating and not too gruesome	17
Birds; including winter migrants	35
Orchids of Sussex, Surrey, Kent & Sutherland	50
Other plants	26
Parasitic plants	5
Reptiles & amphibians	6
Trees & miscellany	5
total	303

These modules are in addition to the talks listed at www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Now you can choose which modules that you like for a talk to your club or society.  I have all the equipment needed for an illustrated talk: PC, video projector, screen, extension cable.

Common Darter dragonflies on Wolstonbury Hill, West Sussex, England in the South Downs today.

This species-rich dew pond in a site of special scientific interest was clattering with Sympetrum striolatum or Common Darter dragonflies this afternoon: at least four pairs flying around.  "Clattering" is the sound of their wings bashing around in the stillness of this tranquil setting of Wolstonbury Hill.

Here a male has grabbed a female behind its eyes and is flying in "the tandem" position.

Click on any picture to enlarge it.  See also a video of this all at www.facebook.com/peter.lovett.18 and scrolll down

Having mated, tested the water and still in tandem the female deposits her eggs in the pond with a flicking motion

This pond is a haven for many species of Damselflies, Dragonflies and other insects.  

Best practice is to not encourage dogs to use it as a playground.

Nestling in this peaceful valley, this pond is a jewel of biodiversity and should be respected as such by all nature lovers and visitors.