David Dowding

Bsc Zoology Swansea/ Entomologist/ herpetologist/ Amatuer botanist /Butterfly Conservation Suffolk. Wildlife Team leader Ipswich.

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

Female Slowworm out hunting slugs in the garden early this morning @ARGroupsUK @ARC_Bytes @wildipswich

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@symes_andy @BC_Norfolk I think they mean the next species to emerge in 2026

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

During grassland/scrub management today in Bourne park, we found 25 Brown Hairstreak eggs in just 15 mins, including my first ever treble ! 🫐@BC_Suffolk @DavidWalsh22

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

During a successful search for larvae and pupae amongst the heather 🐛 🐜 , was not surprised to find a dozen SSB's already flying in Ipswich today, a fortnight ahead of schedule 🦋 @BC_Suffolk

[Greenways Project @GreenwaysProj]

The start of some exciting new wetland management work in the Bourne Park reedbed - creating ponds, scrapes and linear features to increase habitat diversity and open up views into the reedbed. Funded by a grant from @suffolkcc Many thanks to all involved. @IpswichGov #reedbed

[Greenways Project @GreenwaysProj]

Sawmilling local oak in Landseer Park last week, to produce boardwalk planks - already in place in Belstead Brook Park. Great volunteers also helped make a bench and stag beetle pile using waste wood in Landseer. @IpswichGov #volunteers # local timber

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@Scumble_lover @BritishMoths Convolvulus Hawk

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@tanyamercer @DunwichHeathNT The trusty tree popper! 🌳

[Greenways Project @GreenwaysProj]

Preparing for installation of 2 new 'bee friendly' planters at The Street, Rushmere for the Parish Council.Wide excavations around the planters have been filled with different inert aggregates to encourage wildflowers & low growth on the highway verge. @EastSuffolk @IpswichGov

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

Well over 250 SSB at my local Urban heathland this year, in an area < half an acre. Shows what can be done when you understand the species life cycle/ ecology and manage the habitat accordingly ( egg laying sites, ant symbiosis, larval foodplants and nectar) . @BC_Suffolk

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@igcecology1 @PurdisHeathGolf @PurdisHeathSSSI @HearleSharon @BC_Suffolk @IgcGreenkeepers @BrumptonGraham @GreenwaysProj @Ecology1BIGGA @marieathorngolf @golfenvawards 3 males at Bixley heath too! 🦋

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

Always nice to find the strongly symbiotic SSB larvae 🐛 , hidden amongst ant nests within the heather 🐜 @BC_Suffolk

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@savebutterflies @BC_Suffolk Saw one at Piper's vale Sunday (14th)- only a record shot with mobile

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

Delighted to find this chunky Goat moth caterpillar emerging from a veteran oak tree at Orwell Country park @neilshermanmoth

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

Good views of Brown hairstreaks egg laying- today at Piper's Vale

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@PeteMRCooper Nice one, was it related to a development? I've found the larvae are happy to feed on squashed snails in captivity

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@BC_Suffolk I went to visit the site today and there are thousands of Pansies, possibly millions across the 4 arable reversion fields ( saw around 50 Queen of Spain)

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

Out at Piper's Vale this week too!

[David Walsh @DavidWalsh22]

Thrilled to find a close Brown Hairstreak on Creeping Thistle near Blackthorn in Bobbits Lane Meadows, Belstead Brook Park today. Purple Hairstreak in Spring Wood too (thanks @MisterJamesP8), so 26 sp butterfly on patch in '23. Also a bonus Green Sandpiper (patch #94 for year).

[David Dowding @DavidDowding2]

@AnneWrightCTA @IpswichGov @IpswichRSPB @SoSSwifts @SuffolkBirdGrp @BC_Suffolk Yeah this was June- 1st sighting was on the 14'th so they've been out for over month