First posts are always strange beasts, but not nearly so strange (nor elusive) as some of the wildife that can be found in and around the Sussex campus.

Currently the local jays can be seen flying overhead, with a distinctive 'flappy' wing beat. There are also buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawks in the vicinity. I'll start though with a photo from earlier this week, of a pair of common darters hovering over the dewpond. They've been low in number this year, as have all the dragonflies.