The summer survey season is in full swing, with regular transects being walked for birds, butterflies and dragonflies & damselflies, which certainly keeps us and our volunteers busy! We’re also currently in the middle of a hedgehog survey in conjunction with ZSL, where we have 30 camera traps set up across the common. These cameras are motion sensored, and will pick up any animals that move in front of them, day or night.

We’ve also set up another 50 cameras (!) throughout the ‘green corridor’ that links the common to Richmond Park. This includes Bank of England Sports Club, Palewell common and Roehampton Club and is the first time this area has been camera trapped, so hopefully we find some interesting results!

Recent sightings

• Migrant and southern hawkers (Aeshna mixta, Aeshna cyanea) can both be seen around on the common
• There’s still a few painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) to be seen, especially on the former goods yard near platform 1 of Barnes station
• The amazing wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) has also recently been spotted on the common
• The great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) successfully bred within one of the older oaks on the common
• Tree creeper (Certhia familiaris) fledgelings have also been heard and spotted within the oak woodland near the old cricket pitch
• Stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) have been seen flying across the common at dusk
• On the sandier areas of the common (Mill Hill, and ‘ups and down’ nr Ranelagh woods), look out for the solitary beewolf wasp (Philanthus triangulum). They can often be seen carrying their prey (honey bees) upside down, which they have paralysed, ready to store in holes they have dug within the sandy soils across the common