Don Tagg led this walk, which was attended by five ENHS members and Mike Thurner. The weather threatened to rule out this event, and in fact came close to doing so. It began and ended with prolonged torrential downpours, which cut our walk very short. However we did manage to go out to Pine Island and back via the boardwalks, and recorded a list of three dragonflies! These were small red damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum), common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) and common darter (Sympetrum striolatum).
Don and Chris spotted a mature adder (Vipera berus). We heard no curlews (Numenius arquata) this time, but did hear and see a stonechat (Saxicola torquata). As a midday storm broke, we were able to retreat to a large tent set up by Moat Pond, by Natural England and Surrey Wildlife Trust. This was for a public consultation exercise on proposals to graze or otherwise maintain the common. They chose an unfortunate day for it, but we were grateful for a dry venue for lunch, and some interesting discussion.
Dick Alder