A look around the heath ('the triangle') this morning reminded me of why this habitat is so fascinating - saw plenty of Agelena labyrinthica (see photo), waiting in their funnels in the heather, and the place was alive wtih grasshoppers, hoverflies and various other insects. Much of the heather (3 different species) was in flower. Found a small patch of dodder (weird looking red parasitic climbing plant) and a passing raven croaked softly as it flew south over the reserve. The fringes of the heath held lots of woodland/scrub birds - nuthatch, long-tailed tit, treecreeper, marsh tit, nightingale and whitethroat. The black pond continues to be great for dragonflies and yesterday afternoon there were 2 different grass snakes swimming and snooping around its edges.