I finally got round to searching Merryfield airfield this weekend and it was well worth the visit. I searched there for Small Eggar larval webs about four years ago and found none. This year, I found a grand total of eighteen webs. Interestingly they were often in very similar situations. Almost always on south to south west facing edges, and almost always on edges where recent management had led to regrowth so that the main hedge had a smaller newer growth area in front of it (This kind of management is common at Merryfield where clearings are kept open to allow helicopters to practice landings in confined wooded areas). Most were at a height from the ground of one metre or less, with only one web being higher than two metres above the ground. Caterpillar development was mainly near pupation but some webs still had small caterpillars.

As usual, Merryfield was a wonder to behold. Nightingales sang from several locations and butterflies abounded, with Brimstone, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Common Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Small Skipper, Brown Argus, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood recorded. Interestingly I found two female Beautiful Demoiselle - Calopteryx virgo on bramble on one of the trackways through the scrub area.

Most interesting sighting was two army snipers on a field exercise dressed in full camouflage gear who came over to warn me that they were about, in case I stood on them later :-)

Brown Argus

Larval web on flailed Blackthorn

Grizzled Skipper

Common Blue

Beautiful Demoiselle - Calopteryx virgo

Small Eggar caterpillars near pupation

Blackthorn edges with new growth near ground due to management work.