As summer draws to a close, it feels like the right moment to reflect on an incredibly important few months in my journey towards becoming an ecologist.

A warm September walk through Bourley Woods brought wrens, grebes, darters, butterflies and a woodpecker, with autumn fungi surprisingly scarce.

A quiet evening watching two badgers closely, learning to recognise their individual markings, tail shapes and differences in coat colour.

Riverfly survey showed improved water quality, strong invertebrate numbers, and interesting damselfly behaviour, with careful release after counting.

Checked 35 bat boxes with Surrey Bat Group, finding three Noctules and a pipistrelle while gaining valuable hands-on monitoring experience.

Exploring Bourley Woods for fungi, photographing colourful species and discovering fascinating Dyer’s Mazegill and Chicken of the Woods in autumn.

Supported two evening badger watches, observing badgers, a deer, wood mouse, robin and bat while learning about minimising wildlife disturbance.

Quiet walks along the Basingstoke Canal offered wildlife photography opportunities, including Kingfisher, dragonflies, birds and squirrels, while enjoying peaceful observation.

Completed my first independent butterfly transect at Tice’s Meadow, recording 35 butterflies and feeling proud to contribute to monitoring efforts.

Late-summer butterflies remained active, while water testing found clear conditions following rain, alongside varied woodland and wetland wildlife sightings.

At the summit, we noticed a photographer waiting near the church. He had been hired to secretly capture a marriage proposal taking place there.

It was an incredible opportunity to see this butterfly in England