Monday 18th.August 2008

In between the early morning rain and the afternoon showers , I managed a couple of hours at High Elms . The main object was to check out again the site where I found a single White Letter Hairstreak a while back on the edge of the Conservation Field . By the time I got to the site , the wind had increased and although the sun was out , very few butterflies were on the wing . I had a good look , but there was no sign of any White Letter Hairstreaks . As a consolation , a couple of metres away , I found this pristine female Holly Blue , nectaring on Marjoram . Normally , she would feed with her wings closed , but she must have been trying to get every last bit of warmth , whilst the sun was showing .

Unsuccessful here , I made my way to the Orchid Bank to check the other WLHs . On the way I passed the Spindle fruits that I posted a few weeks ago when they were all green . Today , they are beginning to ripen , showing the hint of pink that will become vivid before the orange seeds split the seed cases and start a new generation . On the pathsides , the fungi are starting their show . Here , Collybia butryacea-Buttercap , quite a common one . A more vivid one is Marasmius rotula , showing up well against the leaf litter . A not so common one , looking like something just arrived from outer space is Geastrum triplex-Earthstar . This one was about 5cm. across , but they can be found up to twice that size . The 'star' bit coming from the base which splits star shaped and raises the spore sack above it . If the spore sack gets knocked or even if rain drops land on it , the spores disperse out from the top like a puffer .

On the Orchid Bank , the wind was really strong . The Hemp Agrimony was almost horizontal at times , and the was no sign of any WLH , I don't blame them . I have recorded them here for nearly a month now , albeit in small numbers , but the important thing is that they are still here after last year's terrible Summer .

I only saw two Silver Washed Fritillaries today , both females , one rather tatty in a Beech tree , and this one , still smart , albeit with it's colour really faded . Not surprising really , as I recorded the first SWF this year on 3rd.July , fully 6 weeks ago . Also , on some Silver Birch scrub , I found this Ladybird larvae , about 1cm. long , but I don't know what species it is . Down in the shady corner , the Broad-leaved Helleborine is just about finished , but hopefully carrying plenty of seed to produce many more plants next year . The numbers this year were well down on last . A quick walk on Burnt Gorse , with the threat of imminent rain , produced a few Common Blue , 2 Brown Argus , 1 Small Skipper , 20+ Meadow Browns and a single rather dapper Small Copper .

I made it back to the car , just , before a very heavy downpour , but drove out of it on my way home . There , the Goldfinch kids had obviously told their parents about the 'easy pickings' on the feeders , and they brought their mate the Greenfinch .