think that she was still cold from the night , and stayed still for my shots . I got about half a dozen , then she showed signs of moving , and in a split second from still , she was up and away over the adjacent trees . I made my way over to the Ash , where there was a fair bit of movement , but nothing like a couple of weeks ago . The odd one or two dropped down onto the 
lower vegetation , but only for a short time , before they too were off . This one is definitely showing wear and tear now . I was just about to leave and have a look around when I noticed a 
male Scorpion Fly-Panorpa cognata , and in the position he was in , showing well his beak and scorpion type tail . The female has just an ovipositor at the end of her abdomen . Whilst walking around . I found a couple of specimens with out of the ordinary colour/marking . The first was a 
Small Copper , with most of the copper margin on the hind wing missing . This species is prone to variation , and even albinos are recorded . The second was one of the large number of 
Gatekeepers recorded on the site , with the spots that are usually seen just on the underwing , showing through on the topwing . On one of the heathland areas , I found a Holly Blue , freshly 
emerged . I'm pretty sure it was a male , but only saw the topwing when it flew , and there didn't seem to be large dark markings on the forewings . In all , 15 species were recorded , being , Purple Hairstreak (15/20) , Painted Lady (16) , Gatekeeper (100+) , Meadow Brown (13) , Small Copper (1) , Common Blue (6) , Small Skipper (1) , Large White (7) , Holly Blue (1) , Small White (3) , Green Veined White (2) , Peacock (2) , Speckled Wood (3) , Ringlet (2) and Brimstone (3) , which were all fresh , meaning that they have emerged without me finding a single chrysalis , but not for want of trying . Only other thing of interest , was my first Tawny 
Grisette-Amanita fulva , according to the books , an Autumn species . Like all members of the Aminita family , the stem emerges out of a large bag-like volva .After lunch , and cleaning the windows , the sky just got less cloudy by the minute , till there wasn't one to be seen at all . I decided to go back onto the Common , to check on the Small Tortioseshell caterpillars . Their stand of Nettles was bathed in sunshine , and it looks as though the colony has dispersed from the silk tent , although I did see a couple on other stems , so hopefully , all goes well . On the same Nettle , I found a Speckled Bush-Cricket , and the
antennae rule of thumb certainly works with this one . A few weeks ago , I mentioned that PHs feed on Blackberries , when they are well ripe . Warren queried this , and probably thought , what's the silly old *** talking about . Well , today , in the tangle of Nettles and Brambles behind the Small Tortoiseshell's stand , had several PHs moving about . Risking life and limb , again , I cut , pushed my way into the jungle , and post the last two shots for Warren .
As I said at the time , as the fruit becomes over-ripe , the PHs feed on the sweet juices , and become much more approachable , if , you can get through the jungle .
Magpie was on the neighbour's conifer , still showing , like many of the 
usual Gatekeeper , Meadow Brown and Green Veined White were recorded , this one on 
sighting in a day was good , now , they seem to be everywhere . I had only got half way around the lake , when , without warning , the heavens opened , and I had to dash for cover , working my way back to the car . I'm glad I did so , as the rain became almost torrential just after I got there . The rain seemed set in , so I decided to go to High Elms to see a Ranger that has been trying to contact me . After sitting in the car park for a good while , the rain finally stopped , and I went to the Ranger's office , only to find he had taken the day off . The sun came out again , so I headed for the Conservation Field . No sign of White Letter 
plant that seems to be spreading quickly there is White 
plant that is coming to the end of it's flowering is 
their condition , especially the males , are very variable . This one having lost almost one quarter of it's wing surface through aerial battles and mating , but still flying strongly . The females are still doing their duty , at one stage , in a sunny interlude , I had three 
front of me . For once , this female didn't bother about laying on the shady side of the trunk , which made the photography easier . The end of her abdomen can be seen secreting the egg into a fissure in the bark . While the weather was holding , I checked the Hemp 
Orchid Bank , but no sign of 
and also , a pair of Small Whites , mating close to the ground . I was making my way back to the car , when I met Keith , the chap from the Ash tree on the Common . He was there for the 
met , we found a White Admiral 
good species to find . The 
time of day , were bathed in sunshine . A most enjoyable , and unexpected last hour to the day , which had started very changeable , but finished in warm late afternoon sunshine .
tight whorls at the base of the upper leaves . The square stem , of all members of this family can be seen in the photo . Not far away , I found an umbelifer , a member of the Carrot family , 
Angelica . A movement over on the far bank caught my eye , and it turned out to be a pair of 
Black Swans , looking as if they hadn't woken up properly yet . Just before reaching the hedge , we had to pass two pairs of refugia , but before reaching the first , I noticed a female Adder , 
laying out on the grass , a good 3/4 metres from any cover . She was not only big in length , 60/70 cms. was my estimate , but also big in girth , arousing my suspicions that she was carrying young . Unlike the Grass and Smooth Snake , which both lay eggs , the female Adder retains her eggs within her body , and when the time comes , gives birth to live young . Adders mate April/May , and the females give birth around August , and juveniles start being found shortly afterwards . I cannot be certain that she was carrying young but is my best guess , but when she moved off , the motion was very laboured . Another female was found sunning herself on the first felt refugia , but moved off quickly before I could get a shot . Under the same felt 
when lifted , was an immature Grass Snake . When ready , it took off at a rate of knots .
around the head , and the eyes , the mouth and the scale pattern can be clearly seen . It can be identified as a Grass Snake by the lack of the zig-zag pattern of the Adder .
This immature male chose a spot on a Bracken covered bank , that I nearly broke my neck climbing . Fortunately , the sun didn't re-appear before I got my shots , I would have been well sick if it had , and he continued hawking .
photographing , I moved it into vegetation on the side . I think I have seen it before , but cannot ID it , but I know a man who might , Dean .
but it was noticeable that there had been an emergence of Common Blues , as 13 males , and a 
single female were recorded , and I swear she had a smile on her face . Whilst walking in the long grass , I put up a Silver Y , day flying moth , which as usual dived into the vegetation further on , only to dive out again several times , and finish up out in the open , amongst the shorter grass at the top of the bank . Unusual , because they normal try to hide themselves , so as I got the 
camera out , I quite expected it to fly off again , but it didn't . I managed to get really close , but unfortunately , from this angle , the 'Y' in the middle of the wing , looks more like a '2' . I got half a dozen shots , then left it alone . As I started my second lap , clouds were building , and got thicker and consequently the pace increased . Nothing new was found , but as I was finishing , I heard slashing in the last corner of the lake . I couldn't make it out without binoculars , but with them , I was able to make out a Little Grebe , trying to eat a female Emperor Dragonfly . I don't think it would have caught the dragonfly , more likely , it was either downed onto the surface by rain , and couldn't escape the surface tension , or it had had it's time , died , and was just floating on the surface . Whatever happened , the Little Grebe was trying to break up the abdomen , and finally , disappeared into the emergent vegetation with the remains , wings and all , sticking out of it's bill . Before I reached the car , the rain started , but I decided to have a look at Keston Ponds , hoping that it was just a short shower , which it turned out to be . Apart from anglers , it 
was quiet , but I was pleased to record a pair of Small Red Eyed Damselflies in tandem , so hopefully we will have them again next year . Around the edges of the top pond , Figwort , 
a member of the large Labiate family was in flower , supported by those square stems , and it seemed very popular with the bees .
guarding her egg sack , within its protective web . With rain threatening again , a last stop at the stand of Nettles , confirmed that all was well with the Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars . Hopefully , if thing continue well in the next few weeks , they will pupate , and emerge as adult butterflies before the weather gets too bad , then hibernate in a warm , dry place to emerge 
again , May-ish , next year . Whilst checking them , I noticed a Shield Bug , with a smaller insect next to it . The smaller one turned out to be a youngster , and on a leaf , very close
by , I found what looked like the Sheid Bug creche , with insects of varying sizes .
vegetation . Some seen were in reasonable condition , like the one above , but others rated on 
the other end of the spectrum , having lost more scales from it's wings , than were left . A 
checked , it was a very clean Painted Lady . Even this early , you could feel the day slowly deteriorating , so I headed off for High Elms . On arrival I checked the Conservation Field site without finding any signs of 
hadn't flown off just before I got there , it would have been a new best number . There were two pairs mating , on either side , and two singletons , just watching I suppose .
started to flower . Surprising really , as the second one to show was a good 2/3 weeks behind the first , but is in about the same flowering position as the first now . The sun , when it came out was on some of the 
yesterday . On another bush , I counted nine Peacocks , all 
amongst the flowers of the Hemp 
of flowers , I came across the rest of the poor Ringlet , not the prey of a Hawker , but of a white Crab Spider , that didn't want to be photographed , and 
well tatty individual landed right next to me and posed . He even moved onto my finger , but as I didn't have any nectar , jumped straight off onto the flowers . The females that I saw had some damage , but not as much as this specimen . No egg laying was seen today , but it was 
good idea of it's species , but wasn't positive until I got home and confirmed it with the books , a Grayling . I got two shots , then tried to get onto the sunny side of the specimen . I was very careful , but obviously not careful enough , as it flew off purposefully , not to be seen again .
Damselfly that I usually see here , and not at many other sites , is the Emerald Damselfly-Lestes sponsa , a superb little specimen , that doesn't confirm to the 'Damselflies rest with their wings parallel with the abdomen' statement , but neither does it fit with the 'wings at right angles to the abdomn of Dragonflies' , perhaps it just likes being different . Thursley Common is well 
known for it's Raft Spiders , and I found one , 'doing what it says on the tin' . sitting on a raft . Well an old piece of duckboard . This one was just a youngster , about 2 cm. from front legs to back , but I have photographed larger specimens on previous visits . About halfway along the track , Black Darters , a species of acidic pools and moorland bogs , became the most numerous 
species . The male , as the name denotes , is mainly black , and smaller than it's relation the 
Common Darter . The female is much more colourful , and a brighter specimen completely . I found several freshly emerged females in the long grass , and the males were searching such 
areas lookin for them , with only one thing in mind when they found one . The biggest problem was when the cloud rolled in , as it did several times , bringing with it much stronger winds , making photography and following specimens almost impossible . It was in a sheltered corner ,
out of the wind , that I had my only sighting of Banded Demoiselle , a male . This is a species that I usually find in good numbers , but like Emperor Dragonfly , only three were found today , they were not on the wing in that wind . Another species that I find here is the Small Red 
Damselfy , another lover of acidic bog pools . Apart from the smaller size , it can be identified from the Large Red Damselfly , by the red legs and pterostigma-patches on ends of wings , compared to the black legs and pterostigma of the LRD .
seem to come in all colours , but brown and green seem to be the most numerous , with lots of juveniles around . Other butterflies seen were few , just Peacock , Meadow Brown and a still 
very good conditioned female Large Skipper . I looked on the regenerated Heather , following the fire a couple of years ago , for Silver Studded Blues , but did not find any . But whilst there , I did get good , if distant sightings of two adult male Redstarts , and later saw a juvenile . Unfortunately , no sign of Dartford Warbler . After lunch , the cloudcover got thicker , so I decided to do one last lap in the reverse direction . No new species were found , but on a log in one of the ditches , I found 'the mother of all Raft Spiders ' . It was huge . I would estimate 5 cm.
from tip of front , to tip of back legs . I can't be sure , but I think it was a female , and she was quite happy for me to get my shots , after which , I left her in peace .
