It was one of these bright interludes that encouraged me out this afternoon , and I headed for Salt Box Hill , below Biggin Hill Airport , close enough to get back quickly if the weather deteriorated . No sooner had I arrived on site , for the second day running , I recorded Common
Buzzard , thanks to a Kestrel warning me of it's presence . But with the 100mm. lens on , and the light conditions , it was just a silhouette . The ground vegetation was alive with Grasshoppers 
and Crickets , like this Dark Bush-Cricket -Pholidoptera griseoaptera , looking like some prehistoric , armoured creature . When it moved , it was identified as a female by the ovipositor 
extending from the end of her abdomen .Given the conditions , and the fact that the two Dartmoor ponies had only been taken off site a couple of weeks ago , I did not have much hope for the Butterfly transect . To say I was surprised with the totals would be an understatement . These results combine the fenced , grazed area , and the unfenced , ungrazed one :-
Meadow Brown (41) , Common Blue (37) , Brown Argus (10) , Gatekeeper (29) , Peacock ,
pictured on Lesser Burdock ( 9) , Green-veined White (2) , Ringlet (4) , Painted Lady , pictured 
on Marjoram , a most unexpected , pristine specimen (1) , Large White (4) , Comma (4) , Small Heath (20) , Silver Washed Fritillary , a first for this site , (1) , Small Tortoiseshell (1) , Small 
Copper , a very pristine specimen pictured , as they all were (4) , Large Skipper (1) , Speckled Wood (1) , Marbled White (2) , Large White (4) and Brimstone (9) .Speaking of which , a couple of individuals posed for seldomly seen shots , of the top wing ,
the proboscis , which can be unwound , to enable the insect to collect nectar from deep into a flower ,
and one of my favourite colour combinations , the sulphur yellow of the male and the purple of
the Spear Thistle flower .A totally unexpected 19 species , on a day that I would have been happy with half that number .
there a migrant Silver Y moth posed , showing the Ys well , and the strange ear / horn type 
appendages on the head . Also in the dry grass , an Essex Skipper .
very fresh looking Red Admirals recorded on site . Odonata recorded were in small numbers , 
but Emperor , Black-tailed Skimmer , Common Darter , like these two in tandem , still a few Blue Tailed , Azure and Common Blue Damselflies about . As I was about to leave , calls from further down the valley alerted me to what looked like a family group of four Common Buzzard . As they came closer , they must have found a thermal , and started to rise on it . By the time they were overhead they were really high , but I still couldn't get all four in the same frame , and had to 
settle for these two .
disappeared . Another three Red Admirals were recorded , all on the same Buddleia bush .
battles , not quite so pristine . The Hemp Agrimony is coming into flower , and is already become 
a nectar supermarket for the many Peacocks and Commas already feeding on it . Burnt Gorse 
produced another mating pair of Common Blues , and the male Silver Washed Fritillaries are still 
courting any females that they find , even though they are not so dapper as they were . At the 
far end , a male Brimstone had nestled himself down in the vegetation , waiting to see what the now wall to wall cloud would bring . As I walked back , a grey , fast flying insect caught my eye .
the day , a Hummingbird Hawk moth . Strangely , it wasn't nectaring , and almost appeared to be looking for a suitable place to lay eggs , who knows . It didn't stay long , but I managed about 6 shots . I saw it again a couple of minutes later , but this time is just disappeared at speed . I only saw one last year , but didn't get a shot , so was pleased with the result this time .
and male Adder , I came across up on the Greensand Ridge today .
Also up on the Ridge , a strange pairing in a field , Shetland Pony and Alpaca , I think .
He's probably called Al , but I couldn't help thinking he should be called Dean , from the latter's early years !
the car park , a brown flash by the barrier had me stopping and photographing a juvenile Robin , that was happy to sit and pose . This turned out to be the only shot I took today .
species was taken a couple of weeks ago . A second was found on the Orchid Bank itself , to be followed by a third after lunch in the Conservation Field , the advantage of many pairs of eyes .
moths , I wouldn't attempt to identify it further , and a Burnet moth with one wing missing , 
revealing the rarely seen hind wings . It might have been one wing short , but it didn't stop it mating .
of the forewing , just on the underside of that wing , and the larger female , with all the 
markings on that topside of the forewing . Peacock (5) , Small Skipper (3) , Essex Skipper (3) , 
Common Blue , including a pristine 2nd. brood male - pictured (14) , Large Skipper (1) , Brown
Argus (6) -with most being freshly emerged females , identified by the orange spots reaching the leading edge of the forewing without fading . This shot also shows the lack of the spot between the 'boomerang' marking on the underside of the forewing and the abdomen in this species , which is present in the Common Blue .
Fritillary 12/15 , including a female , egg laying on the bark of a Scots Pine .
One of several eggs found on that tree . When they hatch , the caterpillar will climb down the trunk , to feed on the Violets which surround the tree . Comma (4) , White Admiral (5) and Brimstone (6) .
without any rubbish being left , and a sighting of the scruffiest Kestrel , hunting over the meadow . The Ringlets I recorded at High Elms were all very tatty , so I was surprised to find 
this pristine one around the pond .
seen . Like several of the Blues , the females are brown . My estimate for the species on site was 
200+ and that total included a minimum of 20 mating pairs . One pair were getting hammered 
by a still stiff breeze , so I helped them to a more sheltered place , after a finger shot .
Spring , and 2 Common Lizards , this one trying to blend into the background . Chalkhill Blues 
were recorded on both sites along with Small Copper , good numbers of very fresh Brown Argus 
and this Peacock , posing on Old Man's Beard /Travellers Joy . 
One for Dean on his birthday , and I don't think this is a day flyer , as it was just playing dead on Greater Knapweed . 
how we take the species for granted . This shot is just one very small area of the Downs , taken today , and every tuft of light blue , is a Small Scabious .
