With further information from Spock after yesterday's post re. the whereabouts of the aberrant Gatekeeper at Hutchinson's Bank , I dropped Carol in town , and returned to the site , concentrating this time on the bridle path at the bottom of the site . I was on site at 08.30 and patrolled the path for three hours . During this time , I added another three species to yesterday's
list , including the other target from yesterday , the Small Blue , a single second brood specimen .
This pristine individual was found along the path , just below the triangle . I would like to post that I had the same result with the unusual Gatekeeper , but unfortunately there was no sign of it again . Anyone wishing to see the butterfly , click on this link :
list , including the other target from yesterday , the Small Blue , a single second brood specimen .This pristine individual was found along the path , just below the triangle . I would like to post that I had the same result with the unusual Gatekeeper , but unfortunately there was no sign of it again . Anyone wishing to see the butterfly , click on this link : www.spock-butterflies.blogspot.com , well worth a look . As things warmed up , most of 
yesterday's species put in an appearance , and the early light showed the Peacock nicely . There 
was a lot of noise from Jays whilst on the site , and fittingly , I found one of their feathers . A dog Fox was sighted at distance , but unfortunately he saw me too , and he headed off on a side path before I could get a shot . I forgot to mention yesterday when posting , and still can't edit a published post , that whilst on site , I had a Reed Warbler in full song , with no water or reeds for quite some distance as far as I know .
yesterday's species put in an appearance , and the early light showed the Peacock nicely . There was a lot of noise from Jays whilst on the site , and fittingly , I found one of their feathers . A dog Fox was sighted at distance , but unfortunately he saw me too , and he headed off on a side path before I could get a shot . I forgot to mention yesterday when posting , and still can't edit a published post , that whilst on site , I had a Reed Warbler in full song , with no water or reeds for quite some distance as far as I know .On the way back home , I stopped off at a colourful roadside verge that I have passed several 
times recently , to get a closer look at what was growing on it . Cornflower/Centaurea cyanus , a member of the Daisy family was the most abundant species , with a sprinkling of Corn 
Cockle/Agrostemma githago , a member of the Pink family . Although listed as a common weed 
of cultivation , Sun Spurge/Euphorbia helioscopia , is a new one for me . Lower down on the 
ground , Scarlet Pimpernel/Anagallis arvensis , a member of the Primrose family , was scrambling through the grasses . Even though traffic was speeding through just a couple of 
metres away , this female Large White obviously wasn't bothered as she rested amongst all the noise .
times recently , to get a closer look at what was growing on it . Cornflower/Centaurea cyanus , a member of the Daisy family was the most abundant species , with a sprinkling of Corn Cockle/Agrostemma githago , a member of the Pink family . Although listed as a common weed of cultivation , Sun Spurge/Euphorbia helioscopia , is a new one for me . Lower down on the ground , Scarlet Pimpernel/Anagallis arvensis , a member of the Primrose family , was scrambling through the grasses . Even though traffic was speeding through just a couple of metres away , this female Large White obviously wasn't bothered as she rested amongst all the noise .Must make a mental note to re-visit that verge and collect some seeds in the near future .
noticeable , was a male Emperor Dragonfy , patrolling the edge of a reedbed , and the reason for 
his attention was found on the inside of the reedbed , a female , ovipositing on floating vegetation . Not that many damselflies about though , just a few Blue-tailed , the odd Azure , and 
several Common , many of which were in tandem with their partners . Even though the Black-tailed Skimmers were in small numbers this visit , there were still a couple of females around , no
longer in their gold and black colouration , now somewhat on the drab side . Still not that many 
Common Darters about , but every now and again , a male was found , surveying his territory . In almost the last area that I looked in , I found my first Small Red-eyed Damselflies of the year , a 
pair in 'the ring' . This species , first found in 1999 in Essex , has now spread right up the country , and is obviously going from strength to strength , and will bring Damselfly emergence
to an end for this year . Looking out into the lake at this point , I found a pair ovipositing in tandem , then another and so on , until at at a conservative count , 25+ pairs 
were seen in the immediate area . In this shot , 5 pairs were ovipositing in tandem . Only other interest on the lake was that the Moorhens have a youngster now .
species , with the Marbled White seen , probably the last I'll se this year , as they seem to have gone over on other sites locally . The site has always been good for Small Heath , and today was 
no different . Walking through the chalk grassland , I saw many small butterflies , but when they
came to rest , they all proved to be Brown Argus , like this freshly emerged female . Good 
numbers of Brimstone , both male and female , not surprising given the amount of Buckthorn on
site . And some very fresh Small Coppers , but as I said , no sign of Small Blue . By the time I was leaving , the milky sunshine was now totally blotted out , and so it remained throughout the most of the afternoon . Thanks again to Spock for the 'heads up' on the Gatekeeper , perhaps next time .
In the Canadian Golden Rod glade , found four White-letter Hairstreaks , some still in good condition , as above ,
and some not so , but still showing their 'White-letter' .
Several Silver-washed Fritillaries , including this male that nectared next to one of the WLHs .
Have seen Brown Hawker on every visit to the glade , but today a pair in 'the ring' , in flight , landed in trees at the back . Hopefully I made my way towards them , and managed a couple of shots before they were off again , this time for good .
On Burnt Gorse , caught up with the 2nd. brood Dingy Skipper from Sunday , or another one , and managed to get a few shots .
Very close by , another chance to photograph Oncocera semirubella .
Even though their numbers are fewer this year , the female Silver-washed Fritillaries are doing their best for good numbers next year .
Even though the Hemp Agrimony is in flower , I still haven't recorded a WLH on the Orchid Bank or the small glade , but this Peacock was making full use of the nectar on offer .
Whilst looking on the Hemp Agrimony , I found this 6 spot Burnet moth on the underside of one of the leaves . I left her , but returned 10 minutes later to find what I had expected ,
a mass of yellow eggs , which hopefully will see them again next year .
from a male Coot whispering sweet nothings in the ear of his partner . But things changed when a family arrived at the feeding platform across the other side from where I was standing , and proceeded to throw large amounts of bread into the water . Ducks and Geese and other waterfowl started heading for the feast , and I made my way too . By the time I arrived , many of the participants had had their fill and were moving back into cover , but there was still a large amount of bread both on the water and on the platform . The family soon moved off , and I stood quietly watching . The first Brown Rats appeared around the litter bin , and were very wary about
coming out into the open , but hunger got the better of them and quick snatches and dashes became the tactic . In the quiet , some became braver , and started to swim out from the bank to 
get at the floating bread . I spotted a couple of smaller juvenile individuals scampering amongst the waterside vegetation , but not entering the water like the adults . But it got too inviting for 
one juvenile , who showed poise and determination , as it made it's way along a stick over the water , using another stick as support for it's tail . Eventually , the tail wasn't long enough to 
reach the other stick , so the tail got wet , but the youngster got it's prize , and made it back to dry land with it .
started counting . I a mater of 2/3 minutes , I had reached 50 , and that was without trying too hard , so it would seem that they are going from strength to strength . Almost the last plant 
counted produced interest in the shape of a Common Wasp collecting what I assume are pollen 
sacks . It was continually on the move between flowers and after watching it for several minutes , saw it fly off , with great difficulty . I thought it wasn't going to make it , but after a couple of crash landings , it gained height and was away .
specimens were seen moving . Eventually , I managed to get close enough to get a shot of a male 
in that soft light . Easily recognised from above , but a bit more challenging looking from below . As things warmed up , more males took to the air , frantically searching the short ground cover for an emerging female . Having found 8/10 males ten days ago on my last visit , I must admit that I was expecting more than the 25 + specimens that I saw today . I did see two females . one
disappearing down the slope , with a string of males behind her , and this one that was much more intent on nectaring than anything the males had in mind for her . Just 7 other species were 
recorded , the best of which were two fresh Small Coppers . The most used nectar source on the 
site was Wood Sage/Teucrium scorodonia , another of the Labiate family , and as this Buff-tailed Bumblebee would probably tell , very tasty . A few reptiles were also recorded , one being this 
very gravid looking female Slow Worm , and a female Adder that was willing to sit for a couple of 
seconds , before making her exit . Elsewhere , the Chalkhill Blues were still very few , with Brown
Argus , like this female , recording twice as many sightings . I did find a second brood Dingy Skipper for the second day running , but nothing more exciting than a female Common Blue , 
also a second brood specimen , made the notebook . With that job still hanging over me , I 
headed back to the car , to find a female Large White nectaring on a Buddleia on the side of the 
lane , and right next to the car , another female Red Admiral taking a rest between ovipositing on adjacent Nettles .
