Tuesday 16th. July 2013

Another visit first thing to West Wickham and Hayes Commons , failed again to find any Purple

Hairstreaks , but the former did provide the first Gatekeeper of the season , a freshly emerged male .

A second was found on my way back to the car . With the temperature rising by the minute , I headed for High Elms LNR , stopping first at the rough grassland on the golf course , where I had the good Marbled White numbers on the last transect . No mating couples this time , but not for want of

trying , finding this male harassing a female down in the grass . I watched them for several minutes , and in the end she won , he gave up and flew off . Many of the species were nearing on the Field

Scabious , like this female . Lots of Burnet Moths amongst the long grass , some nectaring , but some already into furthering the species . To the left of the mating pair , the paper-like cocoon where the

caterpillar metamorphosed into a moth , the remains of the black pupae case visible at the exit point . It was probably the female that emerged , and was immediately pounced on by the male . Whilst

walking around , found my first Essex Skipper of the season , just one amongst clouds of Small ,

identified by the black on the underside of the tips of the antennae . On the way back to the car , a stand of Ragwort / Senecio jacobaea , a member of the Daisy family , was playing host to at least 100

Cinnabar caterpillars of varying sizes . This one small flower head , held 10+ specimens , some being



on the far side of the plant . I don't think there will be much of it left by the time they finish with it . Whilst there , a White Plume Moth / Pterophorus pentadactyla , flew by and came to rest , but never

in a favourable position for a shot . I finally made it up to Cuckoo Woods and Burnt Gorse , calling in at a couple of small glades on the way , and was pleased to find a Silver-washed Fritillary , our

largest Fritillary , guarding his sunny patch of Bramble flowers against all comers . Identified as a

male by the four dark bars across the top of the forewing , and it wasn't long till the aerials battles

started , even though there doesn't seem to be any females out yet . In between battles , he did nectar  and also posed to show how the species gets it's name from the 'silver wash' on the underside of the hindwings . A total of 4 SWF were recorded , along with 3 White Admirals , one braving it in

the same glade as the SWF . Still no sign of any White-letter Hairstreaks , but there is still time for them to emerge before Sunday , I hope .