Butterflies were hard to find when I arrived in the cool , breezy conditions , but when the sun came out , the wind dropped and things got much better . By the time I left the site , I had recorded 15 species - Common Blue (104) , Meadow Brown (24) , Red Admiral (1) Small
Copper - pictured (1) , Marbled White (1) , Brimstone (9) , Small White (5) , Speckled Wood (6) , 
Gatekeeper (10) , Brown Argus - male pictured , an impressive (23) , Small Heath (4) , Large 
White (4) , Green-veined White (1) , Peacock (2) and Holly Blue - pictured (1) .With fencing contractors on site , no chance of Fox or Roe Deer today .
Found on a conifer stump , Hypholoma capnoides , a relation of Sulphur Tuft .
Yesterday I posted the Robber Fly mating , today it was lunch time .As the blue skies continued , I called in at the Farm lake on the way home . My concerns re. the Little Grebe were well founded , as once again , just a single adult was seen , and a probable cause , a Grey Heron flew off as I arrived . Within minutes , the air was filled with calls from about 30/40 House Martins , hawking insects and taking a drink on the wing , before heading off
South . 7 species of butterfly were recorded here , with another species for the day , Comma .A series of calls from over the woods , the other side of the lake , resulted in at least 2 Hobbies , I
couldn't be sure of the third bird . I had several single sighting during the visit , but no more multiple ones .Odonata did better than on the last few visits , with 8 species being recorded . The Black-tailed Skimmers ate getting very over mature now , but still mating and egg laying . Two male Emperor Dragonflies are sharing the lake . This one kept returning to the same Bullrush every
now and again , giving an opportunity to get an approach shot , 
before settling for a minute or so , before charging off again .
3 Brown Hawkers were recorded , 1 male and 2 female , this female egg laying in the vegetation at the edge of the lake .Numbers of Common Darters are still very low , although several pairs were seen egg laying in
tandem today . 4 male Ruddy Darters ( all black legs , no yellow stripes on thorax ) , one pictured were also recorded . Also recorded were Common Blue , Blue-tailed and Small Red-eyed Damselfly .
A couple of specimens of the Conopidea sp. were found nectaring on Black Knapweed .
There seemed to be Robber Flies-Asilidae sp. everywhere , making more of the species .
From the top , a female Scorpion Fly looks an attractive insect ,
but , side on , only a male Scorpion Fly would think so from this angle .
At last some fungi , found deep in woodland ,
both are specimens of Amanita citrina-False Death Cap . 
At the base of a large Beech , I found Meripilus giganteus-Giant Polypore , probably announcing the death knell for the tree .
And the most exciting moment of the day , when the WW2 Lancaster appeared overhead in a hole in the woodland canopy .
Even though there was no sun , 2 White-letter Hairstreaks were found nectaring on the now fully opened Hemp Agrimony . Still hundreds of the small Marmalade Hoverflies about , and
also a specimen of the largest of the Hoverflies , Volucella zonaria , in length , bigger than most 
Bumblebees . Also around , a relative , Myathropa flores .
the scales off it's wings , which are now almost see-through , and far from it's colourful best just after emerging .
to clear the wires , before dropping down onto the Fleet itself , unaware of what would unfold in the next hour and a half .
Within minutes , a Common Buzzard flew overhead ,
and was challenged almost immediately by a very dark juvenile Marsh Harrier .
Linnets , and eventually caught the other species on camera , Yellow Wagtail , together with one of the white rumps , Wheatear . The Yellow Wagtails were constantly moving on , but my best estimate would be a maximum of 25/30 at any one time .
The Wheatears stayed for some time and I estimated 10/15 of them , most busily feeding , but some just resting up .
Whilst watching the Wheatear , a Red-legged Partridge , with five young , appeared from nowhere and disappeared just as quickly .
A large flock of Starlings rising as one , alerted me to my second Hobby of the day , flying low over the ground , trying to spook it's prey . Whilst watching the Hobby , a movement on the slope where I photographed the Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail , turned out to be two Stoats , but they had disappeared into the long grass before I could get a shot .
I was disappointed not getting a shot , when one of them breaks out of the grass , and runs up the road , then across into the field on the other side . I thought , will the other one follow ? I set up the tripod and waited .
Sure enough , out of the grass pops the other Stoat , further along the road , but is then swooped upon by a Kestrel . But the evasive action of the Stoat worked , and it joined the other one in the field , and the Kestrel flew off somewhat bemused by the whole affair .
Just before leaving Capel Fleet , I got a fly past from a dark juvenile Marsh Harrier , that could well have been the one that tackled the Common Buzzard . I had to pass the entrance to RSPB Elmley on my way home , and couldn't resist one more look 
along the track . The Starling numbers seemed to have increased even from the morning , with lots of juveniles .
Sand Martins . 
Some way off the track , two pairs of ears were all that could be seen of two Brown Hares .
A small flock of Curlew were the only ones seen today .
Almost at the car park , before the owner of another pair of ears was seen . In all , 6 Brown Hares were seen along the track . I had a look around the orchard , but didn't have the balls , unlike a fellow blogger , to see if the Swallows were still in the Ladies Toilets . Nor was there any sign of the Little Owls .
On the way back down the track , a female Marsh Harrier came reasonably close .
I had a couple of white rump sighting in the wet areas , as Green Sandpipers flew off calling , but then just managed to get this shot before this one did the same . By far the most numerous species seen was Starlings , there were literally thousands of them about , especially around the cattle and the feeders . Whilst there , I diligently checked every cow pat looking for a rare Rove Beetle , I believe found only at 
and another on the wires between the Fleet and the View 
the Inn and back produced almost nothing , but , on getting back to the Fleet , after several distant views , a closer one of a male Marsh Harrier .
One of several Small Coppers recorded at Spring Park .
Tucked down in the vegetation ,out of the weather , Roesel's Bush Cricket .
At the Farm lake , Green Shield Bug-Palomena prasina .
As I drove out , I disturbed this juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker . It seemed to be feeding 
with three Mistle Thrushes , on the fruits of a Rowan . The Thrushes flew away , but he returned for a photo call . Only one adult Little Grebe seen today .
