OF ADMIRALS , EMPERORS AND OTHER FLIGHTY THINGS

High summer and the attention falls on butterflies and dragonflies though birds are not forgotten completely.
Having now seen all of the resident Kent butterflies a few away days have to be planned to try and fill in the gaps,last week found me in Cambridgeshire to find the Black Hairstreak,of which I saw precisely one,the briefest of views so no chance of a photograph.  Next year an earlier visit will be necessary as I  was told by a local that their flight period is very short and should have been over.Whilst in the area and the weather just holding up a visit to Fermyn woods for the Purple Emperor seemed entirely reasonable,this proved more fruitful.

PURPLE EMPEROR
The short toed eagle that took up temporary residence in the Ashdown Forest in Sussex eventually proved too much to resist and was twitched by myself and many others.Silver Studded Blues are found nearby so  they were twitched as well.

 SHORT TOED EAGLE-ASHDOWN FOREST

SILVER STUDDED BLUE-ASHDOWN FOREST.

 ESSEX SKIPPER

 SILVER WASHED FRITILLARIES are plentiful this summer in HAM STREET WOODS

RINGLET

 MARBLED WHITES ON KNAPWEED

 ESSEX SKIPPER

 ESSEX SKIPPERS -Black tips to antennae.

SMALL SKIPPER -Orange antennae tips.

 COMMA

GATEKEEPER OR HEDGE BROWN the first of the year.

HUMMING BIRD HAWKMOTH-You may be lucky and see one of these welcome migrants buzzing around your garden.
Something you don`t want in your garden:-

ADDER AT SAMPHIRE HOE
On wednesday went to Lullingstone to see Dark Green Fritillaries

 DGF with incoming SMALL SKIPPER.

DARK GREEN FRITILLARY

Thursday-back to Ham Street woods and Orlestone forest

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY

 SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY

 CLARENCE THE CROSS EYED SWF

 PURPLE HAIRSTREAK high up in an oak tree.

WHITE ADMIRAL.
Onwards to East Blean and Westbere-

 The diminutive HEATH FRITILLARY

 HEATH FRITILLARY

 NORFOLK HAWKERS AT WESTBERE

 RED EYED DAMSELFLY

BANDED DEMOISELLE
At Temple Ewell the first Chalk Hill Blues are on the wing

CHALK HILL BLUE

MARBLED WHITES

WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAK AT TEMPLE EWELL.