I DIDN`T FIND MY THRILL ON WINDOVER HILL

After the large tortoishell on Wednesday I was feeling lucky and set off for East Sussex with hopes high of finding the Grayling,a butterfly I used to see in the Warren which now seems sadly absent there.After searching literally high and low on Windover Hill I returned home frustrated by this elusive beast once again,however there were compensating features to be appreciated there.
Apologies to Fats Waller for the title.

LONG MAN OF WILMINGTON

 ROUND HEADED RAMPION a plant strangely absent on our hills.

A RED KITE came to have a look at me.

 It decided I was not lunch and floated away on the breeze.

VIEWS FROM THE HILLTOP

LOOKING WEST FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL

 DARK GREEN FRITILLARY

 SIX SPOT BURNET-males lay in wait for females to emerge from the pupa and pounce immediately-no gentlemen he.

 SILVER SPOTTED SKIPPER

 SILVER SPOTTED SKIPPER

 ROUND HEADED RAMPION

 CHAKHILL BLUE ON RHR

 SMALL BLUE

 MARBLED WHITES

 PEACOCK

 SMALL COPPER ON RAGWORT

A LEGAL MIGRANT NEAR DOVER.

On Tuesday afternoon Colin Johnson arrived at Samphire Hoe with photos of a butterfly he had found at St Margarets earlier that day,it was apparent that it was either a Large Tortoishell or the Scarce( yellow legged)Tortoishell.
This morning I got there at about 8.30 there was no sign of it at first but patience paid dividends as just before 9 it suddenly appeared high in the buddleia,I immediately checked the leg colour-black-so Large Tortoishell for certain.I`ve only seen one before,and that was  in France and  was very worn and faded so this was a first for the U.K for me,they are thought to be almost extinct in Britain so this was quite exciting.
There now follows a sequence of photographs for your perusal,unfortunately this was not a pristine creature and had several chunks of wing missing,but nobody`s perfect as they say:-

Well done Colin a great find and keep checking the buddleias folks

LADIES WITH LONG TONGUES.

Mainly butterflies again folks this week:-

ESSEX SKIPPER

 ESSEX SKIPPER @SAMPHIRE HOE

MARBLED WHITE

YOUNG ENDEAVOUR HOVE TO OFF THE HOE.

GATEKEEPER

MEADOW BROWNS

RINGLET

WHITE ADMIRAL

CHAKHILL BLUES  are flying in good numbers on the downs above Temple Ewell.

WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAK

CHALKHILL BLUE ON COMMON CENTAURY

AND ON MARJORAM

A FRESHLY EMERGED COMMON BLUE

A PAINTED LADY WITH A SHARP TONGUE

PAINTED LADY FEASTING ON HEBE @SWINGFIELD

SUNFLOWERS ARE GREAT.

GATEKEEPER

ONE OF THREE BUZZARDS @SWINGFIELD ON SATURDAY.

THIS LADY POPPED INTO MY GARDEN ON SATURDAY.

AS DID THIS FRESH HOLLY BLUE