A GRIZZLED OLD SKIPPER FROM DUNGENESS

Thick fog greeted me at Dungeness on monday morning,I could just see the sea from the top of the bund,but not much more,there was not a lot inland either so went to the reserve which was crammed with bumble bee release enthusiasts,had a wander round anyway highlights were a spotted flycatcher two bitterns a hobby and a cuckoo birdwise with a brown argus and four spotted chaser for insects

BROWN ARGUS

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER
Having seen Owen at the bumble bee fest,he had told me where to see the grizzled skippers so it was back to the point now the sun had emerged.

GRIZZLED SKIPPER
There were half a dozen flitting about but were not easy to pin down in the strong sunlight and the heat,but with patience one eventually settled long enough to get a not very good photo.

This colourful shield bug and treble bar moth were seen at the same time.

TREBLE BAR
I was in no hurry to get home so took a stroll along the old Elham valley railway track at Peene for old times sake there were a few butterflies onthe wing including a red admiral,speckled wood,wall brown small heath and several orange tips one of which obligingly posed.

ORANGE TIP nectaring on herb robert.

Tuesday at Samphire Hoe started with three shags feeding off the sea wall, an unusual sight in late May.

TWIN SHAGS, the third was lagging behind eating a small flatfish.
The butterfly transect produced the first green hairstreak and adonis blues

GREEN HAIRSTREAK

ADONIS BLUE the black dots on the wings are unusual.

COMMON BLUE female( this blue form is also unusual.)

A RED KITE made a brief appearance along the cliff top late morning,but when challenged by the local crows it made tracks in land.
Several moths were seen during the day including CINNABAR,YELLOW BELL,MOTHER SHIPTON and TREBLE BAR and COMMON BLUE and BLUE TAILED DAMSELFLIES were out and about.

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

Later on the way home this  female BLACK TAILED SKIMMER was seen.