SILVER & GOLD

Yesterday morning armed with Mike Hooks directions I set off for Sissinghurst Castle to see the fantastic Golden Ringed Dragonfly,but first with unfinished business in Ham Street an hours stop there for Silver Washed Fritillary paid dividends.
There had been a shower overnight and the grass was pretty wet but the sun was breaking through and butterflies became evident with a pair of SWFs feeding on thistles and eventually they became quite confiding.Gatekeeper and ringlet were also much in evidence.

RINGLET

 

GATEKEEPER

Below is a female SWF

 MALE SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY below note dark stripes on forewing

 A second male was found nearby nectaring on bramble

 Moving on to Sissinghurst made my way through the crowds down to the lakes where I soon found a pair of GRDs patrolloing a short stretch of the narrow stream,they were not stopping though so tried my luck on the upper stream and that luck was in almost immediately when I spotted a superb specimen perched on a bare stalk overhanging the stream in full sunshine.

A very successful and satisfying morning especially to see the golden ringed dragonflies.

LOVE IS THE BUG

Just a few more butterfly pics for your perusal,the Lydden/Temple Ewell reserve is now full of chalk hill blues,and marbled whites,large and small skippers,meadow browns and ringlets and a few gatekeepers are now emerging, on the down side no sign of white letter hairstreaks again.

 BROAD BODIED CHASER at Temple Ewell

 CHALKHILL BLUES

If Cameron has his way it will soon be illegal to look at this.

 A delicate balancing act.

 How was it for you dear?

MARBLED WHITES

IT AIN`T `ALF HOT INNIT

The first small skippers at Temple Ewell on Saturday morning and chalk hill blue finally appeared at Langdon on sunday morning.Monday went on safari to Northamptonshire and Norfolk to see two of our most special butterflies.Essex skippers were out at Samphire Hoe on Tuesday and a gatekeeper came into the garden yesterday afternoon.

 SMALL SKIPPER

 MARBLED WHITE

SMALL SKIPPER

 RINGLET

 SMALL SKIPPER

SMALL SKIPPER.Note the orange antennae tips.

 CHALKHILL BLUE at LANGDON CLIFFS

 CHALKHILL BLUE freshly emerged.

SMALL BLUE -Although it doesn`t look it this small blue was really small,about half the size of the norm.

Now for Mondays epic trip,armed with the requisite map references etc set off for Fermyn woods near Corby before 5am,arriving at 0745 and photographing a purple emperor an hour later,I saw at least 7 of these superb creatures in the two hours there.Thanks to Kevin J for the info.

PURPLE EMPEROR

PURPLE EMPEROR male

 PURPLE EMPEROR female
There were also white admirals and silver washed fritillary here.
Moving east into Norfolk to Strumpshaw Fen,I soon found this wonderful SWALLOWTAIL in the doctors garden,feasting on sweet williams.

I only saw this single specimen as it is getting a bit late for them but there should be a second brood in august.

 There were hundreds of small tortoishell at Strumpshaw which is good and lots of comma too.

 COMMA

 ESSEX SKIPPER AT SAMPHIRE HOE-Note black antennae tips.

SMALL TORTOISHELL SAMPHIRE HOE.

 GATEKEEPER in my garden
There has been a big new silver bird in the sky this week BAs new A380,has been coming and going at Manston doing training etc.

BAs A380 Double Decker.

 UP

 UP

 AND

 

 AWAY.