KYNANCE - THE LIZARD

I've just returned from an enjoyable week's holiday in Cornwall.  Whilst there I had the chance to make the beautiful  coastal walk from Kynance Cove to the Lizard point, a distance of 2.5 miles which took me an hour each way.  The weather was cloudy and fairly breezy and I didn't really hope for any butterflies but was pleasantly surprised to spot a couple of common blues then, to my delight, a couple of wall browns. I hadn't seen any of those for ages, although I must admit they were something I had hoped to find on this particular stretch of coast if it had been better weather.
This is a stretch of coastline I would certainly want to revisit on a sunny day another time. 

I also spotted a couple of young linnets, greater black backed gulls, and had some close ups of a stonechat.

part of the coastline Kynance to the Lizard

  

common blue butterfly

wallbrown

stonechat

During a visit to the Eden project I spotted a juvenile robin waiting for crumbs at the cafe,  and a juvenile blackbird hiding in the bushes.

juvenile blackbird 

juvenile robin 

BARBARY CASTLE CHALKHILL BLUES

 I decided to make the most of the weather and drove up to Barbary Castle in the hope of increasing my tally of chalkhill blue sightings, having only seen one so far at Hackpen Hill.  Initially it was rather cloudy and breezy, and it was a while before I saw any butterflies at all. Then the sun came out and so did a few butterflies. After a while, I saw the flutter of blue wings, and then another, and another, and eventually one rested on a flower and I could identify that it was a chalkhill blue. Because  of the wind it was quite difficult to get a good photo of it.  Although the sun was in and out of the clouds, I did manage to spot a number of different species including, one painted lady, one red admiral, and one peacock, also several meadow browns, gatekeepers, small skippers, green veined white, small white, marbled white and about 8 chalkhill blues, male and female.

walk up to the castle, there were quite a few people about actually

the gully where I found most of the butterflies

chalkhill blue (F)

chalkhill blue from underneath

male chalkhill blue

marbled white

green veined white

meadow pipit

painted lady

peacock

whitethroat

OTMOOR

On the way home from Cambridgeshire, I stopped by at RSPB Otmoor to see if there were any brown hairstreaks about. Having found a space in the almost full car park I walked down the Roman Road, and as expected there were several others with the same idea. It was a bit early (1015) and the sun wasn't fully on all the vegetation but we waited around a bit, and eventually one did decide to spiral down from the top of the trees, but sadly didn't settle and disappeared again. I could see several purple hairstreaks in the tops of the trees too, but again they were not obliging! 

However there were many other butterflies around: brimstone, painted lady, peacock, red admiral, green veined white, meadow brown, gatekeeper, speckled wood etc. 

brimstone looking rather odd as it is feeds from a bindweed flower

speckled wood

LAKENHEATH RSPB

Another day out in East Anglia, this time to RSPB Lakenheath. The wind had dropped today and it felt quite warm particularly when the sun shone. I visited this reserve this time last year so looked forward to going again. There were definitely more butterflies than birds to be seen, in particular, red admirals of which we saw about 40 in all! There were also good numbers of peacocks, green veined whites and the usual meadow browns, and gatekeepers. Also a couple of brimstones, small tortoiseshells and painted ladies. 

On the bird front, a few reed and sedge warblers, reed bunting, about 16 little egrets and 9 grey herons, as well as the expected swans, mallard, coots and moorhens. We sat in the hides for a while but there was not much to see, although of course before we came there had been fantastic views of a kingfisher and juvenile close up, and after we went a bittern flew over! The cranes weren't to be seen either. 

red admiral - one of the 40 we counted today!

peacock

large white

painted lady

small tortoiseshell - good to see a couple of these today 

as they have not been so common lately apparently

BRAMPTON WOODS AND GRAFHAM WATER

 Still breezy with sunny/cloudy conditions for a visit to a couple of nature reserves in Cambridgeshire. 

First, we visited Brampton wood and noted 1 purple hairstreak, (although it was too high to photograph), 1 comma, good numbers of silver washed fritillaries, meadow browns, gatekeepers, large and small skippers, green veined white, small white, large white, ringlet, several red admirals, 1 peacock. 

We then went on to Grafham water, walking through some nature reserves, and saw comma, painted lady, peacock, meadow brown, gatekeeper, small white, green veined white, large white, ringlet, red admiral, small skipper. 

comma showing the white 'comma' on its underwing

peacock

Bedford Purlius

This is a well known spot for butterfly enthusiasts in Cambridgeshire, although there are no signs to tell you where it is or even that you have arrived at the right place! This is on purpose, though, to prevent too many visitors. 

We drove up the entrance track and spoke to a farmer on a tractor who told us we could find parking a few yards up the track which we did, and found ourselves opposite one of the many rides in the wood. 
Before even getting out of the car we saw a couple of  silver washed fritillaries  which was an encouraging start.  Despite the fairly breezy conditions and the sun going in and out of clouds, there were plenty of butterflies to keep us happy along the ride. I was particularly pleased to see several white letter hairstreaks, initially shown to us by another visitor, but then fairly easy to find ourselves. 

Butterflies seen included, large skipper, brimstone, small white, large white, peacock, silver washed fritillary, ringlet, meadow brown, gatekeeper, white letter hairstreak, comma. 

rather tatty comma

large skipper

silver washed fritillary

white letter hairstreak, showing letter 'W' very clearly

peacock

CHERHILL

I went here on Saturday early afternoon, it had been sunny but clouded over a bit when I arrived, which probably accounts for the lack of butterflies, especially any blues. There were gatekeepers, meadow browns, small skippers, ringlet, red admirals, and I thought I saw a couple of dark green fritillaries in flight, also a small yellowish butterfly which I could not identify. However, when I spoke to another couple, they said they also thought they had seen two dark green fritallaries and a wall butterfly in flight, which makes me think that I may have seen them too. 

the white horse at Cherhill

steep path to the top of the downs

ringlet

yellow hammer in full voice