An anti-clockwise walk today and another very warm one again. Still plenty of butterflies about and a slight increase in Peacocks with 5 seen. Along the Mermaid Track dozens of Gatekeepers with a few mating.
Butterflies seen today were: Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Peacock, Comma, Adonis Blue and Chalk Hill Blue.
After seeing so many Silver Y moths over the past few days, it was big surprise that I didn't come across one today. The only moths on the wing were several Six-spot Burnets.
Lots of Red-tailed Cuckoo-bees and Common Carder Bees seen.
Also recorded: Common Red Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva), Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) and Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus).
Also about 2 Common Buzzards, a Kestrel and several juvenile Blue Tits. Overhead great to hear a few Swifts screaming.
A very confusing looking Speckled Wood with all those spots on the underwing. It was only when it opened its wings that I realised it was missing its left back wing.
Here are a few images from today, in the order I took them. I find it very difficult to ID the Skippers, so I apologise if I have labelled any incorrectly.
A Speckled Wood in Penn's Wood.
The grounds of St Andrew's Church
One of many Six-spot Burnet moths.
A very bedraggled Large Skipper
A Small Skipper
The grounds of St Andrew's Church looking back towards Pennsylvania Castle.
I'm hoping I have this one correct.......
.........a female Adonis Blue.
Another Six-spot Burnet moth.
A Gatekeeper. A very numerous butterfly at the moment.
A Small Skipper
The same as above.
A Common Green Grasshopper
Another Small Skipper.
A Chalk Hill Blue along Mermaid track again.
This is how it should look when the wings intact.
The hoverfly Myathropa florea, also known as the Dead Head Fly.