After returning from our walk Dawn and I found a Blue-tailed Damselfly on the Buddleia in the courtyard.
Rufus Castle and Mermaid Track
A quick walk around the block and what a difference a few days of cooler weather makes. Especially with an "outbreak" of Chalk Hill Blues, along the Mermaid Track Here. There were dozens of males and a few females on the wing, plus good numbers of Gatekeepers.
Other butterflies noted were a few Ringlets, Meadow Browns, 2 Commas, a Speckled Wood and surprisingly just the one Marbled White. However that may well have been down to the very windy conditions.
Just 1 Six-spot Burnet moth spotted.
Here are a few images from today.
One of the two Commas seen today. This one was on the path down to Rufus Castle from Portland Museum.
Still many Gatekeepers about.
And another with its wings open taken by Dawn.
As for Chalk Hill Blues, they were everywhere.
Despite the very windy conditions...
....a few shots were possible as there were so many to choose from.
I even managed to find a female in amongst the dozens of males.
The Chalk Hills were out in force and even Dawn managed a shot or two from close range.
One of the Chalk Hills lands next to Dawn.
And a Meadow Brown taken by Dawn.
A Speckled wood, in its usual spot along the Mermaid Track.
Above Rufus Castle a Buzzard is given an escort..........
.......but not quick enough by the looks of it by this angry Herring Gull.
Looking over the ledge at Rufus Castle you can be on the same eye level as the hunting Kestrels.