Thanks, chaps. I am certain that is something I'm never going to see again. I'm grateful to the fourth butterfly for leading me straight to them, and for trying to get in on the act - there would have been no open wing shots without it!
3rd August: After that kind of day yesterday, anything would seem like a bit of a letdown. Going back to work after a fortnight off certainly didn't help. Nevertheless, after work and under warm but overcast skies, I had an amble around my local patch. Inevitably, two Holly Blues appeared immediately. The reason for their almost constant presence in this spot is probably a large holly tree, overgrown with ivy, which has brambles all around its base and hawthorn hedge to either side. No Holly Blue needs to travel any distance at all at any time of year to keep the species going.
Moving on, I encountered several Red Admirals patrolling the path as usual - another near constant and reliable facet of this walk throughout the year.
There was also a single Comma. I reached the large meadow/field/open space between the M25 and the River Colne before seeing anything else. Here were good numbers of roosting Common Blues: every now and again one would open up when the wind dropped a bit, the cloud thinned and the sun shone feebly through.
Meadow Browns were disturbed as I walked along, plus a few Gatekeepers. Others of this species had taken to the trees to roost and sit out the weather.
I also put up a Small Heath, which soon plummeted back down, unusually ending up on a plant above grass height instead of buried in a tussock. It appeared newly emerged, with lovely subtlety of colouring and an amazingly bristly face.
At this point, though there were signs of a bit more sun, it started to spot with rain and I turned back - it was after all around half past six and it's started to get late noticeably earlier these days. However, as I passed the J14 roundabout, the sun strengthened a bit and I glanced up at the young oak trees at the side of the link to Terminal Four. Dancing around these, and a large sycamore next to them, were a selection of Purple Hairstreaks - half a dozen or more.
I watched them for a while, and very entertaining they were too with their aggressive aerobatics and madcap chases. Every now and again, one would bask with its wings open. I could just about make this out (I had no binoculars with me), and cranked the camera up to full zoom, pointed and hoped. The results, heavily cropped, are recognisably male Purple Hairstreaks.
That's as far as I would go in describing these blurry photos!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
On a suitable evening soon, I may take my life in my hands and find a way up to the roadside, which is on a level with where the butterflies were basking (though still below treetop height).
As ever, it was worth going out - there is always something worth seeing!
Dave