A meet-up with Wurzel and a trip to Hutchinson’s bank had been in the pipeline for some time. From the reports coming in we were confident we’d get to see our quarry. For me this would be the first time for 3 years in the UK since the demise of Wrecclesham and drawing a blank on my last two visits (to Hutchinson’s) in 2014 and 2015. All through the week we’d been nervously eyeing the weather forecasts and it wasn’t looking good. Nevertheless, we’d made up our minds that we’d be going come rain or shine. It was a pleasant surprise to find the weather on Sunday morning ideal for butterflying
.Wurzel was over my way (Woking) by 09:00 and I drove us on to Hutchinson’s with Wurzel’s SatNav taking us on a third alternative route (via Purley). N.B. When we left, we returned via "planned route 2" a country and motorway route to Limpsfield, Oxted; M25. "Planned route 1" was A3; Morden; Carshalton; Croydon Coombe rd. Gravel Hill. I’ve still to work out which is the best route
. We found a parking spot at the top of Farleigh Dean crescent. The reserve is accessed along a wooded track-way. Immediately we were greeted by a Speckled Wood and then Brimstone and Holly Blue followed by more Speckled Wood. The track with dappled light through the trees reminded me of my time butterflying in La Bastide de Serou in France. I knew this was going to be a good day
. . The weather was keeping the fresh looking Glanvilles fairly active but they would settle on hawksbeard and vetches to take nectar or occasionally alight on the ground or on a blade of grass to soak up the sun. They were quite approachable on the whole 
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). From the top of the bank another Glanville was spotted but the butterflies were more noticeable by their absence. Searching along a pathway at the bottom of the bank failed to get us a Small Blue or Grizzled Skipper which I’d seen in that area the previous year. However, a couple of beautiful little micro moths added interest to that part of the walk, the Orange Conch (spotted by Wurzel), being a lifer for me .- Scoparia pyralella (Meadow Grey)
- Commophila aeneana (Orange Conch)
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. By 13:00 we were making our way in and unusually we encountered our first Wood White before reaching the bridge over the ‘piddley stream’ (river Lox). The singleton soon became two and then a Green-veined white joined in, temporarily buzzing the Wood Whites as they nectared on Cranesbill and Bugle.
. This was to repeat itself further on but I still didn’t manage to get a satisfactory picture . .
(birch scrub had been showing signs of taking over). While following a female Wood White ovipositing we bumped into Susie … nice to meet you Susie and I’m glad you got to see and video the Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (your Wood White pics are much better than mine by the way 
).A Large White was a treat taking my season’s species count up to 19
- Silver-ground Carpet
. ….well almost:- - Lackey moth larva
