There was definitely enough sun in the afternoon
Trevor, and given they were flying on Mill Hill in much cooler, greyer and breezier conditions I suspect the Shoreham gang have buggered off across the channel! Not sure if I'll be able to visit again this year, I'm very much dependant on good weather falling on my days off now with no more holidays left, and this week doesn't look promising, particularly for one of my long distance trips.
Thanks
Wurzel and
Dave, she really did sparkle in the sun that Blue
15th October, Bookham
As it so often does, Bookham beckoned me today. It was about as far as was likely to get anyway with several train lines closing for maintenance, it actually took longer to get to Bookham than it took me to get to the south coast yesterday! Anyway it was a bit brighter than yesterday and a few Coppers welcomed me on arrival.
Keeping in with the autumnal theme was a spiffing Comma who I found patiently awaiting a break in cloud cover.
There were about eight Coppers on the wing along the hedge on Banks Common along with a single Common Blue and a Speckled Wood who had seen rather better days,
But it was a couple of immaculate Red Admirals that really delayed my departure for further wandering. Both intent on gorging on some late flowering Alexanders.
There were a few more Red Admiral in the wood but the main inhabitant today were Darter Dragonflies, every sunny glade had dozens of them, mostly Common Darters as far as I could tell like these two synchronised baskers.
I also found this Mushroom, anyone know what it is, it looks like it is a relative of Fly Agaric?
At the Copper nursery many of the eggs have now hatched and some very careful investigation uncovered one larvae, the many 'windows' in the leaves hinted that many more were active.
Nearby I found a male Copper, perhaps even the proud father of some of the eggs, who had a generous amount of orange dusting around his blue badges.
Waiting for my train to arrive I killed the last half hour or so with some more Coppers and another Common Blue
A lovely, peaceful afternoon
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)