![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Thursday 3rd May:
Something different was called for today on another promising sunny day. After the obligatory walk round my local circuit (more on that in a bit), I headed off to Bedfont Lakes Country Park. I started with the northern part, which is more artificial and manicured in places (they cut the grass and path edges...), though there are some wild bits. One leafy path is designated as a "nature area" and this did host the highest number of species, including over a dozen Brimstones (which have been largely absent lately on my local patch), plus Orange Tips, all three Whites and Speckled Woods. I checked another area for Green Hairstreaks, but saw none this time. Notably absent were Holly Blues, Commas and Peacocks.
I then drove round to the southern part of the Country Park; there is no connection and the main line to Windsor and Reading cuts through the middle. Right at the initial entrance gate, a Holly Blue was engrossed in sucking up salts from the damp ground - always a good sign. Then just inside the Park proper I disturbed a Green Hairstreak from a clump of lush trefoil growing in an island of longer grass. I could only watch as it sailed up into the trees. I assume it was a female laying eggs on the plant. I then walked to the railway and back, seeing good numbers of Holly Blues this time, plus various whites and a few Brimstones. However, on the return to the start, I disturbed another Green Hairstreak. This one was on a dogwood bush, and despite all my close attention with the camera, there was no way this one was leaving the shrub. It too was laying eggs on the flower buds, and it was not difficult to find the little pale turquoise jewels tucked down between them. In the end I had to leave one of the most amenable subjects I have ever come across, but it was a very satisfying encounter.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
More from my local patch shortly - female Holly Blues are on the rise!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Dave