![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Time to go further afield again. On Sunday 12th May I had arranged to take advantage of the improvement in the weather by meeting up with Wurzel down at Bentley Wood. As expected, there was a good showing of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, perhaps more than either of us can remember seeing in recent years. There were still fresh examples, and all had to be checked out to see if any Small Pearls had emerged amongst them. As it turned out, none was the sister species: all were Pearls. The Eastern Clearing also contained several Grizzled Skippers - it always seems a bit strange to me encountering them in a wood as I generally see them on chalk downland. As Wurzel and I made our way back to the car park, he spotted a Marsh Fritillary to add to the list. I failed to get a lens on it, but Wurzel managed a quick shot for the record.
It was good to see you again Wurzel - I suspect we spent much more time chewing the fat than actually getting close to the butterfies!
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
With the day still relatively young and continuing sunny, my plan was to circumnavigate Salisbury and head for Martin Down, so I bid farewell to Wurzel and set off westwards.
Another post is required for that...
Dave