First stop in a large open field with many wildflowers and tall thistles – I was keen to see a Festoon, and I’d seen photos of them favouring thistles. First though I was looking at coppers, blues and skippers, with this female Sooty Copper posing agreeably, and nearby a mating pair
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016729737_126c56b866_z.jpg)
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016468271_24f13f046c_z.jpg)
Then a male Lesser Fiery Copper ?
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015940538_87ae1c9c9e_z.jpg)
A couple of Marbled Skippers, flocciferus and/or orientalis ?
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016469836_8254d13ecf_z.jpg)
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016468726_f1f695740f_z.jpg)
I couldn’t resist including this lovely fresh Ilex Hairstreak
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015940103_cd7d2b80cc_z.jpg)
And the best shot I managed of the highly mobile Southern White Admirals
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016833957_05d0591201_z.jpg)
Arriving in the village, the abandoned orchard beckoned me, with the same panoply of Swallowtails, Large Tortoiseshells, Cardinals and a mating pair of Great Banded Grayling
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015939083_d6eb5e06e2_z.jpg)
I carried on through the village and followed a minor road signposted to Lailas, my day 3 destination – this had abundant wildflowers in the low boundaries to fields, and many smaller species. This blue sat up nicely but is it Idas or Silver-studded ?; the latter I know well from Prees In Shropshire.
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015938953_c10c0a71bf_z.jpg)
As the road ascended I spotted this perching Clouded Yellow; I assume it’s the helice form ?
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015938798_a54faee8f0_z.jpg)
And many Graylings were skittering across the road surface that seemed made of crushed marble and made a tricky back drop in the bright conditions
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015939498_16d77e0c26_z.jpg)
I came across a small lake/reservoir where I saw the first Black-veined whites of my trip, this one seemingly oblivious to the holly leaves
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015939713_2932470aee_z.jpg)
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016577666_dff2336d3b_z.jpg)
Coming back to the village I spied an Anomolous Blue taking salts, and since my previous offering seemed very popular, here it is
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016727712_9413032e71_z.jpg)
A final look around the orchard, and this Swallowtail was too good to miss
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50016468901_8f6c641973_z.jpg)
Sadly no Festoons sighted
Back at the guesthouse another storm swept across the lake and made it feel much cooler and fresher; one more day to go – where to go ?
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50015938358_5417b0b2d0_z.jpg)