Hi Dave, no. No red squirrel for us. There was a notice, asking for any greys to be reported.
Hopefully you’ll make it up there one day, Wurzel.
Yes Trevor, it was a cracker!
Thanks David. Yes, we came home happy, having achieved our aims.
Last week, it was time for my annual trip to Aston Rowant. The Silver Spotted Skipper colony, though still strong, continues to decline, and I only found about a dozen on each side of the M40, where I would have expected hundreds of adults 10 years ago.
However, Adonis Blues have colonised in that time, and they continue to consolidate their numbers with several males seen on each side during my time here (late morning to late evening), and Chalkhill Blue numbers remain quite good, especially on the north-east side.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing I saw that day was this rather peculiar Meadow Brown, amongst hundreds of normal ones.
Several Peacocks were still present, most having gone into hibernation by mid August.
Extraordinary numbers of (tattered) Brown Argus were seen, probably several hundred, and Aston Rowant has floral attraction too. Not least the Chiltern gentian. Although much more common, I just liked this Knapweed picture.