Sunday 28th August.
Since having her stroke last year, my wife can only walk a short distance with a stick and so consequently has not been able to come with me on my butterflying trips as she would normally have liked to do. This has also meant that I have usually only been able to get out when one of my sons has been home or my daughter has been visiting as I won't leave her for too long by herself in case she needs assistance.
Today my daughter was visiting and as my wife knew that I was hoping to get to
Rodborough/Swellshill she suggested that we should take a drive there and I could go off wandering whilst they stayed by the car talking women talk
We set off mid-morning in sunshine and duly arrived a couple of hours later at Swellshill Bank after a leisurely drive down past Eversham and through Cheltenham.
The first butterflies seen were Meadow Browns, Small Heaths, a few Chalkhill Blues and Brown Argus and some Common Blues. I also saw a couple of Adonis Blue Males that would not settle for photos.
After about 15 mins or so it went quite dark and an 'orrible big black cloud came over....and then the heavens opened
I legged it back up the bank to the car...or as near to legging it that I can manage these days and jumped in to the sound of the women laughing at my bedraggled state.
We decided to go back to the ice cream factory and have have some ice cream whilst we waited to see what the weather would do.
Luckily, in the time it took to get down a double cornet, there were big patches of blue sky heading our way so as soon as the rain stopped we headed back to have another look for Adonis Blues.
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 008 resize.jpg (443.62 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Swellshill Bank - 10 minutes before the deluge](./files/thumb_10101_07be481c25ab2913c03af8fe6c4e72e5)
- Swellshill Bank - 10 minutes before the deluge
The sun soon came back out and heading back down the bank it wasn't long before the butterfies came out of hiding. This time they were more willing to settle and spend time basking and warming up again. I also saw a few more Adonis Blue males.
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 048 resize.jpg (390.33 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Brown Argus - male](./files/thumb_10101_7cb3ec4034c869698fb4a7c9fd9a4445)
- Brown Argus - male
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 017 resize.jpg (350.99 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Common Blue - male](./files/thumb_10101_c798edf30e77b84c4dd4bd9af141b1f3)
- Common Blue - male
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 045 resize.jpg (359.7 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Common Blue - male](./files/thumb_10101_7f2428d8f3b89e1ec70447c77b081e5f)
- Common Blue - male
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 034 resize.jpg (405.12 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Adonis Blue - male with what looks like rain damage on forewings](./files/thumb_10101_2a538f3b0b6604aaa39afe5dc0d5166a)
- Adonis Blue - male with what looks like rain damage on forewings
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 064 resize.jpg (396.75 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Adonis Blue - male](./files/thumb_10101_7e1d4b539705bff7b43d29e6aab1e038)
- Adonis Blue - male
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 071 resize.jpg (393.06 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Adonis Blue - male](./files/thumb_10101_9d17b7e1b2293b11a2f3b48b639b19d5)
- Adonis Blue - male
I also saw a few females but I am not sure if they were Adonis or Chalkhill. Given the condition of these which was for the most part quite faded and worn, I am more inclined to think they were Chalkhill females. Unfortunatly the photos that I took of these are not very good, the one below is about the best.
![Rodborough 28.08.2011 025 resize.jpg (398.27 KiB) Viewed 131442 times Female Chalkhill Blue....I think?](./files/thumb_10101_5cacffb959981b8fed635d838c0844f3)
- Female Chalkhill Blue....I think?
All in all it was a good day out, I managed to see Adonis Blues which were a first for me
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
and my wife and daughter both enjoyed their day although I think the highlight for them was the ice cream
Bye for now,
Neil.