I took the opportunity to stay out of the office today and headed for Bookham Common down the A3, with the small possibility of seeing my first PE.
I think you can probably guess from the title that I succeeded; really amazing! I parked in the Tunnel car park and just wandered off into the woods.
Having seen Large and Small Skippers (can someone confirm?), SWF's, Comma, MB's, Ringlets, Red Admiral, Small White, the trip was a success before walking more than 10 metres.
I had been bumbling along for about 45 mins when I saw two people bedecked with oodles of photographic equipment standing in the middle of a gravelled path and there was my first PE.
True to form it was perched on a large piece of sh...mud, which tended to take the edge off the scene, but it was one I was prepared to overlook.
I took out the mobile (!!) and clicked away; you can't quite believe that we have anything like this in the UK until you see it for yourself, it is like something out of a tropical jungle.
Mission accomplished and frankly it has made my year. I then wondered round the corner and saw a few white admirals, out of which one was a happy poser.
I also saw my first gatekeepers off the year, who were very elusive and a beaten up speckled wood, bringing the tally to 11 species; happy days!
I also took pictures of a ringlet which has 3 spots on the upper wing (unusual?). Please can someone identify the moth.
I hope the pictures do some justice to 'his purpleness'.
Flutter on!
CJB
Did the butterfly subsequently land on anyone after enjoying its feast? 
