Some recent family issues have had me and the kids confined somewhat to spending a lot of time indoors. Today I got the nod to take the kids out for a couple of hours and so chose to go Bookham Commons where I spent some considerable and succssful time last year looking for Brown Hairstreak. The morning had a good feel about it as I observed a Peacock and Comma on my Buddliea, only the second and third butterflies this year to visit my butterfly bush (the other was a Small White)
Bookham as expected, was much more overgrown in the herbaceous department, with the small 3-4ft blackthorn sprigs invisible under a blanket of overgrowth.
First interesting encounter was this Common Darter Dragonfly.
![A 2012.08.10 IMG_7139 Common Darter.jpg (325.92 KiB) Viewed 912 times Dragonfly on a stick](./files/thumb_10062_e043bec1088208d2512ec9497b4ffa42)
- Dragonfly on a stick
In last years' 'hot-spot' the vegetation had been severely mown back much to my annoyance (bramble, mint and fleabane all good nectar sources, obliterated as part of some clearance operation
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
. I consoled myself with the thought it might be a conseravtion measure to assist blackthorn growth to aid the Brown Hairstreak. Despite this there were plenty of Meadow, Browns; False Brostreaks and the Silver-washed Fritillary (most in the slightly-scuffed category). Other species seen were Brimstone; fresh Peacock; Large White Large Skipper and Purple Hairstreak (tree-top in the car park).
![B 2012.08.10 IMG_7153 Meadow Brown.jpg (414.3 KiB) Viewed 912 times Meadow Brown on fleabane missed by the mower](./files/thumb_10062_678e3f3518a5143d53831d84ed168e2a)
- Meadow Brown on fleabane missed by the mower
![C 2012.08.10 IMG_7150 Gatekeeper.jpg (278.58 KiB) Viewed 912 times 'Slightly scuffed' False Brostreak](./files/thumb_10062_fae725cfee316ef565f2307bdb6eea65)
- 'Slightly scuffed' False Brostreak
![D 2012.08.10 IMG_7164 Meadow Brown.jpg (317.59 KiB) Viewed 912 times Meadow Brown (what else?) the commonest species](./files/thumb_10062_9de72925d5a0b03f8b56da94968a865c)
- Meadow Brown (what else?) the commonest species
Over 2 hours later and no Hairstreaks
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
. I decided to call it a day and make my way back to the car (around 13:45, the kids wanted their lunch
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
) Despite missing on my target species I felt moderately contented
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
. Suddenly Francesca pointed to a butterfly and said "is that one dad" .... and it was
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. The butterfly, was a male and took off but I managed to follow it and see it land on the ground
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. As I took my photos it looked to be mud-puddleing the way Purple Hairstreaks do on occasion. Despite this feeding activity the butterfly was quite twitchy and having decided I'd taken enough pictures, made it's way off into some nearby Sallows.
![E 2012.08.10 IMG_7169 Brown Hairstreak.jpg (219.63 KiB) Viewed 912 times His 'good' side](./files/thumb_10062_7d7db64ef076472c610d6f8b2f9c6c8d)
- His 'good' side
![F 2012.08.10 IMG_7174 Brown Hairstreak.jpg (221.46 KiB) Viewed 912 times Showing left forewing damage](./files/thumb_10062_9d55a42af514e94c0392acb97c98caf8)
- Showing left forewing damage
![G 2012.08.10 IMG_7184 Brown Hairstreak.jpg (222.1 KiB) Viewed 912 times Minor damage to right forewing, possibly caused by a bird?](./files/thumb_10062_af275c5fdcad90e98296e1632a0ed6ed)
- Minor damage to right forewing, possibly caused by a bird?
Thoroughly chuffed with this outcome I decided to check a meadow area which last year was fruitful for Common Blue; Brown Argus and the occasional Brown Hairstreak
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
. The kids by that time had had enough and sat under a tree in the shade while their mad father
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
attempted to wade through neck-high vegetation, some of it decidedly spikey. Realising this was not a clever move I made my way back to the spot I'd seen the hairstreak for one last look, and low an behold, a female Purple Emperor in the Sallows
![Exclamation :!:](./images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)
. I called for the girls but they were too late to see it as it slowly made its way into the centre of the tree.
No photo of this but male Brown Hairstreak and Female Purple Emperor within 10 minutes of each other
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Brilliant or what
Due to insufficient time I didn't get around to doing a posting of Dawney's Graylings (again
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
) Here are some of the pictures taken:-
![H 2012.08.05 IMG_7016 Grayling.jpg (448.23 KiB) Viewed 912 times Typical Grayling in camouflage mode](./files/thumb_10062_234e62358d58042349627bc39828761a)
- Typical Grayling in camouflage mode
![I 2012.08.05 IMG_7021 Grayling.jpg (479.7 KiB) Viewed 912 times Flashng the eye spots](./files/thumb_10062_11176a5e46fb3790a273f8c31f62cab9)
- Flashng the eye spots
![J 2012.08.05 IMG_7112 Grayling.jpg (442.31 KiB) Viewed 912 times What a poseur lol](./files/thumb_10062_32f91b4992f15ed681dac48319baaab8)
- What a poseur lol
![K 2012.08.05 IMG_7125 Grayling.jpg (363.86 KiB) Viewed 912 times Fairly obvious when nectaring on Erica](./files/thumb_10062_a7619402dd7a0bc740b6ef397c000d25)
- Fairly obvious when nectaring on Erica
![L 2012.08.05 IMG_6979 Silver-studded Blue female.jpg (280.26 KiB) Viewed 912 times some Silver-studded blues still around on the 5th](./files/thumb_10062_5db5e56cda13a47c9566148c86bc7af4)
- some Silver-studded blues still around on the 5th