Saturday 6th July 2013
I spent the weekend at my parents' house in Hampshire for a family gathering, but that didn't stop me sneaking off on Saturday afternoon to Broxhead Common to see Silver Studded Blues. The hot sunny weather meant they were active and the light wasn't good for photography, but it was great to see them in good numbers.
Silver Studded Blue, Broxhead Common, Hants
Back at my parents', a Marbled White flew over the garden - my first of the year, and the first time I've seen one there.
Sunday 7th July 2013
The following morning I headed to Alice Holt forest, hoping for Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral and maybe Purple Emperor. Apart from Meadow Brown and Ringlet, there were generally not a lot of butterflies around compared to how this site usually looks at this time of year, but everything is a little late it seems. A few SWF males were patrolling the rides, rarely stopping but I managed this distant shot:
Silver-washed Fritillary, Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt, Hants
We also saw one freshly emerged female take flight and settle under a leaf high in an oak tree to dry.
The only White Admirals were flying high in among the trees, quickly disappearing out of sight; and no sign of H.I.M.
Having taken a long time to get from Cambridgeshire to Hampshire on Saturday, we headed back on Sunday during the tennis match, reasoning traffic would be lighter. We were right, and got home in record time, in time to watch the last set. After that excitement, with the sun still high I headed to Therfield Heath near Royston (Herts) in search of Marbled Whites.
I found one or two on arrival, but they were pretty flighty and only settling occasionally in long grass. A commotion of rooks alerted me to a Red Kite overhead, along with a Peregrine (I think?):
Red Kite and Pergrine Falcon, Therfield Heath, Herts
Later as I was watching MWs, I was hearing a lot of rustling in a nearby hedge. At first I thought it might be a dog, or maybe squirrels, but then saw four or five small brown heads pop out. I wasn't quick enough with the camera, but it was a family of stoats:
Stoats, Therfield Heath, Herts
I watched / listened to them for a while, only getting fleeting glimpses. Then a dog caught scent of them, bounded up, caught one in its mouth to much squeaking, and tossed it in the air. I shouted to the owner to get the dog, and he took it away on a lead. I didn't see if the victim got away, but I continued to hear the rustling for a while, so at least some of the stoats continued on their way.
Twice during the evening I saw a fast-flying orange butterfly which I'm pretty sure was a fritillary; I've never seen them there before, and wouldn't be sure whether it was a Dark Green or Silver-washed. If anyone has any knowledge or opinions, I'd love to hear them.
As the sun got a little lower, the Marbled White started to settle and be a bit more cooperative for photographing:
Marbled White, Therfield Heath, Herts
Marbled White, Therfield Heath, Herts
On my way back to the car I nearly tripped over a nice Small Tortoiseshell and a Painted Lady. Also seen during the visit: Meadow Brown, Small Heath, and a small lyceanid which I still can't quite work out what it would have been.
Apart from the furious incident of the dog (sorry!), a lovely evening.
- it was so warm today I almost took my jacket off! 
I too am hoping that the very long winter will mean a great summer, here's hoping.
It seems that Black Hairstreak are featuring heavily at the moment which is great, as last year they were conspicuous by their absence