As mentioned in my previous post, todays weather forecast was bang on with some showers of rain and a few sunny spells with a very blustery wind most of the time. Early afternoon there was a bit of a window during which there seemed to be a bit more sun and a little less cloud so I decided to grab my wellies and brolley and nip around to Shadowbrook meadows to see if I could find anything.
With the first Small Coppers and Common Blue having been reported in Warwickshire last weekend I was keen to have a look for these although I realised that the conditions today were not the best.
I spent about an hour at Shadowbrook during which time the sun came out briefly a few times and was quickly covered again by rapidly moving clouds. The wetter parts of the meadows were very wet after the rain during the past week and I was glad that I had put my wellies on. Each time the sun appeared a number of Green-veined Whites would take to the wing with 5 or 6 often in view at the same time, these being the only butterflies that I saw in any numbers today.
I found my first Large Red Damselfly of the year and managed to get a record shot as it settled low down in the grass out of the wind,
This was soon followed by my first Broad-bodied Chaser of the year. Even this normally strong flyer was struggling against the blustery wind and kept settling low down where again I only managed a record shot,
The best however was when I found what I was looking for, my first Small Copper this year, and with blue spots on the hindwings as well
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
There was plenty of Ladies Smock dotted about the meadows, nearly every plant having one or more Orange-tip eggs on it, although I didn't see any adults today. I also found a nest of Small Tortoiseshell larvae bobbing about on a patch of nettles. At least I think they are Small Tort larvae, it wouldn't be the first time I have got these mixed up with Peacocks which usually have longer spines at this size.
After about an hour the clouds turned darker grey again and I felt some drops of rain in the air and with no further bits of blue on the horizon I decided to make a move. I got back to the car just before it started raining properly so I didn't need the brolly in the end although the wellies were a necessity in the very wet parts of the meadows. Not a bad hour though with enough seen to make it worth going out
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Bye for now,
Neil