Hi Wurzel, I had a bit more luck with Hairstreaks today as well!
My day started off with the usual dog walk. It was rather cool and breezy. As my spaniel thrashed his tail in the long grass he sent up Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites left, right and centre but I managed to creep up on one roosting Marbled White before he came along and knocked it flying
I then decided to have a stroll around Orlestone Forest. Before going I spray painted myself with "Jungle Formula". I still got bitten but not quite so much. I'm sure I saw a Mozzie wearing a gas mask (although to be fair I think the "Jungle Formula" fumes had got to me by that stage..)
I soon came across White Admirals
I saw 25 in total
There's something child-like and playful about them
I spent a long time just watching them
Beautiful butterflies!
There were also numerous Ringlets
And many Meadow Browns, a few Small and Large Skippers, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and one Marbled White.
After watching the White Admirals I set off for home, just ambling along, not looking for anything in particular, when purely by chance (and just before I would have trodden on it) I saw a little butterfly on the path. I moved him onto a grass stalk
A Purple Hairstreak
Poor chap looked in a sorry state but nonetheless, still beautiful
He was on the path and in deep shadow so it was rather cold. I couldn't leave him there so enticed him onto my finger
And walked him a little way from where I'd found him into the sunshine. He responded quickly to the warmth by opening his wings.
I set him down and after a minute or so to my delight he took off on those deformed wings of his and flew up into an Oak tree!
It was certainly an unexpected way for me to see my first Purple Hairstreak of the year!