Yesterday I visited a site just a few minutes away for only the second time. It is usually frequented by birders and often has restrictions applied because of the Natterjack toads.
A single orchid-like flower nestled amongst the bracken and heather and whilst I was taking a shot for later identification I noticed a small colony of Essex Skippers amongst the heather. The Gatekeepers now seem easier to approach but are not quite as fresh looking as previously:
It is really only a single track, used by cyclists and runners as well as the birders, but there were a huge number of butterflies, with gatekeepers in their hundreds. Like every site I have visited recently there were lots of very fresh Peacocks:
Whilst doing a bit more sallow searching I came across these - and not for the first time, so whatever they are, they are clearly not rare. I would appreciate any ideas.
I had a little chuckle to myself whilst taking some shots of a different insect as a birder came over to enquire if I had found a nest. When I told her it was just a beetle she obviously had doubts (probably about my sanity
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
) and scrutinised the bush anyway. Not finding anything she asked me what my interest was and when I replied caterpillars she looked quite unbelieving
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Anyway, this is the beetle. It looked like a giant Ladybird (it was very big and moved very fast) - I know their marking can vary considerably but I have never seen one like this
Being close to the water there were various types of Damselflies, darters and Dragon flies. I watched a mating pair of Damselflies sail through the air only for a bird to snatch one of them and the other returned to the ground alone. I have never seen that before. This one didn't fare any better:
As I was leaving there were half a dozen Whites taking minerals from the track they were too far apart for my close up lens. One male persisted in trying to mate with a female and she was equally adamant that she was having none of it:
A nice walk right on my doorstep
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)