Thanks Wurzel, we were at Bentley on 26th May so probably just caught the beginning of their emergence. Yes Argent and Sable are very tricksy moths
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
must have done three circuits of the clearing
Mike
4th June - Magdalen Hill Down
Today we decided to pay our first visit of 2015 to this beautiful downland site, which, normally a 40 minute drive for us, cost us an extra 40 minutes due to roadworks at Four Marks! Although we arrived frustrated by the delay, this was soon forgotten as we entered this delightful reserve. Hot sun and not too windy, ideal conditions for supercharged butterflies, and so they were
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Our first sighting was a Small Blue at the side of the path, which on closer inspection was a very fresh female. Due to the hot sun they mainly kept their wings tightly closed with just brief glimpses of their upper sides. Fortunately there was some light cloud being blown across, which obscured the sun sufficiently to allow us to get some open wing shots.
We saw 50 plus Small Blues and were also able to see them roosting, and none showed any sign of reduced spotting to their undersides! We also found a single Grizzled Skipper and some Common Blues.
A lovely moth (Yellow underwing)? and some other beasties.
![P1190736.Resize.JPG (611.86 KiB) Viewed 611 times Golden-Bloomed Grey Long Horned Beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens)?](./files/thumb_11970_2d7d6888715f6831220f082ba1fa04b3)
- Golden-Bloomed Grey Long Horned Beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens)?
![P1190874.Resize.JPG (593.11 KiB) Viewed 611 times Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)?](./files/thumb_11970_0e0c907a136de962ab0e2ebec8995b9b)
- Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)?
![P1190058.Resize.JPG (923.01 KiB) Viewed 611 times Sloe Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum)?](./files/thumb_11970_748ecec1d07f2ff5327c9a525c4a61cc)
- Sloe Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum)?
At about 7pm we saw a Painted Lady in flight which then settled on the bare ground in front of us. We could see that she was quite faded having probably made a long journey from the Continent. Another suddenly appeared and they spiraled high into the sky together. Suddenly she was back on the ground in front of us with the other one settled nearby. We got some shots and as we made our way back along the path we spotted more Painted Ladies basking in the evening sun. We saw six in total, which must have arrived quite late in the evening as we saw none during the day, perhaps the invasion has begun
![P1190250.Resize.JPG (907.52 KiB) Viewed 611 times Basking in the evening sun, high in the ivy](./files/thumb_11970_cabbc43034d6261ec3deeccb877a6fac)
- Basking in the evening sun, high in the ivy
Also on our way out we spotted a roosting female Orange-tip and Green-veined White.
We had a great day out in fantastic surroundings in lovely weather conditions, summer has arrived at last, maybe
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)