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Well, I hope we all got to enjoy the mad May Day holiday weekend. This holiday has been bedevilled by cold or wet weather over the years since it’s introduction in 1978. After last years heatwave, normal service was resumed this time round!

On Monday, we got an early start and headed down to Denge wood in Kent. Thankfully, we had no hold ups, and made good progress. Just as well, for we only managed about 20 minutes of early sunshine before the clouds rolled in, and the action was more or less over. But we made the most of it, and those present all managed to see about half a dozen of this great little butterfly , including UKB’ers Andrew 555 and Allan W, whom it was great to catch up with.

Pictures to follow...

Pictures from Denge wood,

Some nice shots there Essex ! I think we managed about 4 (maybe 5 ) Dukes , and we also saw a single female
Speckled Wood ,along the entrance track ,but butterfly-wise that was it !,we also saw at least 4 Glowworm larvae along the gravelled entrance track . Glad you found a few Early Spiders at Samphire Ho ! I should imagine that the bulk ,are now past their best . Enjoyed our chat !
Regards Allan.W.

Thanks Allan. We saw a lava on the entrance track, too-I thought it was a ladybird lava, so thanks for the confirmation!

So, after lunch in Canterbury, we headed down, as Allan says, to Samphire Hoe, to look at the large colonies of early spider orchids. Unlike butterflies, orchids still show if it’s cold! Some were going over, but there were plenty of good ones around . This peculiar orchid is the flavescens variety of early spider, which I’ve never seen before. They were growing at the bottom of the cliff. Kidney and horseshoe vetch were beginning to flower, and Samphire Hoe is always a pleasure to visit.

Great find ,with the Flavescens ,Essex ………….wonder if its the same one I found last year ! was it on the chalk bank(landslip )
close to the Beach dwelling there ?? We tried really hard to find one ,when we were there a week or two back ……...but no joy !
once again great find !! Regards Allan.W.

So, after lunch in Canterbury, we headed down, as Allan says, to Samphire Hoe, to look at the large colonies of early spider orchids. Unlike butterflies, orchids still show if it’s cold! Some were going over, but there were plenty of good ones around

Those orchids are fabulous, Mark. Samphire Ho certainly has lots to recommend it.

Brilliant Orchid shots Essex - isn't there a form of Bee Orchid that's similar to the Flavescens Spider? Great shots of the Duke and Duchess, nice to see the images side by side as it were for comparison

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Allan, yes, that’s where they were. Here is another. It’s does, David. If you are ever over this way, Samphire Hoe is definitely worth a visit, especially in spring and early summer.

Hi Wurzel, yes, the bee orchid is called chlorantha. I’ve seen it a few times, in fact a bee orchid colony on some waste ground near my home used to have a few spikes of this form in some years. However this site is now under concrete-a leisure centre now stands there!

Excellent Essex ! never managed to find Cholrantha Bee Orchids ,but did fluke a VAR; Cambrensis on Portland a few years back. A t a small local site much used by dog walkers near me (Sellindge ) last year I found two spikes of a beautiful "White" (sepals ) Bee orchid ,and done the decent thing ,as I thought others may miss them ,I marked them with sticks,returning a couple of days later ,they had both completely vanished
and the marker sticks chucked along the path ! Regards Allan.W.

Cheers for the confirmation Essex I'm getting to the age now where things in the memory are a little hazy Sorry to hear about the leisure centre

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Last week, we had a short visit to west Cornwall. This was more a family celebration than anything else, but we did manage a visit to the spectacular Kynance Cove. Our first port of call was to see if the first Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries had emerged. They had. In late April and May, the coast here is a riot of colourful flowers. Here we find spring squil, Sea campion, And sea pink, or thrift. It seems strange to see bluebells on the coast, but they often grow there. These were just past Lizard lighthouse.

And lastly, a scenery shot.

Fantastic scenery Essex Almost as good as Dorset Great Small Pearl as well

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cracking scenery and flora in that part of the country, Mark. No wonder you make such an effort to visit regularly.

Lovely photos from Cornwall Mark

I am planning to be down there again in early August so hoping to catch the second brood Small Pearls.

Cheers,

Neil.

Great shots from the Cornwall coast Essex ,especially Kynance 'can't wait to get back down there next summer !!
Regards Allan.W.

Thanks everybody!

Returning from Cornwall, we wanted to catch up with some spring species again, as the season reaches its peak. With the weather a bit iffy last Sunday, we didn’t want to go too far, in the end, we decided on Aston Rowant.

Esther had yet to see a Green, so she was pleased to find this female herself, laying eggs on the dogwood flower buds. Meanwhile, I was pleased to find my first Common Blues of the year. Most of the Grizzed Skippers were showing signs of age though, it goes without saying, I was delighted to see them? Plenty of fresh Brown Argus have emerged and, in warm but rather cloudy conditions, they showed well. Some nice fresh Dingy Skippers were still present, I love their less than obvious beauty! Other species were Brimstones, Orange Tips, Holly Blue, and Small Heath.

Lovely sequence of shots Essex and a very appreciative report

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a Dingy to die for, Mark. Beautiful specimen.

Beautiful scenic views Mark. I have only ever been to Cornwall once many years ago (some Bay near St Ives) but it was lovely - and Esther did well with that Green Hairstreak