Thanks for the comments Wurzel and Mark, a few more shots from the trip coming up...
August 2nd - 5th Arnside part 2.
As previously posted, I saw a few other species during the trip but overall numbers were down quite significantly compared to my previous visits here, most notably 3 years ago as described on page 32 of this diary.
There were loads of Gatekeepers about, mostly looking tired and faded. I have noticed on previous visits here and again on this trip that a lot of these Gatekeepers are noticeably smaller than those I get back home.
![Arnside 08.16 030 resize.JPG (636.57 KiB) Viewed 906 times Gatekeeper male - Arnside 03.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_fca2c291276c1cd4e5c76e08888e3569)
- Gatekeeper male - Arnside 03.08.2016
![Arnside 08.16 165 resize.JPG (632.85 KiB) Viewed 906 times Gatekeeper female - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_cf81af8efbcab8468afdcc04b01430c9)
- Gatekeeper female - Arnside 04.08.2016
Speckled Woods seemed to be doing reasonable well with good numbers scattered about all over the Knot.
![Arnside 08.16 092 resize.JPG (598.37 KiB) Viewed 906 times Speckled Wood - Arnside 03.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_51d0cbe737ed92de584653db001d91ab)
- Speckled Wood - Arnside 03.08.2016
![Arnside 08.16 177 resize.JPG (916.05 KiB) Viewed 906 times Speckled Wood - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_09b19be232fbe29a1d37a3a88fdbac26)
- Speckled Wood - Arnside 04.08.2016
![Arnside 08.16 335 resize.JPG (546.32 KiB) Viewed 906 times Speckled Wood - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_b78ca6946c6cef7e819bbf55e06d226b)
- Speckled Wood - Arnside 04.08.2016
A fair number of Small Skippers were seen darting about,
![Arnside 08.16 359 resize.JPG (596.85 KiB) Viewed 906 times Small Skipper - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_10067bf6969acc1d9e3d1b38241d065d)
- Small Skipper - Arnside 04.08.2016
No Essex skippers here yet but given that Small Skippers are a fairly recent arrival and there were no Gatekeepers here either just a few years ago, then I wonder how long until they also arrive. Speckled Wood and Comma are also fairly recent arrivals in these parts, sometime in the 1980s or 90s I believe when both species enjoyed an expansion of range northward.
Singles of Comma, Red Admiral and Brimstone were also seen on the Thursday (4th August) afternoon,
![Arnside 08.16 279 resize.JPG (642.13 KiB) Viewed 906 times Comma - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_b567299d0777365174c09282edf768cc)
- Comma - Arnside 04.08.2016
![Arnside 08.16 405 resize.JPG (626.34 KiB) Viewed 906 times Red Admiral - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_d260741a4ad736987e1f2acaf0b6d0cf)
- Red Admiral - Arnside 04.08.2016
![Arnside 08.16 433 resize.JPG (503.76 KiB) Viewed 906 times Brimstone - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_c9a1d6dc772e5e8ba5502fe75bb1f7a7)
- Brimstone - Arnside 04.08.2016
Both Dark Green and High Brown Fritillaries can be seen flying here at this time of year although it is late in the season for both species and they are often worn and faded by now. Indeed, I saw a couple of fresh DGFs here back in early June when we stayed here on our way back from Scotland a full two months ago. During our stay here this time I saw a few Fritillaries flying about on the Thursday afternoon when the weather was quite reasonable but only two came close enough to identify. Both turned out to be High Browns, one of which really was looking worse for wear but flying around vigorously still.
![Arnside 08.16 202 resize.JPG (774.52 KiB) Viewed 906 times High Brown Fritillary - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_3611849ffc3bdb12603e2cde006f49af)
- High Brown Fritillary - Arnside 04.08.2016
![Arnside 08.16 364 resize.JPG (618.98 KiB) Viewed 906 times High Brown Fritillary - Arnside 04.08.2016](./files/thumb_10101_86f4c007bdf300547e018c01fbbd8bf8)
- High Brown Fritillary - Arnside 04.08.2016
Also of note were the number of Cinnabar Moth caterpillars on the numerous yellow ragwort plants that were all over the Knot,
![Arnside 08.16 012 resize.JPG (601.89 KiB) Viewed 906 times Cinnabar Moth caterpillars - Arnside 03.04.2016](./files/thumb_10101_f4ce5c842c15d839591fa0675b4c6088)
- Cinnabar Moth caterpillars - Arnside 03.04.2016
Although the butterflies are my prime reason for visiting this area, it is also good for birds which Jane is more interested in. We often visit RSPB Leighton Moss and have described the birds that we usually see there in previous reports. This time we stayed in a B&B right in Arnside and our room looked out over the Kent Estuary where we could see Curlews, Greenshanks and Oystercatchers on the sandbanks when the tide went out. Too far away for photos with my FZ200 but good views through binoculars.
On the Thursday evening I was enjoying a tipple and watching the sun go down over the estuary and was captivated by the change in light as it reflected off the water and went from a silvery hue to a rich coppery gold colour...
![Arnside 08.16 577 resize.JPG (747.63 KiB) Viewed 906 times Evening light over the Kent Estuary](./files/thumb_10101_ecff87db75a75645834859797d3133b0)
- Evening light over the Kent Estuary
![Arnside 08.16 582 resize.JPG (714.78 KiB) Viewed 906 times Shortly after the previous photo](./files/thumb_10101_4bc904f4618d988e01892027d805609a)
- Shortly after the previous photo
A beautiful part of the world, I fully intend to return many times.
Bye for now,
Neil.