Thanks guys
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
. Still a good few days to go before I'm caught up, today we go back to 2 weeks ago.
13th May
Time to add another species to the years tally, Adonis Blue, so it was a trip to Denbies this time. No mishaps with the trains this time meant I was there nice and early. Before going down to see the first Adonis of the year I explored the edge of Steers field, finding a few Small Copper and something that’s been noticeably thin on the ground this year, a Red Admiral.
![RA.JPG (159.38 KiB) Viewed 2449 times RA.JPG](./files/thumb_13753_319e01fbe420fc82e557eb78f7542540)
A couple of Adonis males, sparkling in the morning sun, erupted from the side of the path as I approached the steps where the Green Hairstreaks normally hang out, but today the steps and lecking area was bereft of them. There was however a female Holly Blue and for once this year she sat still for longer than a few seconds. I’ve barely made it into double figures for these this year so I tried my best to make the most of her. She made things difficult though, to get near her I had to pick my way through Hawthorn and Bramble whilst simultaneously trying not to disturb her. I only had the one angle to work with but I’ve never tried a stain glass Holly Blue, they look rather nice!
![IMG_0032.JPG (140.07 KiB) Viewed 2449 times IMG_0032.JPG](./files/thumb_13753_df29d6d2f94c48d0548f095ba4afc4b0)
![IMG_0036.JPG (158.74 KiB) Viewed 2449 times IMG_0036.JPG](./files/thumb_13753_9e65c400d12d500bf2dc44cb68cca7fd)
Anyway, the main course beckoned. It had gotten rather warm now though so pinning one down took some doing and even when I did, they were now rather reluctant to open up. Joining them were the springtime Skippers and Small Heath and also lots of 5-spot Burnets who were wasting absolutely no time in sorting out the next generation!
A smattering of Common Blues were also in the mix, and like everything else this morning, they too being rather difficult to get close to. I did managed to sneak up on one whilst he was chatting up a female Green Hairstreak though.
Green Tiger Beetles distracted me as they hunted along the paths, I had to break out the big lens to get the shots of them though, in this weather I didn’t stand a chance of getting up close to them!
![IMG_0180.JPG (117.66 KiB) Viewed 2449 times Incoming!](./files/thumb_13753_165f3171bfae7781e5dc615fe795d8f9)
- Incoming!
I normally turn around and wander back up the slope when I reach the far bottom corner but today I decided to carry on and explore further. Turning the corner at the bottom of the slope I found a patch of particularly lush glass where Common Blues and Brown Argus fought for ownership over the best blade to pose on. One Argus was a particularly striking ab.
snelleni, he could almost not look out of place on the Scottish borders!.
Further on I found a rather barren looking sun baked field, barren except for being occupied by several Brimstones quartering the ground as they drained every dandelion of nectar.
On the return walk up Denbies the butterflies were now mostly impossibly supercharged to pin down, but I did manage a nice pair before leaving the hillside for a quick look around Bookham.
At Bookham there was once again little around. A couple of Small Copper and a few Orange-tip were all that were around for the greater part of my wanderings. I do feel like the Orange-tip season passed me by this year, I really haven’t seen half as many as normal.
In the absence of adults I took for looking for youngsters, finding several Orange-tip eggs (no larvae here yet that I could find) and a nice selection of moth caterpillars whilst hunting for Brown Hairstreaks. The target caterpillar remained elusive, so much so I didn’t see it even when taking a picture of one…
![IMG_0658.JPG (146.77 KiB) Viewed 2449 times Spot the BH caterpillar photo bombing this rather splendid Figure of Eight moth cat.](./files/thumb_13753_58dee5fdeb5c0feffc130580b9f95105)
- Spot the BH caterpillar photo bombing this rather splendid Figure of Eight moth cat.
Just before leaving I came across a couple of Peacock and a Comma battling over a patch of bare earth, here’s the victor enjoying his spoils
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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This really was turning into a splendid week of butterflying
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)