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I’m surprised, but delighted, you got your Heath Fritillaries, they are long gone from the Essex woods. Well done on your Marbled Whites and Chalkhill Blues at Lydden, you’ve seen Chalkhills before me this year!

Great shots there Goldie, like Essex says, that seems really late for Heath Frits

Brill news Goldie Great to see the trip get off to such a great start

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I too am quite surprised to see Heath Fritillaries still on the wing. Glad you caught up with them, Goldie, along with the other delights that you don't get up north.

Thanks everybody for your posts as you can see I'm having a great time here and out nearly every day

I was surprised to see the Heath Fritillaries has well, so yesterday we planned to go to Reculver first then onto East Blean Woods afterwards, i wanted to see if the Purple Hair Streaks would show me some Purple Of course anther sight of the Heath wouldn't go a miss

It was quite cloudy when we arrived at Reculver and I didn't expect to see many butterflies but in-spite of that the Gate Keepers were there in abundance, then I spotted the Skippers and have been told by essex that they're Essex There were a few rather shabby Red Admiral's and once again loads of Whites.

We decided a sandwich would go down well and knew from past experience that the small cafe there did a belting Bacon Butty, say no more! We set off afterwards for EBW.

On arrival, we thought it was too soon to check out the PHS so went to look for the Heath again. Where we saw them before was now in the shade and only one or two were flying so having already got some shots I wasn't too adventurous of the Brambles they were on and carried on down the path further into the woods, that's when we were stopped in our tracks by the sight of this HF in the middle of the path on a flower

We'd never seen them so deep in the woods before and in such good condition, has we watched another joined the first and I thought they were going to mate, (still not sure this didn't happen) I'll let you judge. After quite a lot of shots the Butterflies flew off and we carried on to look for the HS. I did see them but no Purple colour to show for my shots, still it was another great day out Goldie

I didn't get to East Blean this year, so it's good to see your shots.
I share your frustration with the Purple Hairstreaks, they can be so near, yet too far away !.

Best wishes,
Trevor.

Hi! Trevor, Your right about the PHS, you no sooner get them in your sights when they hop onto another leaf I'll have another try I think before I call it a day
Glad you liked the shots,I was so pleased when I saw the Heath's because I was sure I'd missed them.Goldie

Cracking stuff Goldie I didn't get to see Heaths this year either like Trevor so I'll enjoy yours all the more

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It must almost be like going abroad for you, Goldie, with these 'exotics' suddenly available on your doorstep.

Hope you make the most out of the rest of your trip.

Well done with both the Heath Frits and the Purple Hairstreaks, Goldie. Those Heaths have been out since before my visit, which was back on 6th June!

Dave

Seems like you're having a marvelous time Goldie Nice shots of the Heath Frits and lovely Marbled White

Love those Heath Frit pics, Goldie. Especially the "two-for-one" special offer and the one in flight.

Thanks for all your posts, finding the Heath's was icing on the cake for me after not seeing them for quite a while, I look forward to coming to Kent every year, it helps when your family lives here.

I'll need some help today though with some ID's , I didn't bring my book on Butterflies with me and today it was so hot the blue butterflies never opened their wings, I'm not too bad with the Chalkhill's but the others
I think I got the Brown Argus but how many times
Today we packed off home at mid -day it was so hot, not before we'd seen a Brimstone , Marble White, loads of Chalkhill Blues, even a Skipper landed in front of me, I hoped it was a Sliver Spotted but the markings weren't White, still they could have been Sun Burnt I'll let the photo's tell the tale and try to get the names right. Goldie

Happy to see how successful your trip has been Goldie. A lovely selection, your Heaths are great.

I'm glad you got your Chalkhills and the Brown Argus as well Goldie Where there any other target species?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Looks like you had a good time Goldie . Your 'not sure' blue is a male Common Blue and your first B. Argus is actually a female Common Blue

Thanks for that Bugboy, I did wonder about the black spots on the first one being lower than on my other shot but gave up on both My eyes were going into one another in the end

Thanks Andrew for your post it was great to see the Heaths again

Thanks Wurzel, I've yet to see a Small Copper this year but I can't persuade my Husband to go to Dungeness also I'd love to see a Clouded Yellow before I go home, the only one's I really want don't come out till later is the Adonis, I've not see it for years and just missed it last year, the Silver Spotted Skipper would be okay too I've never seen a Brown Hair Streak at all but will have to wait and try my luck at Gait Barrow for that one I think.

I for got to mention before that I'd a fantastic experience at Fermyn Woods, not with the Butterflies but when I saw my first Red Kite flying just above me in the sky there, I never realised they were so big and when it was just soaring I was able to get a couple of shots of it. Goldie

Lovely shot of the Red Kite Goldie Good luck with the Brostreak not long now til they emerge

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Goldie,

Sorry to hear you missed out on Purple Emperor at Fermyn but it looks like you made up for it with plenty of other stuff down in Kent.

That is a great selection of Heath Fritillary shots

Cheers,

Neil.

The B.Argus shots are great - and I love your photos of the kites!