Thanks
Wurzel. I did think that about the Hairstreak myself when I was taking the pictures but the single spot 'streak' and all the wear and tear match up to the first time I saw it and it was definitely behaving male-like then, holding a territory and vigorously chasing away Holly Blues so
Thanks
David, it's at times like these that I really wished I didn't live in the big smoke
May 2020
Monday 11th was a rather chilly, breezy affair and I wasn’t overly expectant of finding a great deal. I did manage to re-find my errant Red Admiral caterpillar, here’s his new home which had been constructed on an adjacent Nettle stem to his previous home. The poo on the leaves underneath indicating a rather fat occupant!
The lack of butterflies recently has seen me taking more interest in the summer birdlife and I’ve picked up a new hobby, trying to get a decent picture of a Swift, it kills the time if nothing else
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
. I actually surprised myself when I got the pictures back on my computer, there’s a good bit of definition on some of the results. Only some mind, most were barely recognisable blurs or wingtips vanishing off the edge of the frame.
As I was stood there watching dozens of Swift a largish butterfly swooped over my shoulder and settled on the ground in front of me. My first Painted Lady of the year was quite a fresh example, if not homegrown it must have emerged in northern France fairly recently.
Next stop, Brimstone tree. My original had re-appeared after going MIA a couple of days ago, looking very chunky now, 4th instar I think?
A range of instars and more fresh eggs still littered the lower twigs.
After watching the Dabchicks (and wondering when I’ll see the chicks riding around on mum and dads backs) I wandered back finding a Small white and a tatty old Red Admiral willing to sit, I think the Red Admiral was just relieved to be taking a breather to be honest!
Early afternoon and it was still a bit breezy, I’d seen a few more Whites and the occasional Holly Blue but nothing to point my camera at so I spent another 15 minutes pointing it skywards at the Swifts again, remarkably some more in focus!
As I was about to leave to go home, I caught sight of the now familiar jinking flight of my Green Hairstreak (yes, it does seem to be the same individual).
I’ll finish on a peacock egg update which I’d checked on first thing. Another (or perhaps the same) snail had parked on them again. Upon removing him I discovered they had been significantly reduced in number, as I suspected the snail had been snacking on them.
Since I’ve become quite invested in these, having watched them being laid, I decided to take the remaining eggs home. Snails can use their slime trails to re-find good feeding spots so the remaining eggs were far from safe. Time will tell as to how, if any, are still alive. (I already know but you’ll just have to wait
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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