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Very nice series of SSB's, Janet. And I love your Large heath shots. It has been a long time since I saw my last and only Large Heaths.

Gary

Thank you, Mike and Gary it was a lucky day for me at Prees Heath! And as you see, I also got lucky with the Black Hairstreaks

I set off in dull Manchester weather but as I drove south the skies cleared and by the time I reached Glapthorn it was very sunny and hot. a single Blackstreak greeted me near the gate and before long I found a group of photographers gathered round a bramble bush. There were three or four BHs - nothing like the huge numbers reported last week but considering the rough weekend weather I was glad there were any left at all, and a couple of these were looking rather the worse for wear. There was, however a couple of lovely fresh specimens and one female was ovipositing although I could not capture the actual egg. Wandering round the woods alone, I had just found my first Ringlet of the year and watched a Meadow Brown being chatted up when I was joined by another lady, Barbara, who lived nearby and we then explored the woods together. Barbara noticed this pair of Buff-tip moths pretending to be twigs - they were quite unconcerned at our presence. Returning to the Hairstreak bushes, I snapped this enormous fly as it nectared on the brambles and a rather striking fly with very long antennae landed on my phone before crawling onto my old wrinkly hand which Mark Colvin has kindly identified as the ornate Myrid bug Miris striatus and a battalion of flies ready to face an enemy As Barbara and I set off back towards the parked cars, we met the warden, Dick Smith, out on his rounds and looking to see if the Siver Washed Fritillaries were flying yet. As we had also looked but not seen any, we went with him to the favoured Frit hunting ground, but although they are expected any day now, they were not there for us. Dick did, however, point out a couple of lizards sunbathing on a tree stump. Off to Somerset tomorrow!

I was there last week. Janet. They have a very short flight season-they will probably be gone by next week- so well done for visiting, I’m glad you were rewarded!

essexbuzzard wrote:I was there last week. Janet. They have a very short flight season-they will probably be gone by next week- so well done for visiting, I’m glad you were rewarded!

Thanks, EB - it was well worth the effort even though I got caught up in a massive jam on the M6 coming home!

It was great that you found your Black Hairstreak, Janet, and in the nick of time too

Mike

Great variety in your reports Janet. Lovely SSB's, and well done with the Black Hairstreak.

Great Blackstreaks Janet Really like the squadron of flies preparing for a raid

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Janet.

Janet Turnbull wrote:Returning to the Hairstreak bushes, I snapped .... and a rather striking fly with very long antennae landed on my phone before crawling onto my old wrinkly hand..

This is not a fly but the rather ornate Myrid bug Miris striatus.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

And your large fly is a type of Hoverfly Volucella pullucens

Mark Colvin wrote:Hi Janet.

This is not a fly but the rather ornate Myrid bug Miris striatus.

Thanks Mark - I was hoping someone could identify it - it's very handsome.

bugboy wrote:And your large fly is a type of Hoverfly Volucella pullucens

Thanks, Bugboy - it doesn't look built to lift off, never mind hover!

After yesterday's drive I glad to be a passenger for the journey today. After being greeted by our hosts - who are former colleagues of mine - and chatted about old times over tea and cakes, Alan and I set out to find the local butterfly hotspot. It was nearly 7pm and most sensible butterflies had gone to bed but there were a few still up and I scored another lifer - but the photo isn't great so I'll wait until hopefully I can do better.
However, there were Soldier beetles busy creating armies to take over the world, a Five-spot Burnet, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and my first Marbled White of the year.

We took a picnic and spent most of the day near Somerton and were rewarded with numerous Large Blues. A particularly fresh specimen stayed put for 15 minutes before taking off Common Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown (one of which had a double eye spot, making me think at first it was a Gatekeeper) Ringlet, Marbled White, Brown Argus, Small Tortoiseshell. On the higher path there were fewer butterflies but a Painted Lady (first this year) landed on the path in front of us. She was very flighty and I only got one snap and that was only just enough for ID. Later in the lane close to the cottage I found Comma, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Large Skippers, and a very tired-looking Red Admiral.
There were several Broad Bodied Chasers, a gorgeous Banded Demoiselle and a large green dragonfly, but the green one would not settle. A fabulous day - I came back to the cottage totally sated!

Brilliant stuff Janet Lovely Large Blues, I tried for those on Sunday but it was just not sunny enough

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yes, well done again Janet, especially on the Large Blue open wing picture, which is not always easy to achieve.

Wurzel wrote:Brilliant stuff Janet Lovely Large Blues, I tried for those on Sunday but it was just not sunny enough

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Just luck, isn't it Wurzel! Considering the distance we've come, on a holiday planned for ages, I can't believe how fortunate we've been with the weather.

essexbuzzard wrote:Yes, well done again Janet, especially on the Large Blue open wing picture, which is not always easy to achieve.

Thank you, EB. After sifting through 300 photos just from the day, I was so tired that my account has come out really flat and prosaic and just doesn't convey the thrill and excitement we felt at actually seeing these beautiful creatures.

Fantastic Large Blues, Janet. I would have to make a four hour round trip to see them. Not something I can do at the moment. I am even more envious because I have never seen one. I remember when I was a kid I collected wildlife cards from tea packets and for some reason, I don't know why - the picture card of the Large Blue has stuck in my mind all these years (and believe me - that is a LOT of years).

Beautiful Large Blues, Janet, and well done with the Black Hairstreaks at Glapthorn. This is one species that is gone as soon as you realise they are there.

ernie f wrote:... I would have to make a four hour round trip to see them. Not something I can do at the moment. ..

Well Ernie, we're on holiday in Somerset, from Manchester, specifically to see them! Couldn't do it in a day, that's for sure!

Well done with the Large Blue. They wouldn't open their wings for me last year.
The gatherings at Collard tend to be people from all over the Country.

Trevor.

The weather still held and we parked in the layby on Haddon Hill. ALmost as soon as we started down the hill, a Clouded Buff moth caught Alan's eye (he's the best spotter!) and an almost entirely white moth which may be a Small White Wave. Other strangers to me were the large brown-cased beetles which could be Japanese Beetles - amazing antennae! The slope contained bracken, gorse and brambles but where it thinned out the butterflies were happily nectaring on the bramble flowers. They were so amenable to being photographed although I didn't manage to get close enough to have them on my fingers. So, first, the stars of the day: There was a solitary Green Hairstreak basking on the young Birch leaves. And the secondary players: Clouded Buff Japanese Beetle Small White Wave? Forester And a Golden Ring dragonfly which was on the lookout for a mate - he suddenly darted off, grabbed a female and proceeded to dart back and forth with her in tow. After a wonderful exlporation of the steam trains and beaches at Watchet where there was a lovely Scarlet Tiger on the pavement (should have made it open its wings ) We made our way back to Somerton and, it being the summer solstice, captured a long distance view of Glastonbury Tor at sunset.