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A brief spell of sunshine gave me an opportunity to take the metrolink a couple of stops along to St. Werbergh's where you don't even have to leave the platform to go butterflying.
The Six-spot Burnets were out in force and it appeared there were some Five-spots mixed in with them. A late caterpillar was looking a bit lost among the adults. A solitary male Common Blue which flew up out of the grass in exactly the same place I saw his father last year, and a single Large White were the only butterflies out today - the sunshine having got bored of waiting whilst a stranger engaged me in lengthy conversation.

Lovely shots of the Burnets Janet - you really captured the iridescence on their wings Interesting looking markings on the Blue as well I do find it strange that butterflies turn up in the same places year upon year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Out recce-ing a ramble at Wycoller country park yesterday I was delighted to see my first Red Admiral of the year - a beautifully fresh specimen. Before I could get a shot it took off, landing unexpectedly on my shirt. It immediately took off again in shock and vanished, so I haven't got the evidence, but I do hope it was not the only one for this year. There were precious few last year. A Small Copper warming itself on the stony track leading out to the moorland did allow me a photo, as did a Large White. In the village a Green-veined White nectared on a geranium and a Peacock, one of the last survivors from last year, was resting on a bush looking like a wand'ring minstrel full of shreds and patches. I wonder if it will live to see its offspring.. The afternoon was dull and cooler, so the butterflies hid and the birds became more prominent. I was thrilled to hear curlews and lapwings (which scolded us for being too near their nest) and meadow pipits. There was another small bird which I haven't identified, pied and grey wagtails catching insects in the stream and a robin who was determined to get his worm as we stood and watched!

Hi Janet

The bird between the Wren and the Robin is a Spotted Flycatcher. Nice find, and some very nice images. phil

Lovely shots of the birds Janet and love your Small Copper and the GVW Goldie

philm63 wrote:Hi Janet

The bird between the Wren and the Robin is a Spotted Flycatcher. phil

Thank you Phil - I went through the bird book and didn't find that one!

It hasn't been brilliant for butterflies up here has it Goldie - I've been grateful for the birds!

Hi! Janet, it's been awful weather here, I've been checking Lanc's Butterflies web sight and they're seeing Northern Brown Argus and Small PBF at Gait Barrow if your interested when the weather does pick up. Can't get up there myself yet.Goldie

Lovely set of images Janet - I see Phil beat me to the bird ID They're a real 'value for money species' - I could watch them all day

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Nice work with the Lapwings, Janet. Yes, get too close and they will fly around you making that distinctive, shrill cry.

15th June 2019
As we drove down yesterday the wheather steadily improved and today was sunny after a cloudy start. After all the rain of the last few days the butterflies were desperate to get warmed up and nectared.
We walked down to the Doctor's Garden where several huge lenses were being aimed at a patch of sweet Williams. "There were two Swallowtails here a few minutes ago; I was able to get really close" said one of the photographers. But it returned and further along three or four more made appearances in a meadow backed by trees. Although I managed several shots I don't have the means to upload them yet.
The Doctor's Garden and the surrounding areas were awash with Painted Ladies, most of whom were looking rather tired and faded having just been blown in en masse. It's looking like a good year for them!

Hi, Janet

Great pics of birds you've got there. I actually like the one of the perky wren quite a lot.

Because I decided not to take my laptop with me to Norfolk, I just never seemed to get around to posting anything - so here goes.
We left home in dismal weather but it brightened up as we neared East Anglia, and by the time we reached our destination it was full sunshine. It turned out that the B&B we booked was twenty minutes' walk from Strumpshaw Fen, so we strolled along to see if we could find the Doctor's Garden. Along the way we were delighted to see a number of Meadow Browns Painted Ladies nectaring in the hedgerows. Trevor's directions were spot on (thank you Trevor!) and the doctor's wife was working in the garden, ignoring the little group of photographers with huge lenses pointed roughly in her direction. The previous week had been wet, she said, and now the sun had arrived and so had her work cut out pulling up weeds. The Painted Ladies had arrived too and there were dozens of them on the Sweet Williams, together with a Brimstone, and of course I was informed that had we been ten minutes earlier we would have seen a Swallowtail too.
Before long the Swallowtail returned, and I was able to get a few good shots. Further along, in the field Trevor described, two Swallowtails appeared, zoomed round and off. Later the same day I wandered into the field and one of the beauties was perched on a grass stem. So I felt very privileged to have seen them. Back at the Doctor's garden, a tired-looking female Brimstone was fending off a very persistent male who didn't want to take No for an answer. Also seen: A green beetle with what appear to be huge balls, and a small moth with a very long antenna

The following day we went to How Hill where the gardens have been restored and consist of a series of 'secret' spaces surrounded by enormous yew hedges. Here were more Painted Ladies, most of which looked very tired after their long journey. I was rather taken by this one posing elegantly against the light A return to How Hill next day for a trip on an 'Electric Eel boat' produced another Swallowtail with a bit of tail missing, and some very lovely, bright Painted Ladies and a Large Skipper A group of photographers shared their find of a Norfolk Hawker with me, and I also captured a Four-spot Chaser and a pair of blue Damsel flies in cop

Cracking shots Janet especially the stained glass Swallowtail and Painted Lady
"I just never seemed to get around to posting anything " I know that feeling

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Janet Turnbull wrote:Because I decided not to take my laptop with me to Norfolk, I just never seemed to get around to posting anything - so here goes...

Wow! That certainly needed posting, Janet. Lovely butterflies and the supporting cast is rather splendid too!

Hi! Janet, Your Swallow Tail shots are great, I must say though I love the Painted Lady shots, the colour of the flowers are a lovely contrast and compliment the Painted Lady with their colour Goldie

Swallowtail AND Norfolk Hawker, well done Janet!

Wurzel, David M, Goldie, Bugboy - thank you all for your kind and greatly appreciated comments!

I'm still playing catch-up - I didn't get another opportunity for a day out until Friday 5th July, but boy was it worth it! I thought so at any rate. I went down to Bucknell Woods as a change from Fermyn, hoping to find Purple Emperors. It followed a spell of hot dry weather and so the butterflies were not deigning to come down to visit mere mortals and stayed well up in the canopy. However I found a few Ringlets which didn't stop to be photographed, a GVW and dozens of Meadow Browns. A Large Skipper rested on a bramble leaf long enough for me to get a shot, followed by a Comma. Then the Silver Washed Fritillaries started to tease me and I chased one down until he gave up and let me photograph him, and soon a female showed up as well. Next up a pair of Ringlets were so engrossed in each other they were unconcerned by my presence, but just then a flutter of white caught my eye - and three Whites were flitting among the grasses. It was not until I was home and able to have a good look at them that I realised they were Wood Whites. A Painted Lady posed for me but was photobombed by a pair of SWFs! I saw only one Common Blue. A couple of fellow butterflyers told me where to find the White Admirals and sure enough, they were in bramble bushes by the car park. A SWF valesina also occupied this bramble bush but the camera had a hard time capturing her. However I did get one shot of her being courted by a 'normal' male which showed up the difference in colouring very well. Last but not least, a flash of gold in the sun led me to a very aptly named female Beautiful Demoiselle - I have never seen one before. And at the end - is this an Essex?

A great day out for you Janet and lovely shots of the Silver Washed Fritillaries especially Valesina Goldie

More nice species there, Janet, although your image of the mating Ringlets just reminded me how few times I've seen this myself in spite of it being an incredibly common butterfly near me.