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Nice couple of posts Goldie, glad you didn't miss out on Marbled Whites and that Gatekeeper on Teasle is lovely

You'be been mighty busy catching up Goldie Great reports and shots.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Buggy and Wurzel, I liked the Gate Keeper too Buggy , he looked so cute
I hope you get loads of First's Wurzel and I'm still trying to catch up.

On the 29th it was so windy we couldn't even walk on the front at Margate, (not with much pleasure any way)
the only thing I managed to take that day was a photograph of Minnis Bay

The day afterwards though was totally different sunshine most of the day so it was back to Lydden and Temple Ewell, I've posted a couple of shots of Temple Ewell to give an Idea of the length of the Flower meadows which are slightly over grown with grass but still covered with flowers. The top field I've not taken a shot of yet, this as much shorter grass Ideal for the Silver SS, hope fully I'll see him yet

At Lydden we encountered a Painted Lady, and lots of whites, at Temple Ewell we even saw a Small Heath, In stead of a list I've decided on photos, so here goes, Goldie

On Friday the 31st, we went to St Margarets On The Cliff's, it was a lovely day but a bit disappointing because
I thought we'd see loads of different Butterflies there but it seemed to be the perfect day for White's, they were every where
We also saw Comma's, Marbled White's and Painted Ladies a long the Cliff walk and in the field below the Cafe where we had our lunch before continuing on along the path towards the Lighthouse ,( we didn't see any Large 'Tortoiseshells) Worse luck!!!! Goldie

Saturday 1st of August, today we went to Seasalter near Hern Bay, usually you can find Clouded Yellow and Common Blue BF's plus many others here but the Grass once again was cut so short there wasn't a flower in sight, we didn't give up right away but went to the Gate where the grass had not been cut and a few thistles were still growing and to our surprise we saw a few Peacocks they seemed desperate for nectar and were swooping in and out of the Thistles , after a few shots we decided to call it a day and I went shopping with my Daughter.
A rather disappointing journey to Seasalter but it was good to see the Peacocks Goldie

The names you mention are very nostalgic to me, Goldie. As well as having lived in Dover (River) for 16 years, ages before that as a child I had holidays in a hotel in Minnis Bay, and regular trips to Seasalter! Your recent posts are a lovely wander down a very winding memory lane! I envy you the trip to Samphire Hoe as well - it didn't exist when I lived down there - and congratulations on your Clouded Yellow!

Dave

That last Peacock image is lovely Goldie, and the Painted Lady, and the scenery shots. Seems like you've had a cracking time

Hi! Dave, I'm glad you enjoyed your memory trip to Seasalter and Minnis Bay it's great some times to look back, the small Cafe at Minnis Bay as expanded and is now a restaurant with a wine bar etc but you can still sit outside, which we did with my Daughters dog
Glad you liked my photos of the Peacock and Painted Lady Pauline also the scenes, we had a great time and when we arrived home yesterday what should greet me on my( Budliea not sure how to spell this) but a Painted Lady, that's the first time since 2009 that ones been in the garden, I hope your pets have got over the shock of loosing the Fox .

Sunday 2nd August was very hot in Canterbury so we decided to have a walk in Blean woods in the Morning and my Husband went to watch our Grandsons play Cricket in the afternoon while i was whisked off to do some shopping(Great)

I did take a few shots whilst in the woods, Gate Keeper, Coma's, Large White and Green Veined, plus a rather cute Large Skipper

I'll mention Monday the 3rd of August although I've already posted my great day in Tonbridge with my first Empress, I took a photo of a bird which I think is a Song Thrush, but I'm not sure also a cute Common Blue ,what a great day that was Goldie

I am enjoying reading about your adventures down in Kent Goldie, a part of the country I have not been to for some years. glad you had a good time and saw plenty of butterflies

Cheers,

Neil.

Looks like you've had a great time down in the south Goldie and you got an Empress to boot!

That is indeed a Song Thrush, the warm brown back as opposed to the colder greyish brown of the larger Mistle Thrush

Hi! Neil, yes it was great in Kent, the weather helped it was sunny most of the time after the first two days, glad your enjoying the adventures a few more to come

Yes Buggy the Empress was the High light of my holiday

August 4th Tuesday we went back once more to Temple Ewell, the wind was very strong and every thing seemed to be in Hiding, I took a few shots but even in the sheltered areas it was pretty hopeless, we decided to go to St Margarets on the Cliff for Lunch, I've included a photo of the sea to show the white waves.

It was still very Sunny so when we finished lunch we tried to find some sheltered spots, my Husband and Daughter retreated to the car I found this Green Veined White which seemed to have turned slightly Blue, we joked afterwards that it was because of the wind

There was also a Large Skipper and a Chalkhill Blue hiding in the sheltered spot and a few Meadow Brown but that was all .

On Weds the 5th of August we had a day out at Sandwich, the Sun was very hot but by the River it was lovely and cool so after a walk and not much luck with Butterflies (except Whites) we decided to go on to Deal, just as we were about to leave I caught this flash of Blue from the corner of my eye, a lovely little Holly Blue.

At Deal, we just had a short walk by then I was a bit tired I saw this Large White, just as I was taking it's photo it took off but I still Managed to catch it.

The Beech at Deal was all Pebbles not at all what we're use to in the North, (one up for us I'd say ) I thought it funny to see a Meadow Brown amongst these Pebbles so I just had to take shot , after that we decided enough was enough and headed back another lovely day Goldie

On Friday the 6th of August, we decided to give Temple Ewell another go. It was a lovely hot day and when we arrived the Butterflies were every where, all except the Adonis and SSSkipper, even so it was a great day ,I managed to film the Chalkhill Blues mating, at one point there were 5/6 Males after one Female it was a real frenzy
Common Blues were very plentiful and I chased some down thinking they were Adonis, one in particular was a lovely Blue, then I saw this very fresh looking Brown Argus and quickly got a shot before he flew off.
In my previous post I included a shot of the lower field, Now I've included a couple of the top field where the grass is shorter and usually both Adonis and the SSS can be found, not this time though
I'm just hoping I've got the right names for the Mating pairs, the females all look the same dark Brown but I suppose they could be Common Blue I saw so many I'm now mesmerised Goldie

Well done with the mating Chalkhills, something I've not seen yet

Hi Goldie

Just catching up with your diary Looks like you struck Gold (or was it Purple) with your first Purple Emperor and Purple Hairstreak

I agree with Pauline, your Peacocks from Seasalter are lovely. That background colour really shows them off well

You'll get to see them Buggy, when they decide to mate they don't do it in one to one Just look for a group of them going round and round, usually the poor Female is already being mated with the others trying to move in

I'm glad you liked the Peacocks Jack, they made my day and I'm still living in a purple cloud has well

Saturday the 7th of August was our last day before setting off for home, the weather was lovely and hot so we'd decided to sit in the Garden and relax because of the long ride back on the Sunday, suddenly I saw a flash of Blue fly into the Bushes next to where I was sitting I jumped up grabbed by Camera, a Lovely Holly Blue was flying from one leaf to another of the Ivy, when it finally settled I took some shots, that was the second one I'd managed to get since being in Kent I was really Pleased

When I checked my Computer later that day I'd received an e-mail from Allan, telling me about Samphire Oh!
and the fact he'd seen Clouded Yellow there and Adonis, my daughter said I know where that is and it's not too far, so off we went

On the way there we passed Dover Castle so I took a shot of it from the car, I was amazed when we got to the sign for the Oh! we'd to stop for a traffic light has we'd to go through a narrow Tunnel single line Traffic onto the Oh! it seems that Samphire Oh! is made from all the stone and rubble taken from the Channel Tunnel they've made a great place where people can fish if they want too and loads of paths for walking.

The path which runs along by the railway (you can see the train for France going passed) they've planted loads
of Budlia bushes and it was near here where I found( lots ) of Clouded Yellows they were flying every where
and when one landed near me I just managed one shot before it took off again and one of another which landed on a flower and took off before I could take it properly I also managed a Peacock and a Common Blue but sadly no Adonis I can't grumble I finished my Holiday on a High and I'v included some Photos taken from the Oh! Goldie

On return from Holiday last Sunday we found a Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell in the Back Garden, it's the first PL I've seen there since 2009 so it was great to see it

I went to Hall-Lee-Brook on the Wednesday and saw Gate Keepers at last, I was concerned before I'd left for the hol's that I'd seen none, One of the Gate Keeper's (I took a side view also a front view ) seemed to have an extra spot on it's fore wing also the hind wing, I wondered if this could be an ab?

Also there was a Comma, STS's, CB, SSkipper, (not seen the SS at all in Kent) and Meadow Brown I was very pleased to see them after my encounter with the Mower however I only saw a couple in that meadow the rest were in another, when we returned home a Peacock was in the back garden, my first in the garden since March or April so although it's been raining this week not a bad one so far Goldie

In the back garden, Sunday the 9th of August, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell,

Hall-Lee-Brook Wednesday the 12th of August, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue.

Back garden Peacock, also saw this bird in the garden, wondered if it was a fly catcher of some kind it was on the tree but in the shadows Goldie

I'd be interested to know what that bird is too Goldie? I have had over 60 species in the garden but that is not one I recognise

I was hoping someone would be able to ID that bird, doesn't look familiar at all. Don't think it's a Spotted Flycatcher, legs look too long and pale and also the tail seems a bit long. The closest I can get is a young Whitethroat

Nice photos of all butterfly species Goldie, lovely Clouded Yellows Your bird looks like a young long-tailed tit?