Ringlets emerging

29 June - a local visit to Ravensroost Wood and several Ringlets were active despite the blustery wind and cloud cover. no Silver-Washed Fritillaries seen, cool conditions and still a little early?

Silver-studded Blues at Prees and Large Heath at Whixall - and some dragonflies

28 June - a visit to Prees Heath and then Whixall Moss with the East Midlands BC group. 12-15+ Silver-studded Blue (upper) seen well at Prees in windy conditions; then, at Whixall Moss, 12 Large Heath seen (middle), mostly darting low over the moss but several seen settled. Rather cryptic in colouration. 2 White-faced Darters(lower) also seen along with Emerald and Large Red Damselflies. Breezy and quite cool, with sunny intevals.

Heath Fritillaries at Haddon Hill

19 June - an afternoon visit to Haddon Hill on the edge of Exmoor, and success at last, 5-6 Heath Fritillaries seen at the bottom of the bracken slope, trying to shelter from the strong breeze. Good views and photographic opportunities, a couple looked very pristine and fresh. A fairly small fritillary, quite uniform upperparts, contrasting distinctive spotted underwings. Only 5 UK butterflies left to see now....

Large Skippers

15 June - I've seen a few Large Skippers in the last couple of days - I photographed this one at Swillbrook Lakes at CWP 46/48.

Black Hairstreak!

14 June - a sunny morning with some cloud - a visit to Asham Meads produced Large Skippers, Meadow Browns and Common Blues - and, on the hawthorn/blackthorn hedge, a superb fresh Black Hairstreak - first seen flitting among the leaves, then settled. I managed some photos amongst the foliage.

Seven Barrows

8 June - sunny and hot. A successful hour at Seven Barrows near Lambourn at lunchtime. 2+ Small Blues seen (photo 1), also 3+ Brown Argus (photo 2). A late Green Hairstreak was a surprise (photo 3) also seen were 10+ Small Heaths.

Wall Brown (no Fritillaries) - and some Dragonflies

7 June - sunny - no Fritillaries seen at either Sand Point or Haddon Hill - 5 Wall Browns seen (photo) at Sand Point. A Golden-ringed Dragonfly (photo) seen at Haddon Hill, and Black-tailed Skimmer (photo) at CWP95 later, also Demoiselles and Damselflies.