Hawkers at Otmoor

26 Aug - A trip to Otmoor primarily for birds, but nice views of Hawkers perching including a bright Southern Hawker. Migrant Hawker also seen well.

Silver-spotted Skippers

17 Aug - The sun appeared as forecast late morning, more or less as I arrived at Aston Rowant. Windy but some warm sun. A couple of fairly obliging Adonis Blues at the bottom of the slope, and the usual scattering of Silver-spotted Skippers across the slopes - buzzing around fairly actively, but also on occasions allowing close scrutiny while perched, especially of the diagnostic spotted underwings. One of my favourites, and I make the annual pilgrimage every year. The usual Red Kites keeping a beady eye from above.

Brown Hairstreaks

6 Aug - Very good views of Brown Hairstreaks, both male and female, at Shipton Bellinger (at the well-known site for this species, see www.purple-emperor.co.uk). The sunny morning brought out a few other observers, which aided in finding this small and fairly elusive butterfly along the fairly dense hedgerow. Quite obliging for the camera, and always striking to see.