Black Hairstreaks at Whitecross Green

14 June - a lunchtime visit to Whitecross Green Wood, sunny and warm, and 4-5 Black Hairstreaks seen, mostly flitting around high up, but a couple settled briefly. Green-veined White and Large Skipper also seen, but no Wood Whites.

Blakehill and Otmoor

4 June - a lunchtime walk at Blakehill produced half a dozen Large Skippers (upper), also a Small Copper (middle), a couple of Common Blues and a Small Tortoiseshell. Later, after an unsuccessful look for Club-tails on the Thames at Whittenham, I went to Otmoor and managed to photograph a female Hairy Dragonfly (lower).

Marsh Fritillaries

30 May - an afternoon visit to Seven Barrows , near Lambourn, in hot, sunny weather - at least 6 Marsh Fritillaries seen (upper photo), also a Dingy Skipper - Small Blue (lower photo) and Common Blue, Brown Argus and many Small Heaths also noted.

Hairy Dragonflies at Wicken Fen

25 May - a visit to Wicken Fen en route home from Stansted. Several Hairy Dragonflies seen - a new species for me - but all patrolling actively and only flight shots obtained, male (pic 1) and female (pic 2). Also seen - Red-eyed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly (pic 3) and Broad-bodied Chaser (pic 4).

Duke of Burgundy - first post of new season

3 May - A brief visit to Noar Hill, near Selborne, en route home gave good views of at least 3 Duke of Burgundies, sparring and very active in sunny but breezy conditions.

Small Tortoiseshells

29 Sept - During the recent Indian summer, a few more Small Tortoiseshells have finally made an appearance in the garden - some of them presumably continental migrants.

Monarch at Tarifa

20 Sept - While on a 2-day birding trip to Tarifa at the Straits of Gibraltar, I had good but brief views of a Monarch in the garden of the La Codorniz hotel.