Lower Moor Dragonflies

21 May - A productive couple of hours at Lower Moor in CWP. I'm aware that this is a good site for Downy Emerald, and I saw at least 8, quite active in the warm sun - but I'd read recently that Hairy Dragonfly can also be seen here,

and I saw a male hawking actively and not settling - my first of these quite scarce dragonflies that I've seen in the Water Park.

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.

Daneway Banks

26 June - A sunny window of weather and a quick look at Daneway before heading to work, being a Monday....... 5 Large Blues seen, not landing much in the warm conditions but a view of one settled, and several others in flight - also Large Skippers, and many Marbled Whites.

Whixall......

20 June - A study day near Birmingham gave me a chance to call in to Whixall Moss to see and hopefully photograph White-faced Darters, at their southernmost location in the UK - a rare and mainly Scottish species. The Darters were active and obliging in the current hot conditions, and several males were seen, giving good photo opportunities. A striking species, fairly small with erratic fast flight. Quite a few Large Heath butterflies also seen, similarly active in the heat. A superb location, surprisingly remote for the midlands - and difficult to find !

Flaming June

17 June - The current June heatwave has seen the emergence of some species quite early this year - sightings for me this week include White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary, along with Marbled White. Also plenty of Large Skippers and a few Ringlets.