First In Year Sightings

I would normally expect to see Chalkhill Blue Butterflies at the beginning of July. 

I could not find any this year at that time.

This week (second week in August) I found plenty of this species at the normal location where I would expect to find them.

In fact some looked as if they had been around for a while.

Male Chalkhill Blue

Female Chalkhill Blue

Encouragingly I also found a number of mating pairs of Chalkhill Blue.

The female has the brown underwings.

My first Painted Lady butterfly of this year.

This was found at the same location as the Chalkhill Blue.

A Country Walk - Butterflies

Images from a recent walk on what was a very humid day.

Very few birds to see, but mostly it was butterflies all the way.

Peacock

Greater Knapweed

Common Blue

 

This Robin below does not look at its best this time of year.

Rearing broods of young leaves no time for personal care.

Small Skipper

Speckled Wood

Red Clover

Green-veined White

Small White

The wheat growing below will be harvested in the next couple of weeks providing more photo opportunities.

Comma

In a remote area of farmland along the walk there is a small woodland area. Sometime in the past a Buddleia bush was planted at the edge. 

It flowers each year at this time and is a good place to look for butterflies.

Red Admiral

Damselfly - Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle. 

Colour. The metallic blue are the male and the metallic green the female.

Approximately 45mm in length and flies between April and October

A common species South of middle England, Wales and Ireland.

Usually found near water, but I have found them miles away from any form of water in the past.