Finally the dreadful weather has passed and we got a decent day to go out for dragonflies on the bank holiday weekend. We started off at Bentley Wood for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries.
It was quite wet underfoot and the Bluebells seemed to be well behind the
carpets of blooms that we've seen in some woods.
Broad-bodied Chaser
We were on site before the butterflies became active, and the hares
didn't move off until more visitors came to look for the butterflies.
We saw very few Pearl-bordered Fritillaries compared to what had been present last year.
Horsetails
Argent & Sable Moth
We quickly moved on to Martin Down (mainly as we were concerned about being able to park).
Martin Down holds some interesting species that are found on chalk down land.
Marsh Fritillary
Marsh Fritillary
Marsh Fritillaries are one of the site specialties. We are always amazed at how these are limited to a very specific few metres of one of the dykes. We were fortunate to find several.
Brown Argus
Green Hairstreak
Nuptial pair of Small Blues
Toadflax Leaf Beetle
Small Blue
Burnt-tip Orchids
The Adonis Blues are found in the opposite direction, along the same ditch from the Marsh Fritillaries, but are much less confined, being found over a wider area.
Adonis Blue
Male Common Heath moth (as identified from the antennae).
Small Blue
Brimstone male
Grizzled Skipper
Martin Down
Heath Spotted Orchid
Small Copper
Yellowhammer
Sky Lark