Them bones, them bones.

I visited Bones Wood again, where the green hairstreaks were as numerous as ever (though rather worn). I picked up a couple of other sightings, too, including some orchids and a froghopper. The 'long-horn' moth is well named!

common spotted orchid

red-and-black froghopper
green hairstreak

Cochylimorpha straminea

Nemophora degeerella

common blue

butty phase II

I couldn't resist another visit to the green hairstreak site. There were a few burnet companions there, too.
orange tip

green hairstreak

green-veined white

burnet companion

butty bonus

I was doing some Bird atlas work today (a Timed Tetrad Visit in TQ34L) when I noticed some green hairstreaks - a new species for me. I decided to return in the p.m. to get some photos. It turned out to be a good spot. My photos aren't all wonderful but the real bonus was that I found some dingy skippers there, too - my second butty tick of the day!

small copper

orange-tip

green hairstreak

dingy skipper

comma

Out of county

I realise its not Surrey, so I hope people don't mind me mentioning it in passing.

Went to Noar Hill, Hants, today, and managed the following:

Common Carpet

Holly Blue

Pyrausta aurata

Early Purple Orchids

Tree Pipit

Lesser Whitethroat

and......

Adela reumurella (there were vast swarms of these!)

Speckled Wood

female Orange Tip

Green Hairstreak

Dingy Skipper

Duke of Burgundy

Far from a Dingy day at Denbies

I went on a guided walk around Denbies Hillside yesterday, looking for butterflies specifically. I was particularly hoping to see Dingy Skipper, and maybe Grizzled too, both being new to me.

I needn't have worried, as in perfect conditions, both were seen easily, with Dingys being particularly numerous. We also found lots of Green Haristreaks, Adonis Blues and Brown Argus. The butterfly list was completed with Small Heath, Large White, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimestone, Speckled Wood, and Small White.

In addition, we also saw lots of other interesting insects, including Burnet Companion, Mother Shipton, 5-spot Burnet and Clouded Buff moths, and a smart Rose Chafer beetle. The rarest sighting of the day however was a Lace Border moth, a species very difficult to see away from the Downs.

In the blistering heat, most of the insects were jumpy and very difficult to photo, so I only managed these.

An odd 5-spot Burnet

Green Hairstreak

The view from Denbies, across the Surrey countryside