Sunday 2 August 2009

Butterflies in the sun


Having got family duties done and finally finishing my section of systematic list for the '08 Bucks bird report, I finally got into the field late afternoon... Took Hazel for a walk round Ivinghoe Beacon.

The highlight was a wonderful show from c.60+ CHALKHILL BLUES at the usual spots on the northern slope of Gallows Hill (SP 965 171), including a number of very fresh insects (see Ernest Leahy's excellent image above). Other butterflies in the area included 3+ Essex Skippers, 2+ Common Skippers, just 2 Marbled Whites, 2 Painted Ladies, 4 Gatekeepers and one very worn Ringlet.

No birds of note could be found, and a 10min stop at Pitstone Hill on the way home failed to produce the Quail, and it can't be long before the field is cut.

Ben Miller
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