Wednesday 4th July 2018

Butterfly Species: Small Tortoiseshell (2) Comma (1) Small White (4) Green Veined White (1) Meadow Brown (11+) Marbled White (2) Ringlet (18+)Silver Washed Fritillary (2) Essex Skipper (1) Gatekeeper (4)

Gatekeeper Butterfly -  04-07-2018
An earlier start today for my trip along the path. Seeing the White-letter Hairstreaks on my last trip I decided on a morning visit to the Elm trees along the Tucking Mill section of the track. There were two reasons for this. Firstly I wanted to search for them at a time of day when the sun was warming a different side of the trees. Secondly, I remembered from my youth that this butterfly was far more likely to descend from the canopy early in the morning, or late in the evening. Alas they did not oblige.

I did however spot some Hairstreak butterflies on trees between the Two Tunnels. Again, they were flying high in the canopy so I can't be sure of the species but I am thinking White-letter Hairstreak given the amount of Elm here.

Gatekeeper Butterfly -  04-07-2018

The morning was cooler and cloudier than previous visits and consequently the numbers of butterflies on the wing was suppressed. However the trip added two new species to the years list bringing the years total to 23. Firstly, the Gatekeepers were beginning to emerge. This must be one of the prettiest as well as one of the commonest hedgerow butterflies in England!

Essex Skipper displaying the hallmark black-tipped antennae 

The second species to be seen for the first time along my route was an Essex Skipper. They were flying on a grassy embankment near the Wellow end of the path. This feisty little butterfly is almost identical to the Small Skipper but can distinguished by the black tips to its antennae. There were several Skipper butterflies flying here so I guess if I was able to get closer to the others, some would also prove to be 'Essex' rather than 'Small'.

Essex Skipper displaying the hallmark black-tipped antennae 

Cycling back along the path, and before I got back to the Midford Viaduct, I spotted an flower I have not seen before. Unusual and spectacular it is one I will research when time allows.

Unidentified Flower


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