Tuesday 20th July 2021

Butterfly species: Silver-washed Fritillary (1) Common Blue (1) Painted Lady (1) Peacock (1) Speckled Wood 

Painted Lady - Midford 20-07-2021

Ready to venture out once more following my badly timed ankle injury back in May, I took a walk down to the railway path from Combe Down. The weather was rather warmer than the last time I saw this area, and the flora and fauna had moved on from spring to high summer. It was sunny and hot, the temperature was racing past 25c by 10.30am when I arrived.

Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly - Tucking Mill 20-07-2021

My first encounter wasn't a butterfly, but nonetheless one of my favourite insects. A Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly fluttered by to perch high on a Sycamore leaf overhanging the path. Nice start!

Six-spot Burnet moth - Tucking Mill 20-007-2021

Further along the path, a single Common Blue butterfly was nectaring on a flower at the top of the embankment. 

At the same location there were a number of day-flying Burnet moths. These appeared to be of the 'six spot' variety, having four distinct spots with a fifth and six nearest the body divided only by the black wing vein. 

As you head along the cycle path and just before arriving in Midford the path runs alongside the abandoned Midford railway station platform. Teasels now grow from the old masonry and this is where I paused to photograph the Painted Lady butterfly pictured above.

Speckled Wood - Tucking Mill 20-07-2021

Leaving the cycle path, I headed off along one of the woodland paths that wind down through Horsecombe Vale. It was here I saw my first Silver-washed Fritillary, a male, gliding around the trees alongside the path.

Also along this stretch, Speckled Wood butterflies were on the wing. This is an insect you are likely to see in many shaded habitats at almost any time between April and October.

It was nice to be back.

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