Rare Butterflies and Other Things

 

Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar

A fallow doe, in a wildlife park in Oxfordshire.

One of the Hawkers, possibly Southern.

Two new species for me: a Wood White and a Siler Washed Fritillary. Both of these are fairly rare, 

so I was thrilled to see them down at Clun.

Above, a Wall butterfly and below a Purple Hairstreak, both seen at Burton Mere, Cheshire.

Toadlet and Black-tailed Godwit, also Burton Mere.

I've had no water vole sightings for a week, but I'm not worried as they're always shy and scattered at this time of year as the young disperse to new territories.

Voles, Red Kites and Damselflies

Banded demoiselles.

Below, a red kite.

Edgeley Road voles.

Small copper butterfly and male Emerald damselfly.

Baby common lizard and Silver Y moth, both Prees Heath.

 

As We Move Into August

Mr and Ms whinchat - a new species for me.

Purple hairstreak butterfly, unusually in the grass (they're normally in oak trees)

Below, green veined white.

Female blackcap and female greater spotted woodpecker.

Wasp nest in the bushes.

Brown hawker dragonfly laying her eggs.

Grayling butterflies: another new species for me.

These were by the Bog Visitor Centre on the Stperstones.

Great white egret - Venus Pool.

Below, baby blackcap.

Hare in the grass. Small copper butterfly.

Baby lizard and mum (?) sunbathing at Bridges.

Dead Men's Fingers fungus.

Below, a yellowhammer.

A rare Raft spider looking after her nursery. This was at Wem Moss, 

as was the elephant hawk moth and common lizard below.

Young water voles at Edgeley Road.