Unusual Hertfordshire butterfly

Set out this morning for a wander up Chapel Lane, around Westland Green and then through Queer Wood. Birds on the outward wander were highlighted by nuthatch and treecreeper, although neither offered good photo opportunities. Linnets showed in good numbers and an immature wren posed perfectly for the camera along the footpath off Chapel Lane.

However, upon arriving at Westland Green, intending to take the path over to Queer Wood I was distracted by an unusual black and white butterfly. I took a load of flight shots to confirm identification before carrying on the wander. After 25 minutes they (2 of them) failed to rest but I was pretty sure they were marbled whites. Swallows and swifts called from above as another migratory party of sand martins headed south. Finally goldfinches were enjoying the thistle seeds near Home Farm and gave a final photo opportunity.

Having confirmed the id of the marble whites I then returned and managed to get a few reasonable shots of them at rest.

Also observed were a single brown hawker dragonfly along with numerous skippers (Essex and Small) meadow browns and small whites along with a few large whites, gatekeepers, 1 comma and a smattering of speckled woods. One shown here.

Also photographed for the first time this year was a beetle: strangalia maculata also shown here along with a six spot burnet moth. The latter is a daytime flying moth.