A wander up the hill opposite the lane and around fields and green lanes was the order for Sunday morning. A female common darter was found close to the dry River Ash (photo 1.) Further on migrant hawker and brown hawker were observed but too speedy for a photo. Butterflies were still in worryingly low numbers. Meadow browns were ubiquitous (2,) gatekeepers were in low numbers. Photo 3 and 4 depict gatekeeper. Note the 2 white spots in the eye ring, whereas the meadow brown only has the single dot; a diagnostic feature for identification. Also, small white (5,) red admiral and a few small skippers. No speckled woods, small tortoiseshells or peacocks were noted and, even though a detour to a local common blue habitat, none were recorded. Last year over 50 at this site. Finally, near home, a comma (6,) before it began to rain and a rainbow lit the darkening sky.
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