As the weather was warm and sunny I thought a check on the butterflies around Stocking Wood was in order. On this day last year I discovered the latest butterfly for parish records, a silver washed fritillary and wondered if they would be present again.
Upon arrival the sun was behind cloud and no butterflies were on the wing. Within 15 minutes, the sun appeared along with large whites, a comma and a peacock. Shortly after, a white letter hair streak alighted on nearby vegetation and a presumed purple hairstreak flew past.
I wandered further up the overgrown ride, noting green veined white and a common darter dragonfly. A migrant hawker dragonfly flew up and caught a purple hairstreak, the wings of the butterfly quickly detached.
Upon greater knapweed, the first of three silver washed fritillary before more hairstreaks appeared and some posed for photos, the purple hairstreak being the least enthusiastic to have its photo taken.
Overhead, 2 juvenile hobbies called. before darting into the middle of the wood and calling vociferously. Clearly, successful nesting for the 3rd consecutive year in this wood.
All in all, a most worthwhile couple of hours.
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| Copulating small whites |
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| White letter hairstreak |
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| speckled wood |
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| white letter hairstreak (2nd individual note clip on forewing of 1st insect) |
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| green veined white |
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| Silver washed fritillary |
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| silver washed fritillary |
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| Plenty of knapweed for nectaring |
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| Distant purple hairstreak |
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| white letter hairstreak |
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| Common darter |
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