Arnside Knott & Myers Allotment - 30th June

A trip to the Lancashire/Cumbria border where the limestone pavement provides a rich habitat for various types of wildlife. I spent the morning exploring Arnside Knott where there were some Ringlets roosting early in the morning. Later I moved on to Myers Allotment which is a small Butterfly Conservation Reserve near Leighton Moss. Here I saw some Dark Green Fritillaries, Large Skipper and Painted Lady.

Ringlet

Ringlet

Dark Green Fritillary

Painted Lady

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Ainsdale Dunes - 29th June

Ainsdale Dunes has a very thriving colony of Dark Green Fritillaries which can be found all along the dune slacks and on the edge of the extensive pine forest. Also a Small Skipper. Both Northern Marsh and Pyramidal Orchid were in full bloom with some Bee Orchids still in flower. Dune Helleborine still not in flower.

Dark Green Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary

Small Skipper

Northern Marsh Orchid

Northern Marsh Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Dune Helleborine

Common Spotted Orchid

Horseshoe Plantation - 23rd June

Some more Small Blues in the usual spot at Horseshoe Plantation just by the path as you exit the eastern side of Belle Tout Wood. Also Adonis Blues, Large Skipper, Common Blue and the first Marbled Whites of the season.

Small Blue

Small Blue

Small Blue

mating Meadow Browns

male Adonis Blue

Common Blue

Marbled White

Fore Wood - 22nd June

The first White Admiral of the season at Fore Wood although it sat up high in the tree and without a telephoto lens was difficult to photograph. Also a Large Skipper and Broad-bodied Darter.

White Admiral

Large Skipper

White-bodied Darter

East Blean Wood & Park Gate Down - 21st June

Another special trip over into Kent to see some specific targets. Firstly East Blean Wood where the sun came out sufficiently often for the Heath Fritillaries to fly around and allow themselves to be photographed. In addition to the butterflies there was also a large amounts of their food plant Common Cow-wheat in flower.

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillary

Common Cow-wheat

Holly Blue

 The afternoon was spent at Park Gate Down ostensibly trying to find Musk Orchids. After much careful scrutiny in the field farthest from the road we managed to find three spikes. These Orchids really are difficult to locate (and re-locate once found!) but were well worth the trip. Also found some nice Bee Orchids.

Musk Orchid

Musk Orchid

Musk Orchid

Musk Orchid

Musk Orchid

Bee Orchid

Beachy Head to Cuckmere Haven and Friston Forest - 20th June

A perfect day for a 15 Km walk from Horseshoe Plantation along the Seven Sisters to Cuckmere Haven and then back via Friston Forest. Although a little early for Dark Green Fritiallaries, we did see some of the more common butterflies including Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Large Skipper.

Speckled Wood

Red Admiral

Painted Lady

Large Skipper

Biting Stonecrop

Common Spotted Orchid

Seaford Head

Ainsdale Dunes - 16th June

My second visit to Ainsdale Dunes to see how the Orchids were developing. The Northern Marsh Orchids were now in full flower alongside the Early Marsh Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids and Bee Orchids. Dune Helleborines slowly moving towards flowing later in the summer.

Northern Marsh Orchid

Northern Marsh Orchid

Northern Marsh Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Common Spotted Orchid

Dune Helleborine

Bee Orchid

Goatsbeard