Finally after several days of cool, cloudy and often windy weather Thursday was warm so Ricky and I decided to go Kiplingcotes to get pictures of Marbled White.
Plenty on the wing as well as several other butterfly species.
Also plenty of skippers including at least one Essex, my first in many years. Unfortunately couldn’t get a sharp picture. Six-spot Burnet were also abundant, my first this year.
We had been too early on our last visit but there were now a large number of Pyramidal Orchid and a past its best Common Spotted Orchid.
Moved on to Rifle Butts to check the nearby stream for dragonflies. None seen so decided to return to Cottingham and have a look at the private pond on Snuff Mill Lane. A Emperor Dragonfly was patrolling the pond but never settled in sight but a Black-tailed Skimmer was more obliging.
Also plenty of damselflies.
Also several “red-eyed” damselflies on the lilly-pads. Later at home found the majority were Small Red-eye Damselflies, my first [and maybe the first] record in the village.
Also had a few butterflies.
We then went across the tracks to check the Wych Elm for the recent White-letter Hairstreaks.
11/7/22 After a message from Mac on Twitter, too late for me to respond, on Sunday I cycled up Snuff Mill Lane late afternoon Monday and almost immediately got a Purple Hairstreak in the large oak just south of the crossing. Came low a few times but only ever settled high up but slightly easier to photograph than the other hairstreak.
Went back across the tracks but couldn’t locate any White-letter Hairstreak but the even light make the area I’ve previously seen them difficult to view.
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