Brown Argus and Purple Hairstreak

 A day to remember for me as I managed to see Purple Hairstreak and Brown Argus butterflies on the same day. Not perticularly good image of the Hairstreak but at least it came down from the canopy and came close enough for a photo.

Very worn Purple Hairstreak along Wassand Wood edge

Brown Argus at the back, Gatekeeper in the foreground

Brown Argus on ragwort

Brown Argus - didn't re-find so no more pics

Along second field banking there are still warblers to be found. Six Lesser Whitethroat was the most I've ever seen together.

Lesser Whitethroat in flight

Two Lesser Whitethroat

Two LW

A couple of Great White Egrets flew in and landed in the trees on Swan Island. Distant shots were duly taken.

Two GWE on Swan Island

A sunny day not only brought out the less common butterflies, the usual suspects were also out in force.

Sunflowers in the set aside field - bodes well for the finch flocks

Small White and Green-veined White basking

Small White and Green-veined White basking

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood underside (again)

After not seeing the underside of a Speckled Wood for ages (if ever) this is twice in the last few days I've seen one land and close its wings.

A Roebuck had just settled down for a rest in the hawthorn field when I spotted it. A broken antler and a partially closed eye suggest conflict of some sort, hopefully with another buck rather than a human.

A resting Roebuck

A flock of 42 Barnacle Geese appeared on Wed 30/8, none with neck collars this time but most with yellow leg rings. We'll see if this turns out to be the wintering birds that we are lucky enough to get each year.

Barnacle Geese south of Southorpe Road

The flock of about 40 Lapwing that have been feeding in a ploughed field by the footpath for the last week were still there, but the field has since been harrowed so they may move on now.

Lapwings