A trip, with camera, round our local forest. We came across a couple of Silver-Washed Fritillaries doing their bit to ensure there's some fritillaries around next year.
Here's the happy couple, with the female on the right indicating a certain willingness to proceed.
The whole process was quite elaborate with lots of fluttering of wings. Good to have these butterflies in number in the forest.
Elsewhere there were more butterflies. There are three species in the photo below.
You can really only see two, but the Comma moved off allowing a decent view of the third.
Always amazed at the style and neatness of the Purple Hairstreak's face!
UPDATE: ** Thanks to Mike for pointing out that this is not a Purple Hairstreak but is a White-Letter Hairstreak. On checking the books it matches quite clearly. That's not just a first for me for Hatfield Forest but a Lifer - thanks Mike! **
It wasn't just butterflies. The Orchid bible Harrop states HF has Violet Helleborines. After asking some of the local Naturalists and doing a bit of hunting around I found some gone-over spikes last Autumn. This time they were in full bloom. We are indeed fortunate to have these so close to us.
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