27th - 29th May.

27th May and the dry and hot weather continues, went for a mid-morning visit to Dancersend, a BBOWT reserve to look for orchids and butterflies. Very few butterflies seen, a few speckled wood, rival males spiralling into the air alongside the woodland paths and the odd peacock and tortoiseshell seen.

Twayblade.

Greater butterfly Orchid.

Fly orchid. Also found  white helleborines and spotted orchids. A noisy family group of ravens calling from the tree tops.

At home on the 28th came across several long horned moths also spiralling in the sunshine.

An afternoon walk and found another day flying moth , Mother Shipton, named after a famous Yorkshire prophetess whose profile was thought to resemble the pattern on the moth's wings.

29th a short afternoon visit to Pulpit Hill in the heat, again few butterflies about, found a very weathered dingy skipper and the highlight was 2 adonis blue males and 1 female being followed closely by a common blue male.

 

30th and looking over the veg patch found a currant clearwing moth, yet another day flying moth, hope not causing too much damage and later a male broad bodied chaser appeared. Stewart. 
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.