Saturday 18 July 2020

10-12 July 2020 (Alice Holt, Thursley, Martin Down, Bentley Wood)

When the weather eventually improved went to a number of sites - actually Alice Holt twice in the hope of seeing Purple Emperor but no luck there.

At Alice Holt I photographed what I thought was a Migrant Hawker when in fact it turned out to be a Southern Hawker.

A nice selection of butterflies over the days with the highlight being a couple of fritillaries and purple hairstreak - the hairstreaks were playing hard to get to photograph - but no Turtle Doves at Martin Down.

A few new flowers as well.










Friday 3 July 2020

2nd July 2020 (Burley Mill Lawn / Ober Water - New Forest)

Although the weather looked changeable I decided to go for some dragonflies in the New Forest.  It was very hard work but did eventually see Southern Damselfly and Keeled Skimmer.  Butterflies were only represented by a Meadow Brown and some unidentified blues.  New plants included a Heath Spotted Orchid.  Best of the birds were 4 Crossbills over Blackwater Arboretum.