21st July

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I was keen to see Chalkhill Blue so headed over to the far side of the banks this morning. I saw about ten on the wing, all looking fresh and fairly active in the sunny conditions.  A single Small Tortoiseshell was the first of the species for a couple of weeks.

Following that I checked out the valley which was again alive with butterflies. Perhaps fewer Peacocks than last week though plenty of Gatekeeper.  Common Blue are starting to increase, and Small Copper were again not difficult to find.  I notice that the male Common Blue shown below has a faint row of barely visible spots along the middle of the hind wings.

Highlight was finding a melanistic (black) adder, though probably a different individual to that seen last week as further along the valley. The adder was indeed very black and therefore with little evidence of the zig-zag pattern on the upperparts.


Chalkhill Blue

Chalkhill Blue

Gatekeeper

Large White

Common Blue male

Common Blue female

Brimstone

Melanistic adder

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