I spent yesterday at Maple Lodge NR - one of my favourite places to visit when I want to get away from it all
It was a very overcast day with the sun only breaking through the clouds a few times
You'd have thought that meant there wasn't much to see - but there was plenty - the butterflies around Comma Corner were plentiful and many were obligingly still
The Gatekeepers and Ringlets were the most prolific
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| Gatekeeper |
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| Gatekeeper |
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| Gatekeeper |
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| male Gatekeeper with distinctive dark sex-brand |
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| tatty male Ringlet |
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| fresh male Ringlet |
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| male Ringlet |
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| Ringlet |
Of course there were a couple of Commas at Comma Corner
and a far away pristine Small Tortoiseshell
and this Red Admiral perched at exactly the right height for me to photograph it's wonderfully marked underwings
A Painted Lady also settled for a minute but I wasn't quick enough to grab a photo
I also had four species of hoverfly at Comma Corner - ids under pictures
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| Syrphus sp |
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| Sphaerophoria interrupta |
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| Syrphus sp |
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| Eristalis sp |
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| Xanthogramma pedissequum |
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| Xanthogramma pedissequum |
In the clearing where Simon Buckingham sets his moth traps there were still two Poplar Hawk-moths hanging around
I also found a male Scorpion Fly with lunch
In front of the Long Hedge Hide there was female Emperor Dragonfly laying eggs
My camera was playing up a little bit yesterday and the photo of the Soldier Beetle below took ages to focus and take
Nice to see 7-spot Ladybirds were more abundant than Harlequins
And as to be expected at this time of year there were plenty of Dock Bugs
I finished my visit at the Clubhouse Hide where I played hide and seek with a Jay
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