An unexpected early morning butterfly bonanza in the Downs

White-letter Hairstreak, Ringstead Downs, 26th July 2018

Painted Lady, Ringstead Downs, 26th July 2018

Silver-washed Fritillary, Ringstead Downs, 26th July 2018

This morning I made what I anticipated would be a quick 7 am visit to the downs to try to find a Purple Hairstreak. I found one, taking moisture and/or minerals from the ground along the main path but it flew off too quickly to be photographed. Much to my surprise I went on to find about 10 White-letter Hairstreaks behaving in the same way (the first on patch for me - and I don't think anyone else has seem them here for decades), a very smart, fresh, Painted Lady, the first of the late generation of Wall, flying with Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and a few Ringlets and, amazingly, at least three Silver-washed Fritillaries - as far as I'm aware, the first for Ringstead Downs and only the second record for the patch after Robert found a tatty individual on the buudleja at the NOA a couple of years ago. Whatever next ?

Off Patch: Silpha opaca

Silpha opaca, Nacton, Suffolk, 17th July 2018

Dune Villa

Dune Villa, Holme NWT, 21st July 2018

Dune Robberfly

Dune Robberfly, Philonicus albiceps, male, The Firs, 21st July 2018

Some new and some otherwise great moths for the patch

Marbled Clover, Hunstanton, 19th July 2018

Dark Umber, Holme NOA, 17th July 2018

Beautiful China Mark, Ringstead Downs, 17th July 2018 

July Highflyer, Ringstead Downs, 17th July 2018

Scarce Silver Lines, Holme NWT, 21st July 2018

Clouded Slender, Caloptilia populetorum, Hunstanton (Joan Fox), 23rd July 2018

Alder Signal, Hunstanton (Joan Fox), 23rd July 2018

Golden Argent, Argyresthia goedartella, Holmhusrt Track, 23rd July 2018

Pale-bordered Piercer, Grapholita janthinana, Hunstanton (Joan Fox), 23rd July 2018

Coast Dart, Hunstanton (Joan Fox), 6th July 2018

Off Patch: Lesser Yellowlegs at Titchwell

Lesser Yellowlegs, Titchwell, 19th July 2018

Off Patch: some nationally rare, scarce and smart beasts from a foray in Dorset

Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Ballard Down, 8th July 2018

Heath Tiger Beetle, Studland, 9th July 2018

Small Blue, Durlston Head, 10th July 2018

Purbeck Mason Wasp, Hartland Moor, 10th July 2018

Cryptocephalus primarius, near Swanage, 11th July 2018

Rose Chafer, Durdle Door, 11th July 2018

Shiny Dor Beetle, Hartland Moor, 11th July 2018 

Large Marsh Grasshopper, Hartland Moor, 11th July 2018

Cliff Tiger Beetle, Eype, 12th July 2018

Heath Bee-fly, Studland, 13th July 2018

Mottled Bee-fly, Studland, 13th July 2018

Black Deerfly, Hartland Moor, 13th July 2018

Small Purple-barred, Stoborough Heath, 13th July 2018

The Small Fleck-winged Snipefly

Small Fleck-winged Snipefly, Holme NWT, 23rd June 2018

Off Patch: a selection from recent forays

Pygmy Soldier, Oxycera pygmaea, Scarning Fen, 25th June 2018

Grypocoris stysi, Whitwell Common, 25th June 2018

Purple Emperor, Fineshades Wood, 30th June 2018

White-letter Hairstreak, Fineshades Wood, 30th June 2018

Horned Treehopper Centrotus cornutus, Foxley Wood, 25th June 2018

Small Red Damselfly, Scarning Fen, 25th June 2018

Pied Smudge, Ypsolopha sequella, Fineshades Wood, 30th June 2018

 Large Emerald Moth, Finshades Wood, 30th June 2018

Gold-ribbon Argent, Argyresthia brockeella, Fineshades Wood, 30th June 2018

Bracken Planthopper, Ditropis pteridis, Foxley Wood, 25th June 2018

A new sawfly for the patch

Dolerus aericeps, female, Baker's Carr, 24th June 2018

The Delicate Soldier

Delicate Soldier, Oxycera nigricornis, male, Baker's Carr 24th June 2018

The Flecked Snout

Flecked Snout, Nemotelus notatus, Holme NWT, 27th June 2018

Four from Ringstead Downs

Sulphur Beetle, Ringstead Downs, 1st July 2018

Red legged (Forest) Shieldbug, Ringstead Downs, 1st July 2108

Galeruca tanaceti, Ringstead Downs, 1st July 2018

Polymerus trigonus, Ringstead Downs, 1st July 2018