Southwater, Mill Hill and Wimbledon

male second brood Green-veined White

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Yesterday I visited Southwater Woods early and saw a Purple Emperor flying above the master oak tree. I then did my weekly butterfly transect at Mill Hill with the following results: 1 Comma, 5 Green-veined White, 2 Large White, 3 Marbled White, 8 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 12 Small Heath.

In the afternoon we watched the men’s semi-finals and saw our gallant Andy disappear under a Nadal avalanche after a promising start. Should be an interesting final.

Marbled White

Marbled White taking off

Silver-washed Fritillary

this may be Lesne's Earwig Forficula lesnei

There are four native species of earwigs in the UK. This one has a red mite attached to it.

Comma at Mill Hill

camouflage of Red Admiral

Red Admiral 

Common Red Soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva

Marbled White at Mill Hill

Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium

Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis with fly

Red-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus lapidarius

It was a  fluffy cloud day at Mill Hill

Mullein at Mill Hill