Saturday 31 August 2013

Shoreham Airshow and other flyers

Fokker Dr.I triplane
I did my Mill Hill transect yesterday. I was fortunate not to leave it till Saturday as road signs indicate that the Shoreham Airshow is over the weekend and the access roads will be closed. The advantage was that I saw several interesting planes from World War One I and II arrive at the airport. A Kestrel hovered among the radio controlled model planes.
Adonis Blues are all over the hill and there were plenty of Common Blues, mostly near the top. Meadow Browns are still prolific and Chalkhill Blues have nearly gone. I saw a few Walls plus two Clouded Yellows.

I then followed Mill Hill road along to Anchor Bottom where I saw Adonis Blues all over the north hillside plus a Clouded Yellow.
Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Fokker Dr.I triplane
Douglas Dakota C-47A Skytrain, G-DAKS, N147DC,
from Aces High Ltd at North Weald
Piper L-4 Grasshopper
Sopwith Triplane Shoreham
Sopwith Triplane Shoreham
Treble-bar, Aplocera plagiata
Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus
I've been trying to get a decent shot of the Small Heath in flight without success. This is the nearest I got yesterday.
Anchor Bottom:
Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
Anchor Bottom
Anchor Bottom
Common Grass-veneer, Agriphila tristella

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Sand Martins in flight

Sand Martin, Riparia riparia
On Tuesday I visited Arundel WWT again and saw another water vole briefly on the reed-bed walk. I spent time at the Sand Martin hide to catch the birds in flight.















Clouded Yellows and Brimstones

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni
On Monday I paid another visit to Kithurst Hill and found a male and female Clouded Yellow still in residence. I then stopped at Whiteways meadow and saw plenty of Brimstones, mainly male.
bee - id needed please
female Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus
female Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus
male Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus
Common Carpet, Epirrhoe alternata
Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus
Common Grass-veneer, Agriphila tristella
Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus
Straw Dot, Rivula sericealis
Whiteways meadow:
Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae
Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni