Gatekeepers rule and a Black Adder slithers away

male Chalkhill Blue, Lysandra coridon

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On Wednesday I found Mill Hill covered with Gatekeepers, many of which were flying across the grassland, perhaps a sign that the population is high as they normally stay round the hedgerows. The Chalkhill Blues are starting to build. Transect results: Chalkhill Blue 5 (including one female), Gatekeeper 30, Green-veined White 2, Marbled White 23, Meadow Brown 10, Peacock 1, Small Skipper 2 and Small Tortoiseshell larvae. I also found several moths:  Brown Plume, Cinnabar larvae, Common Purple and Gold, Straw-barred Pearl, Wavy-barred Sable and Yellow-spot Twist. A big fat black adder slithered into the underbrush as I walked along the bottom of the hill.

female Chalkhill Blue, Lysandra coridon

Brown Plume, Stenoptilia pterodactyla

Brown Plume, Stenoptilia pterodactyla

Cinnabar larvae, Tyria jacobaeae

Cinnabar larvae, Tyria jacobaeae

Common Purple and Gold, Pyrausta purpuralis

Garden Grass-veneer, Chrysoteuchia culmella

Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus

Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus

Peacock, Inachis io

Perforate St John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum

female Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris

female Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris

Small Skipper showing brown underside of tip of antenna
which distinguishes it from the black tip of the Essex Skipper

Small Tortoiseshell larvae, Aglais urticae

Small Tortoiseshell larvae, Aglais urticae

Straw-barred Pearl, Pyrausta despicata

Wavy-barred Sable, Pyrausta nigrata

Wild Thyme, Thymus serpyllum

Adder, Vipera berus