Silver-studded Blues and Spitfire PS915

Spitfire PS915

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On Saturday I led a walk at Iping and Stedham Commons to see the Silver-studded Blue butterflies and Common Heath moths. Paul, Peter and Anna joined me and we saw a dozen or so SSBs, male and female, plus some Common Heaths before the heavens opened as we arrived back at the car park. We also saw Yellowhammers, and a Woodlark did the rounds of his territory, singing forcefully from the top of his trees. Paul gave us some insights into the flora at the reserve, and the Water Pepper was a memorable taste. I was pleased to find two new moths: Inlaid Grass-veneer and Golden Pearl plus a Rosy Tabby  and some fruiting lichens.

  Back home there was a display on the green for Armed Forces Day. I heard an old plane roar by, grabbed a camera and managed to get some shots of Spitfire PS915 doing some fly-bys. This graceful aircraft was built in 1945.

Inlaid Grass-veneer, Crambus pascuella

fruiting lichen

fruiting Lichen, Cladonia polydactyla 

larva hanging from a silk thread. sawfly or moth?

thanks to Maurice for the following 2 moth ids

Golden Pearl, Anania verbascalis

underside of Rosy Tabby, Endotricha flammealis

Rosy Tabby, Endotricha flammealis

female Silver-studded Blue, Plebeius argus

male Silver-studded Blue, Plebeius argus

smile please!