Sharpenhoe Clappers (National Trust)

Today was really too hot to go chasing after butterflies and walking over open downland, but we needed to visit Sharpenhoe Clappers to plan an RPS day there on Sunday. The beech hangers looked great in the dappled sunlight with every shade of green in the foliage. Quick snaps of Chalkhill Blues and Dark Green Fritillary and flowers using a fish eye to give a feeling of the setting complete the 'snaps' in preparation for the weekend.

HextonPits and Chalkhill Blues

 On Thursday we visited Hexton pits on the hottest day of the year (34 degrees) and witnessed the mass flying of what has been estimated as 10,000 Chalkhill Blues. I tried all kinds of lenses to record the flocks of Blues as they flew or were blown over the ridge of the chalkpit. In the end the 100mm macro standing well back proved the best. The Chalkhills appear brown when in flight unless the sun catches them as the blue is from the iridescent hairs on the body and scales on the top surface of the wings. Also recorded Large and Small Whites (photo above - identified by horizontal black wing patch - in the Large White, the patch curves round to also have vertical element), Peacocks, Gatekeepers. All the stems of the plants were covered in aphids.