Marbled Whites, Southern Hawkers etc in Toft

 At last a variety of Butterflies are on the wing in Toft - not large numbers but several Marbled Whites (all males present in the day and coming in to roost) Meadow Browns  and  Small Heaths and single Large Skipper and Gatekeeper. So far two Southern Hawkers have emerged from our pond (earlier we had Four-spot and Broad -bodied Chasers). Delighted to find a Bryony Bee on the White Bryony - a species p that was restricted to the Southern counties. On a morning walk around the wood and fields with a not very long lens, it was good to see a Hare and Buzzard with a mouse.

Roosting Butterflies Toft Wood

Although reduced in numbers from some previous years but there were around 8 Marbled Whites plus Meadow Browns and many skippers roosting in Toft Wood this week. There was also a very yellow Green-veined White, which was the second very yellow one that I have seen this year.

Paxton Butterfly and Dragonfly Survey

Last year we found a single Grizzled Skipper on the equivalent survey, this year more than 10 so there is definitely a breeding colony. We also located one very early Green-Eyed (Norfolk) Hawker, a Scarce Chaser along with the Four-Spot Chasers, a Hairy Dragonfly, four species of 'Blue' Damselflies and also Banded Demoiselles.

Paxton July Survey Butterflies and Dragonflies

Saturday was our monthly survey at Paxton Pits of butterfly and dragonfly numbers. Here a few of those recorded - Small Copper, Green-veined White, Small skipper, Essex Skipper, Ruddy Darts, Migrant Hawker, Blue-tailed damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Scarce Chaser 

Dorset 12 Burton Bradstock

Parking at the National Trust Car Park, we walked over the cliffs to Cogden beach and along the beach towards Burton Bradstock. Lots of flowers, a few butterflies such as these Large skippers and some interesting insects including the amazing Tephrid flies with their picture wings and iridescent eyes. (Although now on the way home, I will be continuing my 'diary' of our CCC trip to Dorset for a few more days. We hope to return next year so this acts as a guide to places to visit and what wildlife was seen).