A pair of Small Tortoiseshells
Lining up for take off.............
A birds eye view from the Clothes Line.
On the Buddleia
Feeding on the nectar
Sunning itself on the warm pebble path
Not only were the Tortoiseshells out in force, but there was another influx of Swifts again with a good dozen or more over the estate.
One of the many Swifts today over the estate
This an amazing bird, after fledging it will be on the wing for up to 3 years before reaching a mature age to land and breed. Yep this bird eats, sleeps and drinks on the wing, and in the breeding season it will use a ledge under the eaves to make a "nest", I use the term loosely as the nest is just a flat space covered in feathers and other materials caught on the wing.
Long wings, short tail with a slight fork.
Swept back wings
Very fast and very difficult to photograph