Another Windy Day

This year has to go down as one of the windiest on record. It was off to Stratton Wood again, to try out some new walks. There are so many paths criss-crossing each other, it's actually quite interesting to see where you come out next. And with that persistent wind, it was also an opportunity to find some more sheltered spots along the way.

Yet again not too many butterflies out in the open, but in the more sheltered spots there were still plenty of Gatekeepers, a few Meadow Browns, Large Whites, Small Whites, Green-veined Whites, 2 Ringlets, a Common Blue, Large Skippers, Small Skippers and a single Marbled White. Actually that's pretty good, but imagine a windless day, there would be butterflies everywhere.

Anyway here are a few images from today................

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

Common Blue

Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus

Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus

Common Carder bee, Bombus pascuorum

Red Soldier Beetles, a Long Hoverfly and a fly sp.

A Tachina fera fly

A 7-spot Ladybird, Black Aphids and a Sawfly sp.

Pisaura mirabilis, Nursery Web Spider