Foxley

Moth Quiz 31
Hit by Cupid's arrow and dashed away.
Heart and Dart 

Moth Quiz 32
Entering your holiday home without taking your sandals off, would result in this.

Tuesday, July 7

Not the best of forecasts for butterfly hunting. We arrived at Foxley Woods soon after nine o'clock, to find several lepidopterists already walking up the ride beyond the first gate, soon after entering the reserve. We decided to wait awhile in the extensive area in front of the gate, watching the flower-filled borders for settling butterflies. As soon as the sun appeared, so did the insects. Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, and Silver-washed Fritillary. The latter is such a beautiful colour, but none settled in that area.

A man appeared from the woods to the left of the ride, joining a distant woman. It was the Giles and Judy, who soon disappeared along a trail on the left. 

Another familiar figure, accompanied by stepson and grandson, walked towards us from the parking area. Andrew D. They looked up, and pointed at a Purple Emperor skimming high above the nearest oak trees. After they'd gone, Pam turned the car so that we had a better view of the sunlit area. The sun's appearance was spasmodic, the stream of cars entering, a constant.

An older lady stopped for a chat, observing that we had a very civilised way of observing the wildlife. Frustrating for me but better than nothing. She also said that the car parks were full and she'd had trouble parking.

Pam went off for a short walk along the ride, discovering where the Silver-washed Fritillaries were feeding, on a large flowering bramble bush.

All the photographs taken at Foxley are Pam's.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Tatty Meadow Brown

Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle

Common Soldier Beetle

In the meantime, I saw a Purple Emperor above the oak tree, and Greg and Val Bond drew up. for a short chat.

There was no way that we could extend our visit by driving to other areas of the reserve, there were cars parked everywhere. We left, bought some more alpine gravel at Bawdeswell nursery before driving home to open last night's moth traps.

A Small Clouded Brindle was the only new species for the year.

We're still getting small numbers of hawkmoths, Elephant and Poplar this morning, always a happy find.

Snout

and White Satin, also present.