Red Kite over!

On Monday 25th July, whilst out in the garden I spotted a fine Red Kite slowly soaring over the garden, from 5.30- 5.45pm, a long overdue first for the garden, it soared right over the garden and then veering slightly soth- west.

Yet more garden goodies On Sunday

On 18 July very early in the morning at 7.05am, 2 fine Painted Ladies were seen on the main garden Buddlea. On Thursday 21st July after work, I counted 28 Broad leaved Helleborines in a local wood. There were several by the side of the path, with 1 giant one, caged a little too tightly for my liking and around 5 caged a the wooded area but another 7 were so just by this area uncaged and a worry was a sprig of Japanese Knotweed. In the grassy area, 5 were seen. Then on Saturday 23rd July at 1.15pm, a fine Grayling seen in the garden but soon flew off. Later Saturday 23rd June, on a walk along Gunton Cliff, no sign of any WL Hairsteaks although a fine Purple Hairstreak was seen on the lower leaves of an ash tree at 3.30pm. At Corton woods, I saw a single White letter Hairstreak fly up and several Commas seen here too plus a female Brown Hawker. Later in the garden, a Migrant Hawker seen hunting.

Female Purple Emperor

On Saturday 16th July, I drove down to a local wood and was pleased to see around 8 Silver Washed Fritillaries, several Southern Hawkers too, but none were posing for the camera and at the main area, several Purple Emperor several flying up in the trees some perched but never long enough to get pictures but memorably on one occasion, a fine female Purple Emperor flew down to the ground by the banana skins and I was all alone so I was able to carefully go in resonably close and get a few pictures. She was there for several minutes before flying back up to the tree line.

More Garden goodies

On 5 July, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth was seen in the garden very briefly on the Red Valerian at 9.05am. On 7 July, a Green Woodpecker heard calling and seen flying in a semi- circle around the garden at 7.10am. On 10 July, a mixed flock of Gulls including 8 adult Mediterranean Gulls flying right over the garden and then drifting slowly east towards the Parkhill estate at 6.35pm. Thanks to the tip off from Rob H.