A cracking day in South Cumbria looking for Butterflies and Dragonflies.
First stop was Howe Ridding Wood near Witherslack. Marsh Tits seemed everywhere on the walk through the trees to the reserve.
A female Pied Flycatcher showed briefly as well as GS Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, and Raven overhead.
On entering Howe Ridding Wood after a short climb, we started to walk through promising clearings.
Comma, Ringlet and Meadow Brown seemed to be everywhere...
Then the first Fritillaries appeared. Dark Green Fritillaries showed off well (both male and female), and a single High Brown Fritillary showed off its underwing to the binoculars but not the camera.
Several Common Blue appeared and then a small brown blue with no blue tinging to the upper wing. It sat with wing closed, crawling deep into the undergrowth. Just enough time to get the underwing pattern - Northern Brown Argus.
Frustratingly though, the Fritillary that would be a new butterfly tick didn't appear - however two 'larger' ones flew over fast but didn't stop. We headed over to nearby Brigsteer Wood next to see if our luck would change.
As we approached the first clearing along the path from Cotes I said to Simon this looks good... and then - boom - a massive female Silver Washed Fritillary flew past and landed showing really well 😊
A few hundred metres further on, two more 'large' Fritillaries appeared - male Silver Washed Fritillary. Wonderful to watch! A Dark Green Fritillary flew through as well and it was noticeable how much larger the Silver Washed Fritillary were.
A great start to the day. Now it was time for the Dragonflies...
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