Just over a week ago I paid a mid morning visit to
Denbies Hillside, a chalk escarpment on the North Downs. With the wispy clouds being brushed across the blue skies by a fairly stiff breeze I headed downhill through the rich wild flower grassland of Steer's Field.
There was plenty of insect life around my feet but the butterflies were less obvious due to the windy conditions although I did catch glimpses of Common Blue, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, and Meadow Brown.
Anyway I wandered the various pathways and tracks before finding a suitable location to rest the weary legs and waited patiently for my intended quarry while enjoying the fabulous panoramic southward views.
Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
Despite my apprehension my luck eventually paid off and one male perched for a few moments allowing me just a couple of shots of this gorgeous blue butterfly with its distinctive white and black chequered wing edges.
There was plenty of other wildlife to keep me entertained including the various hoverflies, beetles and day flying moths (a Burnet Companion) plus I watched a hovering Kestrel, singing Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Common Buzzard being harried by Crows and added a Raven to my Surrey year list as it flew overhead. I have made a mental note to return to seek out the other downland speciality, the Chalkhill Blue, sometime during July. FAB.
