Lockdown Diary: Saturday, 11.7.20

I did a bit of birding in the Deepings area again, this morning, though the wind meant there was not too much new action on my favourite pits (or not any I could see, at least). The best action was at a strange protected pit, we call Molecey’s Mill Pit, where there were 5-7 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail.
So, I went to seek insects at Castor Hanglands NNR, again. There were 11 species of butterfly, including a big increase in Silver-washed Fritillaries (which have expanded hugely around here in recent years), and many Purple Hairstreaks, some of which were coming down almost to eye-level to flash a little purple upper wing…

Female Purple Hairstreak, showing a small patch of purple, Castor Hanglands NNR, Cambs, 11.7.20

Male Silver-washed Fritillary, Castor Hanglands NNR, Cambs, 11.7.20

Female Silver-washed Fritillary, Castor Hanglands NNR, Cambs, 11.7.20

Ringlet, Castor Hanglands NNR, Cambs, 11.7.20

Peacock, Castor Hanglands NNR, Cambs, 11.7.20