Small copper

We went to Holme Fen today, to see what changes had taken place while we'd been away. I love Holme Fen - it's like a little bit of Scotland in Cambridgeshire, with heaps of birch, heather and purple moor-grass!

We hadn't been there very long when we realised that we'd definitely shifted into the next ecological season - that often overlooked period between summer and autumn. The wood was silent as all the birds have now finished breeding, grasshoppers and crickets were abundant, there were heaps of ripe blackberries and a profusion of earthballs and tawny grisettes, as well as the odd Russula.

After a grey start the sun appeared, bringing out plenty of late summer butterflies - especially red admirals and peacocks, though we also saw a comma, several speckled woods and this lovely small copper, nectaring on bramble blossom. The railway ride looked especially stunning with a heady mix of yellow loosestrife, purple loosestrife and a rare pink and white subspecies of hedge bindweed.

Back home, Ben helped me to pick blackcurrants from the garden and I made blackcurrant muffins for dessert. They worked very well, tarter and more delicious than blueberry muffins I think.