Birding and a spot of Lepidoptery

An outing to the South Downs in Sussex, UK today in baking temperatures brought out a few butterflies as well as the usual birds for the area. I added one more bird to this years total.

Butterflies included Green-veined White, Small Blue, Duke of Burgundy, Dingy Skipper, Adonis Blue, Small Heath and the blipped Green Hairstreak which was a first for me.

The Green Hairstreak holds its wings closed, except in flight, showing only the green underside with its faint white streak. The extent of this white marking is very variable; it is frequently reduced to a few white dots and may be almost absent. Males and females look similar and are most readily told apart by their behaviour: rival males may be seen in a spiralling flight close to shrubs, while the less conspicuous females are more often encountered while laying eggs.
Although this is a widespread species, it often occurs in small colonies and has undergone local losses in several regions.

2020 bird count

129 : Corn Bunting