Butterflies

So far it has been a very disappointing year for butterflies. Seen some Orange tips but very little else. Perhaps I have not been in the right places at the right  time. But here is a Speckled Wood, one of our most common ones.

My extra demonstrates a remarkable bird success which most people know about. Before 1990 Little Egrets were a rare visitor from the Med. In 1994 they began to be seen in larger numbers in Dorset and by 1996 they were breeding there.
But it is still surprising that now here in the North West you can see 10 at the same time.

Bird Song news. Pied Avocet and Redshank added to my collection.