White admiral

Chris and I returned to Market Weston Fen today. While he gathered in his traps, I marvelled at the magnificent array of orchids. Since we last visited, marsh helleborines, marsh fragrant orchids, narrow-leaved marsh orchids and heath spotted-orchids had all reached their peak of perfection. I have never seen so many marsh helleborines, sheets of them surrounding a complex of damp runnels.

Although it wasn't as hot as it has been, the fen is very sheltered and both of us were feeling the heat. So we headed off to nearby Knettishall Heath to have a very late lunch and enjoy a bit of shade. We had a short walk round and were delighted to see white admirals gliding along the sun-dappled rides. These butterflies have a swift and elegant flight, and are incredibly adept at manoeuvering around the woodland, but rarely stop for long. They spend much of their time in the woodland canopy, basking on oak leaves, but are attracted to lower levels to feed on bramble blossom or sip at water or the dissolved salts in dung.

This is one of the few species of butterfly that is on the increase. This is largely a result of the decline in coppicing in woodlands which led to a massive decline of the sun-loving Fritillaries, but provided ideal conditions for the white admiral, which breeds on honeysuckle growing in partial shade.