On the Mendips

Date: 15/07/2015

Location: Draycott Sleights - Black Rock & Priddy Mineries

Weather: Overcast, No Blue skies, Temp 20c 

Other Species: Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Kestrel, Nuthatch - not bad for eyes on the ground !

Butterflies: Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White, Peacock, Small Heath, Skippers, Dark Green Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Ringlets.

Observation:

Weather forecast said sunny spells but none of that overcast all day. On getting to Draycott quite a few cars there, a organised walk was going on.

But headed in and started looking not promising few Marbled Whites lots of Skippers and Meadow Browns, walked to top and round saw a Juv Green Woodpecker flew right in front of me and landed on small tree.

Then when just about to leave saw 2 Chalkhill Blues chasing each other .

After many more shots .......

Spotted a Yellow Shell Moth while looking saw the biggest Cricket I've ever seen ! Around 3-4 inches long, thats big huh! Looked it up it on internet was a Great Green Bush Cricket (Tettigonia viridissima)

After that headed to Black Rock Cheddar as just round corner. Not many butterflies here saw a pair of Nuthatches chasing each other, few Small Heath and Marbled whites. 

Thought on way back I'd drop in to Priddy Mineries,Glad I did. Walked through Stockwood Wood first but nothing so headed across towards pond lots and lots of Small Skippers, Six Spotted Burnets also Chimney Sweep Moths .

Just when I was thinking no Fritillary's around 2 flashed in front of me Dark Green Fritillary's nice looking butterfly and landed nicely.

Then it left the Red Clover and landed even better !

Thistles were packed with Marbled Whites and Six Spots jostling for position .

And home.

  Still no Hairstreaks :( well apart from Green.

Thanks For Looking !