Finemere Wood

I did a trip with Ted to some old haunts from the 1990s today, first stop was Finemere Wood, were we could see Purple Emperor and Black Hairstreak if we were lucky.

Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small White, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, were all seen on the track upto the reserve entrance. Along the main track well known for Purple Emperors, two photographers were taking pictures of something on the track, we walked up to them, and a Purple Emperor was drinking wet mud from a puddle.

After a lot of photos it flew off and around us, looking to land on the track again, which it did a little way off, more photos,

but a landrover wanted to drive up the track and over the butterfly, so it crawled onto my finger and had another drink.

More photos were taken, after a few minutes we moved it back onto the track, so it could feed again in without disturbance. Silver Washed Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak, Large and Small Skippers were also seen.

We walked back down the track hoping to see the Black Hairstreak, but couldnt get to the area as it is now fenced off. So onto the next site.