Collard Hill

Three of us went into Somerset this morning, with Large Blue being the target.

The weather was perfect and the company great - nice to go out with my Dad again, something I used to do every weekend as a teenager! Also nice to have Rob Johnson on board.

Here we are!

A small section of the famous slope...

The view - it's fantastic! You can see Somerton and Butleigh Moor in the distance...

So, what about the butterflies?

Well they were on top form, and we saw between 20 and 25 individuals in just over two hours - and got some really excellent views. The fresh insects hardly landed at all though, and when they occasionally did, they were off again within a few seconds. This meant, the only photos I got were of the tattier individuals. Mind you, I ain't complaining...

I think these two are on their last legs... well wings.....

So, in this mid summer glut of birding the local patch blogs have contained plenty of flowers, butterflies, dragonflies... the usual midsummer suspects really. But what's left? Well, I've just set this up in the front garden....

Ah - ha!

Let's wait and see what it produces come the morning...