Another new site for me, this one again being about thirty minutes away from the bed and Breakfast I’d being staying in, Monk’s Wood.
Monk’s Wood a known site for the Black Hairstreak Butterfly, on my walk Monk’s Wood, I stopped and photographed Syrphus Hoverflies, Tiger Craneflies and a Speckled Bush Cricket, but alas no Black hairstreaks, but it was a bit overcast..
I eventually moved off from the distraction of Bush Crickets, and bumped into a couple who were also looking for the Black Hairstreak and had seen a couple briefly, whilst taking to this couple another couple, who turned out to be doing a Black Hairstreak count over the last few days, they’d counted 109 yesterday, showed us where the best spots were for the Hairstreak. It wasn’t long before we saw plenty of Black Hairstreak Butterflies, eventually giving good photo opportunities. I eventually moved away from the site and caught other Black Hairstreaks around the site, I also found a few Spotted Longhorn Beetles.
I left Monks Wood at about 11am and headed further North, and towards home, stopping briefly at Barnack Hills and Holes, a good place for insects, Butterflies and Flowers. The going was difficult and I only picked up a few Butterfly species Brimstone, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and a few Marbled Whites
Huddsbirder 