Marbled whites at Therfield Heath

 This time of year, I usually visit Therfield Heath to see the marbled white butterflies which are in  abundance and today I wasnt disappointed.  It was a warm sunny morning and as soon as I arrived I could see many white butterflies flying amongst the long grass but only rarely settling on the few flowers amongst the grass  and usually a distance from the path so it was not easy to get close or the waving grasses were in front making focusing difficult.  However, I managed a few shots.  I also saw about a dozen Dark Green Fritillaries flying fast over the meadow or crossing the path in front of me but not close or slow enough to see clearly and certainly none showed the slightest intent of settling!   However they are usually still about in July when  I plan  to next visit to see the Chalkhill blues so hopefully I may get a photograph then particularly if there is a bit of cloud floating around to give the occasional shade.

I also saw tortoisehell, large white, meadow brown, small heath and large skippers.  

There were plenty of skylarks about as they nest in the long grass and I saw them singing above me then diving down into an area of grassland. One also sang very tunefully in  a bush just ahead of me.

skylark