Group visit to Therfield Heath

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 I have been to Therfield Heath a few times over the past years but I received an email notification that a guide led visit was scheduled for last Tuesday - at a time I was free so decided to book and see what I could learn from others.  The starting point was at the main Therfield Heath carpark, which I didnt know existed as I always parked at the other end of the Heath so that was a new place for me. As I waited for others to arrive, I saw a good number of meadow browns,  ringlets and large skippers amongst the grasses near where I parked my car.

Soon I spotted a few others arriving so  I went over and joined the group where we were introduced to our leader, Nick who said he only lived a few hundred yards away and was a Conservateur of Therfield Heath. 

He lead us round the edge of the eastern side of the Heath, an  area I hadnt explored before, we saw all the usual grass loving butterflies including a good number of Marbled white and skipper butterflies including the Essex skipper.  It was warm but slightly breezy but our target was to find chalkhill blues and dark green fritillaries.  We had been walking for an hour before we saw our first of a handful of chalkhill blues,  not showing very well but present all the same, a beautiful pale blue species with darker markings.    I thought I saw a dark green fritillary resting amongst the vegetation but as soon as I saw it, some one walked closer to look and it flew off.    However we did see a few more flying to and fro and a rather pale tatty one settled for a photo.

It was an enjoyable walk but I wasnt convinced that it was any better for butterfly sightings than the walk up the chalk grassland I usually take from the other end.

                                                        small white I think


                                                              

                                                        marbled white


                                                                Essex skipper


                                                                    gatekeeper



                                                                           chalkhill blue


                                                                    gatekeeper


                                                                painted lady



                                                                    large skipper


                                                                ringlet

                                                                 chalkhill blue
 

very pale dark green fritillary

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