Silver-washed

A nice cooling breeze came over the South Downs today so the spaniel and I were able to go for a good long walk up to Blackcap and around Ashcombe Bottom. On the way up the steep chalk slopes of Watersmeet Bostal were alive with hundreds of Chalkhill Blues. Down in the valley I had several good sightings of White Admiral and was treated to a spectacular aerial courtship display by a pair of Silver-washed fritillary. The female flies in a long straight line while the male flies corkscrew-like loops around her.