White Admiral

It was 28 degrees at lunchtime when I was walking my heathland butterfly transect. Almost 200 butterflies in 30 minutes is a new single count record for this transect. Admittedly more than half were Meadow Browns but there was also a sprinkling of Ringlet, Large and Small Skippers, Marbled Whites. The spaniel insisted on having his afternoon walk when it seemed even hotter but he made straight for the river to cool down. On the way back I saw my first Silver-washed fritillary and White Admirals of the year. the latter took my species tally to 30 which is pretty good for a year when I'm not really trying.