Big Butterfly Count 2013

The final day of the Big Butterfly Count today. I checked the wonderful Norwegian weather site (xxx.yr.no) to find out when the best chance of sunshine would be and it was between 12. and 2.00.

I returned to Middleton Hall Lakes - one of the places I'd made a count last year.

The morning hadn't been very promising but the weathermen were right and I was extremely lucky. Lots of whites, two patches of numerous peacocks, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, three Speckled Woods, a stunning Comma, a stray bright yellow Brimstone and this glorious Common Blue.

There was excitement at the RSPB site. A Great White Egret had appeared four days ago - normally they are not seen so far north. I'm not a bird person, I'm afraid and I'm not sure I'd have known if I had seen it. I got some shots of a big white bird in flight on my way out, but I doubt if I'd have been so lucky. Nice heron and Great Spotted Woodpeckers though.

All that and home in time for the cricket the 100m from Moscow.