Alice Holt and Thursley Common

Out of county trip today, saw David and I heading for the Surrey heathlands in search of Lepidoptera and Odanata.

At Goose Green, Alice Holt, we watched purple emperor (Apatura iris) - with one male atop a sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)- tussling a second male on the wing; and purple hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) - both species lifers for me.

Also flying ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), peacock (Inachis io), meadow brown (Manilio jurtina), large skipper (Ochlodes venata), marbled white (Melanargia galathea), gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonis) and silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Odanata interest was provided by brown hawker (Aeshna grandis) and southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea).

A goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) overhead was a complete bonus!

His Royal Highness (record shot)

silver-washed fritillary

downy emerald

black darter

small red damselfy
(Ceriagrion tenellum)

very worn out fem.
keeled skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens)