Purple Hairstreak DSC_7047
Purple Hairstreak / neozephyrus quercus. Whitecross Green Wood, Oxfordshire. 25/08/16.
A visit to search for Brown Hairstreaks in overcast, humid conditions - not ideal and certainly not comfortable!
Despite a paucity of butterfly sightings generally, I did see 2-3 BH's flying around the top of an Ash tree.
Waited around in the hope that one would drop lower enabling me to make some images, but after an hour plus, I decided it wasn't going to happen and had to give in to the stifling humidity :-(
Back at the car, rehydrating and wondering whether to wait for some sunshine and then to try again, I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. This little lady dropped down from an Oak and perched up at knee height.
So, a hairstreak of a different kind and looking rather worn too after her testing flight season. To me though, she was the gem that saved the day and offered a very close encounter!
Purple Hairstreak DSC_7047
Purple Hairstreak / neozephyrus quercus. Whitecross Green Wood, Oxfordshire. 25/08/16.
A visit to search for Brown Hairstreaks in overcast, humid conditions - not ideal and certainly not comfortable!
Despite a paucity of butterfly sightings generally, I did see 2-3 BH's flying around the top of an Ash tree.
Waited around in the hope that one would drop lower enabling me to make some images, but after an hour plus, I decided it wasn't going to happen and had to give in to the stifling humidity :-(
Back at the car, rehydrating and wondering whether to wait for some sunshine and then to try again, I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. This little lady dropped down from an Oak and perched up at knee height.
So, a hairstreak of a different kind and looking rather worn too after her testing flight season. To me though, she was the gem that saved the day and offered a very close encounter!