Clouded Yellows

 A fine and often sunny day which saw Shozzer and I meet up with Phil Rogers at Eyebrook. We then moved on to Collyweston before our travels took us towards Spanhoe. Good birds provided most of the early entertainment but from mid morning onwards it was butterflies that stole the show.

Juvenile and adult Sandwich Terns

Both the adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern were still present at the sharp end at Eyebrook though a Cattle Egret seen early in the morning flew off before we could see it. A single Black-tailed Godwit may well have been Thursday's bird and there were also two Ruff and four Dunlins in the same area. Once again a Yellow-legged Gull was also seen in the area though I don't think that it was the regular bird. Most of the assembled birds were spooked by a Peregrine though all seemed to return after a couple of minutes. Before we left a Greenshank dropped in and provided reasonable views before we moved on.

Ruff and Greenshank

Phil and Cheryl spent some of yesterday watching Clouded Yellows at a site between Collyweston and Ketton and we accompanied him there today. At least three and probably more Cloudeds were seen in the area though they were very active in the sunshine and it was hard to be sure. During a cloudier spell one landed where we could see it providing a chance for photography. Other species active in the general area included Common Blue  and several whites. Our last wildlife stop of the day was at Spanhoe where many Small Heaths were noted with lesser numbers of Meadow Browns joining them. With the afternoon now feeling rather hot it was only natural that we sought rehydration and the Exeter Arms in Barrowden was only too willing to provide an opportunity to do so.

Clouded Yellow and Small Heath