Lynchcombe in August

Lynchcombe - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_4404

Lynchcombe – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_4404

The height of summer on the south facing slopes of Mendip Hills in Somerset.  On the Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserve at Lynchcombe the musk thistles are still doing well so are the small butterflies.

In the sky the buzzards that nested earlier in the combe fly in a bright blue sky.

Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_3840

Buzzard (Buteo buteo) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_3840

In the trees there are already lots of sloe berries.

Sloes- Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7349

Sloes- Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7349

The grass is not so green but where the soil is thin the harebells add a splash of colour.

Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7862

Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7862

In the grass are lots of butterflies.

Large White (Pieris brassicae) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7410

Large White (Pieris brassicae) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7410

In a special corner the wild marjoram has done really well.  It attracts many small butterflies such as this common blue.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6509

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6509

I wish brown argus butterflies did not look so much like common blues.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6458

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6458

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_8473

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_8473

I have counted over three hundred meadow brown butterflies on a single walk around the reserve.  In August the numbers are starting to drop.

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) - Lynchcombe, Somerst, UK. ID JB1_7592

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7592

But the latest batch of small coppers are enjoying the marjoram in large numbers.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7483

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7483

Most of the large butterflies are higher up the hill amongst the thistles.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6627

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6627

The painted ladies are having another good season.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6896

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6896

They enjoy resting on the exposed limestone that has warmed up in the sun.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6958

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_6958

And Finally…

The gatekeepers are having their best year I have seen on the reserve.  This patch of brambles had 23 butterflies, and some had clearly been around for a while.

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7738

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_7738

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