Lynchcombe Steps

Lynchcombe - Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3270

Lynchcombe – Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3270

Some Like It Hot

The heat wave goes on and on.  I really like it.  But the grass that was very very long early in the year is now very very long and brown.  Still that golden brown light does suite the small copper.

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_3254

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_3254

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_3353

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_3353

I used to see a lot of common blue butterflies on Lynchcombe.  Not so much recently so this one was a real bonus.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3007

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3007

I do struggle to tell the common blues from the brown argus.  So I hope this time I got is right.  They are a beautiful butterfly.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2912

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2912

The gatekeepers are out in huge numbers.  Once I saw lots of gatekeepers in the hedge outside my work.  I couldn’t resist getting my camera and spending ages taking  pictures.  I took a lot of stick for doing that.

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3258

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3258

The comma butterflies go through peaks and troughs from year to year.  This year is about average!

Comma (Polygonia c-album) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2937

Comma (Polygonia c-album) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2937

Marbled whites are still one of my favourites.

Marbled White (Melanargia calathea) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2969

Marbled White (Melanargia calathea) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2969

But my real favourite is the silver-washed fritillary.  I would still like to see a dark-green fritillary.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3195

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3195

The heat seems to have brought autumn home early.  Lots of golden bracken and falling leaves.

Golden Bracken - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3273

Golden Bracken – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_3273

And Finally…

The countryside is drying out.  The neighbouring Deerleap is no longer green.  Blue the sky is bright blue and today there was even some fluffy white clouds.

Deerleap Field - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3272

Deerleap Field – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3272

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