It isn't just about the birds as an afternoon walk around the oyster beds reveals another soap opera in progress....the sun is shining and butterflies are looking for love. Their often short lives means that finding the right mate is a matter of some urgency, dog fights ensue as rival males defend territory and vie for the attention of the ladies. They apparently detect their own species by sight, but it's the pheromones that confirm's a potential partners suitability.
Above: small tortoiseshell's courting
I once saw a lowly cabbage white in hot pursuit of a magnificent side plate sized turquoise exotic that must have escaped from somewhere, they say there is never inter-species breeding but this guy had a determined look on his face and i'd like to think in true beauty and the beast style, his persistence paid off.
painted lady
red admiral
The day was rather windy and a few of the species avoided the gaze of my camera, including peacock and the meadow brown butterflies, however despite the lack of ragwort in the area I was thrilled to see this lovely cinnabar moth who was happy to show off his beautiful livery.
There are over 165,000 species of butterfly and moths worldwide, with 2,300 species in the British Isles of which just 70 are butterflies. There is little difference between butterflies and moths, but for their antennae, in butterflies they are usually thin and slender, and club shaped at the ends, which for me is the obvious give away.
I saw many bees, enjoying the pollen rich flora, now abundant in the area. The thistles, both common and milk, were really attracting their attention and it seems to be a bumper year for the prickly plants.
white tailed bumblebee
A bee of a different variety is easily spotted too. Ophrys apifera, the bee orchid, an exquisite perennial that gets it's name from its main pollenator, the bee! The plant has evolved bee-like flowers, drawing the insect in with the promise of love.
bee orchid
We finally have some warm weather, so as this is the RSPB's Big Wild Sleep Out week, why not go and enjoy a night sleeping out in the open - who needs a five star hotel when you can have a billion star one.