4th July celebrations - American style

The Safari managed to twitch the American Golden Plover (190) - nice pic by SP here - by the time we'd got to it the tide was hurtling up-river and the near mudflts were covered. Consequently the bird was on he far bank and being edged closer to the salt marsh vegetation all the while - but what a fine and dandy stonker! Just coincidence it's Independence Day today...it did turn up yesterday though so...what the hell it's a real beaut!

After filling our boots with the trans-Atlantic wanderer we decided to have another look for the White Letter Hairstreaks. CR came along and joined us and we had an hour or so in the sun watching a variety of butterflies going about their business. A couple of Commas and Holly Blues, many Meadow Browns some Large and Small Skippers and Large and Small Whites. C found this pair of Forest Shield Bugs on an Elm leaf.

Large Skipper

A mating pair of Meadow Browns, which at first glance may look like Gatekeepers with the double eyespot.

We'd had some tantalising glimpses of a White Letter Hairstreak high in the canopy but as we were thinking about calling it a day one descended to a more reasonable level. Unluckily for C he'd had one on a thistle earlier but when he movd to get his camera into position it flushed.

Where to next? Back to the patches.

In the meantime let us know what's wafted in from where in your outback.