Painted Lady Update 30th May 2009

After later counts of several thousand and an evening visit after the tide the day-count total of Painted Lady butterflies at Hilbre on Saturday (3oth May) was estimated to be an absolutely incredible 6,500! They were literally everywhere... on the landrover track...

In the trees (below left), on the thrift (below centre; their favourite plant on Hilbre during the invasion) and sunning themselves on the sheep tracks (below right)...

(Painted Lady photos SRW)

Adding to the insect bonanza was the sighting of a Red-veined Darter - a first record for the island (photo below not from Hilbre - BSB).