Shirburn Hill - Oxfordshire

Yesterday was a day for father and son bonding (June 26th 2010) with Peter and I going for a walk over Shirburn Hill. The weather was hot at 26°C in the shade and with 70% sun during the trek.

On this trip Peter was the photographer and some of his shots are included below.

Craneflies mating (Tipulidae) - id not known

SteveT from iSpot suggests these are Spotted Crane-fly (Nephrotoma appendiculata)

The Box 'Wood' (Buxus sempervirens) 'flowing' down the hill

Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre)

Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus) and Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium)

Wild Candytuft (Iberis amara)

Given the conditions the butterflies put on a good show with the following species on the wing:


• Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina); 20+

• Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus); 20+

• Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae); 3

• Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus); 2

• Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus); 2

• Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris); 1

• Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria); 3

• Marbled White (Melanargia galathea); 6

• Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus); 2