At 'Star field', butterflies obviously suffering in the drought, with very few to see. Best was a single Common blue, always good to find anywhere locally. Otherwise it was just small numbers of gatekeeper, small skipper and meadow brown, plus a large white (the only positively identified white). On the walk back home, a female Banded Demoiselle was seen along the Peak Forest canal about half way between the rail tunnel and the footbridge to Romiley leisure. This was definitely a first for the canal on any stretch of it I've walked locally which covers about 35 years!

A good afternoon at 'Star field', with lots of butterflies viz: 44 small skipper, 30 meadow brown, 37 ringlet, 4 gatekeeper, 2 small white, 2 comma, 1 red admiral, 1 small tortoiseshell, 1 speckled wood, 1 large skipper. Also 5-spot burnet and a few straw dot as well as the first cinnabar caterpillars of the year.

On the canal towpath nearby: 1 holly blue repeatedly settling on a damp patch by the water (butterflies need moisture too), and 2 comma.

At 'star field' this afternoon:

6 comma, 2 gatekeeper (first of year), 2 large white, 8 large skipper, 3 small tortoiseshell, 26 meadow brown, 21 small skipper. No prizes for guessing the most numerous species - 44 ringlet. Also half a dozen 5-spot burnets and similar number of straw dot.

A higher number of ringlets today, even with the cloud, wind and rain!! 14 recorded. Also 27 meadow browns, and the first small skippers appearing. Also 1 small tortoiseshell and 1 narrow-bordered 5-spot burnet. What could we be seeing if the sun came out?

Paul,

Thanks for the tip-off. You were right about the ringlets. I visited yesterday p.m. and found nine which is my second highest local count in the Stockport area. Also very good for large skippers with a minimum of 25 counted. It's a very big site that, and I have popped into it occasionally, but not at this time of the year. I will look again weather permitting. Where does the name 'star field' come from?

Cheers,

Andy