Weymouth Relief Road.

Adonis Blue.      Click to enlarge   Photo. john Elliott

In rather dull and windy conditions a walk down the Weymouth Relief Road bridleway to look for butterflies proved disappointing as far as numbers were concerned, but the dozen that were seen were quality.  The brilliant Adonis Blues, seven of them,  provided the main interest. together with two tattered Painted Ladies and a single Brown Argus. The Painted Ladies which take part in a staged movement north in the early part of the year are probably now moving back south towards Africa where they will over winter. Amazingly some of these tiny, fragile insects will end up south of the Sahara desert.

Wheatear.        Click to enlarge.   Photo. John Elliott

Seen perching on the walls or fences and moving south to their winter quarters were several Wheatears. This very fresh looking one is probably one of this years brood.