White Letter Day

We had nothing in mind really today, we started with a half hearted wander along the old Alnwick - Alnmouth railway line and explored the woodland that fringed the steep slopes of the Cawledge Burn.
We were checking Elms in particular, thinking about White Letter Hairstreak butterflies as this species had been discovered north of the Northumberland border, we thought why wouldn't we find some just south of the Northumberland border, I wasn't to hopeful really and we didn't see much at all at first.

Ringlet

Thinking we'd have a better chance of finding suitable Elm trees around Alnwick we parked up near the Canongate Bridge, its hardly a layby but enough room to pour tea and scan while we sup. 

The Layby, Canongate Bridge

There were Elms around us, as short wander revealed nothing but as we were having our tea Stewart got his eye on a small insect patrolling the edge of one of the larger Elms, I lifted my binoculars.. White Letter Hairstreak !!.. what a find

Unbeleivable, I love Hairstreaks. We were fired up now, we continued searching and discovered more individuals at this spot before heading off further down the River Aln, this time parking at the Denwick Bridge and walking downstream. Another Elm and another WLH.. a taster, more of this butterfly in the seasons to come I hope, what a morning.

Banded Demoiselle put in an appearance as well as, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet