Small Tortoiseshells

Ignoring the cloudy start, Mum and I believed the good forecast and headed to the South coast for the day.

We started our day in Hythe with a pleasent pavement cafe stop for coffee and scones. The rest of the town was a little disappointing as most shops were firmly shut, so we soon moved on to Hythe Beach for a picnic lunch under virtually cloudless blue skies, with a gentle breeze - what more could one want?

Well we wanted an ice cream, but by then it was a bit hot, and with no available shade decided to move on. Just outside Romney I noticed the entrance to a nature reserve, so turned round to see what was there. We found a visitors centre with a small cafe selling locally made ice cream: just what the doctor ordered!

The reserve itself was teeming with butterflies and other insects, which were enjoying the buddleia around the site. This white flowered buddleia was covered in them, mainly Small Tortoiseshells.

Eventually we had to face the journey home, fearing the end of bank holiday traffic - but our luck held, and we had a good journey and ended the day with a take-away picked up on the way.

I hope you all had as good a day!