We were promised a mini-heatwave this weekend. It failed to arrive yesterday, and this morning I awoke to a thick South Downs mist. The heat was lurking, and by late morning the sun had burnt off the cloud cover, and we were treated to a beautiful summer's day. The temperature was in the upper 70s, the skies blue. Time to dust off the camera.
The butterflies and day-flying moths were enjoying the sudden burst of heat. This cinnabar moth wandered into the garden.
The bees were busy too.
And the grasshoppers sang in the sunshine.
In the afternoon we headed for the Downs, picking a quiet route. 
Quiet that is, apart from the heavy dusting of butterflies that scattered from the path as we made our way along. There were innumerable meadow browns.
Less frequent, but still very much in evidence were the fritillaries. 
One of the more unusual sightings was a clouded buff moth. It was hiding up in a tree, so getting a photograph was difficult but eventually I managed a couple of shots.
The stars though were the marbled whites as they skipped a constant and frenetic dance over the wheat fields. Little jewels of white flickering against the cool green of the immature crop.
There are two other creatures I keep an eye open for in that area. There's a small group of roe deer that occasionally can be seen. I was out of luck with them (early morning is probably better); and foxes. 
It was hot, and a handy water trough was put to good use.
As for the garden foxes, I've seen Shutterbug twice in the last couple of days, both times out in the street; and both times without a camera to hand. The nightly activity is dominated by the frustratingly shy cub. It's in and out of the garden several times every night but is clearly logophobic (= 'fear of words'). But if the weather holds, maybe even a phobic fox cub will come out to enjoy the sunshine.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D. The three garden shots were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens. The South Downs view was with the EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens, plus polarizing filter. All the rest were taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
studio41
27 Jun 2011you found more beauty to share! I love the pic of the cinnabar moth.
I hope your shy cub cooperates for you.
7Wellis
27 Jun 2011The weather at the moment which seems to be similar here in Germany. Today it has been suddenly very hot. Tomorrow they promised it will be the same here, but in the evening we'll have thunder and lightning. The pictures which you show are inviting to the summer and I love the grasshopper.
Dudley
27 Jun 2011:yes:
gdare
27 Jun 2011Great weather, now again better than what we have here 😀
logophobic 😆
Mickeyjoe-Irl
28 Jun 2011😆 he just needs to get to know you. 😉
Words
28 Jun 20117Wellis, we had the thunder and rain today, so the good weather didn't last very long (two days only!). It was good while it lasted though 🙂
Words
28 Jun 2011Andy :cheers:
Words
28 Jun 2011Mick, I know that. You know that. But who is going to tell the cub?
Words
28 Jun 2011Jill thanks. The cinnabars are very pretty moths. I'm not sure I'll have much luck with the cub. It runs every time it sees me 🙁
Words
28 Jun 2011Darko, the weather has disappeared again, in black clouds and thunder :furious:
Words
28 Jun 2011Erwin, thanks!
Words
28 Jun 2011Mick, Shutterbug isn't turning up very often at the moment. I think the other foxes are keeping him away 🙁 He's around sometimes, and if we get some decent weather he may turn up for another daylight appearance.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
28 Jun 2011Shutterbug?
Mickeyjoe-Irl
29 Jun 2011Patience then, and continued
briberyfeeding will win him round.Words
30 Jun 2011Mick, I'll keep trying. He's so calm and relaxed when I'm not there…
SittingFox
2 Jul 2011Originally posted by gdare:
Perhaps he wants a signed royalty payment agreement or something before his photos are used on here :right:
Lovely shots! Great walk through the countryside. I really must get out there and see what my local butterflies are doing.
Words
4 Jul 2011Adele, that could well be the case. More likely though is as a singleton cub he's got very protective parents (who happen to be on the shy side). They're teaching him well.
It seems a really good year locally for the marbled whites.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Very beautiful photos….