Pearl Bordered Fritillary & Gull-billed Tern

A really rewarding day with the first stop at Abbott's Wood in East Sussex where I joined the Kent branch of the Butterfly Conservation group in the hope of finding the rare Pearl-Bordered Fritillary.

This butterfly is part of a long-term re-introduction programme within the region, and this particular site is proving to be a success with at least six there posing beautifully in near perfect conditions.

Reluctantly leaving the site, the journey back passed through the Ashdown Forest so thought it rude not to spend a couple of hours there.  Walking a two hour circuit, en route a Dartford Warbler flew low into the gorse, and there were plenty of Redpoll, most of which were in full song - which is an amazing sound.  There were a few Tree Pipit in song.

And so, in good time, a leisurely drive home was the plan, until news came through of a Gull-billed Tern at Dungeness which was really quite inconvenient, but this was one I couldn't miss.

And so, by 5pm I made it onto the reserve where the Tern showed reasonably well flying back and forth along Burrowes Pit.  With this, my 350th BOU sighting was recorded.  A mini-milestone.

So a new butterfly and a new bird.  A good day.