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Nine members (including six committee members) met at Appleton Common on one of the hottest days of the year so far. A slight breeze made it more bearable. It was decided to head straight for the target area to the west of the quarry in the dry Catterbeck bed where there are two wych elms. White-letter hairstreak (WLH) feed on aphid honeydew found in the canopy of elm and wych elm.

The top of the steep bank afforded good views of the canopy and eventually, after much searching at least two WLHs were seen flitting about the canopy. One was observed crawling along one or two leaves before disappearing beneath, perhaps it was too hot for them to stay out in the open. As a result there was no photo opportunity. However, two were photographed here a week earlier on 8 July.

We moved north to the second wych elm but more of this tree was in the shade and it was slightly more breezy here. Alas, no WLHs were seen. On our route back south we were able to observe the first wych elm from the west side. Although no confirmed sightings were made one member did see two suspect butterflies move to the nearby ash trees.

Although numbers of any butterflies were lacking compared with good numbers a week earlier we did see two dark green fritillaries, a few more whites including small white, a couple of ringlets, a small skipper, one peacock and a red admiral. No marbled whites were seen. Both marbled white and dark green fritillary should both still be on the wing although the season could be shortened with the unusually prolonged hot weather.

We were not recording flora today but eagle-eyed Keith spotted giant bellflower by the bridge in the dry bed of Catterbeck, not previously recorded here.

The trip was successful in seeing the WLH albeit fleetingly and with just one decent sighting of a settled one. It just shows how elusive this butterfly is and perhaps how under-recorded it is in our area. Water rehydration was undertaken back at the cars accompanied by delicious homemade vegetarian snickers bar (healthy variety).