19/7/10: Barnehurst butterflies

A couple of Gatekeepers in the garden, plus a Meadow Brown feeding on Allium sphaerocephalon and Black Knapweed. The very dry conditions of recent months, and repeated shoot-tip damage from small caterpillars, has delayed the flowering of the Marjoram, the favourite nectaring foodplant of these species here. Later a Holly Blue was seen. A late-flying Essex Skipper was on Grasmere allotments in the evening.