The Garden

Saturday: There is such a dearth of butterflies in the garden recently that I have had almost nothing of interest to write about. With high temperatures returning after a long wet spell and very little wind, sightings are improving.
A Red Admiral has located the Buddleia in the back garden and regularly nectars from it. Such is the territorial instinct of the creature that it attempts to drive off any other animal that comes close.
A Comma very briefly alighted on a Yellow Coneflower, my attempt to photograph it probably scared it off. It didn't return while I was present.
Small White butterflies have been plentiful, and seen almost every day when not raining, even then appearing soon after a shower passed. Large White are less prevalent but have been seen.
A Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the dark purple Buddleia provided the first sighting of the year on Friday, it was recorded in Adur Nature Notes and on camera by visiting wildlife writer and photographer Andy Horton.
A female Common Darter Dragonfly took to perching on a dead twig of a shrub overlooking the small pond on Friday and allowed me the opportunity to photograph it.
On Saturday the male of the species was seen preferring to perch on the end of the rotary clothes line where it had an overview of the garden and pond.