Purple sun

Sneaking out before the worst heat of the day, an overdue visit to Knepp came up trumps with two Turtle Doves purring, a Purple Emperor flying at me and countless Purple Hairstreaks dancing in the oaks.

Purple Hairstreaks surveying their kingdom of oak leaves and ripening acorns

Small Skipper

Azure Damselfly

Great Crested Grebe feeding its humbug young

Kestrel trying to keep cool in the heat

introduced White Stork riding the thermals

Swallows taking it easy in the canopy

White Storks soared over Hammer Pond while scores of House Martins and Swallows feasted on flying insects and a young Great Crested Grebe showed off its diving skills to a parent.