A fine start to the morning with more Swallows near Kiln Barn farm, Ditton and a female Sparrowhawk after starlings that were congregating near Gallagher's Gallop. The sun and warmth had returned by lunchtime so I ventured out after the Silver-washed Fritillary again. No luck today, but good numbers of Peacock and a couple of Red Admirals to boot.
What a difference a day makes! After last night's downpour the temperature had settled down to something fairly comfortable but a few spits of rain accompanied me as I cycled into work at 07:15. A single Swift flew overhead by Kiln Barn Farm, Ditton and it was quickly followed by a small party of House Martins zipping low over the track. All heading south! The Little Owl chose a new position, sitting on a fence post near Kiln Barn Farm having being evicted by hay bales that reach the roof of it's favourite roosting barn. A lunchtime cycle to the buddleia where the Silver-washed Fritillary was seen yesterday proved fruitless - the bush had held 2x Comma, 6x Peacock and Red Admiral yesterday, but nothing today. As I cycled back to work, I noticed a flock of Swallows had replaced the House Martins seen this morning - they dipped low over the fields, resting on Gallagher's Gallop fence as the spits of rain intensified...and the cows all lay down...just about says it all! After a short rest they were back up in the air, and off, again south and out of sight. 
A fantastically warm day again, even tempting a Common Lizard into one of the strawberry punnet trays at work. We've had also sorts of damage to strawberry fruit in the past including from Linnets and Badgers, but Lizards...! However the best sighting of the day was a Silver-washed Fritillary in Oaken Wood, Barming. I'd been hoping to see one, and sure enough on a lunchtime ride looking for White Admirals, I noticed what looked like a large Comma on a buddleia. It fed for short periods before gliding around the clearing and occasionally chasing a Brown Hawker. Unfortunately it favored the highest, most obscure racemes so didn't pose particularly well for any photos (but notice the underside of a Comma alongside on the left , didn't notice it until looked at the pics on the PC!). Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.
The hot weather continued and drew me out butterfly hunting again. I cycled around Oaken Wood, Barming during my lunch hour and was pleased to find my first Painted Lady of the year (well for Kent anyway) feeding on buddleia alongside a Red Admiral and 3x Peacocks. Good numbers of Gatekeepers were on the wing and a Holly Blue was seen, but no White Admirals today. Dragonflies were also in good numbers, predominantly Brown Hawkers.
Later Adrian described a Little Grebe chick he'd found bedraggled on the stream near Bradbourne House, East Malling. Eventually he decided to move it back up to the main lake as it was a good distance, and waterfall, away from there. Hopefully it'll fair better than the nestlings.
Is this female Ruddy Darter? Seen on East malling Research Station site today with good numbers of butterflies including Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White and Skipper sp.