Martin Down 29-04-2023
I set off hopefully as by now the Grizzlies and Greenstreaks should be starting to make Martin Down their own. Things were looking good as I drove down Sillen’s Lane with a Peacock, Brimstone and 2 UFWs along the way so when I set off there was a slight spring in my step. Things felt right for a Greenstreak – sunny, warm and a gentle breeze and along the main track a few Brimstones flew as well as a second Peacock. However I faltered slightly at the sight that beheld when I reached the Tunnel Track. The hedge on the reserve side of the ‘tunnel’ had been tidied up. It was a lovely job, with arcs of stakes wrapped around and over the other foliage which had been laid into a cylindrical shape. However I was left questioning the impact it would have on the butterflies as now the wind was free to roar down the hill and smash into the other, now exposed side of the hedge. Before there had been the perfect wind break here and it had acted like a little sun trap – now it was noticeably breezier and cooler. As I walked along it there was another Peacock, 6 Brimstones (5 males and a female) and a Specklie right at the other end but it was a far cry from the past when there were Holly Blues, Greenstreaks, Grizzlies, Small Blues and most memorably a Badger using the sheltered track as a thoroughfare.
Leaving the Ex Tunnel Track I worked my up and round the side of the old hillfort to the mass of Gorse which bedecked the slight rise. I followed a Holly Blue to the break in the impenetrable forest of Gorse and as the gap a startled Peacock flew off whilst a stalwart Specklie stood guard at the entrance to the break in the furze. I followed the cleared track down the other side of the rise and reached the track to the Hollow Hotspot. Instead of following the path I walked parallel to it and checked out each of the stands of Gorse along the way but unfortunately there was no sign of the Green-one. When I reached the usual spot a Brimstone shot past me and I returned my gaze to the thin stripling of Gorse there was what I’d hoped to find – a Greenstreak occupying a familiar territory.
After I’d caught up with my nemesis of old I picked my way up the narrow path and round the back towards the Hollow Hotspot. On the way I spotted some lovely looking Early Purple Orchids but there wasn’t anything else flying even in the suntrap that is the hollow. I worked my way back to the thin stripling of Furze and the Greenstreak was back holding its territory and angling itself to make the most of the strengthening (but still weak) sun. I found this habit a little frustrating as I was hoping for a classic side on shot profile shot. However the minute the butterfly would land it would shuffle around a bit before tilting its wings to maximise the absorbent surface of the wings. By the time I’d spotted it, got into roughly the right position and was considering focusing on the butterfly it had generally ’tipped’ so only the front half would be in focus. Never mind it was still great to catch up with this species.
At one point a female Orange-tip passed over and a Specklie patrolled the narrow gap leading towards the Orchid but I only had eyes for the Greenstreak. As I was watching it a second showed up and there was a flurry of activity as the one I was watching set off to intercept the interloper. When they met they immediately started spiralling upwards before disappearing over the tops of the trees. I waited and sure enough one of them returned only for the second to arrive back and the whole sequence was repeated. I left them to periodically tear chunks out of each other and wove my way round the various other clumps of Gorse to hopefully find a few more Greenstreaks. This worked out well for a couple of bushes into my search I found a brace of Greenstreaks. They too were scrapping intermittently and so I’d have to wait for the dust to settle before moving in. In between bouts they seemed to prefer opposite ends of the same bush but after a few moments one would sense the presence of the other and take to the air to seek out its rival. There were also a brace of Peacocks here but again they got scant investment from me so enamoured with the Greenstreaks as I was.
Eventually I’d had my fill of their shenanigans and so I set off to see what else the reserve had to offer butterfly wise. First stop was the Island but with only a Brimstone and a Peacock I only stayed in its’ confines long enough for a quick coffee and my sandwich. Clambering out and back to the path (so much harder than actually getting into the little clearing) I wondered if the butterflies might be ‘Hill topping’ and so to answer my question I quickly cut across to get onto the main diagonal track which led all the way up to the bench almost at the top of the Dyke. Once I'd reached the bench and all was still quiet I decided to carry on right to the top. As I was walking the final section of the Dyke before it got swallowed up in knee high vegetation giving it the appearance of being level ground something small and grey buzzed past. My initial thought was ‘Moff’ but there was something about the direct flight followed by drastic veering that set my mind racing. I did my best to track it as it flew which was no mean feat but in the end there was my first Grizzlie of the year. Like almost everything this season it was very flighty and so I only managed a few passable shots before it was off and this time disappeared for good. Still another first for the year!
I decided to push my luck and check the very top bit of the path as in previous years I’d found Dingies here and so I girded my loins and set off up the steepest bit of the hill. There were a few Brimstones on the way; this species seems to have had a pretty good year and often they’ve almost had sites to themselves; but not much else. As I strolled along the ditch (not really deep enough to be classed as a dyke) at the top I spotted a courting pair of Brimstone. Well the male was courting the female on the other hand wasn’t any of it and sat there on the grass with her wings half closed and her abdomen half raised. Perhaps she was in two minds which was why her abdomen wasn’t fully raised in the gesture affectionately known as ‘the bird’? The male continued to press her and when the sun peeked out from behind a cloud he got his answer. It was a resounding no and then she was gone one way, flying up high and he was left fluttering slowly in the other down closer to the ground. After this the sun started hiding more and more and so I made my way homewards taking the larger diagonal track down. On the way there were of course the ubiquitous Brimstones but also a Cuckoo (the shots of which were a little ‘it’s the grey blob’ like) and also a Hare for me to point my lens at and which I had a 300mm lens. Still at least I’d gotten a Greenstreak and with a bonus Grizzlie to boot – none too shabby a day in the end.
Back to Martin Down
Things are starting to pick up
Greenstreaks and Grizzlies
Leaving the Ex Tunnel Track I worked my up and round the side of the old hillfort to the mass of Gorse which bedecked the slight rise. I followed a Holly Blue to the break in the impenetrable forest of Gorse and as the gap a startled Peacock flew off whilst a stalwart Specklie stood guard at the entrance to the break in the furze. I followed the cleared track down the other side of the rise and reached the track to the Hollow Hotspot. Instead of following the path I walked parallel to it and checked out each of the stands of Gorse along the way but unfortunately there was no sign of the Green-one. When I reached the usual spot a Brimstone shot past me and I returned my gaze to the thin stripling of Gorse there was what I’d hoped to find – a Greenstreak occupying a familiar territory.
After I’d caught up with my nemesis of old I picked my way up the narrow path and round the back towards the Hollow Hotspot. On the way I spotted some lovely looking Early Purple Orchids but there wasn’t anything else flying even in the suntrap that is the hollow. I worked my way back to the thin stripling of Furze and the Greenstreak was back holding its territory and angling itself to make the most of the strengthening (but still weak) sun. I found this habit a little frustrating as I was hoping for a classic side on shot profile shot. However the minute the butterfly would land it would shuffle around a bit before tilting its wings to maximise the absorbent surface of the wings. By the time I’d spotted it, got into roughly the right position and was considering focusing on the butterfly it had generally ’tipped’ so only the front half would be in focus. Never mind it was still great to catch up with this species.
At one point a female Orange-tip passed over and a Specklie patrolled the narrow gap leading towards the Orchid but I only had eyes for the Greenstreak. As I was watching it a second showed up and there was a flurry of activity as the one I was watching set off to intercept the interloper. When they met they immediately started spiralling upwards before disappearing over the tops of the trees. I waited and sure enough one of them returned only for the second to arrive back and the whole sequence was repeated. I left them to periodically tear chunks out of each other and wove my way round the various other clumps of Gorse to hopefully find a few more Greenstreaks. This worked out well for a couple of bushes into my search I found a brace of Greenstreaks. They too were scrapping intermittently and so I’d have to wait for the dust to settle before moving in. In between bouts they seemed to prefer opposite ends of the same bush but after a few moments one would sense the presence of the other and take to the air to seek out its rival. There were also a brace of Peacocks here but again they got scant investment from me so enamoured with the Greenstreaks as I was.
Eventually I’d had my fill of their shenanigans and so I set off to see what else the reserve had to offer butterfly wise. First stop was the Island but with only a Brimstone and a Peacock I only stayed in its’ confines long enough for a quick coffee and my sandwich. Clambering out and back to the path (so much harder than actually getting into the little clearing) I wondered if the butterflies might be ‘Hill topping’ and so to answer my question I quickly cut across to get onto the main diagonal track which led all the way up to the bench almost at the top of the Dyke. Once I'd reached the bench and all was still quiet I decided to carry on right to the top. As I was walking the final section of the Dyke before it got swallowed up in knee high vegetation giving it the appearance of being level ground something small and grey buzzed past. My initial thought was ‘Moff’ but there was something about the direct flight followed by drastic veering that set my mind racing. I did my best to track it as it flew which was no mean feat but in the end there was my first Grizzlie of the year. Like almost everything this season it was very flighty and so I only managed a few passable shots before it was off and this time disappeared for good. Still another first for the year!
I decided to push my luck and check the very top bit of the path as in previous years I’d found Dingies here and so I girded my loins and set off up the steepest bit of the hill. There were a few Brimstones on the way; this species seems to have had a pretty good year and often they’ve almost had sites to themselves; but not much else. As I strolled along the ditch (not really deep enough to be classed as a dyke) at the top I spotted a courting pair of Brimstone. Well the male was courting the female on the other hand wasn’t any of it and sat there on the grass with her wings half closed and her abdomen half raised. Perhaps she was in two minds which was why her abdomen wasn’t fully raised in the gesture affectionately known as ‘the bird’? The male continued to press her and when the sun peeked out from behind a cloud he got his answer. It was a resounding no and then she was gone one way, flying up high and he was left fluttering slowly in the other down closer to the ground. After this the sun started hiding more and more and so I made my way homewards taking the larger diagonal track down. On the way there were of course the ubiquitous Brimstones but also a Cuckoo (the shots of which were a little ‘it’s the grey blob’ like) and also a Hare for me to point my lens at and which I had a 300mm lens. Still at least I’d gotten a Greenstreak and with a bonus Grizzlie to boot – none too shabby a day in the end.
Back to Martin Down
Things are starting to pick up
Greenstreaks and Grizzlies
Work 28-05-2023
This was one of those days that deceives to flatter! All morning I watched the sun beat down (if that is a thing in April?) as I was trapped in my classroom and intermittently staring mournfully out of my window. Then during my free before lunch the cloud held itself back while I sat and marked, and prepared and did four things at once so that I would be free come lunchtime to head out with my camera…
Cometh the hour cometh the cloud! And as I stepped out of the building and started across the field to the Pits sure enough the cloud took off the brakes and rolled across the sky. I pressed on hopefully but the Pits were silent as were the corner of the field so beloved by Specklies and the majority of the boundary hedge. I set to taking photos of the dog walkers trespassing and cussing in muttered tones. My curses were cut short as a white flew across the desert like meadow before plumping down on a Bramble in the hedge exhausted. I leant in and my cursing switched to praising the weather gods as the sun still managed to get some light though the cloud but not too much so I ended up with some nicely balanced and non-bleached out shots of a Small White.
Chuffed I pushed my luck a little further and followed the path to the bottom of the fields and then round to the other corner where the line of nettles is usually my first port of call when completing my early season transect. My luck held as there was a Small Tort sitting backing in what little sun was eking through the cloud cover, the orange colour contrasting nicely with the bluey green cooch grass it had chosen to perch on.
Later in the afternoon work was finished and I’d arranged to pick the girls up from Waitrose car park; a short walk and a lift for them, a chance to get one set of shopping done and grab a free coffee for me. Win, win! If got even better as I’d been extra speedy round the shop and so now as my coffee cooled (I like to gulp it down rather than sip) I had a few moments spare before the girls arrived. So I grabbed my camera and made over to the little patch of lawn opposite the Delivery depot. I’ve had OTs, Small Torts, Brimstones, Holly Blues and Red Admirals here before but today it was the turn of a Peacock to enter the ‘fastest trip’ record books. A stroll across the car park followed by a lift of the camera, a quick scan and then click away for a minute and the job was done.
When will the Spring stick?
It comes in fits and in starts
Round up what I can.
Cometh the hour cometh the cloud! And as I stepped out of the building and started across the field to the Pits sure enough the cloud took off the brakes and rolled across the sky. I pressed on hopefully but the Pits were silent as were the corner of the field so beloved by Specklies and the majority of the boundary hedge. I set to taking photos of the dog walkers trespassing and cussing in muttered tones. My curses were cut short as a white flew across the desert like meadow before plumping down on a Bramble in the hedge exhausted. I leant in and my cursing switched to praising the weather gods as the sun still managed to get some light though the cloud but not too much so I ended up with some nicely balanced and non-bleached out shots of a Small White.
Chuffed I pushed my luck a little further and followed the path to the bottom of the fields and then round to the other corner where the line of nettles is usually my first port of call when completing my early season transect. My luck held as there was a Small Tort sitting backing in what little sun was eking through the cloud cover, the orange colour contrasting nicely with the bluey green cooch grass it had chosen to perch on.
Later in the afternoon work was finished and I’d arranged to pick the girls up from Waitrose car park; a short walk and a lift for them, a chance to get one set of shopping done and grab a free coffee for me. Win, win! If got even better as I’d been extra speedy round the shop and so now as my coffee cooled (I like to gulp it down rather than sip) I had a few moments spare before the girls arrived. So I grabbed my camera and made over to the little patch of lawn opposite the Delivery depot. I’ve had OTs, Small Torts, Brimstones, Holly Blues and Red Admirals here before but today it was the turn of a Peacock to enter the ‘fastest trip’ record books. A stroll across the car park followed by a lift of the camera, a quick scan and then click away for a minute and the job was done.
When will the Spring stick?
It comes in fits and in starts
Round up what I can.
Work 25-04-2023
I tried a slightly different route during my lunchtime transect, mainly because I’d seen a few Specklies around and I wanted to see if there were any hanging out in the corner of the field beyond the Pits. So instead of turning left and following the boundary hedge down to the corner and then the back path I kept walking and I was soon wading through the longer, unkempt grasses of the Pits. On the way a female Brimstone fluttered weakly along the other hedge line and at the second Long Jump run up a Small Tort went up from its basking spot on the ancient and neglected concrete. I watched it as it flew and then set off towards it. As I neared the spot I slowed my progress and started scanning about for the bright orange amid the sandy coloured tuffs of grass. I caught sight of it but then a second, unseen Small Tort that had been hunkering down deeper in the grasses spooked sending both butterflies upwards. One shot away over the large mound of Bramble disappearing out of sight but luckily the other did a few circuits and came back down so I was able to approach it.
I carried on but the little corner spot was Specklie-less and so I made my way diagonally across the football pitches and unmown ‘meadow’ to the other corner of the field and the back path. All the way along this I scanned ahead at the often productive hidey-holes but there was nothing to show for my efforts. I was starting to lose heart when at the Half-way Point a Peacock took off from nectaring and did a few passes. Each time it went by I willed it to come down and then eventually it did, but on the wrong side of the fence of course! It sat there mocking me but I had the last laugh as I was able to lean over the wire fence and lower my camera into position so I got some shots of it anyway.
I only had to wait until I was almost at the Parrots for my next butterfly as a Small Tort was busily feeding in a little clump of Dandelions on the corner. I grabbed a few shots of it and then managed to walk all the way to the end and back without spying another butterfly. The Small Tort was still flying around on my return but time was against me so I had to make a hurry up back to work. As I cajoled my legs into their fastest gait without actually running I wondered where all the butterflies were?
So few butterflies
A late start to the season
Or have I missed out?
I carried on but the little corner spot was Specklie-less and so I made my way diagonally across the football pitches and unmown ‘meadow’ to the other corner of the field and the back path. All the way along this I scanned ahead at the often productive hidey-holes but there was nothing to show for my efforts. I was starting to lose heart when at the Half-way Point a Peacock took off from nectaring and did a few passes. Each time it went by I willed it to come down and then eventually it did, but on the wrong side of the fence of course! It sat there mocking me but I had the last laugh as I was able to lean over the wire fence and lower my camera into position so I got some shots of it anyway.
I only had to wait until I was almost at the Parrots for my next butterfly as a Small Tort was busily feeding in a little clump of Dandelions on the corner. I grabbed a few shots of it and then managed to walk all the way to the end and back without spying another butterfly. The Small Tort was still flying around on my return but time was against me so I had to make a hurry up back to work. As I cajoled my legs into their fastest gait without actually running I wondered where all the butterflies were?
So few butterflies
A late start to the season
Or have I missed out?
Martin Down 23-04-2023
As I made my way down the much smoother Sillen’s Lane to the car park I was greeted by an errant Specklie that flew across the entrance to the car park and as I drew to a halt a brace of Brimstones criss-crossed across the scrape and roofs of the other cars. I took this to be a positive sign – three butterflies and I hadn’t even gotten out of the car. However it then went very quiet, so quiet in fact I was left wondering whether I’d seen all the butterflies that were actually at Martin Down. It was only when I reached the little field just behind the Hollow Hotspot and I’d started examining the usual stand of Gorse for Greenstreaks that I found my next butterflies; two more fly-by Brimstones.
To cut a long story short this was how the morning progressed; a lot of walking to get to the ‘usual hotspots’ generally in the sun but with only the odd Brimstone. Then when I get to the place the sun goes in and I end up waiting around before deciding to move onto the next spot only for the sun to come out on the way but again not the butterflies. In this way I covered the aforementioned ground from the Car Park to the Greenstreak spot, round to the Hollow, along the Dyke to the Half-way spot before the Butts, all the way back and then up to the Island of vegetation in the middle of the Down. All of this walking produced a grand total of…3 Brimstones!
Once at the Island I hoped that things would pick up slightly and that did indeed become the case. As I picked my way along the tiny track that led to the little clearing in the middle of the Island a Specklie flew ahead of me and in the clearing itself a couple of Brimstones dropped in whilst I was searching. Not a great improvement but slightly better at least. Upon leaving I retraced my steps back up and then walked round to the back of the Island adding a further four Brimstones, a couple of which were females and also another species for the day – in the form of a brace of Peacocks.
As I rounded the corner at the back of the Island I spied a few more Brimstones fluttering along the hedge line. One broke off from the feeding line and was swiftly followed by a second. I watched a little more intently as the first had been a female and the pursuer was a male. The female dropped down to the ground and the male followed suit and started fluttering about her. He was making his intentions perfectly clear as was she. Unfortunately for him they were coming form opposite sides and she was opening her wings wide and raising her abdomen in rejection of his advances. He gave up after a couple of passes but the female sat with wings open just in case he pulled a fast one and doubled back to try and catch her unawares. Finally I got some luck as the cloud that had plagued me all morning covered the sun at exactly the right time. As it covered the and moved sun the temperature dropped, only slightly, but enough to make the female keep her wings open. Perhaps she was trying to bask or maybe she was too cool to close her wings? Whatever the reason it let me get some of the best open wing Brimstone shots so far. At one point she opened up fully and moved into a perfect position.
The slight warming sensation on the back of my neck informed me that the cloud was dispersing again and all too quickly the Brimstone shut up shop and moved on. After this things slowed down again as I climbed all the way to the top and then back down through the Tunnel tracks to the car. On the journey up to the top there were singletons of Peacock and Brimstone and the best the Tunnel Track could offer were two Peacocks each at either end. Apart from the one highlight a poor showing over all, I mean three species from Martin Down. Three! Shocking!
Three species all day
Very poor for Martin Down
Hardly worth the trip
To cut a long story short this was how the morning progressed; a lot of walking to get to the ‘usual hotspots’ generally in the sun but with only the odd Brimstone. Then when I get to the place the sun goes in and I end up waiting around before deciding to move onto the next spot only for the sun to come out on the way but again not the butterflies. In this way I covered the aforementioned ground from the Car Park to the Greenstreak spot, round to the Hollow, along the Dyke to the Half-way spot before the Butts, all the way back and then up to the Island of vegetation in the middle of the Down. All of this walking produced a grand total of…3 Brimstones!
Once at the Island I hoped that things would pick up slightly and that did indeed become the case. As I picked my way along the tiny track that led to the little clearing in the middle of the Island a Specklie flew ahead of me and in the clearing itself a couple of Brimstones dropped in whilst I was searching. Not a great improvement but slightly better at least. Upon leaving I retraced my steps back up and then walked round to the back of the Island adding a further four Brimstones, a couple of which were females and also another species for the day – in the form of a brace of Peacocks.
As I rounded the corner at the back of the Island I spied a few more Brimstones fluttering along the hedge line. One broke off from the feeding line and was swiftly followed by a second. I watched a little more intently as the first had been a female and the pursuer was a male. The female dropped down to the ground and the male followed suit and started fluttering about her. He was making his intentions perfectly clear as was she. Unfortunately for him they were coming form opposite sides and she was opening her wings wide and raising her abdomen in rejection of his advances. He gave up after a couple of passes but the female sat with wings open just in case he pulled a fast one and doubled back to try and catch her unawares. Finally I got some luck as the cloud that had plagued me all morning covered the sun at exactly the right time. As it covered the and moved sun the temperature dropped, only slightly, but enough to make the female keep her wings open. Perhaps she was trying to bask or maybe she was too cool to close her wings? Whatever the reason it let me get some of the best open wing Brimstone shots so far. At one point she opened up fully and moved into a perfect position.
The slight warming sensation on the back of my neck informed me that the cloud was dispersing again and all too quickly the Brimstone shut up shop and moved on. After this things slowed down again as I climbed all the way to the top and then back down through the Tunnel tracks to the car. On the journey up to the top there were singletons of Peacock and Brimstone and the best the Tunnel Track could offer were two Peacocks each at either end. Apart from the one highlight a poor showing over all, I mean three species from Martin Down. Three! Shocking!
Three species all day
Very poor for Martin Down
Hardly worth the trip
Five Rivers 22-04-2023
One of my least favourite activities during Spring is the almost continual game of ‘Race the Clouds’ because inevitably they always win because they don’t play fair, sneaking up on you out of the blue or tracking slowly across the sky right up to the point when you arrive at your destination when they hurtle across the heavens at breakneck speed. As I drove towards The Devenish I was once again competing and the nimbi (is this the plural of nimbus?) were gathering and looming large. As I drew near to the little roundabout I made a snap decision to play the clouds at their own game and so rather than visiting The Devenish I was soon parked and then wandering along the riverside path at Five Rivers.
My cheer didn’t last for long as the clouds dealt their final hand, a seemingly impenetrable blanket rolled across the sky smothering the sun. Ruefully I averted my gaze from the ground and instead scanned the sky looking for little points of weakness; little patches of blue or brightness against dull murk. There looked to be one or two spots that, so long as I was careful, I might be able to take advantage of and so I pressed on instead of retreating. Unsurprisingly all along the river side path and Glades all was quiet. It felt like the cloud wasn’t just smothering the sun but was almost dulling the sounds as well. When I got to the Banks just past Specklie Intersection finally a butterfly raised its head above the parapet and there was what I hoped would be the ‘first butterfly of the day’ and not the only one! It was a Comma sitting on a leaf and looking like it was desperately trying to bask.
As I clicked away at the Comma I felt a strange sensation on my neck. It took me a moment but then I worked out that it was the sun. One of the ‘weak’ spots in the blanket of cloud was working its way along the Banks. I looked back down at the Comma but it had gone, the extra 0.5 of a degree had made the difference. And not just to the Comma; as I looked about a Peacock took off from some hidden perch and then the Comma revisited. The sun had arrived by this time but looking towards the end of the Banks I could see that it wouldn’t last long so I sharpened the eyes. An Orange-tip came towards me and a White went up from a Bramble bush behind me. A/the Peacock flashed past in a near Kamikaze run. All of this in a matter of 30 seconds or so! “Hmm what to follow?” I mused and without thinking grabbed a few shots of the Peacock while I thought things through. It had to be the Orange-tip of course but it didn’t play fair for as the cloud crept along the Banks re-exerting its strangle hold on the sun the butterfly kept flying. I kept following it and the stinging nettles that lined the narrow trackways continually managed to penetrate through my jeans which made it fell like the 2 minutes that it kept flying was actually much longer. Then the cooler temperatures must have caught up with it and it settled. I got a fair few shots before it seemed to get a second wind nd flew a whole 2 metres away before it again plunged down into the vegetation. So I settled down with it but unfortunately the cloud lingered so I decided to risk leaving it and try further along the Banks.
I needn’t have bothered. As I worked my way along the Banks the cloud held sway over the reserve. The blue sky in the distance that had prompted me to try further afield stayed the same distance away, just out of reach as a huge block of cloud stubbornly sat directly over Five Rivers. When I got to the end of the Banks it became clear that the cloud wasn’t going anywhere fast and so I tried to work out the range of influence it had over Salisbury; was it only Five Rivers that was effected or would the sun be out at Middle Street? I decided to risk finding out but tarried a little longer as when I retraced my steps I ran into the Orange-tip still in the same place. I settled down and waited for the slightest break in the cloud – in the end there was just a slight rising in the light levels and it was only enough to make the OT lift its fore wing slightly showing the beautiful patterning on the underside tip. As the light faded once again it hunkered down and so I left it in peace.
The drive over to Middle Street was really pleasant and sun filled but as I parked I could see that there was another huge swathe of cloud ready to swoop in and wreck things. As I walked onto the reserve I was accompanied by the falling light levels and the dropping temperature that has been the hallmark of my season so far this year. I can’t seem to get the timing right; the conditions are always perfect as I get tot eh right spot but then they change so I end up in the right place at the wrong time. I pressed on regardless and kept a close eye on any flowers with white petals just in case there was another Orange-tip caught out by the cloud and my travels took me along the Back Path and round the Pond before arriving to check out the Dips.
I worked into Dip 1 via the side entrance, a little trackway between the large Bramble hedge that lines one of the paths to the river and flying amid the pale grey of last seasons’ grasses was a Small Tort. Pleased that the butterflies were putting in an appearance despite the grey I climbed back out and onto the Bank Path. From this raised elevation I spotted another Small Tort down on the football pitch and there was another down in Dip 2. From the different notches and markings I was able to be certain that these were three different individuals but after this promising start the walk along the rest of the Bank Path didn’t yield any further butterflies, not even the scrubby little hollow. Still three Small Torts on a less than reasonable weather day wasn’t too bad.
As I worked back the way I’d come but from the lower path I was able to scrutinize the actual Bank bit of the Bank Path better and I didn’t have to wait long for my observations to bear fruit as a couple of steps along the track I could make out the eyes of a Peacock. For such a tired and bedraggled looking specimen it certainly still had some ’umph’ left and it did play hard to get before eventually running out of steam and plopping resignedly down. After this I found a Small Tort, then another and then another followed by a side dish of Small Tort back in Dip 2. I was having great fun but couldn’t help but check on the cloud periodically. The situation was getting less and less conducive to butterflying and so I decided that I’d had a good run and now was the time to leave the table. As I drove homewards I reckoned that the Law of Sod would see to it that the sun finally came out as my key hit the lock once home…
Yet despite the cloud
Dynamic duo of sites
Produce some goodies
P.S. Of course when I was right. When I returned the sun finally came out and stayed out and so I went for a walk round The Close with my wife. I was about to bemoan the Law of Sod when I spied a large mass of cloud still sitting over Middle Street – so I d
My cheer didn’t last for long as the clouds dealt their final hand, a seemingly impenetrable blanket rolled across the sky smothering the sun. Ruefully I averted my gaze from the ground and instead scanned the sky looking for little points of weakness; little patches of blue or brightness against dull murk. There looked to be one or two spots that, so long as I was careful, I might be able to take advantage of and so I pressed on instead of retreating. Unsurprisingly all along the river side path and Glades all was quiet. It felt like the cloud wasn’t just smothering the sun but was almost dulling the sounds as well. When I got to the Banks just past Specklie Intersection finally a butterfly raised its head above the parapet and there was what I hoped would be the ‘first butterfly of the day’ and not the only one! It was a Comma sitting on a leaf and looking like it was desperately trying to bask.
As I clicked away at the Comma I felt a strange sensation on my neck. It took me a moment but then I worked out that it was the sun. One of the ‘weak’ spots in the blanket of cloud was working its way along the Banks. I looked back down at the Comma but it had gone, the extra 0.5 of a degree had made the difference. And not just to the Comma; as I looked about a Peacock took off from some hidden perch and then the Comma revisited. The sun had arrived by this time but looking towards the end of the Banks I could see that it wouldn’t last long so I sharpened the eyes. An Orange-tip came towards me and a White went up from a Bramble bush behind me. A/the Peacock flashed past in a near Kamikaze run. All of this in a matter of 30 seconds or so! “Hmm what to follow?” I mused and without thinking grabbed a few shots of the Peacock while I thought things through. It had to be the Orange-tip of course but it didn’t play fair for as the cloud crept along the Banks re-exerting its strangle hold on the sun the butterfly kept flying. I kept following it and the stinging nettles that lined the narrow trackways continually managed to penetrate through my jeans which made it fell like the 2 minutes that it kept flying was actually much longer. Then the cooler temperatures must have caught up with it and it settled. I got a fair few shots before it seemed to get a second wind nd flew a whole 2 metres away before it again plunged down into the vegetation. So I settled down with it but unfortunately the cloud lingered so I decided to risk leaving it and try further along the Banks.
I needn’t have bothered. As I worked my way along the Banks the cloud held sway over the reserve. The blue sky in the distance that had prompted me to try further afield stayed the same distance away, just out of reach as a huge block of cloud stubbornly sat directly over Five Rivers. When I got to the end of the Banks it became clear that the cloud wasn’t going anywhere fast and so I tried to work out the range of influence it had over Salisbury; was it only Five Rivers that was effected or would the sun be out at Middle Street? I decided to risk finding out but tarried a little longer as when I retraced my steps I ran into the Orange-tip still in the same place. I settled down and waited for the slightest break in the cloud – in the end there was just a slight rising in the light levels and it was only enough to make the OT lift its fore wing slightly showing the beautiful patterning on the underside tip. As the light faded once again it hunkered down and so I left it in peace.
The drive over to Middle Street was really pleasant and sun filled but as I parked I could see that there was another huge swathe of cloud ready to swoop in and wreck things. As I walked onto the reserve I was accompanied by the falling light levels and the dropping temperature that has been the hallmark of my season so far this year. I can’t seem to get the timing right; the conditions are always perfect as I get tot eh right spot but then they change so I end up in the right place at the wrong time. I pressed on regardless and kept a close eye on any flowers with white petals just in case there was another Orange-tip caught out by the cloud and my travels took me along the Back Path and round the Pond before arriving to check out the Dips.
I worked into Dip 1 via the side entrance, a little trackway between the large Bramble hedge that lines one of the paths to the river and flying amid the pale grey of last seasons’ grasses was a Small Tort. Pleased that the butterflies were putting in an appearance despite the grey I climbed back out and onto the Bank Path. From this raised elevation I spotted another Small Tort down on the football pitch and there was another down in Dip 2. From the different notches and markings I was able to be certain that these were three different individuals but after this promising start the walk along the rest of the Bank Path didn’t yield any further butterflies, not even the scrubby little hollow. Still three Small Torts on a less than reasonable weather day wasn’t too bad.
As I worked back the way I’d come but from the lower path I was able to scrutinize the actual Bank bit of the Bank Path better and I didn’t have to wait long for my observations to bear fruit as a couple of steps along the track I could make out the eyes of a Peacock. For such a tired and bedraggled looking specimen it certainly still had some ’umph’ left and it did play hard to get before eventually running out of steam and plopping resignedly down. After this I found a Small Tort, then another and then another followed by a side dish of Small Tort back in Dip 2. I was having great fun but couldn’t help but check on the cloud periodically. The situation was getting less and less conducive to butterflying and so I decided that I’d had a good run and now was the time to leave the table. As I drove homewards I reckoned that the Law of Sod would see to it that the sun finally came out as my key hit the lock once home…
Yet despite the cloud
Dynamic duo of sites
Produce some goodies
P.S. Of course when I was right. When I returned the sun finally came out and stayed out and so I went for a walk round The Close with my wife. I was about to bemoan the Law of Sod when I spied a large mass of cloud still sitting over Middle Street – so I d
Jones’s Mill 20-04-2023
The minute hand clicked round to the 12 but still the meeting continued. I stared out of the window, the sun was still shining but the wind had picked up. I spent the next 20 minutes gritting my teeth in frustration and willing the others to speak quickly. When it was my own turn I rattled out bullet points so quickly it sounded like I was reading aloud from a Kerouac novel. My eyes darted from the room to the clock to the window with a growing sense of annoyance. It shouldn’t have been this way; the meeting should have ended at 4…
When it finally did end I was away, cutting and bobbing and weaving through the village and along the narrow road to the little lay-by come car park. Then I threw my boots on, grabbed my camera and I walked/ran along the top of the hill to the gate on the far side. A Small Tort went up and was whipped away and out of sight by the wind. Once I’d climbed over the gate I slowed and started scanning. A Peacock erupted from the sea of Dandelions that bubbled up from the greenery but it too was caught by the wind.
When I got into the reserve one section of the Boardwalk was closed so I started off clockwise around instead. The trees and shrubs stopped the wind in its tracks so the air was still which was handy for as I rounded a corner on the path two butterflies went up. Outside of the wood they’d have vanished but here I could watch where they fluttered and eventually landed. The Specklie spiralled upwards striving for height so I turned my attentions to the second which appeared tiny and white – a Holly Blue. Unusually it fluttered around and about never venturing above waist height and so I was able to get some shots from a couple of locations before I moved on. I followed the Boardwalk track round; the Fen Filed was bereft of life, all the nooks and crannies were white-less and when I emerged back into the breeze and out onto the Fen proper I was deeply disappointed. Instead of a sea of delicate Cuckoo Flowers there were the usual yellow florets but I saw only a single Cuckoo Plant. This didn’t bode well for Orange-tips and whilst I walked to where the Boardwalk was blocked and back I didn’t see a single butterfly.
Somewhat despondently I walked back into the wood and clomped my way back round. As I was passing the gate to the Fen Field a Comma shot past. I followed it as it flew parallel to the path and went through the next gate. There it was having a bit of a scrap with a Peacock. They paused for a breather between bouts a short distance away from each other and so I started trying to stalk them. The Peacock was very, very flighty and so I spent more time with the Comma. In between posing for it’s photo it would fly up and have a go at the Peacock. Eventually with my time slipping away I moved off and suddenly there were two Commas leaving me to wonder if I’d photographed both of them?
As I was completing the penultimate stretch of the walk (up the hill to the gate) having left the wood another Holly Blue appeared. This one was keeping down low to the ground as well, rarely flying above the tops of the Bramble. Again I didn’t mind as, again, I was able, with a little careful foot placement, to get in reasonably close...I drove home happy that I’d managed to make the most of the time even though the hoped for Whites had been a no-show. I just had a nagging concern – where was all the Cuckoo Flower?
Visit Jones’ Mill
No Green-veined nor Orange-tips
Trapped in a time warp
When it finally did end I was away, cutting and bobbing and weaving through the village and along the narrow road to the little lay-by come car park. Then I threw my boots on, grabbed my camera and I walked/ran along the top of the hill to the gate on the far side. A Small Tort went up and was whipped away and out of sight by the wind. Once I’d climbed over the gate I slowed and started scanning. A Peacock erupted from the sea of Dandelions that bubbled up from the greenery but it too was caught by the wind.
When I got into the reserve one section of the Boardwalk was closed so I started off clockwise around instead. The trees and shrubs stopped the wind in its tracks so the air was still which was handy for as I rounded a corner on the path two butterflies went up. Outside of the wood they’d have vanished but here I could watch where they fluttered and eventually landed. The Specklie spiralled upwards striving for height so I turned my attentions to the second which appeared tiny and white – a Holly Blue. Unusually it fluttered around and about never venturing above waist height and so I was able to get some shots from a couple of locations before I moved on. I followed the Boardwalk track round; the Fen Filed was bereft of life, all the nooks and crannies were white-less and when I emerged back into the breeze and out onto the Fen proper I was deeply disappointed. Instead of a sea of delicate Cuckoo Flowers there were the usual yellow florets but I saw only a single Cuckoo Plant. This didn’t bode well for Orange-tips and whilst I walked to where the Boardwalk was blocked and back I didn’t see a single butterfly.
Somewhat despondently I walked back into the wood and clomped my way back round. As I was passing the gate to the Fen Field a Comma shot past. I followed it as it flew parallel to the path and went through the next gate. There it was having a bit of a scrap with a Peacock. They paused for a breather between bouts a short distance away from each other and so I started trying to stalk them. The Peacock was very, very flighty and so I spent more time with the Comma. In between posing for it’s photo it would fly up and have a go at the Peacock. Eventually with my time slipping away I moved off and suddenly there were two Commas leaving me to wonder if I’d photographed both of them?
As I was completing the penultimate stretch of the walk (up the hill to the gate) having left the wood another Holly Blue appeared. This one was keeping down low to the ground as well, rarely flying above the tops of the Bramble. Again I didn’t mind as, again, I was able, with a little careful foot placement, to get in reasonably close...I drove home happy that I’d managed to make the most of the time even though the hoped for Whites had been a no-show. I just had a nagging concern – where was all the Cuckoo Flower?
Visit Jones’ Mill
No Green-veined nor Orange-tips
Trapped in a time warp
Kingston Lacey 15-04-2023
It was a cold and breezy spring day, the sun wasn’t out for very long and when it did come out it was still relatively weak and so of course we were walking round the grounds of Kingston Lacey House. We managed to walk all the way round the first half of the woodland walk without seeing anything despite the Wild Garlic, Bluebells and Celandines all putting on a good display. The last little bit of the walk before it opens up into the ‘wild play area’ is usually where I spy the first butterflies of the day and as we started down the hill I found myself scanning the Bluebells more intently in case there was an Orange-tip weaving its way through the petals. Alas no such sight greeted me and I sat down to lunch somewhat despondently while Nuthatches trilled overhead. As I settled down to much something moving along the surrounding trees caught my eye so still chewing I picked my camera up and had a closer look. It was a Red Admiral so I grabbed a few record shots and got back to my luncheon.
Repast complete we got back on the trail and took the shorter path pack to the House and from there along the drive, through the wood and to the kitchen garden. Sadly the main source of butterflies is now gone as the allotments had been moved behind locked gates so no more late summer Painted Ladies from here then. In fact the whole area was bereft of butterflies and it was only once we’d left and were crossing the road back into the grounds that I spied a Brimstone quartering the hedge. It didn’t get any easier once we were back ensconced in the gardens. The Pacific Garden had been cleared and all I could find for the rest of the visit was a Peacock which of course chose to feed right in the middle of the fenced off bank! All I could do was point the lens in the correct direction and hope to crop the living daylights out of anything that found its way onto the memory card.
Despite the almost total lack of butterflies I still enjoyed my time with the girls running on ahead (not really girls anymore what with K off to Uni this year) while my wife and I walked hand in hand relishing the colours and scents of spring. On the way home things warmed up a little and so I saw a few Brimstones fluttering along the country roads on from Blandford. I suggested that we call in on my Sister in-laws’ and cadge a cuppa as we’d not seen them since before our trip to Corfu. As we were chatting in their conservatory, sipping coffee and looking out across their garden what should drop in? Only the butterfly I’d been secretly hoping to find throughout the visit to Kingston Lacey; a male Orange-tip. When I say “drop in” I really do mean “drop in” as one minute it was flying across the garden from one line of fence panels to the others and then all of a sudden it was a metre or so lower. I watched it and took a few more sips of coffee thinking that it would soon be off again but it just sat there. Perhaps the breeze had chilled it and so it needed to warm up before it could resume its flight? Whatever the reason here was a sitting Orange-tip, still and with wings wide open. So I put my coffee down and asking “do you mind?” I grabbed my camera, slipped on a handy pair of Crocs (at least 3 sizes too small but what the hoo) and gingerly approached it. Fearing that it would be gone the minute it got a sniff of me I started the quick-step but even this didn’t send it on its way and so I was able to get in really close. Shots in the bag I retired to the Conservatory and took up my coffee and only then did it take to the wing again; the most well behaved Orange-tip ever!
Kingston was quite poor
A good natured Orange-tip
Saves the day for me
Repast complete we got back on the trail and took the shorter path pack to the House and from there along the drive, through the wood and to the kitchen garden. Sadly the main source of butterflies is now gone as the allotments had been moved behind locked gates so no more late summer Painted Ladies from here then. In fact the whole area was bereft of butterflies and it was only once we’d left and were crossing the road back into the grounds that I spied a Brimstone quartering the hedge. It didn’t get any easier once we were back ensconced in the gardens. The Pacific Garden had been cleared and all I could find for the rest of the visit was a Peacock which of course chose to feed right in the middle of the fenced off bank! All I could do was point the lens in the correct direction and hope to crop the living daylights out of anything that found its way onto the memory card.
Despite the almost total lack of butterflies I still enjoyed my time with the girls running on ahead (not really girls anymore what with K off to Uni this year) while my wife and I walked hand in hand relishing the colours and scents of spring. On the way home things warmed up a little and so I saw a few Brimstones fluttering along the country roads on from Blandford. I suggested that we call in on my Sister in-laws’ and cadge a cuppa as we’d not seen them since before our trip to Corfu. As we were chatting in their conservatory, sipping coffee and looking out across their garden what should drop in? Only the butterfly I’d been secretly hoping to find throughout the visit to Kingston Lacey; a male Orange-tip. When I say “drop in” I really do mean “drop in” as one minute it was flying across the garden from one line of fence panels to the others and then all of a sudden it was a metre or so lower. I watched it and took a few more sips of coffee thinking that it would soon be off again but it just sat there. Perhaps the breeze had chilled it and so it needed to warm up before it could resume its flight? Whatever the reason here was a sitting Orange-tip, still and with wings wide open. So I put my coffee down and asking “do you mind?” I grabbed my camera, slipped on a handy pair of Crocs (at least 3 sizes too small but what the hoo) and gingerly approached it. Fearing that it would be gone the minute it got a sniff of me I started the quick-step but even this didn’t send it on its way and so I was able to get in really close. Shots in the bag I retired to the Conservatory and took up my coffee and only then did it take to the wing again; the most well behaved Orange-tip ever!
Kingston was quite poor
A good natured Orange-tip
Saves the day for me
Five Rivers 13-04-2023
As I still had an hour or so until I needed to be back I decided to make the most of it and so I fair jumped in the car and was away across the city to Five Rivers. As I walked along the riverside path towards the Glades I felt buoyed up by that wonderful feeling of anticipation that comes from the first sighting of an Orange-tip. I don’t know what it is about this particular species but I look forward to it in a different way from any other species, its appearance on my Year List means more than any other too. However despite hoping that I would add another to the Tally the Glades remained empty and my jovial mood was dispatched quickly. Not by the lack of butterflies but by an aggressive dog, off its lead, growling and snarling at me while its owner pathetically told it ‘no’. Eventually, and somewhat reluctantly the owner put its lead back on and pulled it away. I’m sure that the number of responsible dog owners easily outweighs that of the lacklustre but how come most of the ones that I meet are of the irresponsible type? Shrugging it off I carried on my way and my mood was soon reverted back to the ‘pre dog’ setting with a Small White up at Comma Corner looking stunning against the white blossom.
I worked my way down the denuded part of the bank and round to what has been renamed Specklie Intersection. As I stood in the sun and scanned across the foliage looking for the little aggressive brown blur of a Specklie a Small White drifted past. A tiny, almost blue butterfly crossed paths with it, dropping down to the deck. As I worked towards it unfortunately it took off again but not before I could positively identify it as a Holly Blue. A few steps on and another tiny, bluish-white butterfly drifted down and jinked left and right while it flew at a lower elevation. I watched its progress with bated breath, hopping slightly from foot to foot as I tried to predict if and where it would land. Somewhat unceremoniously it suddenly just dropped down among some nettles and so I gingerly made towards it, snaking my feet along so as not to trample but with my eyes firmly locked on where I’d seen it go down. I wasn’t in the best of positions to start with but as if sensing my disappointment it took a little walk around and along the leaves before it got comfy. Again I waited and watched in between clicking away and sure enough it started to open up. The sunbathing eventually did its job and with a quick flick and jump it was off jinking away into the sun.
I kept wandering along the bottom of the Banks accompanied by a brace of Whites which spooked a Peacock near the fallen Hawthorn. I waited and watched the activity for a bit and the Peacock (at least I think it was) returned to claim its perch and so I clicked away. Sated for Peacock shots (finally) I pressed on along the Lower Banks. As I was working to the final section behind the line of trees down to the river a Comma erupted up from the ground. It spooked a second Peacock and both flew on away from me through the little gaps and towards the final section of Lower Banks. I followed and the Comma was waiting for me on the other side of the tree line, but only for the briefest of grab shots. There were also a few more Peacocks here seemingly evenly spread along the tiny track ways that run along the side of the Banks and I watched as one Small White became two. So things were shaping up nicely here. I followed on of the Small Whites out across the more mown section towards the end of the Banks hoping that it would tire and possibly seek sustenance and it did briefly pause but only once I was almost at the end of the Banks. As with a lot of the butterflies it was also really twitchy and even the most cautious of stalks would put it up so after three attempts I left it in peace and started to retrace my footsteps. As I did so I realised that I’d not seen any Small Torts; could they have already been and gone from this early site?
On the return journey along the Banks three Whites all flew in the same view so I knew they were different individuals, the Peacocks still flew along the Banks and back at the line of trees the Comma was back on guard duty. It sat for much longer this time so I was able to get in much closer. After this I decided to head home but spent a few moments at Specklie Intersection which was where all the action was! One or two of the Whites drifted by in their incessant sweeping of the Banks, 2 Holly Blues jinked down from the trees and promptly disappeared from view the minute that I’d worked out what they were but instead of the hoped for Specklie a second Comma was in residence at the Intersection itself. Debating about whether to change the name back to the original my decision was made for me when a grey brown blur viciously zoomed in like a rocket ending the Comma packing. Job done it settled itself down, master of all that it surveyed; it was a/the Specklie! Feeling that this was a fitting end for the visit I made my way back to the car the quickest way but also the least butterfly friendly way possible.
With variety
And with greater numbers too
This is more like it!
I worked my way down the denuded part of the bank and round to what has been renamed Specklie Intersection. As I stood in the sun and scanned across the foliage looking for the little aggressive brown blur of a Specklie a Small White drifted past. A tiny, almost blue butterfly crossed paths with it, dropping down to the deck. As I worked towards it unfortunately it took off again but not before I could positively identify it as a Holly Blue. A few steps on and another tiny, bluish-white butterfly drifted down and jinked left and right while it flew at a lower elevation. I watched its progress with bated breath, hopping slightly from foot to foot as I tried to predict if and where it would land. Somewhat unceremoniously it suddenly just dropped down among some nettles and so I gingerly made towards it, snaking my feet along so as not to trample but with my eyes firmly locked on where I’d seen it go down. I wasn’t in the best of positions to start with but as if sensing my disappointment it took a little walk around and along the leaves before it got comfy. Again I waited and watched in between clicking away and sure enough it started to open up. The sunbathing eventually did its job and with a quick flick and jump it was off jinking away into the sun.
I kept wandering along the bottom of the Banks accompanied by a brace of Whites which spooked a Peacock near the fallen Hawthorn. I waited and watched the activity for a bit and the Peacock (at least I think it was) returned to claim its perch and so I clicked away. Sated for Peacock shots (finally) I pressed on along the Lower Banks. As I was working to the final section behind the line of trees down to the river a Comma erupted up from the ground. It spooked a second Peacock and both flew on away from me through the little gaps and towards the final section of Lower Banks. I followed and the Comma was waiting for me on the other side of the tree line, but only for the briefest of grab shots. There were also a few more Peacocks here seemingly evenly spread along the tiny track ways that run along the side of the Banks and I watched as one Small White became two. So things were shaping up nicely here. I followed on of the Small Whites out across the more mown section towards the end of the Banks hoping that it would tire and possibly seek sustenance and it did briefly pause but only once I was almost at the end of the Banks. As with a lot of the butterflies it was also really twitchy and even the most cautious of stalks would put it up so after three attempts I left it in peace and started to retrace my footsteps. As I did so I realised that I’d not seen any Small Torts; could they have already been and gone from this early site?
On the return journey along the Banks three Whites all flew in the same view so I knew they were different individuals, the Peacocks still flew along the Banks and back at the line of trees the Comma was back on guard duty. It sat for much longer this time so I was able to get in much closer. After this I decided to head home but spent a few moments at Specklie Intersection which was where all the action was! One or two of the Whites drifted by in their incessant sweeping of the Banks, 2 Holly Blues jinked down from the trees and promptly disappeared from view the minute that I’d worked out what they were but instead of the hoped for Specklie a second Comma was in residence at the Intersection itself. Debating about whether to change the name back to the original my decision was made for me when a grey brown blur viciously zoomed in like a rocket ending the Comma packing. Job done it settled itself down, master of all that it surveyed; it was a/the Specklie! Feeling that this was a fitting end for the visit I made my way back to the car the quickest way but also the least butterfly friendly way possible.
With variety
And with greater numbers too
This is more like it!
Middle Street 13-04-2023
After a grey and wet day came a day trapped at work leading an extra Revision session whilst the weather deteriorated into blustery showers followed by very strong wind later. However this morning started fine but I watched as the cloud gathered during the morning whilst I was locked into yet more admin tasks. However after lunch the sun came out and with it my camera and I was away to Middle Street.
The local tree surgeons were butchering some of the boundary trees and so I couldn’t park in my usual spot hence I started my walk at the half way entrance and I wandered along the path, the ‘end field’ on my left, the football pitch on my right and ahead the Bank path which runs the length of the reserve. When I reached said path I walked back past the Dips without seeing a single butterfly. All was quiet and I was left wondering if the temperature was still a little too low? I left the Bank path and walked over to the wood pile in the far corner of the reserve by the boundary fence. This little strip is quite sheltered what with the fence and gardens on one side and a line of dense growing trees and shrubs on the other. Sandwiched in between is a strip of lush grass with Cow Parsley and Dandelions in between the clumps of nettles. The little wood pile itself often holds an Aristo or two but today a small, and from a distance, a dirty looking white fluttered across the tops of the grass. It disappeared down into the grass and as I drew near to where it had dipped down it once again took to the air. Straight away the orange wing tips were visible and I had my first UK OT for the year. It flew up and down the strip and instinct set in and I set off after it at a light jog. Surprisingly it went down again after a very short distance, spooking a Peacock to boot, and so I had my first shots in the bag.
Once the OT was off again and never to return I retraced my steps back to try, without success to locate the Peacock. The search took me back up to the Bank Path, round past the pond and to the old Hotspot. The recent deluges have turned the ‘Dried Pond’ back into a Pond Proper and so there was no point looking for any butterflies there. Instead I looked across the small patch of rough ground. A Small Tort erupted from the grass and as I watched it to see if or where it would land I got distracted some other insects and lost it. I worked back round to the strip and managed to find the Peacock back in a similar place, albeit very briefly before back at the wood pile a Small Tort sat. For a few photos before it bombed off as well – everything seemed a little frenetic, perhaps an effect of their activities being curtailed by days and days of cool, grey and or wet weather? A female Brimstone passed by and did the annoying flight that they do; darting from one flower to another, fluttering around one little lump and looking to all intents and purposes that they’re going to settle before nipping off to the next set and repeating the action. On the return back to the wood pile after following her a butterfly did behave itself – well more like ¾ of a butterfly as it was an aged Red Admiral with many, many chunks torn out of it.
I then took a final turn along the Bank Path checking out the Dips as I went. Dip 1 looked quiet at first but then I caught sight of bright orange little jewel, a Small Tort. As I was waiting patiently for it to settle in just the right place a white blob flew across my line of sight. Reasoning that the Small Tort wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon I cautiously stood back and then set to following the white. It flew over the large bramble bush on one side of Dip 1 and down and then up the track towards the river. On its return it plumped itself down in the little hollow right on the corner of Dip1 and I grabbed a few record shots in case it was my first Green-veined. It turned out to be a Small instead and it bleached out in the sunlight even though a cloud had briefly covered the sun so I made my way back into Dip 1 proper and sure enough the Small Tort was still in place.
Dip 2 was quiet as was Dip 3 but as I crossed over the top of the Bank path and down the other side a Small Tort flew from the Dandelions on the edge of the Bank and I followed it’s intermittent flight around and backup along the the Bank path to the end. Once there I walked round and back along the Bank but from the bottom and there another Small Tort sat warming itself in the sun. So in the end not to bad a haul – a first for the year, a first shot for the year and a few Small Torts to add onto the years tally.
You know when it’s spring
A welcome flash of orange
Heralds the season
The local tree surgeons were butchering some of the boundary trees and so I couldn’t park in my usual spot hence I started my walk at the half way entrance and I wandered along the path, the ‘end field’ on my left, the football pitch on my right and ahead the Bank path which runs the length of the reserve. When I reached said path I walked back past the Dips without seeing a single butterfly. All was quiet and I was left wondering if the temperature was still a little too low? I left the Bank path and walked over to the wood pile in the far corner of the reserve by the boundary fence. This little strip is quite sheltered what with the fence and gardens on one side and a line of dense growing trees and shrubs on the other. Sandwiched in between is a strip of lush grass with Cow Parsley and Dandelions in between the clumps of nettles. The little wood pile itself often holds an Aristo or two but today a small, and from a distance, a dirty looking white fluttered across the tops of the grass. It disappeared down into the grass and as I drew near to where it had dipped down it once again took to the air. Straight away the orange wing tips were visible and I had my first UK OT for the year. It flew up and down the strip and instinct set in and I set off after it at a light jog. Surprisingly it went down again after a very short distance, spooking a Peacock to boot, and so I had my first shots in the bag.
Once the OT was off again and never to return I retraced my steps back to try, without success to locate the Peacock. The search took me back up to the Bank Path, round past the pond and to the old Hotspot. The recent deluges have turned the ‘Dried Pond’ back into a Pond Proper and so there was no point looking for any butterflies there. Instead I looked across the small patch of rough ground. A Small Tort erupted from the grass and as I watched it to see if or where it would land I got distracted some other insects and lost it. I worked back round to the strip and managed to find the Peacock back in a similar place, albeit very briefly before back at the wood pile a Small Tort sat. For a few photos before it bombed off as well – everything seemed a little frenetic, perhaps an effect of their activities being curtailed by days and days of cool, grey and or wet weather? A female Brimstone passed by and did the annoying flight that they do; darting from one flower to another, fluttering around one little lump and looking to all intents and purposes that they’re going to settle before nipping off to the next set and repeating the action. On the return back to the wood pile after following her a butterfly did behave itself – well more like ¾ of a butterfly as it was an aged Red Admiral with many, many chunks torn out of it.
I then took a final turn along the Bank Path checking out the Dips as I went. Dip 1 looked quiet at first but then I caught sight of bright orange little jewel, a Small Tort. As I was waiting patiently for it to settle in just the right place a white blob flew across my line of sight. Reasoning that the Small Tort wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon I cautiously stood back and then set to following the white. It flew over the large bramble bush on one side of Dip 1 and down and then up the track towards the river. On its return it plumped itself down in the little hollow right on the corner of Dip1 and I grabbed a few record shots in case it was my first Green-veined. It turned out to be a Small instead and it bleached out in the sunlight even though a cloud had briefly covered the sun so I made my way back into Dip 1 proper and sure enough the Small Tort was still in place.
Dip 2 was quiet as was Dip 3 but as I crossed over the top of the Bank path and down the other side a Small Tort flew from the Dandelions on the edge of the Bank and I followed it’s intermittent flight around and backup along the the Bank path to the end. Once there I walked round and back along the Bank but from the bottom and there another Small Tort sat warming itself in the sun. So in the end not to bad a haul – a first for the year, a first shot for the year and a few Small Torts to add onto the years tally.
You know when it’s spring
A welcome flash of orange
Heralds the season
Five Rivers 10-04-2023
Well this was back to British Butterflying with a bit of a bump! From the wildflowers clinging to the terraces of Olive groves or the side of the mountain in Corfu to the precipitous Banks at Five Rivers! From Eastern Orange-tips, Cleopatras and Eastern Dappled Whites to Small Whites and Peacocks…well that’s what I was hoping for anyway. As I’d been away in Corfu during the period of the best weather so far in 2023 I felt like I was a little behind in my British sightings. Normally at this stage of the year I’d have my fill of Small Torts and Peacocks but this year March had been miserable and so I had only a few sightings of the former and a single sighting of the latter.
With the sun shining I made my way over the Five Rivers by car so as to arrive before the cloud. I strolled down along the river side path and through the Glades all the while keeping an eye out for Whites with no success. Comma Corner was very quiet at first but then I spotted a Small White fluttering weakly across the top of the huge mound of Bramble. Down along the bank that runs parallel to the football pitches a second White took off but despite making as if to land several times instead it buggered off up and over the top of the small copse. Still two sightings of Small White made a nice addition to the year list.
As I worked back around and up the cloud started to gather so I made haste down the newly denuded bank towards the original Comma Corner. A butterfly took off and glided down, along the path and then back up landing within only a few feet from where it had flown. It was a Comma and so I grabbed a few shots as it perched down on the deck and the clouds gained momentum darkening the sky all the while. The trip along the Banks was pretty futile although I did spook a Peacock and by the time I reached the other end and rounded the corner the spitting rain had worked itself up into more of a downpour. Hence I retreated into the relative shelter of the copse, leant up against a tree, hunched over, closed my eyes and dreamt of Nettle-tree Butterflies and Southern Festoons while I waited for the shower to pass over.
Half an hour later I was strolling back along the Banks, boots getting soaked and a crick forming in my neck from constantly craning upwards to check the progress of the clouds. As I neared the final stretch towards the original Comma Corner (I’ll change the name of this later as you’ll see) the sun seemed to hit peak intensity and with this the butterflies appeared. A Peacock went up, swiftly followed by a Small Tort which upset a Comma which in turn harried and hassled a Specklie – my first of the year. I waited by the little Bramble bush for it to return and so it did for a few grab shots before it set off after the Comma. I seem to recall that I’ve found Specklies at this same point for nigh on7 years on the trot now and hence what was the original ‘Comma Corner’, is now ‘Specklie Intersection’. I hung around here for a little bit and the Peacock also returned so I managed a few shots of that before returning my attentions to the area the Specklie liked. It seemed that the Comma wasn’t ready to give up its place of business just yet and each time the Specklie returned it would have a go at it. However in the end it was the Comma that got driven off and the Specklie returned triumphant and perched for all of a few seconds before it set off after the next intruder, a Blackbird I think it was…
I waited but it didn’t return and then I walked round the corner and up the denuded bank. A Small White fluttered into view and this one landed several times allowing me to get shots of it from various angles as it led me round to the Upper Bank 1 first and then back to the denuded bank. The cloud at this point started to win over the sun and so having had a reasonable level of success I thought this would be the best time to make my way homeward. None too shabby a return – shots of a Peacock and two other firsts for the year. Still not a patch on Corfu though…
Back with a big bump
Not the same variety
Lower numbers too
With the sun shining I made my way over the Five Rivers by car so as to arrive before the cloud. I strolled down along the river side path and through the Glades all the while keeping an eye out for Whites with no success. Comma Corner was very quiet at first but then I spotted a Small White fluttering weakly across the top of the huge mound of Bramble. Down along the bank that runs parallel to the football pitches a second White took off but despite making as if to land several times instead it buggered off up and over the top of the small copse. Still two sightings of Small White made a nice addition to the year list.
As I worked back around and up the cloud started to gather so I made haste down the newly denuded bank towards the original Comma Corner. A butterfly took off and glided down, along the path and then back up landing within only a few feet from where it had flown. It was a Comma and so I grabbed a few shots as it perched down on the deck and the clouds gained momentum darkening the sky all the while. The trip along the Banks was pretty futile although I did spook a Peacock and by the time I reached the other end and rounded the corner the spitting rain had worked itself up into more of a downpour. Hence I retreated into the relative shelter of the copse, leant up against a tree, hunched over, closed my eyes and dreamt of Nettle-tree Butterflies and Southern Festoons while I waited for the shower to pass over.
Half an hour later I was strolling back along the Banks, boots getting soaked and a crick forming in my neck from constantly craning upwards to check the progress of the clouds. As I neared the final stretch towards the original Comma Corner (I’ll change the name of this later as you’ll see) the sun seemed to hit peak intensity and with this the butterflies appeared. A Peacock went up, swiftly followed by a Small Tort which upset a Comma which in turn harried and hassled a Specklie – my first of the year. I waited by the little Bramble bush for it to return and so it did for a few grab shots before it set off after the Comma. I seem to recall that I’ve found Specklies at this same point for nigh on7 years on the trot now and hence what was the original ‘Comma Corner’, is now ‘Specklie Intersection’. I hung around here for a little bit and the Peacock also returned so I managed a few shots of that before returning my attentions to the area the Specklie liked. It seemed that the Comma wasn’t ready to give up its place of business just yet and each time the Specklie returned it would have a go at it. However in the end it was the Comma that got driven off and the Specklie returned triumphant and perched for all of a few seconds before it set off after the next intruder, a Blackbird I think it was…
I waited but it didn’t return and then I walked round the corner and up the denuded bank. A Small White fluttered into view and this one landed several times allowing me to get shots of it from various angles as it led me round to the Upper Bank 1 first and then back to the denuded bank. The cloud at this point started to win over the sun and so having had a reasonable level of success I thought this would be the best time to make my way homeward. None too shabby a return – shots of a Peacock and two other firsts for the year. Still not a patch on Corfu though…
Back with a big bump
Not the same variety
Lower numbers too
