The Devenish 27-06-2023
There are threats to change the timings of the school day and so whilst the current status quo remains I decided to take advantage of it and make a couple of stop-offs on the way home. I could have gone to Sidbury but I felt like I’d given The Devenish less attention than it was deserving of and so instead of driving towards Tidworth I found myself taking the back route round Amesbury.
When I arrived and pulled into the car park I was the only one there and so I had the choice of parking spots – a rare luxury! I pulled my boots on, grabbed my camera and set off to what there was to see. I didn’t have to with long as the little track up to the Paddocks seemed to be lined with Green-veined Whites and Meadow Browns. With both gates successfully negotiated I strode around following the tracks trodden down by the resident sheep. Marbled Whites flew, some starting to look a little less clean cut and a little smudged where the black scales rub into the white areas with age. There were many Smessex Skippers (all that I was able to differentiate remained Smalls) nipping in between the grass stems and the other larger butterflies; mainly Meadow Browns but with the occasional Ringlet as well. As I approached the end of the Paddocks a Large White tore past and then plopped down on a cluster of thistle tops.
I retraced my footsteps back to the gates, flopped over one but then hoisted myself over the third instead and made down the tunnel track and into Orchid Meadow which was alive with butterflies. The species list was the same but it was a case of same quality much greater quantity. The most numerous species that I was seeing were the Smessex Skipper. The sea of browns and gingers were broken by a Small White and a Holly Blue at about the half way point. I continued walking with more and more butterflies appearing and I just drank it all in. At the far end the little field held 4 whites and a Comma and I started spying out more and more, smaller brown and orange butterflies – the Hedgies had arrived proper! I set too trying to capture as much as possible onto the memory card and paid special attention to the Smessex in case there were a few Essex in amongst the Smalls. There was still no luck on that front though.
From here I climbed up the steep trackway until it broke out onto the Down. I stayed near the bottom and scanned across the edge of the Down. Near at hand were Smessex Skippers (which remained so or became only Smalls) and Meadow Browns whilst Ringlets and Marbled Whites quartered the middle ground and Whites flew in the far distance but rapidly got closer and closer. I couldn’t make out any DGFs or larger butterflies and time was ticking away so I gingerly made my way back down and through the Orchid Meadow stopping on the way for a faded Common Blue – something different to finish with but not what I was hoping for really (an a sneaky Marbled White actually made it to the final shot from the Devenish). The Smessex had stubbornly refused to become Essex and despite searching and checking as many as possible the only thing I’d gotten was a bad back from stooping and trying to peer up from underneath.
On the drive back I realised that I could access the back corner of Five Rivers so I pulled over and made my way down the footpath and onto the site. On the way up the rise it seemed quiet and it wasn’t until I got to the top of the hill that I located a few butterflies – a few Marbled Whites in amongst some of the taller grasses and the occasional Ringlet. As I walked round to the other side of the wood and the Banks the sun disappeared behind the clouds. A Comma went up from the path but there were only a few more Ringlets and Meadow Browns about. Having completed a circuit I ended up back at the top of the hill and as I set off back down I happened to glance at a Marbled White. Something about it looked different but at the time I couldn’t fathom what. Looking back at it later I could see that outer band wasn’t as pronounced as usual giving it the appearance of being whiter. The final butterflies of the day were a Small White and a Red Admiral at the very edge of the reserve but neither stopped alas which made me feel like the trip had gone out with more of a whimper than a bang.
Smessex everywhere
Out come the Browns of Summer
But still no Essex?
When I arrived and pulled into the car park I was the only one there and so I had the choice of parking spots – a rare luxury! I pulled my boots on, grabbed my camera and set off to what there was to see. I didn’t have to with long as the little track up to the Paddocks seemed to be lined with Green-veined Whites and Meadow Browns. With both gates successfully negotiated I strode around following the tracks trodden down by the resident sheep. Marbled Whites flew, some starting to look a little less clean cut and a little smudged where the black scales rub into the white areas with age. There were many Smessex Skippers (all that I was able to differentiate remained Smalls) nipping in between the grass stems and the other larger butterflies; mainly Meadow Browns but with the occasional Ringlet as well. As I approached the end of the Paddocks a Large White tore past and then plopped down on a cluster of thistle tops.
I retraced my footsteps back to the gates, flopped over one but then hoisted myself over the third instead and made down the tunnel track and into Orchid Meadow which was alive with butterflies. The species list was the same but it was a case of same quality much greater quantity. The most numerous species that I was seeing were the Smessex Skipper. The sea of browns and gingers were broken by a Small White and a Holly Blue at about the half way point. I continued walking with more and more butterflies appearing and I just drank it all in. At the far end the little field held 4 whites and a Comma and I started spying out more and more, smaller brown and orange butterflies – the Hedgies had arrived proper! I set too trying to capture as much as possible onto the memory card and paid special attention to the Smessex in case there were a few Essex in amongst the Smalls. There was still no luck on that front though.
From here I climbed up the steep trackway until it broke out onto the Down. I stayed near the bottom and scanned across the edge of the Down. Near at hand were Smessex Skippers (which remained so or became only Smalls) and Meadow Browns whilst Ringlets and Marbled Whites quartered the middle ground and Whites flew in the far distance but rapidly got closer and closer. I couldn’t make out any DGFs or larger butterflies and time was ticking away so I gingerly made my way back down and through the Orchid Meadow stopping on the way for a faded Common Blue – something different to finish with but not what I was hoping for really (an a sneaky Marbled White actually made it to the final shot from the Devenish). The Smessex had stubbornly refused to become Essex and despite searching and checking as many as possible the only thing I’d gotten was a bad back from stooping and trying to peer up from underneath.
On the drive back I realised that I could access the back corner of Five Rivers so I pulled over and made my way down the footpath and onto the site. On the way up the rise it seemed quiet and it wasn’t until I got to the top of the hill that I located a few butterflies – a few Marbled Whites in amongst some of the taller grasses and the occasional Ringlet. As I walked round to the other side of the wood and the Banks the sun disappeared behind the clouds. A Comma went up from the path but there were only a few more Ringlets and Meadow Browns about. Having completed a circuit I ended up back at the top of the hill and as I set off back down I happened to glance at a Marbled White. Something about it looked different but at the time I couldn’t fathom what. Looking back at it later I could see that outer band wasn’t as pronounced as usual giving it the appearance of being whiter. The final butterflies of the day were a Small White and a Red Admiral at the very edge of the reserve but neither stopped alas which made me feel like the trip had gone out with more of a whimper than a bang.
Smessex everywhere
Out come the Browns of Summer
But still no Essex?
Lulworth 17-07-2023
As I drove along some of the narrowest roads I’ve ever encountered in between straining my eyes to see round blind bends on the road and gunning the engine on the straights I recalled the weather report. Becoming increasingly sunny as the day wore on after a cloudy start…Seems like they had it in reverse as when I reached the top of one of the hills I could see a thick blanket of cloud looming in the distance and heading my way. In fact once past Wool and on the final ascent before the drop down into the village from the Army Camp the sun all but disappeared as I drove into a wall of mist, it looked like the verges were on fire as the vapour curled and spiraled round like smoke pulled by the slipstream of the car in front. I pressed on regardless as it was still bright and warm despite the blanket over the sun so I hoped that the butterflies would still be flying even though there wasn’t a scrap of blue sky to be seen.
Once I’d abandoned the car I walked down past the local shop, crossed the road and went through the gate onto Bindon Hill. Once I’d gotten to the top of the steps rather than following the path parallel to the boundary hedge I veered left to check out this part of the hill first. My hopes appeared to be met as plenty of butterflies seemed to still be flying regardless of gloom. In amongst the many Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites I was able to pick out an obvious Common Blue and one of two smaller Large Skippers. I picked my way along narrow tracks and so zigged and zagged my way the hill, the taller tussock grasses, wafted by the slightest breeze. It was then that I spotted a much smaller butterfly. I tried to follow it but I’d gotten used to observing the large Silver-washed and watching the jinky flight of Hairstreaks and so initially I wasn’t successful with following the flight of the miniscule and seemingly jet-propelled Skippers. There were a few ever so slightly larger Skippers about which were better behaved and their bright ‘proper’ orange colour gave them away as Small so I got my ‘eye in’ on them and this paid off for the next few sets that I saw I was able to watch, follow and get shots of – all were Lulworths. Some had taken on the appearance of battle camo, the yellow or golden scales worn away in places revealing the dark brown ground colour but others were magnificent, the females in particular with their large crescent moons positively glowing the dull.
I then set off to cover the hill proper following the main path that runs parallel to the boundary hedge and the road a field or so below. As I walked along I saw more and more butterflies, particularly in the longer vegetation between the hedge and the path. The Meadow Browns would erupt from the grass in my wake whilst the Marbled Whites flew powerfully from one flower head to another. Skippers would fly ahead of me and then suddenly veer off and I’d lose them from sight. As I drew near to the scar in the hill at the entrance from the old path a Red Admiral flashed past and I was left wondering whether it was homegrown or an immigrant? An Adonis Blue looked fantastically out of place with the electric blue against the straw coloured background making for an incongruous sight. And still there were more and more Skippers, there seemed to be an endless sea of them washing over the grasses and flowers. A Hedgie popped up on some Gorse not realizing that the one at Alners had already claimed the First for the Year tag and then I spent some time watching the Marbled Whites which grouped together on the same flower.
The path continued along the top of the cliff and normally at this point in my narration I’d make some reference to the scenery whether waxing lyrical about turquoise waters or the awe inspiring creative geological processes that left the rocks twisted and tangled. However trying to look across the bay to the seaward entrance of the Cove was pointless. Instead of a stunning panoramic vista it looked more like I was standing atop Mt Everest and surveying the clouds from above. Only here the mist and grey sky fused into one and it was wall to wall, ceiling to floor grey. The butterflies didn’t seem to mind though and there were a lot more Lulworths along the path. In fact there seemed to be a new set pretty much every couple of steps and nearing the end of the path a large orange butterfly bombed past. I saw just enough of it initially to know that it was a DGF, my first of the year, before it shot through the fence and down the top of the cliff before vanishing into the mist.
I spotted a second slightly further on and luckily this one was going up the hill rather than down so I managed to locate it a few times and get within range. Despite being very fresh in appearance, the orange ground colour blazing out in the gloom, it had a chunk missing from one of its hind wings suggesting that it must have had a run in with a predator already, possibly just after its wings had dried. After the third time of Successful stalking I let it be and found my way back to the end of path. I had two choices to make now. Either keep on, down the very steep, narrow path and into the Cove itself or walk back the way that I’d come? The trip down would be good but the walk across the uneven cobbles and stones and then up through the village itself wouldn’t produce many butterflies so I opted for the latter. So I turned myself around and started back.
My progress was slower on the return as I’d stop every few steps to watch or photograph another set of Lulworths. They were all over the place which was a fantastic contrast to 2022 when I saw a singleton on Portland. Along the way there were all the same species flying that I’d seen on the way out including another Adonis and Common Blue. Near the old path entrance the butterflies were still clustered around the taller flowers including one which held three different species of Skipper (1 Large, 3 Small and 8 Lulworths), a Small heath and a couple of Burnet Moths on it. How it wasn’t collapsing under the combined mass I don’t know but I clicked away at various members of the collective. One stood out in particular; a really fresh Lulworth which was a cracking mustard yellow in colour.
From here I ventured up to the track that was higher up the hill and where the grasses didn’t grow as tall. There were fewer butterflies here but another DGF did a fly-by and the Lulworths hung out around the taller flowers that were dotted about across the top of the hill. As the hill rounded I strolled down and into the little spot where it had begun and hour or so before. I could have made for home straight away but I wandered back and forth along the little trackways again seeking out even more Lulworths because I wanted to make sure that I had enough of them. Though to be honest I doubt whether I could ever get enough! Somehow my wanderings had brought me back to the top of the steps and so I took that as my sign to head for home. Another cracking day, Dorset delivered with an ‘endemic’ species and an additional 6 species added to the Year List.
With hanging sea mist
No talk of a Turquoise sea
But still got Lulworthsl
Once I’d abandoned the car I walked down past the local shop, crossed the road and went through the gate onto Bindon Hill. Once I’d gotten to the top of the steps rather than following the path parallel to the boundary hedge I veered left to check out this part of the hill first. My hopes appeared to be met as plenty of butterflies seemed to still be flying regardless of gloom. In amongst the many Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites I was able to pick out an obvious Common Blue and one of two smaller Large Skippers. I picked my way along narrow tracks and so zigged and zagged my way the hill, the taller tussock grasses, wafted by the slightest breeze. It was then that I spotted a much smaller butterfly. I tried to follow it but I’d gotten used to observing the large Silver-washed and watching the jinky flight of Hairstreaks and so initially I wasn’t successful with following the flight of the miniscule and seemingly jet-propelled Skippers. There were a few ever so slightly larger Skippers about which were better behaved and their bright ‘proper’ orange colour gave them away as Small so I got my ‘eye in’ on them and this paid off for the next few sets that I saw I was able to watch, follow and get shots of – all were Lulworths. Some had taken on the appearance of battle camo, the yellow or golden scales worn away in places revealing the dark brown ground colour but others were magnificent, the females in particular with their large crescent moons positively glowing the dull.
I then set off to cover the hill proper following the main path that runs parallel to the boundary hedge and the road a field or so below. As I walked along I saw more and more butterflies, particularly in the longer vegetation between the hedge and the path. The Meadow Browns would erupt from the grass in my wake whilst the Marbled Whites flew powerfully from one flower head to another. Skippers would fly ahead of me and then suddenly veer off and I’d lose them from sight. As I drew near to the scar in the hill at the entrance from the old path a Red Admiral flashed past and I was left wondering whether it was homegrown or an immigrant? An Adonis Blue looked fantastically out of place with the electric blue against the straw coloured background making for an incongruous sight. And still there were more and more Skippers, there seemed to be an endless sea of them washing over the grasses and flowers. A Hedgie popped up on some Gorse not realizing that the one at Alners had already claimed the First for the Year tag and then I spent some time watching the Marbled Whites which grouped together on the same flower.
The path continued along the top of the cliff and normally at this point in my narration I’d make some reference to the scenery whether waxing lyrical about turquoise waters or the awe inspiring creative geological processes that left the rocks twisted and tangled. However trying to look across the bay to the seaward entrance of the Cove was pointless. Instead of a stunning panoramic vista it looked more like I was standing atop Mt Everest and surveying the clouds from above. Only here the mist and grey sky fused into one and it was wall to wall, ceiling to floor grey. The butterflies didn’t seem to mind though and there were a lot more Lulworths along the path. In fact there seemed to be a new set pretty much every couple of steps and nearing the end of the path a large orange butterfly bombed past. I saw just enough of it initially to know that it was a DGF, my first of the year, before it shot through the fence and down the top of the cliff before vanishing into the mist.
I spotted a second slightly further on and luckily this one was going up the hill rather than down so I managed to locate it a few times and get within range. Despite being very fresh in appearance, the orange ground colour blazing out in the gloom, it had a chunk missing from one of its hind wings suggesting that it must have had a run in with a predator already, possibly just after its wings had dried. After the third time of Successful stalking I let it be and found my way back to the end of path. I had two choices to make now. Either keep on, down the very steep, narrow path and into the Cove itself or walk back the way that I’d come? The trip down would be good but the walk across the uneven cobbles and stones and then up through the village itself wouldn’t produce many butterflies so I opted for the latter. So I turned myself around and started back.
My progress was slower on the return as I’d stop every few steps to watch or photograph another set of Lulworths. They were all over the place which was a fantastic contrast to 2022 when I saw a singleton on Portland. Along the way there were all the same species flying that I’d seen on the way out including another Adonis and Common Blue. Near the old path entrance the butterflies were still clustered around the taller flowers including one which held three different species of Skipper (1 Large, 3 Small and 8 Lulworths), a Small heath and a couple of Burnet Moths on it. How it wasn’t collapsing under the combined mass I don’t know but I clicked away at various members of the collective. One stood out in particular; a really fresh Lulworth which was a cracking mustard yellow in colour.
From here I ventured up to the track that was higher up the hill and where the grasses didn’t grow as tall. There were fewer butterflies here but another DGF did a fly-by and the Lulworths hung out around the taller flowers that were dotted about across the top of the hill. As the hill rounded I strolled down and into the little spot where it had begun and hour or so before. I could have made for home straight away but I wandered back and forth along the little trackways again seeking out even more Lulworths because I wanted to make sure that I had enough of them. Though to be honest I doubt whether I could ever get enough! Somehow my wanderings had brought me back to the top of the steps and so I took that as my sign to head for home. Another cracking day, Dorset delivered with an ‘endemic’ species and an additional 6 species added to the Year List.
With hanging sea mist
No talk of a Turquoise sea
But still got Lulworthsl
Alners Gorse 24-06-2023
This trip was one made with no expectations. True I thought about which species I’d like to see but to be honest if I saw them I’d be happy and anything thing shot wise would just be a bonus. The weather forecast suggested that it would be cloudy in the morning with increasing sunny intervals until after lunch when the sun would be out fully and blazing away. As I was after Purple Hairstreaks and maybe some White-letters I thought it best to head out early but I could have left even earlier as the sunny intervals started from about 7:30 and there were no signs of clouding over so as to match the forecast. When I arrived with the final echoes of Killers fading in the background the car park was full and there was only one space left on the verge. Car safely abandoned I set off down the hill. This has got to be one of the best entrances to a reserve ever; a broad sweeping ride with no need to check the hedge on the right-hand side as it’s always in shade in the morning, a downhill walk and some excellent hedge that whets your appetite for when arrive at the tip of the diamond that is the reserve proper. On the walk down there was a Comma and several Meadow Browns as well as the odd Large Skipper and then I was ‘onsite’ and working my way along the line of the hedge on the left.
More Meadow Browns and the odd White flew along the hedge but there was still a slight feeling that things were only just getting going. As I moved on form under the low hanging Oak branches I saw a small group gathered up ahead near the old gate. They were all straining their necks upwards and staring into the trees and as I drew near I caught the odd murmur of ‘there’s a White-letter’ and sure enough staring up in the same direction there were a few little dark grey butterflies zipping out from the tips of the branches for a quick skirmish and then nipping back to their perch. I counted 5-6 at one time but there were easily double that as they were so hard to keep an eye on. In between counts of up high a White Admiral flashed past at a lower level and that’s when I spotted a Whitter down slightly lower than the others. By standing on tip-toes, holding my camera out full stretch and trusting in the autofocus I was able to get a few record shots. Then another came down lower still and I was able to get some even closer shots as this one ended up at just about head height. True there was an annoying shadow over the back of the wings but I didn’t care as I clicked happily away.
I stayed for a bit longer and waited for another low-level encounter but as the day had started to heat up the butterflies remained up higher. A Silver-washed shot past adding itself to the Year Tally and wishing those Whitter fans that remained well I carried on round. I went through the little gate and checked out the stands of Creeping Thistles but this little spot was still deep in shade so I carried on along the next side of the diamond. Another White Admiral teased me as it looked ready to settle but didn’t and there were a few Marbled Whites and Smessex Skippers fluttering about by my ankles. As I turned another corner and made my way to the Hut I spotted another cluster of enthusiasts. They were all enjoying a pristine Purple Hairstreak that had only just emerged. It had dropped onto someone hand and now he had placed it on a leaf so that it could finish drying its wings completely. I waited in line and once all those that had been there before me had partaken I knelt down and got some shots for myself. It was glorious to see how the sunlight caught the scales making them shine with a slightly silver-gold lustre. It made me question why Purple Hairstreak when the topside is less commonly seen whereas the underside would most definitely classify it as Silver a Hairstreak?
Pleased to have seen both ‘target species’ and smashed my limited expectations out of the park I set off to check out the Banks, that wonderful line of hedge beyond the confines of the reserve. As I set off I met another enthusiast who was going the same way. She went to try the first tree line where I’d seen a possible Emperor the year before and I continued on my way through the shady avenue and then rounding the corner into the field in full sun. The Bramble was alive with butterflies and for a while I just stood agog at the activity. It was amazing and dazzling and bemusing all at the same time. The most obvious butterflies were the male Silver-washed, their vivid orange making them stand out more than slightly larger but duller females. A White Admiral did a fly past while I was counting the Silver-washed and so I ended up with: “ 13, 14, 15…White Admiral….where was I?” In amongst the Ginger Beasties were other delights – a H.Comma, my first Hedgie, plenty of Meadow Browns, Large Skipper, Smessex Skippers, Marbled Whites and also my first Ringlet of the year. The Bramble was literally heaving with butterflies. I tore myself away and walked a little way along the hedge which held even more Silver-washed although the other species seemed to prefer the open, sunlit grasses rather than the shady understory of the Oak Trees that dominated the hedge here. There were a couple of Silver-washed in cop but before long I found myself back at the initial Bramble patch ogling in awe.
The walk back to the reserve by not just quiet but more silent in comparison to the Banks but one I was over the stile a White Admiral was there to greet me and enticed me to follow it into the clearing by the Hut. A brace of White Admirals were hanging around one particular Bramble bush and away int eh distance I could make out a couple more. As I walked towards them a caught a glint of silver out of the corner of my eye and there was another mint condish, albeit distant, Purp. A little further on one of the 5 White Admirals finally paused to refuel so I made a swift approach, clicked away and then backed off before it realised I was there. Then I strolled back the way I’d come, a few spots of flattened grass were the only evidence of the fresh Purp from earlier and before I knew it I was back and staring up at Whitters. They were now all hanging around near the top of the tree so I bid them farewell and made my way back up the hill. “This really is a fabulous reserve” I thought to myself but now I had another one to visit as the day was still young!
With Whitters and Purps
Alners Gorse keeps me on track
For five Hairstreak year…
More Meadow Browns and the odd White flew along the hedge but there was still a slight feeling that things were only just getting going. As I moved on form under the low hanging Oak branches I saw a small group gathered up ahead near the old gate. They were all straining their necks upwards and staring into the trees and as I drew near I caught the odd murmur of ‘there’s a White-letter’ and sure enough staring up in the same direction there were a few little dark grey butterflies zipping out from the tips of the branches for a quick skirmish and then nipping back to their perch. I counted 5-6 at one time but there were easily double that as they were so hard to keep an eye on. In between counts of up high a White Admiral flashed past at a lower level and that’s when I spotted a Whitter down slightly lower than the others. By standing on tip-toes, holding my camera out full stretch and trusting in the autofocus I was able to get a few record shots. Then another came down lower still and I was able to get some even closer shots as this one ended up at just about head height. True there was an annoying shadow over the back of the wings but I didn’t care as I clicked happily away.
I stayed for a bit longer and waited for another low-level encounter but as the day had started to heat up the butterflies remained up higher. A Silver-washed shot past adding itself to the Year Tally and wishing those Whitter fans that remained well I carried on round. I went through the little gate and checked out the stands of Creeping Thistles but this little spot was still deep in shade so I carried on along the next side of the diamond. Another White Admiral teased me as it looked ready to settle but didn’t and there were a few Marbled Whites and Smessex Skippers fluttering about by my ankles. As I turned another corner and made my way to the Hut I spotted another cluster of enthusiasts. They were all enjoying a pristine Purple Hairstreak that had only just emerged. It had dropped onto someone hand and now he had placed it on a leaf so that it could finish drying its wings completely. I waited in line and once all those that had been there before me had partaken I knelt down and got some shots for myself. It was glorious to see how the sunlight caught the scales making them shine with a slightly silver-gold lustre. It made me question why Purple Hairstreak when the topside is less commonly seen whereas the underside would most definitely classify it as Silver a Hairstreak?
Pleased to have seen both ‘target species’ and smashed my limited expectations out of the park I set off to check out the Banks, that wonderful line of hedge beyond the confines of the reserve. As I set off I met another enthusiast who was going the same way. She went to try the first tree line where I’d seen a possible Emperor the year before and I continued on my way through the shady avenue and then rounding the corner into the field in full sun. The Bramble was alive with butterflies and for a while I just stood agog at the activity. It was amazing and dazzling and bemusing all at the same time. The most obvious butterflies were the male Silver-washed, their vivid orange making them stand out more than slightly larger but duller females. A White Admiral did a fly past while I was counting the Silver-washed and so I ended up with: “ 13, 14, 15…White Admiral….where was I?” In amongst the Ginger Beasties were other delights – a H.Comma, my first Hedgie, plenty of Meadow Browns, Large Skipper, Smessex Skippers, Marbled Whites and also my first Ringlet of the year. The Bramble was literally heaving with butterflies. I tore myself away and walked a little way along the hedge which held even more Silver-washed although the other species seemed to prefer the open, sunlit grasses rather than the shady understory of the Oak Trees that dominated the hedge here. There were a couple of Silver-washed in cop but before long I found myself back at the initial Bramble patch ogling in awe.
The walk back to the reserve by not just quiet but more silent in comparison to the Banks but one I was over the stile a White Admiral was there to greet me and enticed me to follow it into the clearing by the Hut. A brace of White Admirals were hanging around one particular Bramble bush and away int eh distance I could make out a couple more. As I walked towards them a caught a glint of silver out of the corner of my eye and there was another mint condish, albeit distant, Purp. A little further on one of the 5 White Admirals finally paused to refuel so I made a swift approach, clicked away and then backed off before it realised I was there. Then I strolled back the way I’d come, a few spots of flattened grass were the only evidence of the fresh Purp from earlier and before I knew it I was back and staring up at Whitters. They were now all hanging around near the top of the tree so I bid them farewell and made my way back up the hill. “This really is a fabulous reserve” I thought to myself but now I had another one to visit as the day was still young!
With Whitters and Purps
Alners Gorse keeps me on track
For five Hairstreak year…
Botany Bay 17-06-2023
Having tried to drive away from the passenger side of the car I thought it best to go the back way to Chiddingfold and avoid busy and fast roads in case I fell asleep. The constant bends, slowing down for speed restrictions or cyclists and the can of Coke consumed on the way mean that I arrived in a much more alert state that I’d departed in plus all my gear was ready to grab so within seconds of parking I was away down the track. It had clouded over during the drive but actually this was quite pleasant as it was still bright enough for the butterflies to fly without having to avoid bleaching out the whites. What wasn’t as pleasant was the sticky, muggy air but a White Admiral shortly along the track made up the humidity. It went up from the track and landed at about head height in the tree so I was able to get a few shots. This seemed to be a popular stretch for them as a further two passed by. Unfortunately these didn’t stop and one of them was a totally black White Admiral. As I watched it scything its way through the air a much smaller butterfly jinked across the path from one tree top to another. It’s flight and diminutive size suggested Purple Hairstreak to me although it seemed a bit early for them?
After this initial flurry of activity things quietened down as I walked deeper into the wood. Meadow Browns and Large Skippers played along the verges on either side of the track and at the second sharp bend three Specklies laid into each other. The browns and skippers were all very nice but I was hoping for a Wood White and I’d drawn near to where I’ve seen them before I started scanning a little more intently. I followed the track down and over the river Lox and then back up when I spotted something. Ahead in the distance on the right-hand side of the track a small white blob fluttered weakly this way and that. As I drew near it started flying in a more direct fashion, albeit still looking like it was barely keeping itself airborne. What it lacked in speed it made up for in stamina and I walked slowly along behind it about half way along the track, all the way back to the bridge and then all the way back to pretty much where it had started. At no point in its flight had it stopped, just occasionally it flapped around this flower or that but it was ceaseless. I tried for a few in flight shots but it’s flappy flight made it surprisingly difficult to capture as I couldn’t predict where it would be next. I thought that I’d be frustrated about this but actually I quite enjoyed watching it bumble along and I was reminded of The Wizard; “Never talking, Just keeps walking, Spreading his magic” (although to be technical it would be flying not walking ).
Eventually it spotted a second Wood White and following them became much easier as she would flutter around a particular plant or land momentarily to rebuff his advances. He for all his faults was nothing by persistent and each time she stopped he would swoop in, antennae bobbing. He finally wore her out and so she settled on a leaf in a circle of Bramble and he alighted next to her. He stroked her antennae with his and then occasionally would flash his wings open and she would reciprocate. At least it seemed like she was digging him but then she took off this time landing down on the stony track floor. This was great for me and lying flat on the ground I was able to get in really close and get my shots as he again did his best to woo her. I left them in peace and carried on down the track. My state of chuffed-ness marred only slightly as too late I spotted a Clegg on my left hand!
Smarting at her sneakiness I carried on up the track with Large Skippers and Meadow Browns flapping about and up at the Y in the track I headed left and spotted my third Wood White. This one was also very flighty and as I wandered back and forth following it and awaiting it to alight a White Admiral shot past showing the Wood White “how this flying malarkey” should be done. Another Wood White was doing was further along the track and as I approached the little gap in the trees which led to the triangular clearing a saw Red Admiral sitting on top of dog poo a little way in the distance. In a couple of weeks I would have possibly have muttered “it’s just an Admiral’ but not so today. The butterfly didn’t play ball anyway so cursing it for a different reason I made my way through the little gap into the clearing beyond.
I spotted a Wood White almost immediately and after watching it for a bit I found another within a few strides. This one was flying round and round certain flowers and examining various petals or florets so was quite easy to follow and get close too. The reason for this behavior became clear when she alighted, curved her abdomen around and laid an egg. Then she was off to repeat the process and so do her bit to complete her biological imperative.
By now the sun had come out and all the butterflies, even the Wood Whites were starting to fly more strongly and for longer periods of time so after picking up another Wood White at the top of the triangle I made my way out of the clearing and back along the track. As I walked the Large Skippers and Meadow Browns continued to play and I managed to relocate the/a Wood White both by the Y in the track and also down near the bridge. On the final stretch I was again treated to a White Admiral fly-by and a Red Admiral was down on the track. Back at the car I’d checked and flicked off Ticks and was had just finished changing out of my boots when the heavens opened. Somehow despite all of the weather forecasts I managed to miss all of the potential downpours and I drove home with the warm glow of a day well spent only for the sudden realization of why I’d gone I the first place to hit me when I reached the outskirts of Salisbury and a few tears were shed.
“Sun is shining, clouds have gone by,
All the people give a happy sigh,
He has passed by, giving his sign,
Left all the people feeling so fine.”
(The Wizard – Black Sabbath)
p.s. I took those tears back when a day or so later I got some What’s App photos of Swallowtails and their version of a White Admiral sent through from K!
After this initial flurry of activity things quietened down as I walked deeper into the wood. Meadow Browns and Large Skippers played along the verges on either side of the track and at the second sharp bend three Specklies laid into each other. The browns and skippers were all very nice but I was hoping for a Wood White and I’d drawn near to where I’ve seen them before I started scanning a little more intently. I followed the track down and over the river Lox and then back up when I spotted something. Ahead in the distance on the right-hand side of the track a small white blob fluttered weakly this way and that. As I drew near it started flying in a more direct fashion, albeit still looking like it was barely keeping itself airborne. What it lacked in speed it made up for in stamina and I walked slowly along behind it about half way along the track, all the way back to the bridge and then all the way back to pretty much where it had started. At no point in its flight had it stopped, just occasionally it flapped around this flower or that but it was ceaseless. I tried for a few in flight shots but it’s flappy flight made it surprisingly difficult to capture as I couldn’t predict where it would be next. I thought that I’d be frustrated about this but actually I quite enjoyed watching it bumble along and I was reminded of The Wizard; “Never talking, Just keeps walking, Spreading his magic” (although to be technical it would be flying not walking ).
Eventually it spotted a second Wood White and following them became much easier as she would flutter around a particular plant or land momentarily to rebuff his advances. He for all his faults was nothing by persistent and each time she stopped he would swoop in, antennae bobbing. He finally wore her out and so she settled on a leaf in a circle of Bramble and he alighted next to her. He stroked her antennae with his and then occasionally would flash his wings open and she would reciprocate. At least it seemed like she was digging him but then she took off this time landing down on the stony track floor. This was great for me and lying flat on the ground I was able to get in really close and get my shots as he again did his best to woo her. I left them in peace and carried on down the track. My state of chuffed-ness marred only slightly as too late I spotted a Clegg on my left hand!
Smarting at her sneakiness I carried on up the track with Large Skippers and Meadow Browns flapping about and up at the Y in the track I headed left and spotted my third Wood White. This one was also very flighty and as I wandered back and forth following it and awaiting it to alight a White Admiral shot past showing the Wood White “how this flying malarkey” should be done. Another Wood White was doing was further along the track and as I approached the little gap in the trees which led to the triangular clearing a saw Red Admiral sitting on top of dog poo a little way in the distance. In a couple of weeks I would have possibly have muttered “it’s just an Admiral’ but not so today. The butterfly didn’t play ball anyway so cursing it for a different reason I made my way through the little gap into the clearing beyond.
I spotted a Wood White almost immediately and after watching it for a bit I found another within a few strides. This one was flying round and round certain flowers and examining various petals or florets so was quite easy to follow and get close too. The reason for this behavior became clear when she alighted, curved her abdomen around and laid an egg. Then she was off to repeat the process and so do her bit to complete her biological imperative.
By now the sun had come out and all the butterflies, even the Wood Whites were starting to fly more strongly and for longer periods of time so after picking up another Wood White at the top of the triangle I made my way out of the clearing and back along the track. As I walked the Large Skippers and Meadow Browns continued to play and I managed to relocate the/a Wood White both by the Y in the track and also down near the bridge. On the final stretch I was again treated to a White Admiral fly-by and a Red Admiral was down on the track. Back at the car I’d checked and flicked off Ticks and was had just finished changing out of my boots when the heavens opened. Somehow despite all of the weather forecasts I managed to miss all of the potential downpours and I drove home with the warm glow of a day well spent only for the sudden realization of why I’d gone I the first place to hit me when I reached the outskirts of Salisbury and a few tears were shed.
“Sun is shining, clouds have gone by,
All the people give a happy sigh,
He has passed by, giving his sign,
Left all the people feeling so fine.”
(The Wizard – Black Sabbath)
p.s. I took those tears back when a day or so later I got some What’s App photos of Swallowtails and their version of a White Admiral sent through from K!
Epsom 17-06-2023
(Epsom was recorded before a live lepidopteran audience and was brought to you today by UKB productions. A massive thank you goes to Trevor for behavourial intelligence, Bugboy for site information and navigational operations and Dave for reconnaissance, guiding and most importantly caffeine logistics.)
Having dropped my daughter K off at Heathrow so she could jet off to Camp America, dried my eyes and made the drive down to Epsom I pulled into the entrance of the car park a little before 5am. Luckily I’d not imbibed any caffeine and so crawling into the passenger seat I managed a couple more hours sleep. I was woken at just before 7 by the Steward as he unlocked the gate and then I was able to drive in and get set up for the day. With ablutions completed, ‘eyes in’ and breakfast eaten I went for a quick stroll around to properly wake up. An unearthly squawking alerted me to a Rose-ringed Parakeet and the two tone call of Nuthatch were the highlights amongst the other passerines but it was still a little early for butterflies. Dave arrived shortly after this with a truly magnificent cup of coffee and we started chatting and walking. Frist across the field and then down through the wood and through a gate into a scrubby looking little field. There were a few mature trees scattered about and also lots of strips, clumps, ‘hedges’ and thickets of Blackthorn. A Red Admiral flashed past an and settled which was the first sign that things were starting to wake up. The odd Meadow Brown took off and then just when we were discussing where to head a call went up from nearby and so we headed over and there sitting under a leaf was a Blackstreak – my second ever helping as it were.
As we made the formal introductions (nice to meet you Dan) the sun started to peer our and the butterfly ventured forth from the shade onto the top of the plant where it sat seemingly oblivious to the three of us taking it in turns to take its photo. After a while it decided that it had basked enough and it set off to flutter around the tops of the Blackthorn and so we set off to have a bit of a wander around and see if we could find any more.
The spot where we’d found the first was a little scallop in a roughly triangularly shaped thicket which stretched from it’s base, the main path running along the boundary, up to a point about half way into the field. There were a few breaks across the narrower parts which saved us having to walk all the way round and after delicately picking our way through one Dave found another Blackstreak just sitting along the edge of the path. It was on a leaf at about chest height on the left-hand side hedge which had formed a narrow corridor between the triangular thicket and another which was dominated by a large Oak. It didn’t go anywhere as the sun had nipped in behind the clouds. This one looked quite aged but I imagine that what with fluttering around Blackthorn and nectaring on Bramble its state of disrepair actually belied how young it was, probably a matter of days.
Slightly further on the narrow corridor opened up and the track ended in a T junction with the boundary fence. Dan found a nice looking Hairstreak in a much better state of repair it’s blonder look suggesting that it was a female. Once it had departed we discussed about how sometimes the butterflies just appear as if out of nowhere and by magic when I conjured up a female myself. She was stunning and I fired off a few shaky shots as I was so pleased to be seeing the kind of views that I’d hoped for. When she flew off into the higher reaches of the thicket we took this as our cue to move on as well. It had clouded over slightly so we mooched around a bit chatting away and clocking likely looking spots that would be worth examining later. Back to roughly where we’d seen out first Dave found our 5th Hairstreak of the day and possibly our 6th.
The sun started to reappear and so we saw one or two other species, Meadow Browns a Small Heath and just on the other side of the little break through the thicket my first Small Skipper of the year. We finished up our travels almost to the start of the narrow path way where Dave had found the second Hairstreak. As the sun had returned we started seeing more Hairstreaks but rather than sitting nicely on leaves and sunbathing they were acting in typical Hairstreak fashion; jinking about up high and setting other, hidden individuals off in rapid chases. It proving difficult to watch one individual butterfly and so instead I’d stand back and do quick scans across the tops of the scrub. For a while 4 was the highest number at one time but this rose to 6 eventually, possibly more but a couple of Large Skippers at ground level distracted me momentarily. Dave and I set out on another exploration and had a look further afield but the mosaic of scrub became a blanket of ferns with the odd tree puncturing the verdant blanket. Sitting in the gloom was an aged Blackstreak – at least I though it was as it was so tatty I couldn’t really be sure. It took umbrage at me calling it tatty and so flew off up into one of the nearby Oaks.
Back at the back, down the narrow path and in the miniature clearing by the boundary we joined a couple more enthusiasts. There were three Blackstreaks all flying up high just over the boundary line and as we were willing them to come closer and lower a White Admiral flashed past, another first for the year. There were a few more sightings of what I’m guessing was the same Admiral as we waited patiently (and in the end futilely) for the Blackstreaks to come to us. There was some excitement behind us but alas it turned out to be the smallest Meadow Brown that I’ve ever seen that was acting like a Blackstreak, jinking flight, fluttering about up high, sitting on a Bramble leaf and trying its best to remain obscured behind various leaves.
The group had now grown to 6 and so with more pairs of eyes it was inevitable that more Hairstreaks were spotted. However they seemed to be coming down less frequently now and so getting shots involved distant views that would need to be cropped to within an inch of their life’s or standing on tip toes and holding the camera above your head whilst peering through the viewfinder an relying on autofocus to do its thang. Time was passing and with the caffeine starting to wane I was feeling less and less alert and so Dave and I started on our way back. We paused by the spot where the day had begun for a Marbled White and a White-legged Damselfly. While Dave and another enthusiast watched the Marbled White I found my final hairstreak of the day. It was walking along in the grass so at first I thought that it was the extraordinarily small Meadow Brown but when it hopped up onto a leaf I could see the markings.
This final Hairstreak in roughly the same place as the first would have made for the perfect ending of the trip but as I’ve noted before butterflies don’t have a good sense of the narrative and so while we were making our way out of the scrubby section the/a White Admiral alighted on a clump of Bramble and started feeding. I couldn’t really complain at this usurper for my tale and while we watched it a few Meadow Browns fluttered around as did another Small Skipper. When we made it into the shadow of the Wood a Specklie flew amid the shafts of light filtering through the leaves and a Toadlet did its best to get flattened as it crossed the track at a snail’s place. We reached the car park just in time as I’d now gone beyond flagging and was in desperate need of a stimulant. So weary was I that when I wish Dave well on his further travels I tried to climb into the passenger side to drive away!
Very early start
And Blackstreaks revisited
Make a great morning
Having dropped my daughter K off at Heathrow so she could jet off to Camp America, dried my eyes and made the drive down to Epsom I pulled into the entrance of the car park a little before 5am. Luckily I’d not imbibed any caffeine and so crawling into the passenger seat I managed a couple more hours sleep. I was woken at just before 7 by the Steward as he unlocked the gate and then I was able to drive in and get set up for the day. With ablutions completed, ‘eyes in’ and breakfast eaten I went for a quick stroll around to properly wake up. An unearthly squawking alerted me to a Rose-ringed Parakeet and the two tone call of Nuthatch were the highlights amongst the other passerines but it was still a little early for butterflies. Dave arrived shortly after this with a truly magnificent cup of coffee and we started chatting and walking. Frist across the field and then down through the wood and through a gate into a scrubby looking little field. There were a few mature trees scattered about and also lots of strips, clumps, ‘hedges’ and thickets of Blackthorn. A Red Admiral flashed past an and settled which was the first sign that things were starting to wake up. The odd Meadow Brown took off and then just when we were discussing where to head a call went up from nearby and so we headed over and there sitting under a leaf was a Blackstreak – my second ever helping as it were.
As we made the formal introductions (nice to meet you Dan) the sun started to peer our and the butterfly ventured forth from the shade onto the top of the plant where it sat seemingly oblivious to the three of us taking it in turns to take its photo. After a while it decided that it had basked enough and it set off to flutter around the tops of the Blackthorn and so we set off to have a bit of a wander around and see if we could find any more.
The spot where we’d found the first was a little scallop in a roughly triangularly shaped thicket which stretched from it’s base, the main path running along the boundary, up to a point about half way into the field. There were a few breaks across the narrower parts which saved us having to walk all the way round and after delicately picking our way through one Dave found another Blackstreak just sitting along the edge of the path. It was on a leaf at about chest height on the left-hand side hedge which had formed a narrow corridor between the triangular thicket and another which was dominated by a large Oak. It didn’t go anywhere as the sun had nipped in behind the clouds. This one looked quite aged but I imagine that what with fluttering around Blackthorn and nectaring on Bramble its state of disrepair actually belied how young it was, probably a matter of days.
Slightly further on the narrow corridor opened up and the track ended in a T junction with the boundary fence. Dan found a nice looking Hairstreak in a much better state of repair it’s blonder look suggesting that it was a female. Once it had departed we discussed about how sometimes the butterflies just appear as if out of nowhere and by magic when I conjured up a female myself. She was stunning and I fired off a few shaky shots as I was so pleased to be seeing the kind of views that I’d hoped for. When she flew off into the higher reaches of the thicket we took this as our cue to move on as well. It had clouded over slightly so we mooched around a bit chatting away and clocking likely looking spots that would be worth examining later. Back to roughly where we’d seen out first Dave found our 5th Hairstreak of the day and possibly our 6th.
The sun started to reappear and so we saw one or two other species, Meadow Browns a Small Heath and just on the other side of the little break through the thicket my first Small Skipper of the year. We finished up our travels almost to the start of the narrow path way where Dave had found the second Hairstreak. As the sun had returned we started seeing more Hairstreaks but rather than sitting nicely on leaves and sunbathing they were acting in typical Hairstreak fashion; jinking about up high and setting other, hidden individuals off in rapid chases. It proving difficult to watch one individual butterfly and so instead I’d stand back and do quick scans across the tops of the scrub. For a while 4 was the highest number at one time but this rose to 6 eventually, possibly more but a couple of Large Skippers at ground level distracted me momentarily. Dave and I set out on another exploration and had a look further afield but the mosaic of scrub became a blanket of ferns with the odd tree puncturing the verdant blanket. Sitting in the gloom was an aged Blackstreak – at least I though it was as it was so tatty I couldn’t really be sure. It took umbrage at me calling it tatty and so flew off up into one of the nearby Oaks.
Back at the back, down the narrow path and in the miniature clearing by the boundary we joined a couple more enthusiasts. There were three Blackstreaks all flying up high just over the boundary line and as we were willing them to come closer and lower a White Admiral flashed past, another first for the year. There were a few more sightings of what I’m guessing was the same Admiral as we waited patiently (and in the end futilely) for the Blackstreaks to come to us. There was some excitement behind us but alas it turned out to be the smallest Meadow Brown that I’ve ever seen that was acting like a Blackstreak, jinking flight, fluttering about up high, sitting on a Bramble leaf and trying its best to remain obscured behind various leaves.
The group had now grown to 6 and so with more pairs of eyes it was inevitable that more Hairstreaks were spotted. However they seemed to be coming down less frequently now and so getting shots involved distant views that would need to be cropped to within an inch of their life’s or standing on tip toes and holding the camera above your head whilst peering through the viewfinder an relying on autofocus to do its thang. Time was passing and with the caffeine starting to wane I was feeling less and less alert and so Dave and I started on our way back. We paused by the spot where the day had begun for a Marbled White and a White-legged Damselfly. While Dave and another enthusiast watched the Marbled White I found my final hairstreak of the day. It was walking along in the grass so at first I thought that it was the extraordinarily small Meadow Brown but when it hopped up onto a leaf I could see the markings.
This final Hairstreak in roughly the same place as the first would have made for the perfect ending of the trip but as I’ve noted before butterflies don’t have a good sense of the narrative and so while we were making our way out of the scrubby section the/a White Admiral alighted on a clump of Bramble and started feeding. I couldn’t really complain at this usurper for my tale and while we watched it a few Meadow Browns fluttered around as did another Small Skipper. When we made it into the shadow of the Wood a Specklie flew amid the shafts of light filtering through the leaves and a Toadlet did its best to get flattened as it crossed the track at a snail’s place. We reached the car park just in time as I’d now gone beyond flagging and was in desperate need of a stimulant. So weary was I that when I wish Dave well on his further travels I tried to climb into the passenger side to drive away!
Very early start
And Blackstreaks revisited
Make a great morning
Collard Hill 10-06-2023
The drive over was reasonable despite a road closure sending me a less scenic route and Satnav having a wobble at the last minute and taking me to a different Youth Hostel. The very narrow gate posts were a new addition as well but with these safely negotiated I was away I was soon marveling at the multitude of Orchids on the walk over. Then it was a case of crossing the road and I was in and on site. During the drive over I’d been racing the haze but now it took over. I was actually quite pleased by this as there was still enough warmth to keep any Large Blues that I found active and enough light to photograph by whilst they’d hopefully open up to reveal their glorious topsides. The old tracks that I used a few years before through the woodland on the corner were wildly overgrown so I worked my way down the first grassed slope instead. Meadow Browns puffed up from the long grass which surprised me as always; they’re invisible amongst the straw coloured grasses and then as soon as they reach about half way the stems they stick out like a sore thumb, contrasting so strongly with their background colour. My first Marbled White also popped up but was whipped away by the breeze that was running unchecked down the hill.
At the bottom I worked around the break of Gorse and up the other side. In the little space between the clumps of furze I’d seen Large Blues before and so it was today with a slate grey butterfly flying down the hill towards me. It led me on a merry dance for quite a while, back down and along the edge of the Gorse along the route I’d already walked and then disappearing out in the sea of grass before reappearing once more and leading me back the hill. Eventually it flew up and over the corner of the Gorse crop and it was gone from view. I’d definitely seen one, they blue black colour and the flight type was unmistakable so now to try and get a shot.
To that end I walked over to the far Eastern end of the reserve. On the way there were a plenty of Meadow Browns as well as a few Marbled Whites and Large Skippers. I found a couple of Small Heath and a Brown Argus and female Common Blue, easily distinguishable as the female was bedecked in a gamult of blue scales. I reckoned that I’d done the right thing as there were a few other enthusiasts wandering about the hillside so this seemed to be a good spot. I worked my way down the lower tracks along the side of the hill and after quite a short time I’d found a Large Blue. She was a bit tired, worn around the edges with some scales worn away and her fringes in tatters but to be honest she could have had a single wing as far as I was concerned because she pottered about oblivious to me getting some shots.
Once I’d successfully added the species to the yearly tally, as is often the way, the next Large Blue turned up quite promptly and this was in a much better state of repair although it wasn’t half as approachable as the first. No matter as it seemed that the bright yet overcast conditions were working out well. In between some chatting, a couple of other butterfliers and myself took to wandering along the narrow tracks that traverse the side of the hill. The bottom section looked good but a Brown Argus was seeing off all comers. It had a go at a Large Skipper, a Common Blue and also a couple each of Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Marbled White. I found his ‘small dog’ antics quite amusing right up to the pint when he chased of a Large Blue –I thought this was very unsporting but luckily I managed to keep my eyes trained on it and it landed slightly further up the hill. I grabbed a couple of shots as it investigated some Thyme but it moved on before settling and opening up. I called out and the other were able to get some shots.
It moved on again, but again only a matter of metres away and slightly lower down the hill. It seemed to be looking for something a little more substantial to perch on and once it had found a suitable perch site it settled down and once again it opened up. I’m not sure how much sun it was catching as the hazy cloud had blanketed the sky by this point and it was also heading towards the mid-twenties in terms of temperature. After a couple more minutes it once again took off and once again landed slightly lower down the slope but this time its wings remained firmly closed. I didn’t mind this; having already clocked the topside it was nice to get some underside shots of a nice fresh specimen. It sat there for 10 minutes or more while we intertwined our chat with taking it in turns to photograph it but when it flew for a fourth time I let it go and left it in peace.
Time was ticking away and so I carefully descended to the lowest of the tracks and started for home. I passed the Brown Argus Territory and a Marbled White took its life into its hands and landed slap bang in the middle of the Thunderdome. Luckily for the Marbled White, which wanted somewhere to have a bit of a breather and also luckily for me who wanted to get some shots, the Brown Argus was otherwise engaged with a couple of other intruders and so I got a few shots in before the Brown Argus turned its violent intentions towards the much bigger Marbled White.
I set off once more but once again I was delayed by a Large Blue (don’t you just hate it when they d that? ;-)). This looked to be another individual again, quite fresh, very heavily marked and with a slice out of its right hand forewing. It too landed and promptly opened up, at one point almost to 180 degrees. I can’t recall a trip like this, when the closed wing shots were at a premium and almost every Large Blue would land and flop its wings out. As I clicked away I felt a few drops of the wet stuff on my arms and so I took this as my cue to finally take my leave. What a cracking day out!
Large Blues and Small Pearls
Day out to the twin county
Superb Somerset
At the bottom I worked around the break of Gorse and up the other side. In the little space between the clumps of furze I’d seen Large Blues before and so it was today with a slate grey butterfly flying down the hill towards me. It led me on a merry dance for quite a while, back down and along the edge of the Gorse along the route I’d already walked and then disappearing out in the sea of grass before reappearing once more and leading me back the hill. Eventually it flew up and over the corner of the Gorse crop and it was gone from view. I’d definitely seen one, they blue black colour and the flight type was unmistakable so now to try and get a shot.
To that end I walked over to the far Eastern end of the reserve. On the way there were a plenty of Meadow Browns as well as a few Marbled Whites and Large Skippers. I found a couple of Small Heath and a Brown Argus and female Common Blue, easily distinguishable as the female was bedecked in a gamult of blue scales. I reckoned that I’d done the right thing as there were a few other enthusiasts wandering about the hillside so this seemed to be a good spot. I worked my way down the lower tracks along the side of the hill and after quite a short time I’d found a Large Blue. She was a bit tired, worn around the edges with some scales worn away and her fringes in tatters but to be honest she could have had a single wing as far as I was concerned because she pottered about oblivious to me getting some shots.
Once I’d successfully added the species to the yearly tally, as is often the way, the next Large Blue turned up quite promptly and this was in a much better state of repair although it wasn’t half as approachable as the first. No matter as it seemed that the bright yet overcast conditions were working out well. In between some chatting, a couple of other butterfliers and myself took to wandering along the narrow tracks that traverse the side of the hill. The bottom section looked good but a Brown Argus was seeing off all comers. It had a go at a Large Skipper, a Common Blue and also a couple each of Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Marbled White. I found his ‘small dog’ antics quite amusing right up to the pint when he chased of a Large Blue –I thought this was very unsporting but luckily I managed to keep my eyes trained on it and it landed slightly further up the hill. I grabbed a couple of shots as it investigated some Thyme but it moved on before settling and opening up. I called out and the other were able to get some shots.
It moved on again, but again only a matter of metres away and slightly lower down the hill. It seemed to be looking for something a little more substantial to perch on and once it had found a suitable perch site it settled down and once again it opened up. I’m not sure how much sun it was catching as the hazy cloud had blanketed the sky by this point and it was also heading towards the mid-twenties in terms of temperature. After a couple more minutes it once again took off and once again landed slightly lower down the slope but this time its wings remained firmly closed. I didn’t mind this; having already clocked the topside it was nice to get some underside shots of a nice fresh specimen. It sat there for 10 minutes or more while we intertwined our chat with taking it in turns to photograph it but when it flew for a fourth time I let it go and left it in peace.
Time was ticking away and so I carefully descended to the lowest of the tracks and started for home. I passed the Brown Argus Territory and a Marbled White took its life into its hands and landed slap bang in the middle of the Thunderdome. Luckily for the Marbled White, which wanted somewhere to have a bit of a breather and also luckily for me who wanted to get some shots, the Brown Argus was otherwise engaged with a couple of other intruders and so I got a few shots in before the Brown Argus turned its violent intentions towards the much bigger Marbled White.
I set off once more but once again I was delayed by a Large Blue (don’t you just hate it when they d that? ;-)). This looked to be another individual again, quite fresh, very heavily marked and with a slice out of its right hand forewing. It too landed and promptly opened up, at one point almost to 180 degrees. I can’t recall a trip like this, when the closed wing shots were at a premium and almost every Large Blue would land and flop its wings out. As I clicked away I felt a few drops of the wet stuff on my arms and so I took this as my cue to finally take my leave. What a cracking day out!
Large Blues and Small Pearls
Day out to the twin county
Superb Somerset
Priddy Mineries…take 2! 10-06-2023
From reading through Face-the-book it seemed that Philzoid and I had been a little previous when it came to our Priddy visit. Now there were reports of 100+ Small Pearls in the Mendip Hills and a couple of other butterfliers that I’d met in the field before now also saw them at Priddy itself so when I set off on the Saturday morning, nice and early, the only concern was the weather. The App had been dithering and changing it’s mind throughout the previous week but if it was to be trusted then things looked set to reasonable; a little breezy, maybe a little too hot later (hence the early run) but definitely no thunder or rain. I cranked Maiden up and put pedal to the metal.
Once on site I crossed the road behind a group that were setting out on their DofE. Only being weighed down by my flask and my camera I soon overtook them and started scanning across the undulating grasses. I spotted a few Small Heath which I took to be a good sign as on my first visit they were also the first butterflies. Sure enough a few steps further along the track and I spotted a Small Pearl. It kept perching with fronds of Bracken or various leaves overhanging it but I pleased to have gotten off the mark with at least something on the memory card. As I was enjoying reacquainting myself with the butterfly the same I was overtaking by the DofE lads who were probably wondering why I was staring fixatedly into a bush. Once I reached the small Hillock where the paths split up; one towards the Pools, another on through the wood and the final one up the side of the hill following the drystone wall, I started looking even more intently. As I wove up the hill I found another Small Pearl flying around the large Bramble patch. Slightly further on along the track was a Large Skipper and adjacent to it was a Greenstreak looking surprisingly fresh. I worked my way back down to the main path and in the scrape at the bottom there were a couple more Small Pearls having a three way battle with a Large Skipper.
With my target species secured and a few shots in the bag I felt like I’d be able to have a little wander around the rest of the site. I followed the path along side the Pond where at least two different species of Dragonflies were quartering the surface and on through the very narrow path hemmed in on either side by the phragmites. At the end the path rose up to the top of a steep bank and the rest of the site opened up before me. There were steep banks and hollows, bowls quarried out and areas of thin turf with the blackened slag showing through. Along the stream tower block grass tussocks rose up and threatened to overshadow me and the all the undulations of this alien looking place were bordered by thin strands trees lining the boundary and its path. In terms of butterflies it seemed that almost everything barring a few Small Heaths and the odd Large Skipper were still tucked up in their beds. Once I go back on the border path on my way to the hillock I soon spotted a Small Pearl, as it flew past me and over the decaying drystone wall into the neighbouring field.
I set off around the hillock a few times, taking in all the likely looking spots from last year but most of the Small Pearls were flying around the top, down on the south eastern side and in the scrape at the bottom of the hill so I did a couple of tours around these spots. I’d watch a Small Pearl as it appeared as if from out of nowhere, then follow it around all the while trying not to twist and ankle or snap a shin in a hidden pothole and then one of three things would happen. Most often it would suddenly accelerate or catch the breeze and it would disappear from view. The next most likely outcome would be that it would land only to be seen off by a Large Skipper or take off to hassle another Small Pearl that had appeared on the scene. The rarest, and sweetest of outcomes was that it would finally take a breather and I’d be able to get in for a few shots. Most of my time was spent with ‘the following and cursing of the wee scunner’ but when they finally did settle they were worth all the hassle, all the twisted ankles and wrecked shins and I even felt a little apologetic about the cussing.
As I was watching I tried to count how many there were but they were so mobile this proved really tricky. Occasionally I’d see two together at one time and the maximum I had in one view at any time was three. I was also starting to notice that there were certain characters that would crop up in similar places. One seemed much lighter in colour than the others and was more delicately marked, another was quite swarthy and one seemed much smaller than the other, tiny by comparison but much more feisty. There were also a couple of females which didn’t fly as far, paused more often and also seemed to seek cover or shade more readily than the males. I reckoned that on the main hillock there were probably 7-8 Small Pearls flying as well as a few Large Skippers, 2 meadow Browns and an aged Dingy Skipper.
I took a small break on the little wooden bridge and used the shade of the tree there to examine my shots from the morning. As I looked away from the screen to my left was a Specklie. I was just about to swing my lens around and try for a few shots when it was dive bombed by a Small Pearl. This was enough to rouse from my chillin in the shade and I set to following the Small Pearl. It didn’t go to far and it was soon joined by a couple more Small Pearls all flying around a tiny little patch of grasses hemmed in at the back by the large growth of Bramble, on the right this bramble thinned out but there was also a steep bank down to the little stream spanned by the bridge I’d been sitting on and on the final side the drystone wall. This didn’t act as much of a barrier as they kept nipping over this and zooming away across the fields before returning a few minutes later. It looked like there were two males here whose tracks kept overlapping and also a female that somehow managed to keep out of the way.
Chuffed with this little flourish of activity I decided that this would make a fitting end to the visit and so I followed the little paths down and back to the main track. As I reached the bottom of the hill a male Common Blue drifted past me almost wishing me farewell…However the butterflies weren’t done with me quite yet and only a shirt stroll on and I’d seen another Common Blue, a few Small Heaths a UFW and 2 more Small Pearls. “Surely that’ll be it” I thought but as I drew near to the spot which previously had held a Greenstreak I saw a couple more Small Pearls, then a few more slightly further up the bank and even more towards the top of the bank – 8 in one view. There seemed to be a few more still fluttering about along the top of the bank so I picked out a thin path and followed it up the bank. At the top was a shallow hollow and it was a hive of activity. A few Small Heath and a female Common Blue were merely the supporting cast in a company of Small Pearls. It was almost impossible to count them as they would fly tis way and that, they’d hassle one another or leave a perfectly perfect pose to bother another butterfly. I tried to count but the most the most I could get to was 11 in one view before I’d realize that there were more waiting in the wings as it were beyond my peripheral vision. I gave up counting pretty quickly after that as I didn’t fancy a migraine and instead just enjoyed seeing so many butterflies of a species that is now sadly extinct in my neck of the woods. They certainly made the journey worthwhile.
When I got back to the car I still had the afternoon stretching out before me and Collard Hill was only 12-13 miles away...
Once on site I crossed the road behind a group that were setting out on their DofE. Only being weighed down by my flask and my camera I soon overtook them and started scanning across the undulating grasses. I spotted a few Small Heath which I took to be a good sign as on my first visit they were also the first butterflies. Sure enough a few steps further along the track and I spotted a Small Pearl. It kept perching with fronds of Bracken or various leaves overhanging it but I pleased to have gotten off the mark with at least something on the memory card. As I was enjoying reacquainting myself with the butterfly the same I was overtaking by the DofE lads who were probably wondering why I was staring fixatedly into a bush. Once I reached the small Hillock where the paths split up; one towards the Pools, another on through the wood and the final one up the side of the hill following the drystone wall, I started looking even more intently. As I wove up the hill I found another Small Pearl flying around the large Bramble patch. Slightly further on along the track was a Large Skipper and adjacent to it was a Greenstreak looking surprisingly fresh. I worked my way back down to the main path and in the scrape at the bottom there were a couple more Small Pearls having a three way battle with a Large Skipper.
With my target species secured and a few shots in the bag I felt like I’d be able to have a little wander around the rest of the site. I followed the path along side the Pond where at least two different species of Dragonflies were quartering the surface and on through the very narrow path hemmed in on either side by the phragmites. At the end the path rose up to the top of a steep bank and the rest of the site opened up before me. There were steep banks and hollows, bowls quarried out and areas of thin turf with the blackened slag showing through. Along the stream tower block grass tussocks rose up and threatened to overshadow me and the all the undulations of this alien looking place were bordered by thin strands trees lining the boundary and its path. In terms of butterflies it seemed that almost everything barring a few Small Heaths and the odd Large Skipper were still tucked up in their beds. Once I go back on the border path on my way to the hillock I soon spotted a Small Pearl, as it flew past me and over the decaying drystone wall into the neighbouring field.
I set off around the hillock a few times, taking in all the likely looking spots from last year but most of the Small Pearls were flying around the top, down on the south eastern side and in the scrape at the bottom of the hill so I did a couple of tours around these spots. I’d watch a Small Pearl as it appeared as if from out of nowhere, then follow it around all the while trying not to twist and ankle or snap a shin in a hidden pothole and then one of three things would happen. Most often it would suddenly accelerate or catch the breeze and it would disappear from view. The next most likely outcome would be that it would land only to be seen off by a Large Skipper or take off to hassle another Small Pearl that had appeared on the scene. The rarest, and sweetest of outcomes was that it would finally take a breather and I’d be able to get in for a few shots. Most of my time was spent with ‘the following and cursing of the wee scunner’ but when they finally did settle they were worth all the hassle, all the twisted ankles and wrecked shins and I even felt a little apologetic about the cussing.
As I was watching I tried to count how many there were but they were so mobile this proved really tricky. Occasionally I’d see two together at one time and the maximum I had in one view at any time was three. I was also starting to notice that there were certain characters that would crop up in similar places. One seemed much lighter in colour than the others and was more delicately marked, another was quite swarthy and one seemed much smaller than the other, tiny by comparison but much more feisty. There were also a couple of females which didn’t fly as far, paused more often and also seemed to seek cover or shade more readily than the males. I reckoned that on the main hillock there were probably 7-8 Small Pearls flying as well as a few Large Skippers, 2 meadow Browns and an aged Dingy Skipper.
I took a small break on the little wooden bridge and used the shade of the tree there to examine my shots from the morning. As I looked away from the screen to my left was a Specklie. I was just about to swing my lens around and try for a few shots when it was dive bombed by a Small Pearl. This was enough to rouse from my chillin in the shade and I set to following the Small Pearl. It didn’t go to far and it was soon joined by a couple more Small Pearls all flying around a tiny little patch of grasses hemmed in at the back by the large growth of Bramble, on the right this bramble thinned out but there was also a steep bank down to the little stream spanned by the bridge I’d been sitting on and on the final side the drystone wall. This didn’t act as much of a barrier as they kept nipping over this and zooming away across the fields before returning a few minutes later. It looked like there were two males here whose tracks kept overlapping and also a female that somehow managed to keep out of the way.
Chuffed with this little flourish of activity I decided that this would make a fitting end to the visit and so I followed the little paths down and back to the main track. As I reached the bottom of the hill a male Common Blue drifted past me almost wishing me farewell…However the butterflies weren’t done with me quite yet and only a shirt stroll on and I’d seen another Common Blue, a few Small Heaths a UFW and 2 more Small Pearls. “Surely that’ll be it” I thought but as I drew near to the spot which previously had held a Greenstreak I saw a couple more Small Pearls, then a few more slightly further up the bank and even more towards the top of the bank – 8 in one view. There seemed to be a few more still fluttering about along the top of the bank so I picked out a thin path and followed it up the bank. At the top was a shallow hollow and it was a hive of activity. A few Small Heath and a female Common Blue were merely the supporting cast in a company of Small Pearls. It was almost impossible to count them as they would fly tis way and that, they’d hassle one another or leave a perfectly perfect pose to bother another butterfly. I tried to count but the most the most I could get to was 11 in one view before I’d realize that there were more waiting in the wings as it were beyond my peripheral vision. I gave up counting pretty quickly after that as I didn’t fancy a migraine and instead just enjoyed seeing so many butterflies of a species that is now sadly extinct in my neck of the woods. They certainly made the journey worthwhile.
When I got back to the car I still had the afternoon stretching out before me and Collard Hill was only 12-13 miles away...
Compton Down 04-06-2023
With the half-term dwindling to nothing I felt the urge to get out before being trapped back at work once more. Having hit Dyrham the day before I didn’t want to go too far but at the same time I wanted to ensure plenty of bang for my buck as it were. Local sites would be good mileage wise but were still quiet so in the end I found my ideal compromise in Compton Down and I was off motoring on my way to Dorset.
When I got there the car park was full but as I set off down the track I didn’t see a single soul. At the start of the track a large and fresh Specklie held its territory and a few Brimstones were still fluttering about. Something slightly orange and very flappy caught my attention. It turned out to be my first Meadow Brown of the year. As I tried for a few shots it made me wonder about the topsy-turvy nature of this season. Large Skippers and Meadow Browns out, Dukes and Pearls still hanging on in there and no sign of the Small Pearls…Speaking of Large Skippers they were the next species to add to the tally, a tiny, veering orange bullet ricocheting off the vegetation along the bank.
Once I’d gotten past the break in the hedge for the stile I started scanning ahead more attentively. Adonis and Common Blues, some of the former showing signs of war and taking on a Cobalt blue rather than the electric from when fresh, tried their best to distract me as they drifted down the steep bank or erupted from the stony track. I maintained my focus on the path and it promptly paid off with a Glannie taking off and gliding along before settling again. While I was with this Glannie a Large Skipper passed by and a few Small Blues were also flitting in and out of the long grasses. A Red Admiral took off from a pile of dog muck and buzzed me so I took this as my cue to move on slightly and the next stretch of the path, near the scallops into the bank held more blues, another Large Skipper and a second Glannie.
I pressed on down to the very end of the track…well to where the track dives down into the woodland and once there I stared at the bank, A Specklie took off from the treeline and went for a passing Small Blue whilst three Holly Blues tore chunks out of each other higher up in the canopy. On the bank itself plenty of Blues cascaded down or struggled up nd on the walk uphill to the scallops I saw Small, Common and Adonis Blues as well as Large, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. As I looked up from photographing one of the Grizzlies I watched the dark form of the Red Admiral making its way towards me. As it progressed first one, then another and finally a third, smaller, orange coloured butterfly took off to intercept. Three Glannies in a ball of fury all whizzing around the Aristocrat, it was all very revolutionary! Once they’d seen the Aristo packing they detached and moved back to their respective territories; the two that I’d previously seen moved off to the track and the third went up onto the bank. I doubled back and focused on the first one before tracking down the other two which were much fresher; bright ginger and with shining white fringes. Whilst I was hanging around the Glannies a Small Copper dropped in looking dazzling as it caught the light but looking much less so when wandering around the vegetation.
After this I made my way over the stile and started to investigate the don, stumbling over a Marshie as I broke through from the shade back into the sun. As I walked along the tracks at the bottom of the hill where they hugged the hedge I noticed a few more Small Heath in amongst the Blues as well as the odd Dingy and Grizzlie and a further two Glannies. The latter were much trickier here as they weren’t hemmed in by hedges on either side of the track and bank and they could work their way up the whole expanse of the hill before either drifting back down or letting the breeze whip them away. The Brown Argus seemed to have waned quickly here but the Adonis were everywhere and as I picked my way along the narrow tracks they’d fly up from either side. I’d worked my way almost all the way along the bottom of the down and was wondering where the Marshies were when I spotted one. It was a little battered and a few chips and chunks out of the wings but it was still a welcome sight.
Feeling pleased with my sightings I thought it best to head home early and accrue some Brownie points prior to the emergence of the Priddy Small Pearls. As I was retracing my steps a Wood tiger flew by ad unusually allowed me to approach it. Usually the Auto Focus sets them off but this one was as good as gold and I left it where it was and went on my way. On the way out the Meadow Brown was still quartering the hedge line, a couple of Holly Blues were having a go at each other and Specklie was in the same place so, rather nicely for the narrative, I finished as I started!
Compton Down again
For more Glannies in the sun
And an old Marshie
When I got there the car park was full but as I set off down the track I didn’t see a single soul. At the start of the track a large and fresh Specklie held its territory and a few Brimstones were still fluttering about. Something slightly orange and very flappy caught my attention. It turned out to be my first Meadow Brown of the year. As I tried for a few shots it made me wonder about the topsy-turvy nature of this season. Large Skippers and Meadow Browns out, Dukes and Pearls still hanging on in there and no sign of the Small Pearls…Speaking of Large Skippers they were the next species to add to the tally, a tiny, veering orange bullet ricocheting off the vegetation along the bank.
Once I’d gotten past the break in the hedge for the stile I started scanning ahead more attentively. Adonis and Common Blues, some of the former showing signs of war and taking on a Cobalt blue rather than the electric from when fresh, tried their best to distract me as they drifted down the steep bank or erupted from the stony track. I maintained my focus on the path and it promptly paid off with a Glannie taking off and gliding along before settling again. While I was with this Glannie a Large Skipper passed by and a few Small Blues were also flitting in and out of the long grasses. A Red Admiral took off from a pile of dog muck and buzzed me so I took this as my cue to move on slightly and the next stretch of the path, near the scallops into the bank held more blues, another Large Skipper and a second Glannie.
I pressed on down to the very end of the track…well to where the track dives down into the woodland and once there I stared at the bank, A Specklie took off from the treeline and went for a passing Small Blue whilst three Holly Blues tore chunks out of each other higher up in the canopy. On the bank itself plenty of Blues cascaded down or struggled up nd on the walk uphill to the scallops I saw Small, Common and Adonis Blues as well as Large, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. As I looked up from photographing one of the Grizzlies I watched the dark form of the Red Admiral making its way towards me. As it progressed first one, then another and finally a third, smaller, orange coloured butterfly took off to intercept. Three Glannies in a ball of fury all whizzing around the Aristocrat, it was all very revolutionary! Once they’d seen the Aristo packing they detached and moved back to their respective territories; the two that I’d previously seen moved off to the track and the third went up onto the bank. I doubled back and focused on the first one before tracking down the other two which were much fresher; bright ginger and with shining white fringes. Whilst I was hanging around the Glannies a Small Copper dropped in looking dazzling as it caught the light but looking much less so when wandering around the vegetation.
After this I made my way over the stile and started to investigate the don, stumbling over a Marshie as I broke through from the shade back into the sun. As I walked along the tracks at the bottom of the hill where they hugged the hedge I noticed a few more Small Heath in amongst the Blues as well as the odd Dingy and Grizzlie and a further two Glannies. The latter were much trickier here as they weren’t hemmed in by hedges on either side of the track and bank and they could work their way up the whole expanse of the hill before either drifting back down or letting the breeze whip them away. The Brown Argus seemed to have waned quickly here but the Adonis were everywhere and as I picked my way along the narrow tracks they’d fly up from either side. I’d worked my way almost all the way along the bottom of the down and was wondering where the Marshies were when I spotted one. It was a little battered and a few chips and chunks out of the wings but it was still a welcome sight.
Feeling pleased with my sightings I thought it best to head home early and accrue some Brownie points prior to the emergence of the Priddy Small Pearls. As I was retracing my steps a Wood tiger flew by ad unusually allowed me to approach it. Usually the Auto Focus sets them off but this one was as good as gold and I left it where it was and went on my way. On the way out the Meadow Brown was still quartering the hedge line, a couple of Holly Blues were having a go at each other and Specklie was in the same place so, rather nicely for the narrative, I finished as I started!
Compton Down again
For more Glannies in the sun
And an old Marshie
Martin Down 02-06-2023
This was going to be one of those trips that I love. Some free time to go and just see what there was about as I wasn’t travelling far to a specific site for a specific species and I’d pretty much caught up with the species that had already emerged. Time to kick back and wander and let me lens take it all in. From the main car park I worked through to the bowl with Bokerley Dyke on the far side but rather than following the usual animal tracks down and then up again and so crossing the bowl I worked round to the start of the Dyke by using the track that hugged the hedge all the way round. At first there was a bed of Thistles to circumnavigate which was playing host to a Red Admiral and a gaggle of Brimstones but after this it became a case of grass to the left of me hedge to the right. Stuck in the middle was a Marshie, slightly older then some I’d seen but a great way to get started proper. There was also a Dingy and a pair of Small Coppers, one worn and the other mighty fine.
I’d reached the start of the Dyke and so I set off downhill fist of all along the top path with a few Brimstones and Small Heath fluttering ahead of me, as the base of the dyke was so overgrown. Shortly before the ‘bridge’ I clambered down and risked Adder bites, Nettle stings and briar cuts as I’d spotted another Marshie. As I got in close for a few shots a Grizzlie whose territory I was intruding upon scolded me and out of spite chased the Marshie off. No matter I watched as it flew over the bridge and then slightly further along the Dyke so I was able to follow it and continue getting some shots.
This little section over the bridge is often the best spot in the whole reserve. It’s a regular sun trap and the steep sides of the Dyke offer protection from even the strongest of gusts from the prevailing wind. It came into its own again today with Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Brown Argus, Common Blue and a further three Marshies. The best butterfly though was found down in the very base of the ditch where it sat or clambered about amongst the low growing vegetation. It was a Small Blue, not a new species for this area of the Dyke but never this far along. I did encounter a few problems here though. First of all the Small Blue as previously mentioned insisted in sitting in the base so I spent a lot of my time checking the floor rather than the vegetation so as not flatten it under my boots. The second problem I encountered was that the Marshies were very boisterous and so as I’d stalk up to my quarry another would fly along the Dyke and they would both go up in a battling ball, I swear that I could hear the incomer chucking to itself. To make matters worse the two would become three as the third unseen Marshie would join the fray. I worked round these problems and soon was happy to leave the confines of the of the Dyke.
That was when I encountered problem number three, it had gotten very windy whilst I had been down in the ditch. I worked round this by looking in at all the sheltered little nooks and crannies that the open grassland had to offer, the leeward side of a Hawthorn, a dip in the ground or a rut along the path. I also kept an eye out across the grass tops for any butterfly that was struggling against the wind or being carried along by it to see where it would be ‘dropped’ off. In this way I picked up various bits and bobs and the ones that stood out were a Brown Argus and Small Heath sharing a grass stem and a Greasy Fritillary that managed flay around and drop into some grasses during a momentary lull in the wind. As I approached the Big Butt (I don’t know why I haven’t called it this before?) a Grizzlie flew up to meet me and a Peacock flashed past. I took a quick walk around the sheltered area of the Big Butt and there were 3 Common blues, 2 Small Heath and a Grizzlie and then I was off on my way to the half way point…
On the way to the half way point I saw more of the same with the addition of a couple of Small Blues and among the throng of butterflies flying around the terraced section of the Dyke near the Burnt-tips there were a few Adonis Blues, shining out and glittering in the sun. I then started towards the half-way point proper noting a few Small Blues and another Marshie right at the shallowest point where the Dyke is split by the track coming into the and across the reserve from Pentridge.
As I followed the little track through the wall of vegetation lining the path a Holly Blue fluttered across the break and the tussock of tall grass on the corner held 3 Small Blues and a Brown Argus. I worked down the track where there were another couple of Small Blues but I couldn’t find any Greenstreaks. To be fair it had been a while since my previous visit and the one holding the territory at the end of the path had been looking a little worse for wear. As I wandered back up the track I started counting again and this time came up with a total of 7 Small Blues and a Grizzlie. I went to check out the other end of the path where it abuts onto the neighbouring field but again I couldn’t find any Greenstreaks but instead a few Adonis Blues. As I retraced my footsteps back to the large tussock I started noticing the Small Blue more readily as I’d gotten my eye in and then a dark small butterfly jinked it’s way across from Hawthorn to another. It was a Greenstreak – brilliant. I tried for a few shots and then got some shaky and blurred video on my phone in the vague hope that I’d be able to capture a single frame when the butterfly had its wing open – something to work on during the winter months.
Back at the Dyke I reacquainted myself with the Marshie and the Adonis. After a dizzying run one of the Adonis finally settled and so kneeling down I started clicking away. After a few shots my camera stopped working – I’d filled the memory card. As I reached into my bag and changed the card the butterfly carried on feeding and sitting in the sun. Then, with new card in, I looked down the viewfinder and got a little shock. In the time it had taken me to bring my eye to the viewfinder the fresh, electrifying Adonis had been replaced/usurped by a torn and faded Common Blue.
Time was ticking by and so I started back toward the car. The trip back took me along the same route with the same species but when I reached Big Butt I crossed the short-turfed field and walked back along the main drag. I did my best to just keep walking but I was occasionally distracted; one time as a Cuckoo passed over, the next it was a Corn Bunting that was only 3 feet away (I didn’t get any shots as it clocked me too quickly) and then there was another Greenstreak. Just up from this I spotted a tussock of tall grasses a bit like the one at the half-way point and sure enough there were Small Blues flitting about. Well four of the them were, two were other wise engaged. After a few shots I left them in peace to continue to make sure there were some Small Blues next year but only a couple of steps further along the path were a pair of Common Blues in cop. There must have been something in the air so just in case I sped up and got back to the car in record time. So ended a lovely, ‘lets see what we can see’ kinda trip.
Lazy sunshine day
Chilling out at Martin Down
See what’s on offer
I’d reached the start of the Dyke and so I set off downhill fist of all along the top path with a few Brimstones and Small Heath fluttering ahead of me, as the base of the dyke was so overgrown. Shortly before the ‘bridge’ I clambered down and risked Adder bites, Nettle stings and briar cuts as I’d spotted another Marshie. As I got in close for a few shots a Grizzlie whose territory I was intruding upon scolded me and out of spite chased the Marshie off. No matter I watched as it flew over the bridge and then slightly further along the Dyke so I was able to follow it and continue getting some shots.
This little section over the bridge is often the best spot in the whole reserve. It’s a regular sun trap and the steep sides of the Dyke offer protection from even the strongest of gusts from the prevailing wind. It came into its own again today with Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Brown Argus, Common Blue and a further three Marshies. The best butterfly though was found down in the very base of the ditch where it sat or clambered about amongst the low growing vegetation. It was a Small Blue, not a new species for this area of the Dyke but never this far along. I did encounter a few problems here though. First of all the Small Blue as previously mentioned insisted in sitting in the base so I spent a lot of my time checking the floor rather than the vegetation so as not flatten it under my boots. The second problem I encountered was that the Marshies were very boisterous and so as I’d stalk up to my quarry another would fly along the Dyke and they would both go up in a battling ball, I swear that I could hear the incomer chucking to itself. To make matters worse the two would become three as the third unseen Marshie would join the fray. I worked round these problems and soon was happy to leave the confines of the of the Dyke.
That was when I encountered problem number three, it had gotten very windy whilst I had been down in the ditch. I worked round this by looking in at all the sheltered little nooks and crannies that the open grassland had to offer, the leeward side of a Hawthorn, a dip in the ground or a rut along the path. I also kept an eye out across the grass tops for any butterfly that was struggling against the wind or being carried along by it to see where it would be ‘dropped’ off. In this way I picked up various bits and bobs and the ones that stood out were a Brown Argus and Small Heath sharing a grass stem and a Greasy Fritillary that managed flay around and drop into some grasses during a momentary lull in the wind. As I approached the Big Butt (I don’t know why I haven’t called it this before?) a Grizzlie flew up to meet me and a Peacock flashed past. I took a quick walk around the sheltered area of the Big Butt and there were 3 Common blues, 2 Small Heath and a Grizzlie and then I was off on my way to the half way point…
On the way to the half way point I saw more of the same with the addition of a couple of Small Blues and among the throng of butterflies flying around the terraced section of the Dyke near the Burnt-tips there were a few Adonis Blues, shining out and glittering in the sun. I then started towards the half-way point proper noting a few Small Blues and another Marshie right at the shallowest point where the Dyke is split by the track coming into the and across the reserve from Pentridge.
As I followed the little track through the wall of vegetation lining the path a Holly Blue fluttered across the break and the tussock of tall grass on the corner held 3 Small Blues and a Brown Argus. I worked down the track where there were another couple of Small Blues but I couldn’t find any Greenstreaks. To be fair it had been a while since my previous visit and the one holding the territory at the end of the path had been looking a little worse for wear. As I wandered back up the track I started counting again and this time came up with a total of 7 Small Blues and a Grizzlie. I went to check out the other end of the path where it abuts onto the neighbouring field but again I couldn’t find any Greenstreaks but instead a few Adonis Blues. As I retraced my footsteps back to the large tussock I started noticing the Small Blue more readily as I’d gotten my eye in and then a dark small butterfly jinked it’s way across from Hawthorn to another. It was a Greenstreak – brilliant. I tried for a few shots and then got some shaky and blurred video on my phone in the vague hope that I’d be able to capture a single frame when the butterfly had its wing open – something to work on during the winter months.
Back at the Dyke I reacquainted myself with the Marshie and the Adonis. After a dizzying run one of the Adonis finally settled and so kneeling down I started clicking away. After a few shots my camera stopped working – I’d filled the memory card. As I reached into my bag and changed the card the butterfly carried on feeding and sitting in the sun. Then, with new card in, I looked down the viewfinder and got a little shock. In the time it had taken me to bring my eye to the viewfinder the fresh, electrifying Adonis had been replaced/usurped by a torn and faded Common Blue.
Time was ticking by and so I started back toward the car. The trip back took me along the same route with the same species but when I reached Big Butt I crossed the short-turfed field and walked back along the main drag. I did my best to just keep walking but I was occasionally distracted; one time as a Cuckoo passed over, the next it was a Corn Bunting that was only 3 feet away (I didn’t get any shots as it clocked me too quickly) and then there was another Greenstreak. Just up from this I spotted a tussock of tall grasses a bit like the one at the half-way point and sure enough there were Small Blues flitting about. Well four of the them were, two were other wise engaged. After a few shots I left them in peace to continue to make sure there were some Small Blues next year but only a couple of steps further along the path were a pair of Common Blues in cop. There must have been something in the air so just in case I sped up and got back to the car in record time. So ended a lovely, ‘lets see what we can see’ kinda trip.
Lazy sunshine day
Chilling out at Martin Down
See what’s on offer
Middle Street 01-06-2023
Having survived taking the girls on a shopping trip to S’Hampton (my wallet was suffering from some serious weight loss) we arrived back in Salisbury much earlier than expected and with plenty of time for my wife to prepare for her tutoring. So as to give her some peace I very generously offered to head out with my camera. As the Brown Argus and Common Blues were out elsewhere it now seemed like a reasonable time to check in at Middle Street.
The walk over was quiet with the only thing of note being a Grey Wagtail. As I walked into the reserve I spotted a couple of tiny silver Holly Blues jinking about at the end of the path. Of course the minute I made to approach they were both up and off but a Red Admiral was much more reticent and looked to be investigating various Nettles as suitable depositories for her eggs. The ‘through’ path along the back where I saw my first OT was so overgrown that it was impenetrable so I backed up and took the parallel main path. At the cross-tracks I went right and skirted round the pond where there were several varieties of Damselflies.
Following the circular track round brought me to the side of Dip 1. Before entering a brace of Small Whites led me on a bit of a wild goose chase and I left them to their annoying ways and entered into Dip 1. About half way across a Large Skipper sat for just long enough to grab a few record shots. As I went to move in a passing fly bumped into it and it zipped off over the surrounding grass heads.
I climbed out and followed the Bank path towards the ‘End’ scanning down along the bank to the football pitch on one side and Dip2 and Dip3 on the other. All was quiet and before I knew it I was wading into the End field – well that’s what it felt like as the grasses on either side of the narrow track were as high as my waist. As the overhanging grasses bushed against my thighs a Common Blue hove into view. It landed in one of the little ‘clearings’ in the grass and by finding the narrowest strip of tall grasses I was able to step over into the clearing and follow it without any trampling. As I got ready to start clicking away I became aware of a smaller Moff like butterfly that was also occupying the same space. In the past I’ve seen both Dingy and Grizzlies here so with fingers crossed that it was one of these two and not just a ‘moff’ I focused in on the newbie. It was a Grizzlie and one in quite reasonable attire too. Brilliant! Whether there is a breeding population here or more likely it’s a wanderer from another site I couldn’t say; it was just a pleasure to see it here once more.
After plenty of shots and a quick walk about the little track to the rest of the End I relocated the Common Blue and so spent some time with it before wandering slowly back along the Bank path. The Large Skipper was in the same spot back in Dip 1but again a/the pesky fly kept bothering it, eventually sending it reeling off once again across the vegetation. With that a feeling pleasantly warm and contented I made for home where a Holly Blue greeted me at the end of the road.
The Grizzlie was back
Inhabiting Middle Street
Despite the June gap
The walk over was quiet with the only thing of note being a Grey Wagtail. As I walked into the reserve I spotted a couple of tiny silver Holly Blues jinking about at the end of the path. Of course the minute I made to approach they were both up and off but a Red Admiral was much more reticent and looked to be investigating various Nettles as suitable depositories for her eggs. The ‘through’ path along the back where I saw my first OT was so overgrown that it was impenetrable so I backed up and took the parallel main path. At the cross-tracks I went right and skirted round the pond where there were several varieties of Damselflies.
Following the circular track round brought me to the side of Dip 1. Before entering a brace of Small Whites led me on a bit of a wild goose chase and I left them to their annoying ways and entered into Dip 1. About half way across a Large Skipper sat for just long enough to grab a few record shots. As I went to move in a passing fly bumped into it and it zipped off over the surrounding grass heads.
I climbed out and followed the Bank path towards the ‘End’ scanning down along the bank to the football pitch on one side and Dip2 and Dip3 on the other. All was quiet and before I knew it I was wading into the End field – well that’s what it felt like as the grasses on either side of the narrow track were as high as my waist. As the overhanging grasses bushed against my thighs a Common Blue hove into view. It landed in one of the little ‘clearings’ in the grass and by finding the narrowest strip of tall grasses I was able to step over into the clearing and follow it without any trampling. As I got ready to start clicking away I became aware of a smaller Moff like butterfly that was also occupying the same space. In the past I’ve seen both Dingy and Grizzlies here so with fingers crossed that it was one of these two and not just a ‘moff’ I focused in on the newbie. It was a Grizzlie and one in quite reasonable attire too. Brilliant! Whether there is a breeding population here or more likely it’s a wanderer from another site I couldn’t say; it was just a pleasure to see it here once more.
After plenty of shots and a quick walk about the little track to the rest of the End I relocated the Common Blue and so spent some time with it before wandering slowly back along the Bank path. The Large Skipper was in the same spot back in Dip 1but again a/the pesky fly kept bothering it, eventually sending it reeling off once again across the vegetation. With that a feeling pleasantly warm and contented I made for home where a Holly Blue greeted me at the end of the road.
The Grizzlie was back
Inhabiting Middle Street
Despite the June gap
