Five Rivers 25-03-2023
The phrase “I don’t know why I went but I did anyway” to my mind sounds like it could be the opening lines of a Jane Austen novel and it perfectly summed up this trip. The weather wasn’t great what with limited amounts of sun peeking out from behind the cloud which ran all the way to the horizon (and possibly beyond), the temperature was struggling to get into double digits and there was the feeling of early February about the day. Yet still I went out, camera in hand, begging the weather Gods to smile favourably on me such has been the poor nature of the start to the season. Some might even have questioned whether it had begun but with April in sight it certainly felt like there should be butterflies about. As I was off the only question was where too?
In the end I settled for Five Rivers and within a few minutes I was there, parked and pulling on my fleece jacket (a fleece jacket whilst butterflying – what is the world coming too!). As I strolled down the Riverside path there was just a fleeting glimpse of sun and with it a fleeting glimpse of a Brimstone fluttering about where the autumnal Red Admirals like to hang despite the coolness of the air. Some of the early hibernators must be have been getting desperate by now so that even the vaguest of hints of the sun donning its cap would have been enough to bring them forth. The sun somehow managed to hold the cloud back a little longer but my journey though the Glades was fruitless. As I made my way across to the bank opposite the football pitches I risked a quick look up at the heavens. It wasn’t looking good so I averted my gaze and peered more meaningfully at the foliage. Here was a Comma, at least it was there for just long enough to make an identification because at that exact point three things happened; the butterfly took off, the sun went in and then the butterfly disappeared deep into the massive mass of Bramble! Cursing I retreated to the Banks where a Brimstone had obviously been caught out by the sudden arrival and then departure of the sun for it was still flying, albeit weakly, along the Banks. It must have finally used all of its remaining fuel reserves as it plunged into a bramble bush sapped of all strength. I peered into the plant I sure enough there was an oddly coloured leaf so I clicked away.
I found with a bit of careful foot snaking and with the adoption of some surreal Kung Fu stances I was able to get some closer and more side-on shots. It appeared not to like its sanctuary too much as even the slightest sliver of sun showing through the clouds saw it try to take to the air. It would then realise its mistake and plummet down into the vegetation before crawling up a handy stem to try and absorb some, any, heat. I even offered it my finger at one point and the warmth that it offered enticed the butterfly to crawl and then cling onto my digit. This left me in somewhat of quandary what to do with it and so I then knelt down and placed it back in the Bramble but at the edge rather than deep in the centre. This seemed a likely looking spot; close enough to the edge so it could get the warming rays of the sun should they ever return but also in enough cover so that it wouldn’t get picked off by the passing passerines.
With my charge safely stowed away I set to walking the length and breadth of the Reserve…well to the far end of the Banks. Occasionally I would look up but the cloud was still holding the sun back. So much so in fact that I felt a little like Nosferatu as I cast no shadow. In the end I made three round trips along the Banks and back. Each time I checked in on the Brimstone and it was still in place but unfortunately it remained the only butterfly that I’d photographed. In the end I decided to head for home and then a Comma appeared as if from nowhere at the old Comma Corner. It sat for a few shots and then ‘did one’ in the vernacular. I took this to be my cue to leave and so I returned home with only a meagre four butterflies seen of two species, quite a dismal tally for this time of year.
Why did I bother?
Only four butterflies seen
A shocking total!
In the end I settled for Five Rivers and within a few minutes I was there, parked and pulling on my fleece jacket (a fleece jacket whilst butterflying – what is the world coming too!). As I strolled down the Riverside path there was just a fleeting glimpse of sun and with it a fleeting glimpse of a Brimstone fluttering about where the autumnal Red Admirals like to hang despite the coolness of the air. Some of the early hibernators must be have been getting desperate by now so that even the vaguest of hints of the sun donning its cap would have been enough to bring them forth. The sun somehow managed to hold the cloud back a little longer but my journey though the Glades was fruitless. As I made my way across to the bank opposite the football pitches I risked a quick look up at the heavens. It wasn’t looking good so I averted my gaze and peered more meaningfully at the foliage. Here was a Comma, at least it was there for just long enough to make an identification because at that exact point three things happened; the butterfly took off, the sun went in and then the butterfly disappeared deep into the massive mass of Bramble! Cursing I retreated to the Banks where a Brimstone had obviously been caught out by the sudden arrival and then departure of the sun for it was still flying, albeit weakly, along the Banks. It must have finally used all of its remaining fuel reserves as it plunged into a bramble bush sapped of all strength. I peered into the plant I sure enough there was an oddly coloured leaf so I clicked away.
I found with a bit of careful foot snaking and with the adoption of some surreal Kung Fu stances I was able to get some closer and more side-on shots. It appeared not to like its sanctuary too much as even the slightest sliver of sun showing through the clouds saw it try to take to the air. It would then realise its mistake and plummet down into the vegetation before crawling up a handy stem to try and absorb some, any, heat. I even offered it my finger at one point and the warmth that it offered enticed the butterfly to crawl and then cling onto my digit. This left me in somewhat of quandary what to do with it and so I then knelt down and placed it back in the Bramble but at the edge rather than deep in the centre. This seemed a likely looking spot; close enough to the edge so it could get the warming rays of the sun should they ever return but also in enough cover so that it wouldn’t get picked off by the passing passerines.
With my charge safely stowed away I set to walking the length and breadth of the Reserve…well to the far end of the Banks. Occasionally I would look up but the cloud was still holding the sun back. So much so in fact that I felt a little like Nosferatu as I cast no shadow. In the end I made three round trips along the Banks and back. Each time I checked in on the Brimstone and it was still in place but unfortunately it remained the only butterfly that I’d photographed. In the end I decided to head for home and then a Comma appeared as if from nowhere at the old Comma Corner. It sat for a few shots and then ‘did one’ in the vernacular. I took this to be my cue to leave and so I returned home with only a meagre four butterflies seen of two species, quite a dismal tally for this time of year.
Why did I bother?
Only four butterflies seen
A shocking total!
Middle Street 18-03-2023
I took advantage of a break in the cloud to head over to Middle Street to see how things were progressing. This was actually take two’ as I’d gotten ready to leave earlier in the morning only to step outside as the cloud rolled over the sun and the temperature seemed to plummet. This time I walked over and managed to time it perfectly for as the final edge of the cloud cover slipped away and the sun came on strong I stepped across the threshold of the reserve. I cut straight across to the Bank Path and worked from Dip 1 to the end without seeing a single butterfly. Perhaps I needed to have wait slightly longer, perhaps I’d not timed it too perfection but at the end a brace of Brimstones flashed by reassuring me. It seemed that in the weak spring sun the butterflies needed a little time to warm up once the sun had put his hat on.
I worked back and the sun really came on strong and with it came a Small Tort which appeared on the Bank path between Dip 1 and 2 but unfortunately it didn’t hang about. I don’t know what’s up this year but all the butterflies seem very twitchy – perhaps after the later start to the season compared to the previous few years they’ve all emerged on fast forward to ensure that in the fleeting glimpses of the sun they can meet their Biological imperative? I carried on despite the glancing shots of the Small Tort and walked down into Dip 1. As I bushed various old dead grasses aside I spotted a Red Admiral. I watched it sweep from one side of the Dip to the other and back again and then it went down as the sun was swallowed by the next bank of cloud. A stalwart Brimstone somehow managed to keep flying but the Admiral was grounded which I couldn’t work out as surely the dark ground colour of the Admiral would have absorbed more heat than the bright and light colour of the Brimstone? I mused on this among other things while I waited with the Admiral and took various shots including some time playing about with my settings. As I sorted out the melted chocolate in my pocket I glanced down for a second and when I looked back up and it was gone!
Still smarting from this rude departure I made my way to the other end of the reserve and the Dried Pond Hotspot which was still not living up to its name. I settled myself down at the edge and waited. Sure enough almost as if on cue a Comma appeared, it flew towards me and did a flip before pausing on the reeds which allowed me to get a few grab/record shots. It went and then came back again as yet another brace of Brimstones passed over the pond before finally disappearing up and over into the neighbouring garden. As I climbed back out, extricating myself from the Brambles which had woven themselves around my feet, there were three Brimstones all flying in view over the small field as I left the Pond. After this I took one of the smaller paths back to the start of the Bank path and as I scanned down to the actual pond (the large one where the Polish Anglers try their luck) a female Brimstone flew by and goes to ground. With a little careful stalking, remembering to give it time to settle I was able to get a few shots some of which were quite close in.
I then set to work proper as it were, scanning and checking all of the usual spots. As I worked back along the Bank Path a Small Tort disappeared past me and as I continued on I added 2 more ale Brimstones as well as a female to the tally before turning around. Poor old Dip 3 is having a terrible run of form with nowt again but in Dip 2 a Small Tort sat for a few shots before I turned my attentions to a Comma. It didn’t like the attention so I returned my focus to the Small Tort which evidently did like all the fuss as it posed so nicely for me in a variety of settings. Finally I dove down from the Bank Path into Dip1 where there were two Commas. It was easy to determine that there were definitely two individuals as they had the decency to sit adjacent to each other in the same shot. Once I’d got a few shots of the more ragged individual I moved onto the fresher looking specimen. This one in particular sat in a very nice way, near the top of a stem of dead grass where it stood out like a ginger jewel against the dull grey/brown background of early spring.
Then my time drew nigh as the cloud returned and so I beat a retreat and headed for home. As usual the sun reappeared when I’m almost back and there are Brimstones flying about all over the place and all out of reach of my lens. I was almost back when finally I saw a Peacock. It was basking on a drive way in Harcourt Ave but it was too quick for my lens and was gone just leaving a blur of burgundy and charcoal on my retina. As I crossed the threshold I was left wondering if this is actually the start of the season proper or would we have a fitful, in with a whimper in dribs and drabs spring?
A bit more like it
The first ‘5 species’ visit
But still early doors?
I worked back and the sun really came on strong and with it came a Small Tort which appeared on the Bank path between Dip 1 and 2 but unfortunately it didn’t hang about. I don’t know what’s up this year but all the butterflies seem very twitchy – perhaps after the later start to the season compared to the previous few years they’ve all emerged on fast forward to ensure that in the fleeting glimpses of the sun they can meet their Biological imperative? I carried on despite the glancing shots of the Small Tort and walked down into Dip 1. As I bushed various old dead grasses aside I spotted a Red Admiral. I watched it sweep from one side of the Dip to the other and back again and then it went down as the sun was swallowed by the next bank of cloud. A stalwart Brimstone somehow managed to keep flying but the Admiral was grounded which I couldn’t work out as surely the dark ground colour of the Admiral would have absorbed more heat than the bright and light colour of the Brimstone? I mused on this among other things while I waited with the Admiral and took various shots including some time playing about with my settings. As I sorted out the melted chocolate in my pocket I glanced down for a second and when I looked back up and it was gone!
Still smarting from this rude departure I made my way to the other end of the reserve and the Dried Pond Hotspot which was still not living up to its name. I settled myself down at the edge and waited. Sure enough almost as if on cue a Comma appeared, it flew towards me and did a flip before pausing on the reeds which allowed me to get a few grab/record shots. It went and then came back again as yet another brace of Brimstones passed over the pond before finally disappearing up and over into the neighbouring garden. As I climbed back out, extricating myself from the Brambles which had woven themselves around my feet, there were three Brimstones all flying in view over the small field as I left the Pond. After this I took one of the smaller paths back to the start of the Bank path and as I scanned down to the actual pond (the large one where the Polish Anglers try their luck) a female Brimstone flew by and goes to ground. With a little careful stalking, remembering to give it time to settle I was able to get a few shots some of which were quite close in.
I then set to work proper as it were, scanning and checking all of the usual spots. As I worked back along the Bank Path a Small Tort disappeared past me and as I continued on I added 2 more ale Brimstones as well as a female to the tally before turning around. Poor old Dip 3 is having a terrible run of form with nowt again but in Dip 2 a Small Tort sat for a few shots before I turned my attentions to a Comma. It didn’t like the attention so I returned my focus to the Small Tort which evidently did like all the fuss as it posed so nicely for me in a variety of settings. Finally I dove down from the Bank Path into Dip1 where there were two Commas. It was easy to determine that there were definitely two individuals as they had the decency to sit adjacent to each other in the same shot. Once I’d got a few shots of the more ragged individual I moved onto the fresher looking specimen. This one in particular sat in a very nice way, near the top of a stem of dead grass where it stood out like a ginger jewel against the dull grey/brown background of early spring.
Then my time drew nigh as the cloud returned and so I beat a retreat and headed for home. As usual the sun reappeared when I’m almost back and there are Brimstones flying about all over the place and all out of reach of my lens. I was almost back when finally I saw a Peacock. It was basking on a drive way in Harcourt Ave but it was too quick for my lens and was gone just leaving a blur of burgundy and charcoal on my retina. As I crossed the threshold I was left wondering if this is actually the start of the season proper or would we have a fitful, in with a whimper in dribs and drabs spring?
A bit more like it
The first ‘5 species’ visit
But still early doors?