Mottisfont 22-10-2023
Normally at this time of year I’d be thinking about cleaning up the memory card, tidying up things on the hard drive and maybe even sending my workhorse lens off for a service and a tune up. But this year things seemed to be continuing and so off I went with the family to Mottisfont fueled with mild expectations which increased as we drove through the outskirts of Salisbury and several Red Admirals flew alongside or across the road at a few junctures.
About an hour later we were inside and wandering along the stream and up the rise towards the font itself. The sun was struggling to extend its reach as far as the small garden on this side of the site but tis progress as marked by a line of mist as the dew evaporated. Having broken free from the confines of the twisty paths we cut across the picnic site to the main path with a Specklie making me pause on the way.
Things had been quite quiet up until now but I had an inkling that things might get a bit better once we entered the three walled gardens. Sure enough as we entered the first, which for some reason makes me think of Poirot and his ‘vegetable Marrows’, a Red Admiral flashed past whilst another sat on the dividing wall basking for all it was worth. As I progressed through I was greeted by a third Red Admiral in the Quarter Gardens before broaching the final garden of the three. This is usually the best, what with it’s liberal planting of Lavender and various other goodies for butterflies like Boules Mauve. Sure enough as I scanned across the flower tops I caught sight of yet another Red Admiral whilst over in the far corner a Holly Blue drifted up from the foliage and into the Holly that was growing over the alcove. As I walked round the main event appeared, its orange livery standing out against the mauve flowers it was intently feeding upon. It was a Painted Lady and so the final garden had produced the goods again. As we were leaving a Hummingbird Hawk Moth stopped in just long enough to point it out to the others.
We then exited the gardens and made our way across the lawn to the Picnic area to have lunch. As we wolfed down our sandwiches I watched the Specklie as it fluttered about in exactly the same spot that I’d left it earlier in the morning. It seemed to enjoy doing a circuit from Beech tree to Beech tree before stopping, possibly for a little breather, down on the deck in between the final two trees of the line. Once we’d cleared away I popped over and waited for a minute or so in the cover of one of these trees and sure enough the Specklie came to me.
Repast over we got to walking again, first around the exhibition in the house and then out across the fields to the River walk. It was quite serene watching the occasional break in the water as one of the many Trout rose like a behemoth in miniature. The only other thing of note was yet another Red Admiral on the other side of the river and at the far end near the routes’ completion. A quick check of the Cellarium before we left saw a hunch paying off, as tucked up in the vaulted ceiling was a Small Tortoiseshell already settled down for the winter it seemed. Then it was time to pile into the car and on the journey home I added a further two species to the Tally; a female Brimstone at Lopcombe Corner and a Small White near journeys end at Bishopsdown. I completed the drive musing that it wasn’t too bad a haul for this time of year thinking that I’d seen all the butterflies for the day…which wasn’t true as a Red Admiral was waiting for us on South Street when we arrived home…but only waiting long enough to get the camera out before if buggered off!
Nearing the year’s end
Quick visit to Mottisfont
Quite a fruitful trip
About an hour later we were inside and wandering along the stream and up the rise towards the font itself. The sun was struggling to extend its reach as far as the small garden on this side of the site but tis progress as marked by a line of mist as the dew evaporated. Having broken free from the confines of the twisty paths we cut across the picnic site to the main path with a Specklie making me pause on the way.
Things had been quite quiet up until now but I had an inkling that things might get a bit better once we entered the three walled gardens. Sure enough as we entered the first, which for some reason makes me think of Poirot and his ‘vegetable Marrows’, a Red Admiral flashed past whilst another sat on the dividing wall basking for all it was worth. As I progressed through I was greeted by a third Red Admiral in the Quarter Gardens before broaching the final garden of the three. This is usually the best, what with it’s liberal planting of Lavender and various other goodies for butterflies like Boules Mauve. Sure enough as I scanned across the flower tops I caught sight of yet another Red Admiral whilst over in the far corner a Holly Blue drifted up from the foliage and into the Holly that was growing over the alcove. As I walked round the main event appeared, its orange livery standing out against the mauve flowers it was intently feeding upon. It was a Painted Lady and so the final garden had produced the goods again. As we were leaving a Hummingbird Hawk Moth stopped in just long enough to point it out to the others.
We then exited the gardens and made our way across the lawn to the Picnic area to have lunch. As we wolfed down our sandwiches I watched the Specklie as it fluttered about in exactly the same spot that I’d left it earlier in the morning. It seemed to enjoy doing a circuit from Beech tree to Beech tree before stopping, possibly for a little breather, down on the deck in between the final two trees of the line. Once we’d cleared away I popped over and waited for a minute or so in the cover of one of these trees and sure enough the Specklie came to me.
Repast over we got to walking again, first around the exhibition in the house and then out across the fields to the River walk. It was quite serene watching the occasional break in the water as one of the many Trout rose like a behemoth in miniature. The only other thing of note was yet another Red Admiral on the other side of the river and at the far end near the routes’ completion. A quick check of the Cellarium before we left saw a hunch paying off, as tucked up in the vaulted ceiling was a Small Tortoiseshell already settled down for the winter it seemed. Then it was time to pile into the car and on the journey home I added a further two species to the Tally; a female Brimstone at Lopcombe Corner and a Small White near journeys end at Bishopsdown. I completed the drive musing that it wasn’t too bad a haul for this time of year thinking that I’d seen all the butterflies for the day…which wasn’t true as a Red Admiral was waiting for us on South Street when we arrived home…but only waiting long enough to get the camera out before if buggered off!
Nearing the year’s end
Quick visit to Mottisfont
Quite a fruitful trip
Stourhead 08-10-2023
With the end of the season fast approaching and the trees starting the annual process of apoptosis it was time to head to Stourhead and marvel and the wondrous colours produced by the non-replenishment of chlorophyll. It seemed that lots of other people had the same idea but luckily we were early birds and so when we arrived in the car park it had only just opened to we had pick of the spots.
Once through we started off on our usual route which meant winding down the hill and then across the bridge with the Stourton road beneath before starting to climb up and through the various terraced walled gardens. At this time of year the walls demarking the three main terraces catch the sun and so often there are butterflies basking for all they’re worth on the friable brickwork. This was exactly so, almost as expected, in the first terrace. As we walked round the ornamental pond and climbed the steps up to the second I spotted a dark shadow looking out of place against the orange and red blockwork. It was a Red Admiral sunning itself, wings open wide to allow its black them to absorb as much sun as possible.
As we moved into the second terrace I scanned across the various vegetable and cut flower patches looking for anything on the wing or balancing on the flower heads. What caught my eye immediately was a sprawling clump of Ivy clinging to the far wall on my left. There was a little footpath along the edge of the wall and so I followed it along. As I neared the bush several butterflies appeared from deep within the ‘floating’ bush. I was still a reasonable distance away and so far enough to be sure that it wasn’t my presence that had disturbed them; it was more like they’d all set their individual alarm clocks to go off at the same time possibly because the temperature may have reached a level conducive to flight at that exact moment. Whatever the cause I watched as a Comma and 3 Red Admirals flew out of the bush that was inveigling itself into the crumbing brickwork. A second Comma followed suit a few seconds after the previous exodus. I presume that I hadn’t disturbed them as they didn’t fly far; one Red Admiral alighted on one of the flowers in the patch directly below the bush, one flew directly up and sat on the very top of the wall whilst the other Admirals and Commas arranged themselves at various heights along the face of the wall.
The third and final terrace is much flatter and the upper wall sweeps round to meld into the stable buildings however there were also a few ‘beds’ one of which held a Banana bush which looked incongruous amid the more usual English botanical fare. There were also butterflies with 4 Red Admirals three of which had spread out along the length of the wall whilst the fourth had found a cosy spot on one of the gigantic banana leaves. As I watched it a Small White drifted past and rather than fly over the wall it actually made a beeline for the entrance to the terrace below instead, unfortunately for me at a fair old pace.
After this we carried on round the prescribed route; through the stable yard, into the garden and down the zig zag paths surrounded by a multitude of Rhododendrons. All this way and beyond in fact, things remained quiet as the sun found it hard to trickle through the leaves still attached to their twigs. It wasn’t until we’d ambled through the grotto, passed the cottage and were gazing up at the gods at the Pantheon that I saw another butterfly; a Red Admiral sailing down the bank towards the lake. The rest of the walk was also very quiet with only one more butterfly, a Red Admiral up at the Temple to Apollo. With slightly tired legs we left the gardens and made our way to the courtyard when L spotted the sighting of the trip! Not only was it mini, but it was also yellow and to top it all it had a soft top! The trifacto!
After this excitement we made our way up the hill but rather than disappearing off to the car we turned left and headed back over the bridge so that we could make our way back to the Stableyard for lunch. As we broke into the first terrace a Red Admiral went by as did a Small White. The latter led me on a bit of a wild goose chase, pausing every now and then just long enough for me to get into range before taking to the air once more and disappearing off at breakneck speed, pulling a ‘U-ey’ and then landing a few metres away from me whence it repeat the whole performance again. Leaving it to its little games I climbed up through Terraces 2 and 3 and was just about to catch the others up when something brown flew past. I got a decent enough look at to realise that it was a Meadow Brown but the timing had me second guessing. It was aground brown colour and was too big to be a Specklie but how usual are Meadow Browns in October? I put the mystery butterfly out of my mind and instead focused on one of the two Large Whites that were feeding on the remaining flowers in the bed. And after lunch as they say ‘that was that’ and despite me keenly staring at the road ahead and hoping to catch the glimpse of another butterfly none were forthcoming. Still not too bad for the time of year this far inland.
Autumnal Stourhead
Yellow Mini Soft-top!
The days showstopper…
Once through we started off on our usual route which meant winding down the hill and then across the bridge with the Stourton road beneath before starting to climb up and through the various terraced walled gardens. At this time of year the walls demarking the three main terraces catch the sun and so often there are butterflies basking for all they’re worth on the friable brickwork. This was exactly so, almost as expected, in the first terrace. As we walked round the ornamental pond and climbed the steps up to the second I spotted a dark shadow looking out of place against the orange and red blockwork. It was a Red Admiral sunning itself, wings open wide to allow its black them to absorb as much sun as possible.
As we moved into the second terrace I scanned across the various vegetable and cut flower patches looking for anything on the wing or balancing on the flower heads. What caught my eye immediately was a sprawling clump of Ivy clinging to the far wall on my left. There was a little footpath along the edge of the wall and so I followed it along. As I neared the bush several butterflies appeared from deep within the ‘floating’ bush. I was still a reasonable distance away and so far enough to be sure that it wasn’t my presence that had disturbed them; it was more like they’d all set their individual alarm clocks to go off at the same time possibly because the temperature may have reached a level conducive to flight at that exact moment. Whatever the cause I watched as a Comma and 3 Red Admirals flew out of the bush that was inveigling itself into the crumbing brickwork. A second Comma followed suit a few seconds after the previous exodus. I presume that I hadn’t disturbed them as they didn’t fly far; one Red Admiral alighted on one of the flowers in the patch directly below the bush, one flew directly up and sat on the very top of the wall whilst the other Admirals and Commas arranged themselves at various heights along the face of the wall.
The third and final terrace is much flatter and the upper wall sweeps round to meld into the stable buildings however there were also a few ‘beds’ one of which held a Banana bush which looked incongruous amid the more usual English botanical fare. There were also butterflies with 4 Red Admirals three of which had spread out along the length of the wall whilst the fourth had found a cosy spot on one of the gigantic banana leaves. As I watched it a Small White drifted past and rather than fly over the wall it actually made a beeline for the entrance to the terrace below instead, unfortunately for me at a fair old pace.
After this we carried on round the prescribed route; through the stable yard, into the garden and down the zig zag paths surrounded by a multitude of Rhododendrons. All this way and beyond in fact, things remained quiet as the sun found it hard to trickle through the leaves still attached to their twigs. It wasn’t until we’d ambled through the grotto, passed the cottage and were gazing up at the gods at the Pantheon that I saw another butterfly; a Red Admiral sailing down the bank towards the lake. The rest of the walk was also very quiet with only one more butterfly, a Red Admiral up at the Temple to Apollo. With slightly tired legs we left the gardens and made our way to the courtyard when L spotted the sighting of the trip! Not only was it mini, but it was also yellow and to top it all it had a soft top! The trifacto!
After this excitement we made our way up the hill but rather than disappearing off to the car we turned left and headed back over the bridge so that we could make our way back to the Stableyard for lunch. As we broke into the first terrace a Red Admiral went by as did a Small White. The latter led me on a bit of a wild goose chase, pausing every now and then just long enough for me to get into range before taking to the air once more and disappearing off at breakneck speed, pulling a ‘U-ey’ and then landing a few metres away from me whence it repeat the whole performance again. Leaving it to its little games I climbed up through Terraces 2 and 3 and was just about to catch the others up when something brown flew past. I got a decent enough look at to realise that it was a Meadow Brown but the timing had me second guessing. It was aground brown colour and was too big to be a Specklie but how usual are Meadow Browns in October? I put the mystery butterfly out of my mind and instead focused on one of the two Large Whites that were feeding on the remaining flowers in the bed. And after lunch as they say ‘that was that’ and despite me keenly staring at the road ahead and hoping to catch the glimpse of another butterfly none were forthcoming. Still not too bad for the time of year this far inland.
Autumnal Stourhead
Yellow Mini Soft-top!
The days showstopper…
The Devenish 07-10-2023
As it was still sunny I decided to make the most of the clement weather and pop out for a last look round the Devenish. So shortly after lunch I found myself drawing up in the car park with no-one else around. I decided to check out the Paddocks first and so wandered up the short stretch of path before hopping over the gate. Usually there would be a Comma or two to greet me but today this part of the path was all quiet and I didn’t see a butterfly until I was over the second gate and in the main Paddock where there were four Red Admirals scattered across the rounded Ivy mass. As I watched them one detached itself and drifted down alighting on the recently constructed fence. The other three remained up high feeding busily and stocking up ready for leaner times ahead. A Comma suddenly appeared, well it had been there the whole time really but with its wings closed it had blended into the shade towards the inside of the mass of foliage. It seemed to be taking the same flight plan as the Red Admiral but as it drew near to the fence it veered back into the Paddocks before coming down into the tussock grasses at the edge of the field.
With something tucked away in the memory (both brain and card) I took the tunnel track on into the Orchid Meadow. At the nearest end I spied another Red Admiral but all seemed quiet here so I made for the far end all the while keeping a close eye on the fence as there were plenty of nectaring opportunities here due to the large clumps of Ivy growing up and over some of the trees that grew up tight to the fence. Near the far corner I paused as one such clump of Ivy was holding another Comma and four more Red Admirals. As I settled in to get some shots I occasionally chanced to look out over the field where a couple of Brimstones flew by and right in the far corner I spotted an aged Specklie so I walked over and grabbed a few shots of the aged one. The Specklie played up a little and so I backtracked along the fence line to the Ivy Clump. The four Red Admirals were now down to three but the Commas had increased up to four! They were also joined by a Small White which brought the species total up to 5, reasonable but I’d been hoping for a few more…
To that end I made my back across the OM and up the steep bit of track onto the Down proper. Instead of taking the steep steps cut into the hillside I skirted along the bottom, keeping close to the line of Beech trees which run along the length of the hill. A Brimstone didn’t stop and neither did another Comma but as I already had shots of these I didn’t mind too much. I was soon at the Gully and I stood on one side and looked across at the tallest of trees on the other side which was draped liberally with Ivy. Sprinkled across its height were 5 Red Admirals and 2 Commas. As I wacthed intently, willing a few more butterflies to appear it became apparent that my silent calls had been mistranslated and instead of butterflies the sun came out. As the fingertips of light played across the dark green leaves the butterflies took off, presumably looking for better basking spots elsewhere. A Large White and a Specklie stopped by…well the Large White didn’t stop at all but just drifted up and down along the fence line. Another species added itself to the Tally when a Holly Blue passed down the Gully and towards the OM through the trees below. I wondered if it would hang around down in the OM and so I once again retraced my steps but this time back to the OM and ‘that’ clump of Ivy.
Once again it was hotspot for Vanessids with a Comma and 2 Red Admirals in the other corner of the OM, just off site in fact as they were all over the fence line. I hung around at this end of the OM and so picked up another three Commas as well as several more Admirals. A tiny brown blur caught my attention and when it flew it transformed from brown to silvery blue so I knew that it was a Brown Argus. Sure enough I managed to track it down but it was difficult to get a shot of as the slightest breeze would send it rocking forward and backward from the top of its flimsy perch. While I was finishing up with the BA the Specklie beckoned me over and so I was able to get something a little closer than before and a Brimstone passed by as I was watching the Specklie. A little later Large White and 2 Small Whites also appeared and I watched as they played along the grass tops, teasing me that they were actually going to land. Eventually I retired back to the Paddock where 2 Red Admirals hung onto the ball shaped Ivy and I couldn’t relocate the Comma. None too shabby for the time of year but I don’t suppose that I’ll get back here now until 2024 so a pleasant way to end the season here.
With Autumn waxing
The final Devenish check
Still some clinging on
With something tucked away in the memory (both brain and card) I took the tunnel track on into the Orchid Meadow. At the nearest end I spied another Red Admiral but all seemed quiet here so I made for the far end all the while keeping a close eye on the fence as there were plenty of nectaring opportunities here due to the large clumps of Ivy growing up and over some of the trees that grew up tight to the fence. Near the far corner I paused as one such clump of Ivy was holding another Comma and four more Red Admirals. As I settled in to get some shots I occasionally chanced to look out over the field where a couple of Brimstones flew by and right in the far corner I spotted an aged Specklie so I walked over and grabbed a few shots of the aged one. The Specklie played up a little and so I backtracked along the fence line to the Ivy Clump. The four Red Admirals were now down to three but the Commas had increased up to four! They were also joined by a Small White which brought the species total up to 5, reasonable but I’d been hoping for a few more…
To that end I made my back across the OM and up the steep bit of track onto the Down proper. Instead of taking the steep steps cut into the hillside I skirted along the bottom, keeping close to the line of Beech trees which run along the length of the hill. A Brimstone didn’t stop and neither did another Comma but as I already had shots of these I didn’t mind too much. I was soon at the Gully and I stood on one side and looked across at the tallest of trees on the other side which was draped liberally with Ivy. Sprinkled across its height were 5 Red Admirals and 2 Commas. As I wacthed intently, willing a few more butterflies to appear it became apparent that my silent calls had been mistranslated and instead of butterflies the sun came out. As the fingertips of light played across the dark green leaves the butterflies took off, presumably looking for better basking spots elsewhere. A Large White and a Specklie stopped by…well the Large White didn’t stop at all but just drifted up and down along the fence line. Another species added itself to the Tally when a Holly Blue passed down the Gully and towards the OM through the trees below. I wondered if it would hang around down in the OM and so I once again retraced my steps but this time back to the OM and ‘that’ clump of Ivy.
Once again it was hotspot for Vanessids with a Comma and 2 Red Admirals in the other corner of the OM, just off site in fact as they were all over the fence line. I hung around at this end of the OM and so picked up another three Commas as well as several more Admirals. A tiny brown blur caught my attention and when it flew it transformed from brown to silvery blue so I knew that it was a Brown Argus. Sure enough I managed to track it down but it was difficult to get a shot of as the slightest breeze would send it rocking forward and backward from the top of its flimsy perch. While I was finishing up with the BA the Specklie beckoned me over and so I was able to get something a little closer than before and a Brimstone passed by as I was watching the Specklie. A little later Large White and 2 Small Whites also appeared and I watched as they played along the grass tops, teasing me that they were actually going to land. Eventually I retired back to the Paddock where 2 Red Admirals hung onto the ball shaped Ivy and I couldn’t relocate the Comma. None too shabby for the time of year but I don’t suppose that I’ll get back here now until 2024 so a pleasant way to end the season here.
With Autumn waxing
The final Devenish check
Still some clinging on
Portland, Church Ope 10-09-2023 Part 2
More sightings of the Cloudies came and waiting in the middle section really paid off as I found that I could stand on a large boulder and scan further down the side of the slope waiting for the dash of mustard that would indicate a passing Cloudy. It worked really well and I managed to ‘get in on’ a Cloudy several times. There appeared to be at least more than three different individuals although we only saw three fly together at the same time. We’d been joined by another butterflier (Karl) and in between chatting we tried out different techniques to try and capture out images. The first took to ranging, the latter standing still with a phone on a selfie stick and me in between them both, waiting on my boulder and ranging out when I spied yellow. I also took another stroll along the bottom of the ravine for three reasons – one I wanted to see what else was about, two I wanted to get some respite in the cooler shade at the bottom of the ravine and three I wanted to check my images. On the way out a Painted Lady was very obliging and further along there were a couple more as well as plenty of Specklies and a surprisingly fresh looking Meadow Brown.
On my return journey I found a male Chalkhill at the bottom of the bank and then I climbed back up and started searching for Cloudys again. There were plenty more sightings including notable instances when it went down and sat for a while, one time near the boulder and another when it was down near the bottom of the Bank and almost on the path down the ravine. By now I had a feeling that there were possibly as many as six different Cloudys although it was difficult to be sure as not all would stop to sup nectar. I continued keeping an eye out for the mustard beauties and ambled about the place with my pulse quickening each time one would appear. It was a great way to spend the, now extremely sunny and warm, afternoon.
After these final sightings I realised that all good things must pass and so I decided that I really needed to head home and so with a plea to call out should a Helice appear I set off and got back in good time, such good time that L and I were able to finish off the second half of Avengers Assemble.
So target achieved
Thanks Portland for the Cloudys
Nifty fifty done!
On my return journey I found a male Chalkhill at the bottom of the bank and then I climbed back up and started searching for Cloudys again. There were plenty more sightings including notable instances when it went down and sat for a while, one time near the boulder and another when it was down near the bottom of the Bank and almost on the path down the ravine. By now I had a feeling that there were possibly as many as six different Cloudys although it was difficult to be sure as not all would stop to sup nectar. I continued keeping an eye out for the mustard beauties and ambled about the place with my pulse quickening each time one would appear. It was a great way to spend the, now extremely sunny and warm, afternoon.
After these final sightings I realised that all good things must pass and so I decided that I really needed to head home and so with a plea to call out should a Helice appear I set off and got back in good time, such good time that L and I were able to finish off the second half of Avengers Assemble.
So target achieved
Thanks Portland for the Cloudys
Nifty fifty done!
Portland, Church Ope 10-09-2023
Having not had luck for Cloudies anywhere else when images of them came up on the Evil Book of Face from a quarry on Portland I decided to chance my arm and ask for a little more information. What I got back was more than brilliant and a couple of people furnished me with not only the name of the spot but also parking details, directions onto the site and also the main hotspots once there. The only thing that dampened my mood slightly as I followed said directions was the leaden sky and passing through a couple of brief spells of rain. Once I was on the Isle though the weather report on the radio assured me that the weather was set to improve and so to therefore did my mood and it went up even more when I bagged the penultimate spot in the car park (these things are important you know).
I followed the instructions and soon reached the ‘site’ with a couple of whites and a Red Admiral frequenting the Buddleia along the way. At the end of the footpath there were 6 tracks to choose from! The first on my right was a private bridleway, the second was a footpath, the third ended in a gate into the construction site, straight ahead was down into a ravine with banks growing taller as the path disappeared off into the distance and on the left of me there were two parallel tracks – one stone the other grass. I plumped for straight ahead and so followed the track down and as the banks got steeper and I descended deeper into Portland I spotted several Specklies flying in the increasing gloom as well as a couple more Red Admirals. The track ended in a mass of Buddleia and by stooping almost double I was able to stick to it until it came out onto a steep rise and into a residential street. No Cloudies though and the promised sun seemed like a false promise as a wave of cloud thickened overhead.
I doubled back and took the parallel tracks reasoning that the Cloudies might have branched out a little but alas the weather report was still not proving true and the sky remained opaque and dull with the threat of rain. I spotted a few Whites but nothing else so I head back to the embankment. When I arrived back another butterflier was also perusing the vegetation and so we chatted about where the Cloudies had been seen and compared notes. I took another wander about half way along the bank on the right I found a faded Common Blue and further on along, about half way down the bank there are a few whites sitting on the Old Man’s Beard as well as a hidden Meadow Brown. At this point it started to rain, so I covered my camera and enjoyed the slight refreshment in the almost oppressive heat and muggy air. My continued wandering took me back to the start and then along the second track, past a huge Buddleia with a few Red Admirals buzzing around it. From there I went on into a little clearing where I followed a few Whites in the vain hope that they would turn into a Helice and a Red Admiral zoomed past. There was also a Painted Lady so I tried for a few shots and then successfully followed it until it landed on the deck so I was able to get in really close.
The weather started to improve just in time for midday and despite the previous doom and gloom surprisingly just as forecast! So I retraced my steps and tried along the Bank where I spotted the same Common Blue and then a male Wall which was fluttering around the edges of the foliage and trying its best to bask in the coming sun. On round past the Old Man’s Beard and there was a Red Admiral as well as several Whites on it and up near the top of the bank there was another Painted Lady and on from that a female Common Blue. Things had started to pick up, crawling out of the woodwork as the light intensity picked up. Right at the end of the bank a Small Copper sat nicely on a mute background and on my return back to the start I added a female Chalkhill. The other butterflier had returned to the fray, having sat out the earlier brief spell of drizzle and we both set to stalking and talking after checking out the large clump of Old Man’s Beard with various assortment of Whites as well as a Red Admiral basking on a cut piece of Limestone, sitting as flat as it possibly could. As we walked towards the half way mark of the bank there was a flash of canary yellow and species number 50 for the year falls! Target 2 was met! Now for some shots…
To that end after the initial sighting most of the time was spent scanning the slopes and awaiting the return of the Cloudy. Every white was examined in case it was a Helice and eventually the Cloudy did return and I manage some shots of it as it moved from flower clump to flower clump. The middle section seemed to be the best spot as the original Cloudy had now become at least two maybe three and they all seemed to follow their own, repeating flight pattern which brought them back to the middle section and our awaiting lenses. A HBHM also stopped by breaking up the wall of yellow and there were also several sightings of Red Admirals and Painted Ladies as well as the occasional Meadow Brown or blue but I was intent of getting my fill of Custard.
I followed the instructions and soon reached the ‘site’ with a couple of whites and a Red Admiral frequenting the Buddleia along the way. At the end of the footpath there were 6 tracks to choose from! The first on my right was a private bridleway, the second was a footpath, the third ended in a gate into the construction site, straight ahead was down into a ravine with banks growing taller as the path disappeared off into the distance and on the left of me there were two parallel tracks – one stone the other grass. I plumped for straight ahead and so followed the track down and as the banks got steeper and I descended deeper into Portland I spotted several Specklies flying in the increasing gloom as well as a couple more Red Admirals. The track ended in a mass of Buddleia and by stooping almost double I was able to stick to it until it came out onto a steep rise and into a residential street. No Cloudies though and the promised sun seemed like a false promise as a wave of cloud thickened overhead.
I doubled back and took the parallel tracks reasoning that the Cloudies might have branched out a little but alas the weather report was still not proving true and the sky remained opaque and dull with the threat of rain. I spotted a few Whites but nothing else so I head back to the embankment. When I arrived back another butterflier was also perusing the vegetation and so we chatted about where the Cloudies had been seen and compared notes. I took another wander about half way along the bank on the right I found a faded Common Blue and further on along, about half way down the bank there are a few whites sitting on the Old Man’s Beard as well as a hidden Meadow Brown. At this point it started to rain, so I covered my camera and enjoyed the slight refreshment in the almost oppressive heat and muggy air. My continued wandering took me back to the start and then along the second track, past a huge Buddleia with a few Red Admirals buzzing around it. From there I went on into a little clearing where I followed a few Whites in the vain hope that they would turn into a Helice and a Red Admiral zoomed past. There was also a Painted Lady so I tried for a few shots and then successfully followed it until it landed on the deck so I was able to get in really close.
The weather started to improve just in time for midday and despite the previous doom and gloom surprisingly just as forecast! So I retraced my steps and tried along the Bank where I spotted the same Common Blue and then a male Wall which was fluttering around the edges of the foliage and trying its best to bask in the coming sun. On round past the Old Man’s Beard and there was a Red Admiral as well as several Whites on it and up near the top of the bank there was another Painted Lady and on from that a female Common Blue. Things had started to pick up, crawling out of the woodwork as the light intensity picked up. Right at the end of the bank a Small Copper sat nicely on a mute background and on my return back to the start I added a female Chalkhill. The other butterflier had returned to the fray, having sat out the earlier brief spell of drizzle and we both set to stalking and talking after checking out the large clump of Old Man’s Beard with various assortment of Whites as well as a Red Admiral basking on a cut piece of Limestone, sitting as flat as it possibly could. As we walked towards the half way mark of the bank there was a flash of canary yellow and species number 50 for the year falls! Target 2 was met! Now for some shots…
To that end after the initial sighting most of the time was spent scanning the slopes and awaiting the return of the Cloudy. Every white was examined in case it was a Helice and eventually the Cloudy did return and I manage some shots of it as it moved from flower clump to flower clump. The middle section seemed to be the best spot as the original Cloudy had now become at least two maybe three and they all seemed to follow their own, repeating flight pattern which brought them back to the middle section and our awaiting lenses. A HBHM also stopped by breaking up the wall of yellow and there were also several sightings of Red Admirals and Painted Ladies as well as the occasional Meadow Brown or blue but I was intent of getting my fill of Custard.
Southbourne 03-09-2023
I’d been keeping an eye on various Social Networking sites as well as the sightings pages of various local branch websites and 2023 wasn’t turning into much of a ‘Cloudy’ year. I’d witnessed this first hand having not seen a single one despite checking the various regular hotspots at numerous sites. So I decided to bite the bullet and take the trip to Southbourne where a small breeding colony seems to be established. My hopes were high as the weather looked to be perfect and I’d even managed to find some free parking down one of the residential streets. From my abandoned car I walked straight through the car park and down to the beach and from here I wandered along the promenade staring to my right up at the cliffs. On the corner of the first line of beach huts I spotted my first butterfly, and even though it was just a White, I trotted up the steps, leant over into the rough grasses clinging to the side of the cliff and got a few shots. It always comes as a bit of a relief to get those first shots on the memory card.
With my ‘eyes in’ I returned to walking along the prom. Stonechats would occasionally chastise me and gulls would ‘kee-aww’ above and there were plenty of whites; all keeping their distance. The Small Whites in particular proved troublesome as at a distance and in the bright, clear morning light they’d take on a yellowish hue. Having not seen any Cloudys since Corfu back in April, a couple of which were Helice, there were a number of instances when I’d watch a butterfly intently from afar only for it to land and open its wings up instantly revealing it to be just a Small White rather than a Helice. As I continued on I came across a few Whites that were flying closer to the beach along with a few Red Admirals – some of which seemed to be setting off for (even) sunnier climes. One of the Small Whites I found in a cluster of Whites in a little flowered flat spot had quite concave black spots and the black markings on the wing tips went almost down far enough for Southern Small White…almost but not quite far enough unfortunately.
The next big sighting was actually a Fox that wandered across the cliff about half way up. It sat for a moment seemingly staring right at me before sauntering off unfazed amid the gorse. As I watched it disappear into the foliage I spotted a bright orange butterfly – a Small Copper. For this one I actually climbed up and over the wall and ‘securing’ myself by holding the flimsiest of vegetation with one hand I tried for a few shots. It too was dicing with death for waiting for it on the asters was a Crab Spider, legs ready to envelope it in a fatal embrace.
I walked on further than I had on my first visit here and kept going until I got to one of the zig-zag paths. There was another Small Copper just before my turn off after another set of Whites – which seemed to be either spilling down over the top and then bombing along the cliff face or sitting in small clusters at various intervals along the lower parts of the cliffs. On the walk up I stopped for a while, enchanted by a Wall Lizard which oddly enough was clambering along one of the walls of the zig-zag.
At the top of the hill running along the cliff top was the ‘reserve’ and so I retraced my steps; back down the zig-zag path, all the way back along the sea front and finally back up the hill to the car park. From here I worked my way alongside the top and then started at one end of the reserve so as not to miss out on anything that may have been lurking up at the top. The habitat changed as I walked from sea top footpath, down through lawns mown to within an inch of their lives and then more rough ground that, had it not been for the tall town houses and hotels on one side, could have passed for the beginnings of a dune system. All the while I checked every White just in case and sought out anything yellow in colour, even the flowers should a Cloudy be lurking camouflaged within but despite covering much ground there was not a sniff of my quarry. There had been plenty of Red Admirals, so many, and so likely that I’d count the same one several times that I scrubbed out my mental tally of them and just enjoyed the sight of them whizzing out into the void. There was also a brace of Common Blues but mainly I saw Large, Small and Unidentified Whites. Eventually the reserve ran out but I kept going, working my way through the Boscombe Gardens and out the other side. I paused here to take in a very worn Hummingbird Hawkmoth and once through the gardens the path started to fall down to the sea as it emerged onto the main footpath down to the beach. On the corner a large clump of Ivy was standing sentinel on the corner and a Holly Blue was attempting to lay on it.
Once I’d tumbled back down to the sea-font I realised that I’d reached Boscombe Pier and so I set off back along the front past rows and rows of beach huts seeking out the zig-zag paths that would take me back up to the top again. Along the way I was stopped by an odd sight. Hemmed in to the cliff faces were two large, whites were consuming their way across the cliff-face. They had the look of the Mountain Goat from Canada about them and in the balmy weather bathing Britain they looked doubly incongruous. Weird wildlife aside I’d worked my way back up to the top with a brief sighting of a Painted Lady. ON the walk back along the top despite spotting two Common Blues, a Small Copper and a multitude of Whites and Red Admirals there was still no sign of a Cloudy…
Finally footsore and very warm I turned off the track and headed for home. As I drove home I reasoned that perhaps I’d arrived a bit early either for those that were coming over from the continent or the homegrown ones. So I’d have to head back onto the Social Networking sites and keep a closer eye out…
No Cloudys yet seen
Try my luck down in Dorset
But still too early…
With my ‘eyes in’ I returned to walking along the prom. Stonechats would occasionally chastise me and gulls would ‘kee-aww’ above and there were plenty of whites; all keeping their distance. The Small Whites in particular proved troublesome as at a distance and in the bright, clear morning light they’d take on a yellowish hue. Having not seen any Cloudys since Corfu back in April, a couple of which were Helice, there were a number of instances when I’d watch a butterfly intently from afar only for it to land and open its wings up instantly revealing it to be just a Small White rather than a Helice. As I continued on I came across a few Whites that were flying closer to the beach along with a few Red Admirals – some of which seemed to be setting off for (even) sunnier climes. One of the Small Whites I found in a cluster of Whites in a little flowered flat spot had quite concave black spots and the black markings on the wing tips went almost down far enough for Southern Small White…almost but not quite far enough unfortunately.
The next big sighting was actually a Fox that wandered across the cliff about half way up. It sat for a moment seemingly staring right at me before sauntering off unfazed amid the gorse. As I watched it disappear into the foliage I spotted a bright orange butterfly – a Small Copper. For this one I actually climbed up and over the wall and ‘securing’ myself by holding the flimsiest of vegetation with one hand I tried for a few shots. It too was dicing with death for waiting for it on the asters was a Crab Spider, legs ready to envelope it in a fatal embrace.
I walked on further than I had on my first visit here and kept going until I got to one of the zig-zag paths. There was another Small Copper just before my turn off after another set of Whites – which seemed to be either spilling down over the top and then bombing along the cliff face or sitting in small clusters at various intervals along the lower parts of the cliffs. On the walk up I stopped for a while, enchanted by a Wall Lizard which oddly enough was clambering along one of the walls of the zig-zag.
At the top of the hill running along the cliff top was the ‘reserve’ and so I retraced my steps; back down the zig-zag path, all the way back along the sea front and finally back up the hill to the car park. From here I worked my way alongside the top and then started at one end of the reserve so as not to miss out on anything that may have been lurking up at the top. The habitat changed as I walked from sea top footpath, down through lawns mown to within an inch of their lives and then more rough ground that, had it not been for the tall town houses and hotels on one side, could have passed for the beginnings of a dune system. All the while I checked every White just in case and sought out anything yellow in colour, even the flowers should a Cloudy be lurking camouflaged within but despite covering much ground there was not a sniff of my quarry. There had been plenty of Red Admirals, so many, and so likely that I’d count the same one several times that I scrubbed out my mental tally of them and just enjoyed the sight of them whizzing out into the void. There was also a brace of Common Blues but mainly I saw Large, Small and Unidentified Whites. Eventually the reserve ran out but I kept going, working my way through the Boscombe Gardens and out the other side. I paused here to take in a very worn Hummingbird Hawkmoth and once through the gardens the path started to fall down to the sea as it emerged onto the main footpath down to the beach. On the corner a large clump of Ivy was standing sentinel on the corner and a Holly Blue was attempting to lay on it.
Once I’d tumbled back down to the sea-font I realised that I’d reached Boscombe Pier and so I set off back along the front past rows and rows of beach huts seeking out the zig-zag paths that would take me back up to the top again. Along the way I was stopped by an odd sight. Hemmed in to the cliff faces were two large, whites were consuming their way across the cliff-face. They had the look of the Mountain Goat from Canada about them and in the balmy weather bathing Britain they looked doubly incongruous. Weird wildlife aside I’d worked my way back up to the top with a brief sighting of a Painted Lady. ON the walk back along the top despite spotting two Common Blues, a Small Copper and a multitude of Whites and Red Admirals there was still no sign of a Cloudy…
Finally footsore and very warm I turned off the track and headed for home. As I drove home I reasoned that perhaps I’d arrived a bit early either for those that were coming over from the continent or the homegrown ones. So I’d have to head back onto the Social Networking sites and keep a closer eye out…
No Cloudys yet seen
Try my luck down in Dorset
But still too early…
