Work 26-04-2021
It felt like there was a change in the guards in the offing what with the arrival of the second wave of butterflies (Greenstreaks, Specklies, Orange-tip etc.) and so I wasn’t expecting too much on my lunchtime trip. And reality matched my expectations as on the journey out there was nothing from the start of the housing estate to the half way point and on to the end of the path not a single butterfly was spied. It looks like it’s getting to the time of the year when I’ll need to consider changing up myself to suit the butterflies and so the old jumping pits will be my lunchtime destination although luckily (what with the huge amount of work a certain Mr. Williamson has dumped on my plate) that won’t be a for a couple more weeks yet…
Once I’d reached the end I turned back and almost as if to announce itself a Specklie flew into my face, rushing my eyeballs it turned and disappeared over the fence into one of the gardens. A Peacock also did a fly-by before promptly disappearing across the fields. It was only when I reached the Parrot Mound that I was able to get close enough to a butterfly for a few shots. It was well worth the wait as it was a surprisingly fresh Small Tort. As I rushed to get back to the Lab in time I wondered if perhaps the old guard might be around a little while longer?
Once I’d reached the end I turned back and almost as if to announce itself a Specklie flew into my face, rushing my eyeballs it turned and disappeared over the fence into one of the gardens. A Peacock also did a fly-by before promptly disappearing across the fields. It was only when I reached the Parrot Mound that I was able to get close enough to a butterfly for a few shots. It was well worth the wait as it was a surprisingly fresh Small Tort. As I rushed to get back to the Lab in time I wondered if perhaps the old guard might be around a little while longer?
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Work 27-04-2021
If yesterday was challenging then today was even worse as some fair weather cloud had bubbled up and the sun was only managing to peak through the ever thickening blanket now and then. Therefore it was no surprise that once again I ended up right at the end of the path before I spied a butterfly. In fact there were two, both Specklies and both played hard to get. The first shot over the fence and I could see it ‘basking’ on the middle of the lawn. I thought that I was going to have more luck with the second but its escape was aided and abetted by the bloody jumping dog! It landed on the side of a fence and I was leaning in for the shot, oblivious to all around me except the butterfly, when a set of jaws appeared about an inch from my temple with a simultaneous crash as the fence shook from the full force of the canine collision.
I couldn’t relocate the butterfly after that and there weren’t any more on the return journey so I had to console myself with getting a few shots of a nice looking bee.
Specklie in my sights
Gnashing jaws prompt its escape
Cricket bat next time…
I couldn’t relocate the butterfly after that and there weren’t any more on the return journey so I had to console myself with getting a few shots of a nice looking bee.
Specklie in my sights
Gnashing jaws prompt its escape
Cricket bat next time…
Garston Wood 25-04-2021
I had high hopes of finding plenty of butterflies after the eventual success the day before. I remembered that Garston was a small reserve and in the spring finding butterflies might be hard work but I was still buoyed up by the previous days’ findings. Even some ridiculous and selfish parking only got a gentle ‘tut’ so ready was I for bucket loads of butterflies…
As we walked along the well-trodden path towards the large log I tallied up three, unfortunately distant Orange-tips and then added a fourth in the Butterfly Enclosure. Nothing was stopping though so I just made do with watching, photographing the Bluebells and listening to the gorgeous cacophony of Blackcaps, Song Thrush and the occasional Nuthatch or Marsh Tit. Like yesterday I was starting to wonder if I’d get anything on the memory card and that’s when the butterfly turned up. A tiny, almost silver blue butterfly weakly fluttered ahead of me. It was a Holly Blue and after a quick hop to the other side of the track it settled down just long enough for me to do a gentle approach and click away.
We carried on and once at the staggered crossroads we turned left and left the reserve to pause for lunch. As we ate we were visited by Specklies and a patrolling Orange-tip whilst in the distance a Holly Blue fluttered by – all safe in the knowledge that I was busy and wouldn’t be able to follow them. Once we set off again our walk followed a similar pattern to before in that I’d see the butterflies but any attempt at photography was futile. A few OTs flew by and a Small White landed momentarily by the farm and then we were on and heading down the track bordered by high hedges. Despite the appearance of being an OT heaven there was only a single male patrolling the bottom of the track. Perhaps he was a right bruiser and had seen off all his rivals? When we rounded the corner to continue on along the little street a female OT flashed by and promptly settled a short was ahead. A quickening of my pace meant I reached it just in time to get three or four shots before she was off!
After this came the village of Deanland and then into the woodland of the Rushmore Estate. Again things suddenly went from crazy quiet to crazy busy and again nothing was stopping. Through the wood we plunged with a brace each of Peacock, Orange-tips and Holly Blues and a Specklie all evading my lens. At the second rise a Peacock momentarily went down but all I could manage was a brief record shot before it too went the way of all the others i.e. off into the distance at maximum velocity.
Eventually after climbing up and down, up and down and back up the path bright us to the edge of Garston where a couple Specklies posed briefly for me before we dove back down the main track to the car. A total of almost 5 miles and probably only about 5 decent shots! Oh well…Ironically or possibly because of a certain Law of S…the track at the edge of the car park produced the most butterflies in one place with a Green-veined White, a couple of Brimstones, a Red Admiral, a Peacock as well as a few more Specklies and Orange-tips! I was left wondering whether I’d have been better off wandering the car park?
Garston was hard work
A mile for each butterfly
Car Park was best spot!
As we walked along the well-trodden path towards the large log I tallied up three, unfortunately distant Orange-tips and then added a fourth in the Butterfly Enclosure. Nothing was stopping though so I just made do with watching, photographing the Bluebells and listening to the gorgeous cacophony of Blackcaps, Song Thrush and the occasional Nuthatch or Marsh Tit. Like yesterday I was starting to wonder if I’d get anything on the memory card and that’s when the butterfly turned up. A tiny, almost silver blue butterfly weakly fluttered ahead of me. It was a Holly Blue and after a quick hop to the other side of the track it settled down just long enough for me to do a gentle approach and click away.
We carried on and once at the staggered crossroads we turned left and left the reserve to pause for lunch. As we ate we were visited by Specklies and a patrolling Orange-tip whilst in the distance a Holly Blue fluttered by – all safe in the knowledge that I was busy and wouldn’t be able to follow them. Once we set off again our walk followed a similar pattern to before in that I’d see the butterflies but any attempt at photography was futile. A few OTs flew by and a Small White landed momentarily by the farm and then we were on and heading down the track bordered by high hedges. Despite the appearance of being an OT heaven there was only a single male patrolling the bottom of the track. Perhaps he was a right bruiser and had seen off all his rivals? When we rounded the corner to continue on along the little street a female OT flashed by and promptly settled a short was ahead. A quickening of my pace meant I reached it just in time to get three or four shots before she was off!
After this came the village of Deanland and then into the woodland of the Rushmore Estate. Again things suddenly went from crazy quiet to crazy busy and again nothing was stopping. Through the wood we plunged with a brace each of Peacock, Orange-tips and Holly Blues and a Specklie all evading my lens. At the second rise a Peacock momentarily went down but all I could manage was a brief record shot before it too went the way of all the others i.e. off into the distance at maximum velocity.
Eventually after climbing up and down, up and down and back up the path bright us to the edge of Garston where a couple Specklies posed briefly for me before we dove back down the main track to the car. A total of almost 5 miles and probably only about 5 decent shots! Oh well…Ironically or possibly because of a certain Law of S…the track at the edge of the car park produced the most butterflies in one place with a Green-veined White, a couple of Brimstones, a Red Admiral, a Peacock as well as a few more Specklies and Orange-tips! I was left wondering whether I’d have been better off wandering the car park?
Garston was hard work
A mile for each butterfly
Car Park was best spot!
Martin Down 24-04-2021
It felt like one of those days when things weren’t going to go well. The weather seemed set to fair – with double figure temperatures upon arrival, wall to wall sunshine but, and here comes the rub, the wind was really blowing and blustery. Honestly here’s always something… With this in mind I planned out a route to take in all of the little sheltered spots as I reckoned those would be the best bet when it came to finding the butterflies. With the final wails from Smith and Murray still tingling my ear wax I set off along the hedge hopefully. However there seemed to be very little around – in fact there was nothing. Nada along the main hedge (which I ended up doing twice – I hate central locking), nowt along the tunnel track and zilch along the diagonal track to the little island of vegetation that bisects the Dyke between the hotspot and the Butts. As I approached this little oasis amid a sea of grass I was starting to doubt whether I was going to see anything and was in something of a blue mood. Then on a bright Dandelion I spotted something that made my spirts rise. It was a Grizzlie - the first butterfly of the day and something a little special, breaking the monotony of Small Torts, Peacocks or Brimstones.
I set off down the Dyke, my mood having moved from Midnight to Navy as the wind was still doing its best to annoy me and it was making the butterflying hard work. Along the bottom of the Dyke it was reasonably sheltered to a height of about 30cms from the floor but above this it rattled along, funnelled by the Dyke walls and it picked up any errant butterflies and carried them promptly away before inspection. This happened for both a Peacock and another Grizzlie but luckily it seemed that it was still too early or too cool for the butterflies so I wasn’t going to miss out on too much. All too soon I’d reached the Hotspot and so I wandered around and into the Greenstreak Field. In the favoured spot – a stand of Gorse at the edge of the narrow trackway through the dense Hawthorn hedge a Greenstreak flashed by. A second came down onto the deck before heading up to the heights of the Hawthorn, luckily I managed a few shots so I could start to identify individuals. The first photographed only had a single spot near the top of the hind wing. I was now at Cerulean and fast approaching Sky Blue!
Another suddenly just appeared on the Gorse by my side. Whether it was a third individual I couldn’t be certain but I suspected that it was the first which had done a big loop round to land back near where it had started from. I named this one as Blobby as the line of spots wasn’t the neatest that I’ve seen, all mismatched sizes and shapes and instead of making a nice arc around the hind wing the top most was displaced so it looked a little wonky! Chuffed despite the imperfections I was now at Sky Blue in terms of mood and would soon be at Baby Blue – the last of the blue moods! I took a wander round the hotspot but there was only a Brimstone battling against the breeze and I ended up back at the same stand of Gorse in Greenstreak Field. I must have missed an epic battle because sticking out like a sore thumb, a vivid green against a yellow background, was a different Greenstreak. This one had neat arcs of spots on both fore and hind wings (punctata?) and the gorgeous white and orange margins to the wings. I spent some time with it but I couldn’t get to Baby Blue as the breeze had shifted direction slightly and every time I focused in for a shot it seemed to pick up and rock the butterfly forward and backwards. I’ have to wait for the wind to calm for a moment, focus and shoot hopefully before the lull passed and the wind resumed annoying me.
Eventually I decided to head to venture forth and so I set off up the Dyke. I was accompanied up most of the climb by a Peacock. It would take off from just in front of me, fly up and around behind me and then complete a circuit to land ahead of me. After a few steps I would draw close to it and up it would go again. I’ve seen butterflies do this many, many times and I can’t understand why they don’t just fly and land behind me rather than repeatedly being disturbed? On the walk up there was also a lovely female Brimstone and a brace of Grizzlies – the second of which was much more accommodating that the first, even giving me a glimpse of the underwing. However star of the show of this section of my visit undoubtedly went to a surprise encounter with an Adder. It was basking on the bare soil at the bottom of one of the tracks that run up the side of the Dyke. I was walking up, alternatively looking ahead to seek out butterflies or looking where I was placing my feet so as not to trample any cowslips or violets. I shifted my gaze downwards to check my feet and there it was, only a hands span away from me. I gave a bit of a start and stood back so that I was out of striking distance and it coiled up and hissed before making a retreat off into some brush. It was a brown and white individual with almost ginger edges to the diamond pattern that ran along the back.
Once at the top I carried on because as I was sans kids I could make it right to the top and have a look around in some new territory. Also this was the area last year that yielded my first Dingy, they seem to prefer the baked, well-trodden paths and close cropped turf whilst the Grizzlies like it a bit more tangled. I strolled along the flatter part before the final rise of the Dyke turns and sweeps up the hill and my observation seemed to play out as I encountered a couple of Grizzlies – always in the longer, more tangled vegetation and a Small Copper flashed by, unfortunately to be picked up and carried by the breeze that was blustering down the slope. Near the top of the hill I climbed out of the Dyke and left the Grizzlies behind as the dead grasses concealed a few Common Lizards and I didn’t fancy another, possibly closer, encounter with an Adder. Once on the main path my hypothesis bore fruit as there was a brownish blur as opposed to the greyish ones I’d gotten used to. There was my first Dingy Skipper of 2021. It didn’t hang around for long as it was intent on seeing off anything that flew into the field of its radar – first a Peacock, then a male OT and finally it had a pop at a Brimstone. I left it brawling and finally reached the very top. It was less impressive that I’d expected with a cross roads of tracks although I do recall that the area to the left historically held Silver Spotted Skippers so may be worth a chance later in the year? After watching some Brimstone interaction I started back down encountering the Dingy again briefly.
After lunch sat on the side of the Dyke and surveying the impressive view the wind had really picked up and the occasional Brimstone and single Peacock that I saw were being practically thrown about by it so I set off seeking some shelter. To this end I took the diagonal path across the down and when I reached one of the islands of vegetation I took one of the little tunnel paths. Almost as soon as I stepped in the breeze ceased, the temperature rose and I spotted several butterflies the first of which was a Specklie. I watched as it flew away from me, turned and flew towards and then past me before turning back again and repeating this action , possibly ad infinitum although I didn’t hang around that long! As I wandered along enjoying the warmth from being out of the wind I was joined by a several Brimstones, most of which went sailing over the tops of the hedges, a male OT that was on a mission and a Small White also on a mission though its mission seemed less important as they always seem to fly with less impetus than their orange-tipped cousins. Along the length of this path I also passed through a further two Specklie territories and I each one displayed a similar behaviour to the first.
Upon exiting a Grizzlie shot past me; while in tunnel I’d forgotten about the breeziness and so I once more made for shelter – this time to the other island of scrub. One of the tracks ran along the edge of this and off from here was a smaller track that led into a small clearing. A Peacock was standing guard at the entrance and so I followed it down the little track and into this clearing. If the tunnel had been pleasant this was bliss with barely a whisper of wind able to penetrate the thick walls of scrub and the pale grass reflecting the sun back up at you it was wonderfully warm and peaceful. The Peacock made to land but was chased off by a much smaller grey looking butterfly. Ignoring the Peacock I watched the smaller grey blob which landed on a Hawthorn and immediately became an emerald Green Hairstreak. I spent some time with it as it was so pleasant in here away from the wind. It would occasionally fly out and along the line of the hedge but always returned to one of three bushes – the Hawthorn, Gorse or a Bramble. A few Brimstones came and went as did a Comma but I spent most of time enjoying the green one. I almost didn’t want to leave but I had to tear myself away and on exiting the Peacock had resumed sentry duty. To be honest he was a bit crap at guarding as he kept running away!
I phoned my wife and discovered that I had more time than expected so I zigged my way back to Greenstreak Field. A pair of Peacocks were sparring at the edge and on the Gorse there was the same Greenstreak that I’d last seen before setting off up the Dyke. He’d obviously proved a more doughty fighter than Blobby and One Spot but again he showed a penchant for selecting the flimsiest of perches which rocked chaotically in the breeze. After this I made my way back through the Gorse fields and down the tunnel track - there were the usual suspects (Brimstone, OT, Peacock) as well as Green Hairstreak and a Comma at either end. The walk along the hedge back to the car didn’t throw up anything new , in fact there were no butterflies along this stretch of path and all too soon I was in the car and counting Whites on the drive out (1 Small White, 2 OT’s and 3 Brimstones) and wondering what to do/where to go next?
Wall to wall blue sky
But the wind made it hard work
A Greenstreak heaven
I set off down the Dyke, my mood having moved from Midnight to Navy as the wind was still doing its best to annoy me and it was making the butterflying hard work. Along the bottom of the Dyke it was reasonably sheltered to a height of about 30cms from the floor but above this it rattled along, funnelled by the Dyke walls and it picked up any errant butterflies and carried them promptly away before inspection. This happened for both a Peacock and another Grizzlie but luckily it seemed that it was still too early or too cool for the butterflies so I wasn’t going to miss out on too much. All too soon I’d reached the Hotspot and so I wandered around and into the Greenstreak Field. In the favoured spot – a stand of Gorse at the edge of the narrow trackway through the dense Hawthorn hedge a Greenstreak flashed by. A second came down onto the deck before heading up to the heights of the Hawthorn, luckily I managed a few shots so I could start to identify individuals. The first photographed only had a single spot near the top of the hind wing. I was now at Cerulean and fast approaching Sky Blue!
Another suddenly just appeared on the Gorse by my side. Whether it was a third individual I couldn’t be certain but I suspected that it was the first which had done a big loop round to land back near where it had started from. I named this one as Blobby as the line of spots wasn’t the neatest that I’ve seen, all mismatched sizes and shapes and instead of making a nice arc around the hind wing the top most was displaced so it looked a little wonky! Chuffed despite the imperfections I was now at Sky Blue in terms of mood and would soon be at Baby Blue – the last of the blue moods! I took a wander round the hotspot but there was only a Brimstone battling against the breeze and I ended up back at the same stand of Gorse in Greenstreak Field. I must have missed an epic battle because sticking out like a sore thumb, a vivid green against a yellow background, was a different Greenstreak. This one had neat arcs of spots on both fore and hind wings (punctata?) and the gorgeous white and orange margins to the wings. I spent some time with it but I couldn’t get to Baby Blue as the breeze had shifted direction slightly and every time I focused in for a shot it seemed to pick up and rock the butterfly forward and backwards. I’ have to wait for the wind to calm for a moment, focus and shoot hopefully before the lull passed and the wind resumed annoying me.
Eventually I decided to head to venture forth and so I set off up the Dyke. I was accompanied up most of the climb by a Peacock. It would take off from just in front of me, fly up and around behind me and then complete a circuit to land ahead of me. After a few steps I would draw close to it and up it would go again. I’ve seen butterflies do this many, many times and I can’t understand why they don’t just fly and land behind me rather than repeatedly being disturbed? On the walk up there was also a lovely female Brimstone and a brace of Grizzlies – the second of which was much more accommodating that the first, even giving me a glimpse of the underwing. However star of the show of this section of my visit undoubtedly went to a surprise encounter with an Adder. It was basking on the bare soil at the bottom of one of the tracks that run up the side of the Dyke. I was walking up, alternatively looking ahead to seek out butterflies or looking where I was placing my feet so as not to trample any cowslips or violets. I shifted my gaze downwards to check my feet and there it was, only a hands span away from me. I gave a bit of a start and stood back so that I was out of striking distance and it coiled up and hissed before making a retreat off into some brush. It was a brown and white individual with almost ginger edges to the diamond pattern that ran along the back.
Once at the top I carried on because as I was sans kids I could make it right to the top and have a look around in some new territory. Also this was the area last year that yielded my first Dingy, they seem to prefer the baked, well-trodden paths and close cropped turf whilst the Grizzlies like it a bit more tangled. I strolled along the flatter part before the final rise of the Dyke turns and sweeps up the hill and my observation seemed to play out as I encountered a couple of Grizzlies – always in the longer, more tangled vegetation and a Small Copper flashed by, unfortunately to be picked up and carried by the breeze that was blustering down the slope. Near the top of the hill I climbed out of the Dyke and left the Grizzlies behind as the dead grasses concealed a few Common Lizards and I didn’t fancy another, possibly closer, encounter with an Adder. Once on the main path my hypothesis bore fruit as there was a brownish blur as opposed to the greyish ones I’d gotten used to. There was my first Dingy Skipper of 2021. It didn’t hang around for long as it was intent on seeing off anything that flew into the field of its radar – first a Peacock, then a male OT and finally it had a pop at a Brimstone. I left it brawling and finally reached the very top. It was less impressive that I’d expected with a cross roads of tracks although I do recall that the area to the left historically held Silver Spotted Skippers so may be worth a chance later in the year? After watching some Brimstone interaction I started back down encountering the Dingy again briefly.
After lunch sat on the side of the Dyke and surveying the impressive view the wind had really picked up and the occasional Brimstone and single Peacock that I saw were being practically thrown about by it so I set off seeking some shelter. To this end I took the diagonal path across the down and when I reached one of the islands of vegetation I took one of the little tunnel paths. Almost as soon as I stepped in the breeze ceased, the temperature rose and I spotted several butterflies the first of which was a Specklie. I watched as it flew away from me, turned and flew towards and then past me before turning back again and repeating this action , possibly ad infinitum although I didn’t hang around that long! As I wandered along enjoying the warmth from being out of the wind I was joined by a several Brimstones, most of which went sailing over the tops of the hedges, a male OT that was on a mission and a Small White also on a mission though its mission seemed less important as they always seem to fly with less impetus than their orange-tipped cousins. Along the length of this path I also passed through a further two Specklie territories and I each one displayed a similar behaviour to the first.
Upon exiting a Grizzlie shot past me; while in tunnel I’d forgotten about the breeziness and so I once more made for shelter – this time to the other island of scrub. One of the tracks ran along the edge of this and off from here was a smaller track that led into a small clearing. A Peacock was standing guard at the entrance and so I followed it down the little track and into this clearing. If the tunnel had been pleasant this was bliss with barely a whisper of wind able to penetrate the thick walls of scrub and the pale grass reflecting the sun back up at you it was wonderfully warm and peaceful. The Peacock made to land but was chased off by a much smaller grey looking butterfly. Ignoring the Peacock I watched the smaller grey blob which landed on a Hawthorn and immediately became an emerald Green Hairstreak. I spent some time with it as it was so pleasant in here away from the wind. It would occasionally fly out and along the line of the hedge but always returned to one of three bushes – the Hawthorn, Gorse or a Bramble. A few Brimstones came and went as did a Comma but I spent most of time enjoying the green one. I almost didn’t want to leave but I had to tear myself away and on exiting the Peacock had resumed sentry duty. To be honest he was a bit crap at guarding as he kept running away!
I phoned my wife and discovered that I had more time than expected so I zigged my way back to Greenstreak Field. A pair of Peacocks were sparring at the edge and on the Gorse there was the same Greenstreak that I’d last seen before setting off up the Dyke. He’d obviously proved a more doughty fighter than Blobby and One Spot but again he showed a penchant for selecting the flimsiest of perches which rocked chaotically in the breeze. After this I made my way back through the Gorse fields and down the tunnel track - there were the usual suspects (Brimstone, OT, Peacock) as well as Green Hairstreak and a Comma at either end. The walk along the hedge back to the car didn’t throw up anything new , in fact there were no butterflies along this stretch of path and all too soon I was in the car and counting Whites on the drive out (1 Small White, 2 OT’s and 3 Brimstones) and wondering what to do/where to go next?
Wall to wall blue sky
But the wind made it hard work
A Greenstreak heaven
Where I ended up next was… Martin Down, only over at the main car park just off of the A350. After finding a Grizzlie so quickly here on my last visit I thought that I’d try my luck again and so I quickly made my way along the gravelly footpath and then took the first right to work my way around the large body of scrub. I scanned ahead checking all the Dandelions that I could see but none held a Grizzlie. As I was checking out the edges of the wall of scrub another Adder popped up and then promptly disappeared in amongst the gorse. As I was still reeling from another close encounter a small, bright orange butterfly opened up its wings – finally I had a few shots of a Small Copper. However it was a bit jittery and so I only managed a handful of record shots before it was on its way. I walked on round, hoping to reacquaint myself with it but alas it didn’t show again and a Brimstone and Specklie tried their best to offer some consolation.
My wanderings had brought me full circle and I’d ended up back in the car park with still about an hour to kill so I made the mad dash across the A350 and set off to check out Kitt’s Grave. An Orange-tip flew across the path from one hedge to the other as I passed through the second of the three gates but that was about it until I’d turned left and then right and so was on part of the usual Vernditch Walk. Almost as soon as I’d turned the corner there was a flutter of butterflies. It was hard to work out what to try for first. The passing Peacock made it easy for me- heading off up the path so I was sure to meet up later. Flying up from the path was a Greenstreak which I hadn’t expected to see here (though I don’t know why not?) and I momentarily toyed with the idea of focusing on that but then a pair of Brimstones made their way towards me. The female had obviously had enough and flopped onto the track, wings wide open and abdomen arching in rejection. The male didn’t seem to get the message at first as he walked over her outstretched wings and flapped his own wings a bit. I clicked away, hoping just hoping that I might catch something of his open wings. He became a bit more reticent and flapped a little less and then just stood there, wings closed and looking morose while the female all the while was stock still, the little orange dots on her wings visible for all to see.
Really chuffed with witnessing this behaviour I wanted to move on but the Brimstones were hogging the path so I had to wait for the male to give in. He’d only just gone when the female headed off as well, leaving me to carry on. I re-found the Peacock sunning itself slightly further along the track and I spot another Greenstreak in the hedge. It flies in the usual jinking style but more weakly and when I manage to get a closer look I can clearly see why – both its wings are curled round, deformed or damaged and give a glimpse of the topside ground colour. I do find it slightly amusing/odd that the underside that we see is gorgeous to behold yet we butterfliers really want to see the dull, milk chocolate brown and boring topside!
On along I scan into the three scallops carved from the edges of the track. In the first there is a Peacock and a Comma, a male Brimstone in the second and in the third and final one an Orange-tip passes by on patrol. As I start down into the little valleys I spot another Peacock basking on the track and a Comma flies past but everything now is a little gittery and approaching anything was really tricky. I was hoping that the Grizzlies would have emerged and would be holding court at the bottom of the valleys but I walk along almost to the end without seeing anything. As I start back an Orange-tip lands and I have the usual internal debate. Do I just enjoy watching it or should I make an approach and try for a few shots? Usually it becomes moot as the butterfly nips off before the mental argument has got started but this one was feeding really intently. So I took a few steps and it didn’t move. Thinking what the hell I just strolled up to it, knelt down and clicked away. I then backed away and continued back, leaving it still at the same patch of flowers feeding just as intensely.
On the return leg the Peacock and Comma re back in their scallop and further along the track s an aged Peacock, one I’d not seen on the outward journey but apart from that it seemed quieter this time round. As I neared the end of the track and the T-junction something white in a Gorse caught my attention as t was out of place. It was too small for any of the Pierids and it didn’t have a yellowy tinge but a cooler hint of blue. As I got even closer I realised that it was a Holly Blue, my shot of one in 2021. It didn’t oblige me and open up but to be honest I didn’t mind as at last I had one on my memory card rather than as a fleeting glimpse.
Having successfully and safely crossed back over to Martin Down I discovered that I still had some time so I decided to try another walk around the large island of scrub. As I neared the log and the patch of scrub where I’d seen the Adder before I slowed down and tried to put my feet down as slowly and as gently as possible so as not to send it any warning vibrations should it be there. This time I was hoping to see it and so locating it wasn’t difficult. It didn’t seem to twig that I was there and it set off in a hunting pattern, lopping around over and under various twigs and branches. It was getting closer and closer to me so I did my best to try and not spook it, barely breathing and clenching as many muscles as possible. Despite this it somehow sensed me and shot off lifting its body up and over a small bush in almost a small jump.
Once it had retreated I returned to the car and drove homewards taking stock of the day. It had started out dismally and had just got better and better – a first for the year, getting shots of Small Copper and Holly Blue, plenty of Greenstreaks, open wing Brimstones and to cap it all a meeting with Hissing Sid! Brill!
Plenty more action
But a reptile steals the show
Adieu Hissing Sid
My wanderings had brought me full circle and I’d ended up back in the car park with still about an hour to kill so I made the mad dash across the A350 and set off to check out Kitt’s Grave. An Orange-tip flew across the path from one hedge to the other as I passed through the second of the three gates but that was about it until I’d turned left and then right and so was on part of the usual Vernditch Walk. Almost as soon as I’d turned the corner there was a flutter of butterflies. It was hard to work out what to try for first. The passing Peacock made it easy for me- heading off up the path so I was sure to meet up later. Flying up from the path was a Greenstreak which I hadn’t expected to see here (though I don’t know why not?) and I momentarily toyed with the idea of focusing on that but then a pair of Brimstones made their way towards me. The female had obviously had enough and flopped onto the track, wings wide open and abdomen arching in rejection. The male didn’t seem to get the message at first as he walked over her outstretched wings and flapped his own wings a bit. I clicked away, hoping just hoping that I might catch something of his open wings. He became a bit more reticent and flapped a little less and then just stood there, wings closed and looking morose while the female all the while was stock still, the little orange dots on her wings visible for all to see.
Really chuffed with witnessing this behaviour I wanted to move on but the Brimstones were hogging the path so I had to wait for the male to give in. He’d only just gone when the female headed off as well, leaving me to carry on. I re-found the Peacock sunning itself slightly further along the track and I spot another Greenstreak in the hedge. It flies in the usual jinking style but more weakly and when I manage to get a closer look I can clearly see why – both its wings are curled round, deformed or damaged and give a glimpse of the topside ground colour. I do find it slightly amusing/odd that the underside that we see is gorgeous to behold yet we butterfliers really want to see the dull, milk chocolate brown and boring topside!
On along I scan into the three scallops carved from the edges of the track. In the first there is a Peacock and a Comma, a male Brimstone in the second and in the third and final one an Orange-tip passes by on patrol. As I start down into the little valleys I spot another Peacock basking on the track and a Comma flies past but everything now is a little gittery and approaching anything was really tricky. I was hoping that the Grizzlies would have emerged and would be holding court at the bottom of the valleys but I walk along almost to the end without seeing anything. As I start back an Orange-tip lands and I have the usual internal debate. Do I just enjoy watching it or should I make an approach and try for a few shots? Usually it becomes moot as the butterfly nips off before the mental argument has got started but this one was feeding really intently. So I took a few steps and it didn’t move. Thinking what the hell I just strolled up to it, knelt down and clicked away. I then backed away and continued back, leaving it still at the same patch of flowers feeding just as intensely.
On the return leg the Peacock and Comma re back in their scallop and further along the track s an aged Peacock, one I’d not seen on the outward journey but apart from that it seemed quieter this time round. As I neared the end of the track and the T-junction something white in a Gorse caught my attention as t was out of place. It was too small for any of the Pierids and it didn’t have a yellowy tinge but a cooler hint of blue. As I got even closer I realised that it was a Holly Blue, my shot of one in 2021. It didn’t oblige me and open up but to be honest I didn’t mind as at last I had one on my memory card rather than as a fleeting glimpse.
Having successfully and safely crossed back over to Martin Down I discovered that I still had some time so I decided to try another walk around the large island of scrub. As I neared the log and the patch of scrub where I’d seen the Adder before I slowed down and tried to put my feet down as slowly and as gently as possible so as not to send it any warning vibrations should it be there. This time I was hoping to see it and so locating it wasn’t difficult. It didn’t seem to twig that I was there and it set off in a hunting pattern, lopping around over and under various twigs and branches. It was getting closer and closer to me so I did my best to try and not spook it, barely breathing and clenching as many muscles as possible. Despite this it somehow sensed me and shot off lifting its body up and over a small bush in almost a small jump.
Once it had retreated I returned to the car and drove homewards taking stock of the day. It had started out dismally and had just got better and better – a first for the year, getting shots of Small Copper and Holly Blue, plenty of Greenstreaks, open wing Brimstones and to cap it all a meeting with Hissing Sid! Brill!
Plenty more action
But a reptile steals the show
Adieu Hissing Sid
Work 21-04-2021
I had high hopes for my lunchtime trip out – the sun was shining intermittently and when out it was hot, hot, hot and in a good way! However the clouds were being occasional party pooper, rolling across the sky and taking all the heat out of the day and with it the fun. It was also quite gusty but as I was in a positive mood due to the surge in serotonin, I reasoned that this would be quite handy because (to really push the metaphor) as soon as the cloud tried to crash the party they were escorted through the house and booted out the back door.
On the walk down I didn’t see a single butterfly; not through the housing estate, the half way point and neither on the walk to the end. It was only on the walk back that they started appearing. The first of the lunchtime was a Small Tort which went up from the path and upon breaching the shelter of the wooden slatted fence was buffeted away and into a garden out of reach of my lens. Slightly further on a different individual went the same way but his time the fence was a much lower jobby and so I could try for a few distant record shots that would need a lot of cropping. It was a shame as this one was a really fresh and smart looking individual.
I continued back and it all went a bit quiet for a while so I made do with a nice looking bee, the white bands on the abdomen reminded me of the Ivy Bees that I see a lot of during the autumn but I don’t think that it’s that – one to look up on a rainy day. Just after the mound a Small Tort sits on the corner but like its compadres it too only allowed a distant record shot. I really couldn’t figure out what was up with the butterflies today as all were keeping their distance and none were their usual confiding selves? So it went with a Small White. I spied it fluttering along the line of the hedge when I was almost at the half way point. It flew past me and then up and deep into the hedge. I could just make it out if I peered through the hedge and carefully positioning my lens meant that I was able to pick up a few shots – but like all they were distant. It couldn’t be that they were cool because when they did decide to make a move they were off, full of vim and raring to go. Perhaps the increase in temperature had also led to an increased alertness?
On the way home I stopped off at Larkhill, crossed the road and turned left along the gently rising trackway. I scanned left and right, checked the deck ahead of me for any Grizzlies but there was nothing. It felt like it was going to be another fruitless visit and so somewhat despondently I paused by a Hawthorn that had a lower growing yellow shrub beside it. Purely by chance my gaze fell on one of the protruding twigs from this shrub and something stood out. There against the yellow leaves was a green triangle. Staring back at me from the foliage was my first Greenstreak of 2021. After a few shots the sun was swallowed completely and the Greenstreak set off seeking somewhere more sheltered to roost I suppose. Only one butterfly for a visit here would normally cheese me off, but not this singleton – what a cracking way to find a first for the year!
Distant butterflies
Are the order of the day
But not the Greenstreak
On the walk down I didn’t see a single butterfly; not through the housing estate, the half way point and neither on the walk to the end. It was only on the walk back that they started appearing. The first of the lunchtime was a Small Tort which went up from the path and upon breaching the shelter of the wooden slatted fence was buffeted away and into a garden out of reach of my lens. Slightly further on a different individual went the same way but his time the fence was a much lower jobby and so I could try for a few distant record shots that would need a lot of cropping. It was a shame as this one was a really fresh and smart looking individual.
I continued back and it all went a bit quiet for a while so I made do with a nice looking bee, the white bands on the abdomen reminded me of the Ivy Bees that I see a lot of during the autumn but I don’t think that it’s that – one to look up on a rainy day. Just after the mound a Small Tort sits on the corner but like its compadres it too only allowed a distant record shot. I really couldn’t figure out what was up with the butterflies today as all were keeping their distance and none were their usual confiding selves? So it went with a Small White. I spied it fluttering along the line of the hedge when I was almost at the half way point. It flew past me and then up and deep into the hedge. I could just make it out if I peered through the hedge and carefully positioning my lens meant that I was able to pick up a few shots – but like all they were distant. It couldn’t be that they were cool because when they did decide to make a move they were off, full of vim and raring to go. Perhaps the increase in temperature had also led to an increased alertness?
On the way home I stopped off at Larkhill, crossed the road and turned left along the gently rising trackway. I scanned left and right, checked the deck ahead of me for any Grizzlies but there was nothing. It felt like it was going to be another fruitless visit and so somewhat despondently I paused by a Hawthorn that had a lower growing yellow shrub beside it. Purely by chance my gaze fell on one of the protruding twigs from this shrub and something stood out. There against the yellow leaves was a green triangle. Staring back at me from the foliage was my first Greenstreak of 2021. After a few shots the sun was swallowed completely and the Greenstreak set off seeking somewhere more sheltered to roost I suppose. Only one butterfly for a visit here would normally cheese me off, but not this singleton – what a cracking way to find a first for the year!
Distant butterflies
Are the order of the day
But not the Greenstreak
Middle Street 20-04-2021
This year has been all about carpe diem what with long spells of unfavourable butterfly weather and often inaccurate weather forecasts so this afternoon having completed a brief fenestration forecast for myself (looking out the window) I took a gamble that something might be flying over at Middle Street. So with the after work jobs done I started off ever hopeful. A Peacock sitting in the sun up high on one of the buildings along Harcourt Terrace was just the omen that I was hoping for as this year they’ve often been the herald bearing news of butterflies to come. When I was negotiating the narrow Town Path another Peacock flew alongside me for a while, almost ushering me on I thought so I started scanning the stands of white topped greenery that lined the path. Over the weir and past the pub and the path opened out and a male Orange-tip darted across the road from one of the gardens and entered the park on my left. I followed it through the hedge and then once on the other side scanned ahead but it was gone. I know that they can put pedal to the metal but disappearing in such a short space of time would have been like going from 0-120mph in a couple of seconds? Then I looked down and there it was sitting on a leaf. I took a few shots and then stood back wondering why he was down…then mere seconds later a small cloud passed over the sun and the world got a little darker and cooler – too cool to fly possibly? Leaving the male and hoping that the sun would come back out I carried on.
As I approached the gate muttering and mumbling about the, yep you’ve guessed it, the bl@@dy weather the sun came back out. So once again seizing the small window of opportunity I made directly to the little nook. From previous visits I knew that there was a small stand of Cuckoo Flower and as I spotted the pink yet almost white flowers poking up amid the ever burgeoning grass fluttering about them was a tangerine cream butterfly, a male Orange-tip. Getting in close wasn’t a problem as he was really interested in taking nectar visiting each floret in sequence.
Pleased with this I carried on round through Quagmire (giggity), the Hotspot and the pond but all was quiet as it’s getting to the time of year when the early risers have risen and the butterflies tend to be grassland specialists. On the other side of the pond there was also a dearth of butterflies but a conglomeration of stoners. They were pleasant enough, even offering me a hit of their bong but I declined and moved on to the Dips. Just as I stepped down into Dip 1 the cloud that had been lingering just on the others side of reserve moved in and with it vanished any hope of more butterflies. The cloud held fast when I visited Dip 2 as well but at Dip 3 the sun was starting to nip at the clouds coat tails and I managed to find bot a Small Tort and a Peacock. With the coming of the sun the butterflies suddenly woke up and disappeared from view almost as if the pause button had been released. I carried on to the end not finding anything else and then started the wander back feeling somewhat dejected after such a promising start as my surveillance drew similar results but in reverse order. Nothing along the ‘end’ stretch, nowt in Dip 3, nada in Dip 2 and keine Smetterlinge in Di…No there was a Peacock! And then a second, sad but true (WINK) I got quite excited by this find possibly because the previous 20 minutes had been so depressing and the serotonin from the earlier Orange-tips had worn off as the cloud had thickened. But now that the sun was finally seeing off the black dog cloud the butterflies were revealing themselves for one last bask before bed.
As I made to leave I checked out the nook one last time and there was third Peacock taking in the last of the evening light nicely highlighted by the fence. There were also a flurry of bees two of which were locked into a furry ball. I think that they’re in cop but it’s not something that I’ve seen before…The walk back was a quick one and I didn’t find any roosting Orange-tips but it felt good to just get out, I think the day had been well seized.
Must carpe diem
With Orange-tips and Peacocks
The day was well seized
As I approached the gate muttering and mumbling about the, yep you’ve guessed it, the bl@@dy weather the sun came back out. So once again seizing the small window of opportunity I made directly to the little nook. From previous visits I knew that there was a small stand of Cuckoo Flower and as I spotted the pink yet almost white flowers poking up amid the ever burgeoning grass fluttering about them was a tangerine cream butterfly, a male Orange-tip. Getting in close wasn’t a problem as he was really interested in taking nectar visiting each floret in sequence.
Pleased with this I carried on round through Quagmire (giggity), the Hotspot and the pond but all was quiet as it’s getting to the time of year when the early risers have risen and the butterflies tend to be grassland specialists. On the other side of the pond there was also a dearth of butterflies but a conglomeration of stoners. They were pleasant enough, even offering me a hit of their bong but I declined and moved on to the Dips. Just as I stepped down into Dip 1 the cloud that had been lingering just on the others side of reserve moved in and with it vanished any hope of more butterflies. The cloud held fast when I visited Dip 2 as well but at Dip 3 the sun was starting to nip at the clouds coat tails and I managed to find bot a Small Tort and a Peacock. With the coming of the sun the butterflies suddenly woke up and disappeared from view almost as if the pause button had been released. I carried on to the end not finding anything else and then started the wander back feeling somewhat dejected after such a promising start as my surveillance drew similar results but in reverse order. Nothing along the ‘end’ stretch, nowt in Dip 3, nada in Dip 2 and keine Smetterlinge in Di…No there was a Peacock! And then a second, sad but true (WINK) I got quite excited by this find possibly because the previous 20 minutes had been so depressing and the serotonin from the earlier Orange-tips had worn off as the cloud had thickened. But now that the sun was finally seeing off the black dog cloud the butterflies were revealing themselves for one last bask before bed.
As I made to leave I checked out the nook one last time and there was third Peacock taking in the last of the evening light nicely highlighted by the fence. There were also a flurry of bees two of which were locked into a furry ball. I think that they’re in cop but it’s not something that I’ve seen before…The walk back was a quick one and I didn’t find any roosting Orange-tips but it felt good to just get out, I think the day had been well seized.
Must carpe diem
With Orange-tips and Peacocks
The day was well seized
Work 20-04-2021
As I watched the class and the clock a Brimstone flew across the Quad which I hoped was an omen of what was to come. So when the bell rang I headed out directly and climbed over the gate with a Peacock accompanying me as it flew along the side of the Tech Block. When I walked through the second gate instead of turning left and heading down the field or cutting through the estate I kept on walking in the hope that there would be some butterflies around the Bramble bush by the ancient long jump pits but sadly all was quiet. However in a few months time this area should hold Smessex and Large Skippers, Ringlets and Meadow Browns and hopefully a Marbled White or three should it further escape the attentions of the contractors.
I broke through the wall of trees and started off down the side of the football pitches checking the hedges as I went to no avail. The next butterfly I saw was in the far corner of the field and was a Small Tort flying strongly towards and then past me. As I was here without a shot fired I turned down the footpath and after a few steps a Peacock passed me by and up ahead another Small Tort and this one was actually approachable.
I carried on a little further and the tall shrubs on one side gave way to long grass and the hedge became a wire fence so the path seemed to widen noticeably. Taking advantage of the more open vista was another Small Tort; the wing damage allowing me to identify it as the third of the day.
And that was it on the outward journey; no Specklie, no patrolling Orange-tip, no more butterflies actually. On the return leg I relocated the Small Tort and added a passing Small White but I’d walked too far on the way out so I had to get a serious wriggle on, Even then I only just managed to get into my Lab before the hoards descended!
A quiet lunchtime
Small Torts keep me company
Summer should be good
I broke through the wall of trees and started off down the side of the football pitches checking the hedges as I went to no avail. The next butterfly I saw was in the far corner of the field and was a Small Tort flying strongly towards and then past me. As I was here without a shot fired I turned down the footpath and after a few steps a Peacock passed me by and up ahead another Small Tort and this one was actually approachable.
I carried on a little further and the tall shrubs on one side gave way to long grass and the hedge became a wire fence so the path seemed to widen noticeably. Taking advantage of the more open vista was another Small Tort; the wing damage allowing me to identify it as the third of the day.
And that was it on the outward journey; no Specklie, no patrolling Orange-tip, no more butterflies actually. On the return leg I relocated the Small Tort and added a passing Small White but I’d walked too far on the way out so I had to get a serious wriggle on, Even then I only just managed to get into my Lab before the hoards descended!
A quiet lunchtime
Small Torts keep me company
Summer should be good
Work 19-04-2021
As per usual as soon as the holiday ends the weather improves! So it was again this time and hence during the lunch break my Lab was silent apart from occasional whirring of the fan from the laptop – at least that’s what I imagined, I was away as soon as the arm struck the bell for the first “dr…” There wasn’t much to see on the initial run down and I didn’t encounter a butterfly until the far corner of the field just before the turn off down the footpath where a Peacock fidgeted about, obviously feeling a little bad about nicking the Small Torts usual spot.
All the way along the footpath was quiet too, no errant Small Torts in gardens and no fly-bys in the neighbouring field. I wondered if everything was still having a lie-in after the weekend and then I spied butterfly number two. It was a Small White in the tussle of vegetation at the half way point. I only saw it by shear chance because at the exact moment that I turned my head to scan it opened up to catch some rays. Had it waited just one second more I might have missed it entirely, its yellow underside providing surprisingly effective camouflage. Slightly further the track a Brimstone was sampling the nectar from various Dandelions that were growing at the base of the wall of Bramble. After the kink in the path I kept my eyes peeled and sure enough there were a brace of Small Torts on and near the mound of peanut shells. A Comma was a nice surprise near the end of the path, so much so that I didn’t get a single shot off as it erupted from where it had been basking on the pile of old pallets. Then it was time for the return leg…
At the Mound the brace of Small Torts remained but the others being much more transient had departed/moved on. A further two Small Torts toyed with me just past the kink as they’d fly along the Bramble, make as if to take some nectar and then just as I was considering approaching them they’d be through the wire fence and disappear down among the longer grown grasses. One of them got a bit cocky and didn’t fly too far into the field or hide particularly well so I was able to hold my camera thought he wires and get a few shots by holding my camera out as far away from my body as possible.
On the walk back two more Small Whites made it onto the days tally; the first was in one of the gardens in the estate and the second was flying around one of the Holly Bushes in the school field. Neither of these stopped for shots but seemed to want to make the most of the sunshine while it lasted…And during this topsy-turvy spring who can blame them?
Back to work again
Temperatures rising once more
Oh surprise surprise!
All the way along the footpath was quiet too, no errant Small Torts in gardens and no fly-bys in the neighbouring field. I wondered if everything was still having a lie-in after the weekend and then I spied butterfly number two. It was a Small White in the tussle of vegetation at the half way point. I only saw it by shear chance because at the exact moment that I turned my head to scan it opened up to catch some rays. Had it waited just one second more I might have missed it entirely, its yellow underside providing surprisingly effective camouflage. Slightly further the track a Brimstone was sampling the nectar from various Dandelions that were growing at the base of the wall of Bramble. After the kink in the path I kept my eyes peeled and sure enough there were a brace of Small Torts on and near the mound of peanut shells. A Comma was a nice surprise near the end of the path, so much so that I didn’t get a single shot off as it erupted from where it had been basking on the pile of old pallets. Then it was time for the return leg…
At the Mound the brace of Small Torts remained but the others being much more transient had departed/moved on. A further two Small Torts toyed with me just past the kink as they’d fly along the Bramble, make as if to take some nectar and then just as I was considering approaching them they’d be through the wire fence and disappear down among the longer grown grasses. One of them got a bit cocky and didn’t fly too far into the field or hide particularly well so I was able to hold my camera thought he wires and get a few shots by holding my camera out as far away from my body as possible.
On the walk back two more Small Whites made it onto the days tally; the first was in one of the gardens in the estate and the second was flying around one of the Holly Bushes in the school field. Neither of these stopped for shots but seemed to want to make the most of the sunshine while it lasted…And during this topsy-turvy spring who can blame them?
Back to work again
Temperatures rising once more
Oh surprise surprise!
Garston Wood 18-04-2021
Upon arrival it seemed that everybody had come up with the same plan as the car park was full. Luckily as I pulled in with the view of turning around a couple arrived back, chucked their stuff and dog in the boot and headed off leaving me a nicely warmed parking spot. With the car successfully docked we were away on foot with high hopes for a sea of blue...bells. We followed the tried and tested route, zig and zagging along the trackways. As we made for the lunch log which is a good spot various butterflies flew but always in the distance, mainly Brimstones but there was also the odd Peacock and a couple of Orange-tips clashed nicely with the blue when they passed over. However whilst some of the Bluebells were up and showing nicely the carpet wasn’t as thick pile as I’d been hoping, perhaps in another week or so? The birds did their best to make up for the lack of butterflies by creating a wondrous cacophony with Nutchatches, Marsh Tits and Blackcaps adding interesting lilts and motifs to the usual chorus.
As there was plenty of time to kill instead of turning right down the main track or cutting through the enclosure we turned left and headed up the hill and out of the reserve. The pathway cut across a large field, skirted some farm building and then dove down a track with high hedges on either side before coming out in the village of Deanland. The butterflies were still difficult to capture and I’d seen but not photographed the odd Peacock, a Small Tort, Small White and a couple of OTs along the way. I had higher hopes when after heading straight over at the little crossroads we ended up at the edge of a large wood – the Rushmore Estate. Indeed as we started down the path a Holly Blue fluttered up high as if to greet us. On we pressed along the wide ride with open and light woodland on either side of us. A second Holly Blue flew low along the track, looking to all intents and purposes as if it would go down on the deck but never actually doing so. There were a brace of Peacocks scarping it out and a Comma seemed to be taking some salts from the mud down in one of the drainage ditches…however everything was exceedingly skittish. I manged a few shots of the more decrepit looking Peacock but despite seeing 7 different species since leaving the confines of Garston Wood I’d managed to photograph only one butterfly in almost an hour, that’s got to be one of the slowest rates I think I’ve ever had!
Turning right we made to leave this stretch of wood and took to ascending and then descending a few of the Downs on our long walk back to Garston. A few Brimstones and Orange-tips turned up to pique my interest and almost back at the car I found a few growths of Toothwort, a parasitic plant, and now 44 minutes had passed between photos! Mind you this trip had really been about the walking and we’d certainly done plenty of that with 5 and half miles on the clock, none too shabby when really we’d set out for a bit of a stroll!
As we were in the vicinity we popped into my folks back garden to check that they were okay and to have a socially distanced cuppa. I’m aware that the Tea Ceremony is a beautiful tradition but the Co-vid version has a certain je ne sais quoi? I think it’s the way the mug is wiped and left on the table in the middle of the garden before you can cross the two metre distance to collect it or it may be the shouting a conversation over several metres - I can’t quite put my finger on it? Either way back to the garden (as C.S.N.Y. once sang), I’d carried my camera with me and this proved lucky as an Orange-tip flew into the garden and landed first on a Daff and then, once I’d gotten my lens cap off, on a Summer Snowflake (Leucojum sp.). I managed a single shot before he was off again – but sometimes that’s all you needs and after so many miles with so few butterflies this one almost made up for all that!
Bluebells not quite there
So set to walking the trail
Hard work getting shots
As there was plenty of time to kill instead of turning right down the main track or cutting through the enclosure we turned left and headed up the hill and out of the reserve. The pathway cut across a large field, skirted some farm building and then dove down a track with high hedges on either side before coming out in the village of Deanland. The butterflies were still difficult to capture and I’d seen but not photographed the odd Peacock, a Small Tort, Small White and a couple of OTs along the way. I had higher hopes when after heading straight over at the little crossroads we ended up at the edge of a large wood – the Rushmore Estate. Indeed as we started down the path a Holly Blue fluttered up high as if to greet us. On we pressed along the wide ride with open and light woodland on either side of us. A second Holly Blue flew low along the track, looking to all intents and purposes as if it would go down on the deck but never actually doing so. There were a brace of Peacocks scarping it out and a Comma seemed to be taking some salts from the mud down in one of the drainage ditches…however everything was exceedingly skittish. I manged a few shots of the more decrepit looking Peacock but despite seeing 7 different species since leaving the confines of Garston Wood I’d managed to photograph only one butterfly in almost an hour, that’s got to be one of the slowest rates I think I’ve ever had!
Turning right we made to leave this stretch of wood and took to ascending and then descending a few of the Downs on our long walk back to Garston. A few Brimstones and Orange-tips turned up to pique my interest and almost back at the car I found a few growths of Toothwort, a parasitic plant, and now 44 minutes had passed between photos! Mind you this trip had really been about the walking and we’d certainly done plenty of that with 5 and half miles on the clock, none too shabby when really we’d set out for a bit of a stroll!
As we were in the vicinity we popped into my folks back garden to check that they were okay and to have a socially distanced cuppa. I’m aware that the Tea Ceremony is a beautiful tradition but the Co-vid version has a certain je ne sais quoi? I think it’s the way the mug is wiped and left on the table in the middle of the garden before you can cross the two metre distance to collect it or it may be the shouting a conversation over several metres - I can’t quite put my finger on it? Either way back to the garden (as C.S.N.Y. once sang), I’d carried my camera with me and this proved lucky as an Orange-tip flew into the garden and landed first on a Daff and then, once I’d gotten my lens cap off, on a Summer Snowflake (Leucojum sp.). I managed a single shot before he was off again – but sometimes that’s all you needs and after so many miles with so few butterflies this one almost made up for all that!
Bluebells not quite there
So set to walking the trail
Hard work getting shots
Martin Down 17-04-2021
It had only been a couple of days since my previous visit but the weather report had looked marginally better, particularly in the way of sunshine and so I risked a trip to Martin Down. Over the past few years this time of year is when the season suddenly springs to life but this year the meddlesome Jet Stream seems to have taken a dislike to the UK and is throwing cool weather our way. It was just about warm enough to leave my jacket behind and so having abandoned the car at the Sillen’s Lane I was please to kick off proceedings with a Peacock along the path just past the triangle. As I watched it disappear away across the fields I spotted an Orange-tip further on along the path and it was down and feeding. Of course by the time I reached the spot it was gone, flying along and keeping tight to the hedge. I kept my eye on it and sticking to the path made my way rapidly after it ignoring another Peacock and a Brimstone along the way. When it reached the start of the Tunnel path it paused to refuel and I was there waiting for it.
After this I set off down the Tunnel trap but unusually it was bereft of butterflies. As I strolled along scanning this way and that I mused as to why my seeking was drawing nothing but blanks? It could have been that the left hand hedge had been scalped in places and in others had been ripped out and carried away. This meant that the strengthening wind was able to cut in and along stretches of the track that previously had been impervious to its clawing tendrils. It certainly felt cooler and more exposed than in previous seasons. The other possibility was that the recent cool spell had held back the vegetation as there were very, very few nectar sources available to a thirsty/hungry butterfly. Leaving the ‘Once a tunnel’ track behind I set off along the diagonal track that bisects the field and ends at the half way spot. Again there was nothing and started wondering if I’d made the right call in the site choice or even actually getting out…and then that changed. As I reached the half way spot I was greeted first by a Brimstone and then by a Peacock. Pretty standard fare and not much to write home about really. But then the Peacock started picking on a much smaller grey moth looking thing. I avidly tried to follow the little grey blur which descends alighting daintily on some dead grass. My first Grizzlie of 2021. As I sneak in for a few shots I wonder if the Peacock acts as my Herald, for I’ve seen a couple of ‘Firsts for the Year’ that have been announced by the Peacock.
I then work up and turn left onto the path that runs parallel to the Dyke. After a few steps I’m brought to a halt as a Small Copper takes off and disappears so swiftly that I can’t follow it – but it’s still on the Year Tally! I then alternate between picking my way through the vegetation and trip wire Brambles at the bottom of the Dyke and experiencing the fear of missing out when wandering along the much easier top path. It’s still really quiet although a (another) Small Copper vanishing in a blur is another nice addition to the days Tally. A Peacock leads me down the track – flying ahead of me, landing and then taking off in a startled fashion as I approach it once again. I’ve never been able to understand why they don’t just loop back behind me after the first time? They insist on flying ahead so are repeatedly spooked time after time. A green Common Lizard is too fast for my lens even in the meagre sun but the butterflies are in short supply. I manage only a Comma and Brimstone at the “Hotspot” – which seems somewhat of an ironic name at the moment. I spend some time in the Greenstreak field watching a pair of Peacocks courting. The male flew after the female for a few minutes before both settled in a tree with the male behind occasionally flicking its wings and waving its antennae. I was starting to think that the female was receptive to his advances when a Whitethroat put paid to any ideas that I had of capturing an ‘in cop’ shot as it blundered into the Hawthorn to scold me! The Cheeky get!
I worked back out and round again into the Greenstreak Field finding a Comma, Peacock and both male and female Brimstones. I was contemplating where to head next when I bumped into a fellow enthusiast who’d seen a Greenstreak in the large island of vegetation that sits on the gently sloping edge of the Down. Again I found a Comma, Brimstone and a Peacock and again I missed out on a Greenstreak so I cut back across the field and started back down the Tunnel track. Things picked up momentarily with three Brimstones – two males and a female as well as a Red Admiral. I don’t know what it is about this species during the Spring but I find them to be almost unapproachable and generally record shots become the order of the day. At the far end a brace of Peacocks got in on the action but I was still left wondering what had happened? True I’d seen butterflies but in nowhere near the numbers that I’d hoped/expected – where were they all? My mildly morose musing had brought me back to the car past yet more Brimstones and Orange-tips.
I kept my eyes open as I slowly inched along the drive back to Martin village and I was glad that I did as I saw a couple more species to add to the days tally. First up was a Brimstone (same old, same old) then a female Brimstone (better but still not great) then a Specklie (brill), Comma (okay back to square one), Brimstone (stuck on square one) and Holly Blue (knocked it out the park). After that with the dulcet tones of Mr Bruce Dickinson shredding my speakers I headed on to the main part of Martin Down. I had a little while before I needed to head home so I ventured round the large patch of vegetation that abuts the car park expecting to have to search hard for butterflies. However it was actually just a case of down the main track and turn right, scan along the Dandelions and there was a Grizzlie. After a few shots he popped off and I continued on round and in one of the little scallops there was a second although this one was much less accommodating.
Time was still on my side so I took my life into my hands and crossed the A350 to check out the area around Kitts Grave. As I breathed a sigh of relief at making it across the road in one piece I spied a Specklie down on the deck. I managed a few shots – my first of this species for 2021, brill. Along the first stretch of the path a Green-veined White lazily flies past and there are two Peacocks which are then joined by a third. To be honest I start to lose track of how many of each species there are as the Peacocks and Commas jostle around bickering which other and stealing the others basking spot whilst the Brimstones are quartering along the hedges so there could be one completing quick circuits or many flying much more slowly, it’s impossible to tell. Only down in the Valleys is it possible to get an accurate count as all the way along and back there is only a single Brimstone, not a single hoped for Grizzlie alas. There’s more of the same on the walk back but right on the corner is a Small White which took my tally to above double figures at 11 species for the day! I would have liked to have gotten a few images of this but a male Brimstone is intent on harrying it to pieces so the smaller harassed butterfly takes advantage of its smaller stature and nips in and out of the branches and twigs to evade its pursuer.
Put in the hard graft
For double digit tally
But where are they all??
After this I set off down the Tunnel trap but unusually it was bereft of butterflies. As I strolled along scanning this way and that I mused as to why my seeking was drawing nothing but blanks? It could have been that the left hand hedge had been scalped in places and in others had been ripped out and carried away. This meant that the strengthening wind was able to cut in and along stretches of the track that previously had been impervious to its clawing tendrils. It certainly felt cooler and more exposed than in previous seasons. The other possibility was that the recent cool spell had held back the vegetation as there were very, very few nectar sources available to a thirsty/hungry butterfly. Leaving the ‘Once a tunnel’ track behind I set off along the diagonal track that bisects the field and ends at the half way spot. Again there was nothing and started wondering if I’d made the right call in the site choice or even actually getting out…and then that changed. As I reached the half way spot I was greeted first by a Brimstone and then by a Peacock. Pretty standard fare and not much to write home about really. But then the Peacock started picking on a much smaller grey moth looking thing. I avidly tried to follow the little grey blur which descends alighting daintily on some dead grass. My first Grizzlie of 2021. As I sneak in for a few shots I wonder if the Peacock acts as my Herald, for I’ve seen a couple of ‘Firsts for the Year’ that have been announced by the Peacock.
I then work up and turn left onto the path that runs parallel to the Dyke. After a few steps I’m brought to a halt as a Small Copper takes off and disappears so swiftly that I can’t follow it – but it’s still on the Year Tally! I then alternate between picking my way through the vegetation and trip wire Brambles at the bottom of the Dyke and experiencing the fear of missing out when wandering along the much easier top path. It’s still really quiet although a (another) Small Copper vanishing in a blur is another nice addition to the days Tally. A Peacock leads me down the track – flying ahead of me, landing and then taking off in a startled fashion as I approach it once again. I’ve never been able to understand why they don’t just loop back behind me after the first time? They insist on flying ahead so are repeatedly spooked time after time. A green Common Lizard is too fast for my lens even in the meagre sun but the butterflies are in short supply. I manage only a Comma and Brimstone at the “Hotspot” – which seems somewhat of an ironic name at the moment. I spend some time in the Greenstreak field watching a pair of Peacocks courting. The male flew after the female for a few minutes before both settled in a tree with the male behind occasionally flicking its wings and waving its antennae. I was starting to think that the female was receptive to his advances when a Whitethroat put paid to any ideas that I had of capturing an ‘in cop’ shot as it blundered into the Hawthorn to scold me! The Cheeky get!
I worked back out and round again into the Greenstreak Field finding a Comma, Peacock and both male and female Brimstones. I was contemplating where to head next when I bumped into a fellow enthusiast who’d seen a Greenstreak in the large island of vegetation that sits on the gently sloping edge of the Down. Again I found a Comma, Brimstone and a Peacock and again I missed out on a Greenstreak so I cut back across the field and started back down the Tunnel track. Things picked up momentarily with three Brimstones – two males and a female as well as a Red Admiral. I don’t know what it is about this species during the Spring but I find them to be almost unapproachable and generally record shots become the order of the day. At the far end a brace of Peacocks got in on the action but I was still left wondering what had happened? True I’d seen butterflies but in nowhere near the numbers that I’d hoped/expected – where were they all? My mildly morose musing had brought me back to the car past yet more Brimstones and Orange-tips.
I kept my eyes open as I slowly inched along the drive back to Martin village and I was glad that I did as I saw a couple more species to add to the days tally. First up was a Brimstone (same old, same old) then a female Brimstone (better but still not great) then a Specklie (brill), Comma (okay back to square one), Brimstone (stuck on square one) and Holly Blue (knocked it out the park). After that with the dulcet tones of Mr Bruce Dickinson shredding my speakers I headed on to the main part of Martin Down. I had a little while before I needed to head home so I ventured round the large patch of vegetation that abuts the car park expecting to have to search hard for butterflies. However it was actually just a case of down the main track and turn right, scan along the Dandelions and there was a Grizzlie. After a few shots he popped off and I continued on round and in one of the little scallops there was a second although this one was much less accommodating.
Time was still on my side so I took my life into my hands and crossed the A350 to check out the area around Kitts Grave. As I breathed a sigh of relief at making it across the road in one piece I spied a Specklie down on the deck. I managed a few shots – my first of this species for 2021, brill. Along the first stretch of the path a Green-veined White lazily flies past and there are two Peacocks which are then joined by a third. To be honest I start to lose track of how many of each species there are as the Peacocks and Commas jostle around bickering which other and stealing the others basking spot whilst the Brimstones are quartering along the hedges so there could be one completing quick circuits or many flying much more slowly, it’s impossible to tell. Only down in the Valleys is it possible to get an accurate count as all the way along and back there is only a single Brimstone, not a single hoped for Grizzlie alas. There’s more of the same on the walk back but right on the corner is a Small White which took my tally to above double figures at 11 species for the day! I would have liked to have gotten a few images of this but a male Brimstone is intent on harrying it to pieces so the smaller harassed butterfly takes advantage of its smaller stature and nips in and out of the branches and twigs to evade its pursuer.
Put in the hard graft
For double digit tally
But where are they all??
Five Rivers is All White 15-04-2021
Whilst I’d enjoyed my time earlier at The Devenish I’d actually only seen four butterflies of three species and managed shots of only three of them. True I had filled my boots with a bucket load of Orange-tip shots but it still felt like little return for all that work. I was musing this over and driving on Autopilot when I realised that I’d pulled into the car park of Five Rivers. As I was already here I reckoned that I’d better check it out so as to save petrol by not making a return trip in the next few days.
I set off directly to the Glades wending my way along the river path which only seemed to hold a Brimstone. But then all went a bit hectic despite the cloud shrouding the sun…A large white butterfly hove into view and twigging that the whiteness and size meant that it was indeed not just a ‘large white’ but a Large White I set to following it. No easy task this as they really have something under the bonnet and their acceleration is mighty impressive. In the end I managed to just about keep up with it and managed a few brief ‘grab’ shots in a similar place to where I’d seen my first of the year. When it took off again I tried to follow it but got distracted as first a Small White which could have been a Green-veined passed in the opposite direction and then a tiny blue butterfly took off from the grass and jinked its way towards some small trees. I didn’t know what to go for; carry on after the Large White, head back the way I’d come to see if it was a Small or my first Green-veined or watch the Holly Blue and hope that it settled low down? I plumbed for the Holly Blue but despite its slow ascent it had somehow gained enough altitude to reach the top of the tree and it disappeared from sight. A Brimstone dropped down beside me as if volunteering itself as my consolation.
By this point I was almost through the Glades and I’d reached the spot where I’d encountered my first Orange-tip pf the year. After The Devenish I must have got my eye in as scanning across the lower vegetation I spotted an OT that was down and all closed up. I spent the next 5 minutes alternatively peering through my lens and taking shots and straining my neck upwards from my prone position hoping to see a break in the cloud and some blue sky approaching. When the sun did come out the butterfly didn’t behave as it should have. Instead of the incremental opening up to reveal the gorgeous orange and white underneath as the temperature rose this individual remained stubbornly closed up until it was ‘done’ and then with a single flick of its wings it promptly took off and was gone. I stared after it in disbelief for a few seconds before reckoning to myself that I’d got plenty of shots to choose from anyway and then I made to go on my way – albeit a lot less rapidly.
I’d only taken a few steps when the sun retreated once more behind a cloud and a second OT flew towards me through the Glades. Almost as soon as the sun was gone he went down (it was like a switch had been thrown) this time on a different clump of vegetation. Again I set up camp and waited to see if this one would play by the rules. As I waited I took my shots and even had a chance to compare with some of the earlier shots – the differences in the under wing markings confirmed that this was definitely a second individual. It seemed like this one had read the play book for as the sun started to peek around the cloud there was the slightest quiver of the wings. I quickly shifted position so that I was directly behind it and waited. When the sun was fully revealed the butterfly gradually opened up, micrometre by micrometre until it was fully revealed too, the tiny eyes in the orange tips providing another point of difference. With a final flourish it was off and tearing about the place like a hoon.
After it had flown off I took to wandering once more around the Glades although there wasn’t much else back where I’d come from and so I ended back at the end where the OTs had both been. Upon my return I immediately spied two different looking whites. One was sitting on the Bramble bush and was quite square winged – it was my first Green-veined White of the year! The second was much larger with striking black markings which I could see as it powered around and about - a female Large White. As the GVW was a FFY I concentrated on that – getting my shots and moving slowly around to try and get a view of the underside. After a while I took the few steps towards where the Large White was settled but after a couple of record shots she was off so I resumed working with the GVW but kept my eye on the general direction where the Large White had been. Eventually she returned during a small cloudy period. It seemed that despite me feeling comfortable the temperature wasn’t quite high enough for the butterflies as the moment the sun went in they would quite literally drop from the sky. As I focused in on the Large White the sun started to creep out so I was able to get a few shots with her partially opening her wings up, angling them so as to reflect the maximum amount onto the dark thorax and abdomen. Eventually she reached the appropriate temperature and returned to the wing. The GVW was still in some partial shade so would take slightly longer to warm up hence I returned my attentions to it.
Feeling chuffed with two FFY and plenty of OT action I felt it was time to see what the Banks had to offer so I re-joined the main track and then branched off again to walk along the Banks about half way up. On the little trackway which had recently held a Comma a Peacock was down and then further along in the more open section there was a second Peacock but apart from this it was very quiet along the Banks, perhaps it’s season is waning – it’s generally best very early in the season. One of the two Peacocks flies alongside me to the end of the Banks and then I take the back path where there is yet another Peacock feeding on a small group of Dandelions. Normally I might have retraced my footsteps and worked back along the Banks but it had been so quiet instead I cut back along the top of the Banks and made directly for Comma Corner with a female Small White momentarily distracting me as I started off.
Upon my arrival at Comma Corner it all kicks off! A Small White is sitting minding its own business when a second Small White bombs into it sending them both spiralling upwards and chasing back and forth skimming the tops of the Bramble as they go. A female Large White joins in, her wings almost audible when she passes close-by. All three seem to reach an uneasy truce and I’m just trying to work out which to try and photograph when a Brimstone arrives hotfoot from patrol setting off the other three. Then a second and then a third Brimstone join the fray – there’s Whites all over the place. One settles just long enough for me to consider approaching but it’s gone again when one of the others passes too close. It’s dizzying but enjoyable to see and in the end I just settled back to enjoy the spectacle.
As I start back through the Glades two male OTs pass by and I was wondering why they hadn’t put in an appearance at Comma Corner when I almost trip over a Comma that’s basking down on the deck. I swear that I could read its mind and it went something like “If those bu££ers show up and nick my spot well I’ll bl@@dy well nick theirs!”. Leaving the grumpy old curmudgeon I made for the end of the Glades and in the final stretch I witnessed a comical display from two of the ubiquitous whites. I spotted a GVW down on the deck when an OT flew in from along the river and proceeded to hassle the GVW, flushing it up and then chasing it through the trees. Suddenly there came the light bulb moment for the GVW when it must have realised that it was bigger than the OT. It then pulled a loop over the OT, accelerated from behind and then started chasing the OT about all over the place. Eventually the OT chickened out and shot off across the river to safety. To the victor the spoils and the GVW smugly settled back down on a Dandelion. I thought that this might have been the last sighting of the trip but one of the OT turned up right at the end on almost the final spot of vegetation that wasn’t grass presumably to wave me off.
Not much from last trip…
But Five Rivers is all White
And Holly Blue too!
I set off directly to the Glades wending my way along the river path which only seemed to hold a Brimstone. But then all went a bit hectic despite the cloud shrouding the sun…A large white butterfly hove into view and twigging that the whiteness and size meant that it was indeed not just a ‘large white’ but a Large White I set to following it. No easy task this as they really have something under the bonnet and their acceleration is mighty impressive. In the end I managed to just about keep up with it and managed a few brief ‘grab’ shots in a similar place to where I’d seen my first of the year. When it took off again I tried to follow it but got distracted as first a Small White which could have been a Green-veined passed in the opposite direction and then a tiny blue butterfly took off from the grass and jinked its way towards some small trees. I didn’t know what to go for; carry on after the Large White, head back the way I’d come to see if it was a Small or my first Green-veined or watch the Holly Blue and hope that it settled low down? I plumbed for the Holly Blue but despite its slow ascent it had somehow gained enough altitude to reach the top of the tree and it disappeared from sight. A Brimstone dropped down beside me as if volunteering itself as my consolation.
By this point I was almost through the Glades and I’d reached the spot where I’d encountered my first Orange-tip pf the year. After The Devenish I must have got my eye in as scanning across the lower vegetation I spotted an OT that was down and all closed up. I spent the next 5 minutes alternatively peering through my lens and taking shots and straining my neck upwards from my prone position hoping to see a break in the cloud and some blue sky approaching. When the sun did come out the butterfly didn’t behave as it should have. Instead of the incremental opening up to reveal the gorgeous orange and white underneath as the temperature rose this individual remained stubbornly closed up until it was ‘done’ and then with a single flick of its wings it promptly took off and was gone. I stared after it in disbelief for a few seconds before reckoning to myself that I’d got plenty of shots to choose from anyway and then I made to go on my way – albeit a lot less rapidly.
I’d only taken a few steps when the sun retreated once more behind a cloud and a second OT flew towards me through the Glades. Almost as soon as the sun was gone he went down (it was like a switch had been thrown) this time on a different clump of vegetation. Again I set up camp and waited to see if this one would play by the rules. As I waited I took my shots and even had a chance to compare with some of the earlier shots – the differences in the under wing markings confirmed that this was definitely a second individual. It seemed like this one had read the play book for as the sun started to peek around the cloud there was the slightest quiver of the wings. I quickly shifted position so that I was directly behind it and waited. When the sun was fully revealed the butterfly gradually opened up, micrometre by micrometre until it was fully revealed too, the tiny eyes in the orange tips providing another point of difference. With a final flourish it was off and tearing about the place like a hoon.
After it had flown off I took to wandering once more around the Glades although there wasn’t much else back where I’d come from and so I ended back at the end where the OTs had both been. Upon my return I immediately spied two different looking whites. One was sitting on the Bramble bush and was quite square winged – it was my first Green-veined White of the year! The second was much larger with striking black markings which I could see as it powered around and about - a female Large White. As the GVW was a FFY I concentrated on that – getting my shots and moving slowly around to try and get a view of the underside. After a while I took the few steps towards where the Large White was settled but after a couple of record shots she was off so I resumed working with the GVW but kept my eye on the general direction where the Large White had been. Eventually she returned during a small cloudy period. It seemed that despite me feeling comfortable the temperature wasn’t quite high enough for the butterflies as the moment the sun went in they would quite literally drop from the sky. As I focused in on the Large White the sun started to creep out so I was able to get a few shots with her partially opening her wings up, angling them so as to reflect the maximum amount onto the dark thorax and abdomen. Eventually she reached the appropriate temperature and returned to the wing. The GVW was still in some partial shade so would take slightly longer to warm up hence I returned my attentions to it.
Feeling chuffed with two FFY and plenty of OT action I felt it was time to see what the Banks had to offer so I re-joined the main track and then branched off again to walk along the Banks about half way up. On the little trackway which had recently held a Comma a Peacock was down and then further along in the more open section there was a second Peacock but apart from this it was very quiet along the Banks, perhaps it’s season is waning – it’s generally best very early in the season. One of the two Peacocks flies alongside me to the end of the Banks and then I take the back path where there is yet another Peacock feeding on a small group of Dandelions. Normally I might have retraced my footsteps and worked back along the Banks but it had been so quiet instead I cut back along the top of the Banks and made directly for Comma Corner with a female Small White momentarily distracting me as I started off.
Upon my arrival at Comma Corner it all kicks off! A Small White is sitting minding its own business when a second Small White bombs into it sending them both spiralling upwards and chasing back and forth skimming the tops of the Bramble as they go. A female Large White joins in, her wings almost audible when she passes close-by. All three seem to reach an uneasy truce and I’m just trying to work out which to try and photograph when a Brimstone arrives hotfoot from patrol setting off the other three. Then a second and then a third Brimstone join the fray – there’s Whites all over the place. One settles just long enough for me to consider approaching but it’s gone again when one of the others passes too close. It’s dizzying but enjoyable to see and in the end I just settled back to enjoy the spectacle.
As I start back through the Glades two male OTs pass by and I was wondering why they hadn’t put in an appearance at Comma Corner when I almost trip over a Comma that’s basking down on the deck. I swear that I could read its mind and it went something like “If those bu££ers show up and nick my spot well I’ll bl@@dy well nick theirs!”. Leaving the grumpy old curmudgeon I made for the end of the Glades and in the final stretch I witnessed a comical display from two of the ubiquitous whites. I spotted a GVW down on the deck when an OT flew in from along the river and proceeded to hassle the GVW, flushing it up and then chasing it through the trees. Suddenly there came the light bulb moment for the GVW when it must have realised that it was bigger than the OT. It then pulled a loop over the OT, accelerated from behind and then started chasing the OT about all over the place. Eventually the OT chickened out and shot off across the river to safety. To the victor the spoils and the GVW smugly settled back down on a Dandelion. I thought that this might have been the last sighting of the trip but one of the OT turned up right at the end on almost the final spot of vegetation that wasn’t grass presumably to wave me off.
Not much from last trip…
But Five Rivers is all White
And Holly Blue too!
The Devenish 15-04-2021
I decided to not bother listening to the weather forecasters and also to ignore the weather apps and just head out anyway. In recent days they’ve been hedging their bets with everything from sunshine to snow forecast and the accuracy has been severely lacking. The thing that gets me is the ‘sunny intervals’ tag/symbol – well how much sun exactly? Are we talking more or less than 30 minutes of sun each hour or does a single ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ ray that bursts through the cloud count? The pattern recently is bright but too cold first thing but then as it warms up it clouds over pegging the temperatures back hence today I set out just before 11.
When I arrived at The Devenish the sun was still shining brightly and there were only a few fluffy white clouds punctuating the beautiful blue sky but there was still enough nip in the air to warrant my fleece. I quartered the Orchid Meadow noting various bees, flies and Bee-flies and then did the same in both the small and the large Paddocks. I must have checked every Dandelion and every bird dropping besmirched Nettle across the site but to no avail. I wandered across the middle of the Middle Down and then down the track back into Orchid Meadow but no matter how hard I stared into the bushes I couldn’t materialise a butterfly. It was warming up though so I thought that I’d have a coffee and a snack and then try again. As the last mouthful of Lime Pickle sandwich was singeing my cheeks a small, orangey butterfly hove into view. It was what I’d been hoping to see, a male Orange-tip. He went down and as cautiously as possible I approached him to get a few shots.
With those in the bag I stood back and shortly he took off again and set off in the darting and bobbing style that they have up the track, over the gate and into the small Paddock. So I followed suit and tried for a few more shots as he flitted from flower to flower fuelling up on possibly every other flower. Some it seems may have already been fed upon and were possibly restocking and these got short shrift. Eventually he’d worked his way round the small Paddock and then he flew over the gate and set off at pace into the Large Paddock. I climbed over the gate by which time he‘d gone though I reckoned he’d return and so I busied myself with the Bee-flies and the brace of Peacocks that were also in the Paddock.
I was proved correct as shortly we, the Peacocks and I, were joined again by the Orange-tip. While the sun shone the Orange-tip pootled around in the small Paddock and then refuelled and warmed it went on a bit of a run, down through the tree tunnel and into the Orchid Meadow. I managed to keep up with it over the first gate but faltered at the second (it just sailed over of course) but luckily got a clear sight of it just as the sun went in behind the cloud. I walked to where it had gone down but it had vanished. It was nowhere to be seen. I tired crouching, kneeling, sitting, lying flat and then scanning across the vegetation but I couldn’t see it. Then I tried scanning from different points of a circle around where it had gone down but still no joy. The sun started to claw away at the cloud and all of a sudden there was a flash of orange and where there had previously been a distinct lack of Orange-tip suddenly there was one.
Ignoring the Brimstone that was vying for my attention I followed back the way it had come. Personally I reckon it just liked making me clamber over the gates and once it had finished chuckling at my expense it set out feeding again. Just as it was looking like it was going to set off on another searing run (they settle less frequently and for shorter and shorter times) it clouded over again calming the butterfly down. It was reasonably warm now but still cool enough that when the sun went in the temperature noticeably dropped, and with it the butterfly. This time I’d seen exactly where it had gone down and so I settled down and prepared for the eventual opening up when the sun returned.
After getting my fill I decided to try my luck over at Five Rivers…
To the Devenish
Blissful beauty Orange-tip
Never disappoints
When I arrived at The Devenish the sun was still shining brightly and there were only a few fluffy white clouds punctuating the beautiful blue sky but there was still enough nip in the air to warrant my fleece. I quartered the Orchid Meadow noting various bees, flies and Bee-flies and then did the same in both the small and the large Paddocks. I must have checked every Dandelion and every bird dropping besmirched Nettle across the site but to no avail. I wandered across the middle of the Middle Down and then down the track back into Orchid Meadow but no matter how hard I stared into the bushes I couldn’t materialise a butterfly. It was warming up though so I thought that I’d have a coffee and a snack and then try again. As the last mouthful of Lime Pickle sandwich was singeing my cheeks a small, orangey butterfly hove into view. It was what I’d been hoping to see, a male Orange-tip. He went down and as cautiously as possible I approached him to get a few shots.
With those in the bag I stood back and shortly he took off again and set off in the darting and bobbing style that they have up the track, over the gate and into the small Paddock. So I followed suit and tried for a few more shots as he flitted from flower to flower fuelling up on possibly every other flower. Some it seems may have already been fed upon and were possibly restocking and these got short shrift. Eventually he’d worked his way round the small Paddock and then he flew over the gate and set off at pace into the Large Paddock. I climbed over the gate by which time he‘d gone though I reckoned he’d return and so I busied myself with the Bee-flies and the brace of Peacocks that were also in the Paddock.
I was proved correct as shortly we, the Peacocks and I, were joined again by the Orange-tip. While the sun shone the Orange-tip pootled around in the small Paddock and then refuelled and warmed it went on a bit of a run, down through the tree tunnel and into the Orchid Meadow. I managed to keep up with it over the first gate but faltered at the second (it just sailed over of course) but luckily got a clear sight of it just as the sun went in behind the cloud. I walked to where it had gone down but it had vanished. It was nowhere to be seen. I tired crouching, kneeling, sitting, lying flat and then scanning across the vegetation but I couldn’t see it. Then I tried scanning from different points of a circle around where it had gone down but still no joy. The sun started to claw away at the cloud and all of a sudden there was a flash of orange and where there had previously been a distinct lack of Orange-tip suddenly there was one.
Ignoring the Brimstone that was vying for my attention I followed back the way it had come. Personally I reckon it just liked making me clamber over the gates and once it had finished chuckling at my expense it set out feeding again. Just as it was looking like it was going to set off on another searing run (they settle less frequently and for shorter and shorter times) it clouded over again calming the butterfly down. It was reasonably warm now but still cool enough that when the sun went in the temperature noticeably dropped, and with it the butterfly. This time I’d seen exactly where it had gone down and so I settled down and prepared for the eventual opening up when the sun returned.
After getting my fill I decided to try my luck over at Five Rivers…
To the Devenish
Blissful beauty Orange-tip
Never disappoints
Martin Down 14-04-2021
I desperately needed a change of scene – all of my visits out had either been or ended up at Five Rivers or Middle Street. There’s nothing wrong in that but I was getting into a bit of a rut nd the poor run of weather wasn’t helping; glorious while I worked and it was too cold, then just as it starts to get hot enough clouding over and cooling down. There was a similar run when I decided to grab my camera and go to Martin Down but I just went with it.
As I drove through Coombe Bisset and white flew by along the verge and the sun started to peak through the cloud. It was looking like I’d actually caught a break and I was heading into the good weather for once rather than away from it! The sun got stronger and stronger and the clouds drifted off into nothingness. I turned right down towards Martin and Sillen’s Lane ignoring the “Road Closed” signs and hoping that I‘d be able to access the village itself which indeed I was. Then I drove slowly down the single track towards the car park. I spied a Brimstone pootling along and as it went down I pulled up, climbed out and managed a couple of semi-distant shots before it was off. Unfortunately that was it for the drive and the hoped for Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites didn’t materialise.
Abandoning the car I set off on foot along the flat track scanning both ahead and the hedge as I went. Near the bale blocked gateway I spotted a Brimstone but it was playing hard to get although I didn’t mind as it put me onto a Small Tort. It seemed a little more flighty than the ones I’m used to seeing at middle Street – I suppose that’s what comes from growing up in such an open locale.
My anticipation was growing now as I had just reached the start of the Tunnel track. In the past this has held Orange-tips, Green Hairstreaks, Specklies and Grizzlies to only mention those species that I knew were already flying and I hadn’t caught up with to date. However it was possibly the quietest time I’ve ever wandered the length of track way with only a pair of male Brimstones – one half way along and the other at the far end. To be honest I don’t think the cutting back had helped as what was a sheltered and lush trackway is now exposed and drying out in the wind and it’s no longer tunnel like but instead just a hedge really – disappointing. I carried on hiking alongside the Iron Age fort and the round and down to the Hotspot. From here I wandered along the little track aiming to reach the Hairstreak Field. A Peacock blocked my way and paused for a few shots but that was it after I’d completed a circuit round the whole Hotspot.
Slightly disheartened I tried my luck with walking along in the Dyke for a bit. All was quiet and the vegetation seemed to be hacked back and closely cropped with only a few Cowslips starting to peak though among the still few Violets. An Oil Beetle was a nice sight to see and then I got a bit of a shock. It was one of those times when you don’t really realise what you’re seeing, then when you do you forget that you’ve got a camera until too late. I’d almost trodden on an Adder, well when I stepped back I saw that it was in fact two Adders. One was really obvious as it was black and silver/white. The other was a bit chubbier and was a brick red or terracotta colour. They been slithering around in the bottom of the Dyke with the smaller darker one chasing the other round in circles, weaving in and out of the vegetation around a small Hawthorn bush. Then they disappeared into the shadows and I was left wondering if I’d just witnessed a successful courtship?
I make my way back and check out the Hotspot where another Peacock, or more likely the same one that had been in the Dyke, is feeding in the hollow. As I enter the Greenstreak field by the bottom entrance a Comma and a Peacock whizz over my head, slow enough that I can work out what they are but once they’re round the corner they accelerate away and following them is pointless. Another this disappointment this as Commas aren’t particularly common here. The walk back is pretty uneventful until I’m almost back at the car. I spy what looks like a dead leaf among the grasses. The upright stature doesn’t fit with a decaying leaf so I slow down and then bend down and the leaf becomes a Comma, closed uptight in the cool and cloudy conditions. It’s sitting out quite exposed so I offer it my finger, take a few shots and then move it to a more sheltered spot in the hedge.
After this I drove round and parked at the main car park and briefly took my life into my hands and crossed the road to Kitts Grave. Normally visiting this area involves a long trek uphill from Vernditch but here I am today wandering the paths only 5 minutes from the car. It’s something of a revelation and I only wish the butterflies had been a little more revelatory. However there wasn’t a single one despite checking all of the little valleys. In fact there were only three things of note the whole time I was on site. The first was a pair of Oil Beetles. The ‘bulbous also tapered’ (anyone recognise this quote?) female was buried up to mid-abdomen in the ground and the male was clambering around on top. The second was a Hare as I as leaving and the third was the good awful cloud and wind that made it surprisingly cold – so much so that my wrists were aching in the chill.
Oh well at least I’m getting out and doing the spade work – it’s got to pay off soon…right?
Try a different site
So Martin Down it is then
But still the same stuff…
As I drove through Coombe Bisset and white flew by along the verge and the sun started to peak through the cloud. It was looking like I’d actually caught a break and I was heading into the good weather for once rather than away from it! The sun got stronger and stronger and the clouds drifted off into nothingness. I turned right down towards Martin and Sillen’s Lane ignoring the “Road Closed” signs and hoping that I‘d be able to access the village itself which indeed I was. Then I drove slowly down the single track towards the car park. I spied a Brimstone pootling along and as it went down I pulled up, climbed out and managed a couple of semi-distant shots before it was off. Unfortunately that was it for the drive and the hoped for Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites didn’t materialise.
Abandoning the car I set off on foot along the flat track scanning both ahead and the hedge as I went. Near the bale blocked gateway I spotted a Brimstone but it was playing hard to get although I didn’t mind as it put me onto a Small Tort. It seemed a little more flighty than the ones I’m used to seeing at middle Street – I suppose that’s what comes from growing up in such an open locale.
My anticipation was growing now as I had just reached the start of the Tunnel track. In the past this has held Orange-tips, Green Hairstreaks, Specklies and Grizzlies to only mention those species that I knew were already flying and I hadn’t caught up with to date. However it was possibly the quietest time I’ve ever wandered the length of track way with only a pair of male Brimstones – one half way along and the other at the far end. To be honest I don’t think the cutting back had helped as what was a sheltered and lush trackway is now exposed and drying out in the wind and it’s no longer tunnel like but instead just a hedge really – disappointing. I carried on hiking alongside the Iron Age fort and the round and down to the Hotspot. From here I wandered along the little track aiming to reach the Hairstreak Field. A Peacock blocked my way and paused for a few shots but that was it after I’d completed a circuit round the whole Hotspot.
Slightly disheartened I tried my luck with walking along in the Dyke for a bit. All was quiet and the vegetation seemed to be hacked back and closely cropped with only a few Cowslips starting to peak though among the still few Violets. An Oil Beetle was a nice sight to see and then I got a bit of a shock. It was one of those times when you don’t really realise what you’re seeing, then when you do you forget that you’ve got a camera until too late. I’d almost trodden on an Adder, well when I stepped back I saw that it was in fact two Adders. One was really obvious as it was black and silver/white. The other was a bit chubbier and was a brick red or terracotta colour. They been slithering around in the bottom of the Dyke with the smaller darker one chasing the other round in circles, weaving in and out of the vegetation around a small Hawthorn bush. Then they disappeared into the shadows and I was left wondering if I’d just witnessed a successful courtship?
I make my way back and check out the Hotspot where another Peacock, or more likely the same one that had been in the Dyke, is feeding in the hollow. As I enter the Greenstreak field by the bottom entrance a Comma and a Peacock whizz over my head, slow enough that I can work out what they are but once they’re round the corner they accelerate away and following them is pointless. Another this disappointment this as Commas aren’t particularly common here. The walk back is pretty uneventful until I’m almost back at the car. I spy what looks like a dead leaf among the grasses. The upright stature doesn’t fit with a decaying leaf so I slow down and then bend down and the leaf becomes a Comma, closed uptight in the cool and cloudy conditions. It’s sitting out quite exposed so I offer it my finger, take a few shots and then move it to a more sheltered spot in the hedge.
After this I drove round and parked at the main car park and briefly took my life into my hands and crossed the road to Kitts Grave. Normally visiting this area involves a long trek uphill from Vernditch but here I am today wandering the paths only 5 minutes from the car. It’s something of a revelation and I only wish the butterflies had been a little more revelatory. However there wasn’t a single one despite checking all of the little valleys. In fact there were only three things of note the whole time I was on site. The first was a pair of Oil Beetles. The ‘bulbous also tapered’ (anyone recognise this quote?) female was buried up to mid-abdomen in the ground and the male was clambering around on top. The second was a Hare as I as leaving and the third was the good awful cloud and wind that made it surprisingly cold – so much so that my wrists were aching in the chill.
Oh well at least I’m getting out and doing the spade work – it’s got to pay off soon…right?
Try a different site
So Martin Down it is then
But still the same stuff…
Frustrating trips out...11th, 12th & 13th April
When I sit and type this it’s been a very frustrating few days with the last productive trip 8 days previously…The weather has been unseasonably cold, with frosts in the evening, hail, sleet and snow and whenever the sun has shone it’s been freezing cold and then just as it’s starting to warm up it clouds over pegging the temperatures back. Whilst it’s been handy in letting me catch up with writing up my posts I’m starting to get a little fed up with getting very little out for the effort I’ve put in…
On the 11th we visited Kingston Lacey. Being further South in Dorset I was hoping for a degree or so of extra heat and so hopefully a few butterflies – maybe a Specklie or Orange-tip that had been tricked into thinking it was warm enough because of the blue skies and bright sunshine that was forecast. In the end it was more a case of cold and bright and then colder. I did see one butterfly and got one shot off – a Small White which was quartering the hedge along the road that separates the Kitchen Garden from the main part of the site but after this the sun was never really out for long enough to get the butterflies going. In fact as the morning wore on the cloud got thicker and thicker and there were a few spots of rain. The temperature dropped further still and on the journey home we drove thought a sleet/snow storm which lasted from Blandford to Langton.
On the 11th we visited Kingston Lacey. Being further South in Dorset I was hoping for a degree or so of extra heat and so hopefully a few butterflies – maybe a Specklie or Orange-tip that had been tricked into thinking it was warm enough because of the blue skies and bright sunshine that was forecast. In the end it was more a case of cold and bright and then colder. I did see one butterfly and got one shot off – a Small White which was quartering the hedge along the road that separates the Kitchen Garden from the main part of the site but after this the sun was never really out for long enough to get the butterflies going. In fact as the morning wore on the cloud got thicker and thicker and there were a few spots of rain. The temperature dropped further still and on the journey home we drove thought a sleet/snow storm which lasted from Blandford to Langton.
On the 12th I made two trips as the weather forecast showed an extra degree and more sun than the previous day. First to Five Rivers but the cloud swallowed the sun for pretty much most of my visit so I walked around slightly morose watching the birds…that’s what it came to!
When I got back home the sun came out and it actually felt quite warm so I walked across to Middle Street. As I walked round I checked out all the usual haunts but nothing was doing. Little Nook, Hotspot, Dip 1 nothing and then as I was walking along the bank path I saw the familiar profile of a Small Tort. It did a few passes and then settled down on the deck. It was well worth waiting for as it was a cracking looking little fella; a vibrant orange and the cream patch on the fore wing really stood out.
After this I was buzzed by a Peacock and another Small Tort in the end patch but it all went quiet so I reverted to bees as they seem to be able to fly when it’s too cool for butterflies. I picked up an interesting Hoverfly, what I think is an Osmia bicolor (or I might have got the red and black back to front and it might not be), an early mining bee, an Ashy Mining Bee and finally a Tree Bee. But despite searching and scanning all the Foliage I couldn’t find what I was really hoping for – a roosting Orange-tip.
When I got back home the sun came out and it actually felt quite warm so I walked across to Middle Street. As I walked round I checked out all the usual haunts but nothing was doing. Little Nook, Hotspot, Dip 1 nothing and then as I was walking along the bank path I saw the familiar profile of a Small Tort. It did a few passes and then settled down on the deck. It was well worth waiting for as it was a cracking looking little fella; a vibrant orange and the cream patch on the fore wing really stood out.
After this I was buzzed by a Peacock and another Small Tort in the end patch but it all went quiet so I reverted to bees as they seem to be able to fly when it’s too cool for butterflies. I picked up an interesting Hoverfly, what I think is an Osmia bicolor (or I might have got the red and black back to front and it might not be), an early mining bee, an Ashy Mining Bee and finally a Tree Bee. But despite searching and scanning all the Foliage I couldn’t find what I was really hoping for – a roosting Orange-tip.
On the 13th the sun shone and while I was standing in line awaiting the opening of the hairdressers the early morning sun was nicely warming and then later as I strolled back, even with the breeze playing around my lugholes as I was sans barber I was feeling the warmest I’ve felt for a while. Then I made the mistake of checking the weather app which suggested that the sunny intervals would hold and the temperature after lunch would almost reach double figures perfect for butterfly photography. While the sun shines you find and follow the butterfly, watch where it lands when the sun goes in and get yourself set up, then when the sun comes back out click off a load of shots before it takes flight again, perfect! So I busied myself with chores and marking all the time looking about of the window and seeing acres of blue sky and the occasional big fluffy white cloud…
Then when I came to go the cloud crept up out of nowhere and for most of my visit the sun was hidden away. I didn’t see a single butterfly despite checking every pale/yellow leaf and ever set of bird droppings on leaves in case there was a White or a roosting Orange-tip. I had to make do with some shiny beetles on the way over and good old Dotted Bee-flies… This is really starting to get on my wick! The weather has got to sort itself out soon, probably just in time for the return to work!
Frustrating weather
And a case of Metitis
Let’s start again Spring!
Then when I came to go the cloud crept up out of nowhere and for most of my visit the sun was hidden away. I didn’t see a single butterfly despite checking every pale/yellow leaf and ever set of bird droppings on leaves in case there was a White or a roosting Orange-tip. I had to make do with some shiny beetles on the way over and good old Dotted Bee-flies… This is really starting to get on my wick! The weather has got to sort itself out soon, probably just in time for the return to work!
Frustrating weather
And a case of Metitis
Let’s start again Spring!
Middle Street 08-04-2021
I took a chance on the weather as according to the apps it was supposed to be 10-11 degrees but cloudy whereas when I looked out of my window there were large patches of blue sky. So I grabbed my camera and headed over to Middle Street. Once on site the cloud was still overhead ad covering the sun but I could see that in a short while the cloud would shift and I’d be bathed in glorious sunshine for a time. I had a quick walk round to the Hotspot and saw a few Bumble Bees start to take off as the temperatures had started to increase which meant that the butterflies wouldn’t be far behind so I hot tailed it over to Dip 1 in readiness.
As I wandered round all was very quiet butterfly wise although the local birds were making up for it, a G.S. Woody drummed, a Green Woody ‘yaffled’, from the reeds came the occasional percussive blast from a Cetti’s and various other birds led their voices to the cacophony. Suddenly like curtains had been thrown back the sun appeared. Within a matter of seconds I was squinting instead of staring and feeling hot rather than comfortable. Almost as sudden were the butterflies – a Small White appeared heading South out of the Dip while a Small Tort crossed paths with it heading North. I decided to try and follow the Small White as they’re still something of a novelty this season but it was hard work with the butterfly doubling back on itself and sensing the coming cloud, landed in the very middle of a massive patch of Bramble.
I climbed out of the Dip and walked along the banked mid path, zig zagging from side to side so that I could scan down across the footy field or into Dips 2 and 3 but nothing was showing. When I reached the end of Dip 3 I planned to head straight to the end but a Peacock was down on the little cross path and so I attempted a few shots. Despite the cool and cloudy conditions it was still pretty hard going following it as it flew back along the bank of the mid path. Luckily it went down so I managed to pick up at least something for a posting.
As I was getting back on track a Small Tort went whizzing over my head far too quick to see where it ended up so it just became an entry on the Tally and then I found a second Peacock. This one was sunning itself on the slope of the bank and so was much more approachable than the first. Up to the end and nothing more so I retraced my footsteps. The second Peacock was still there and on the other side of the mid path from Dip 3 was another which I though could make it 3. However it had a square cut out of the right fore wing tip which meant that this was the first individual that I’d seen. The Dips 3 and 2 were empty despite plenty of likely looking nectar sources and the sun coming out for another brief spell and warming everything up nicely and as I waited for another patch of sun, which looked like it could be reasonably long lasting I busied myself with a Bee- Fly. It was sitting with its wings still for once so I could clearly see the spots on the wings and that with the black back end meant that it was a Dotted Bee-fly, Bombylius discolour, and the line of white dots meant that it was a female.
My dalliance with the Bee-fly had paid off as the sun had crept out and I was again starting to feel a little too warm in my fleece so I popped over the path and down into Dip1. Sure enough I spotted a Small White on the far side near to the Bramble that it had disappeared into earlier. It fluttered around and about a few times but never seemed t want to leave the Dip, it acted kinda like a skater in a half pipe – it would fly towards and then up the slope of the Dip, reach the top and then tumbled back down and out across the flatter bottom. This proved quite useful for me as I could wait in the middle for it to land on some Dandelions and then grab a few shots before it pottered off to the next feeding stop. I did this three times and then left it in peace.
Back round at the Hotspot things had warmed up nicely and there were a few Nomada bees feeding/diving in the Dandelions and down in the dried pond was a Peacock that was trying to hide from me. I got a few shots by nonchalantly picking my way down and focusing my attentions on a Bee-fly; a Dotted male, and then surreptitiously turning my lens onto the Peacock. I climbed back out with the Peacock leading the way and then after a quick turn around the main pond I made to leave and as I did so a Small Tort flew right at me, skimming my cheek as it passed. Talk about a close encounter.
The stroll back was interrupted by a call from the garage to tell me that my car had been serviced so I stopped for a little bit by a very close Little Egret. It was looking quite splendid with the plumes on show, the very same plumes that got it into trouble as ladies liked them on hats – mind you this did give us the RSPB so I suppose it wasn’t all bad…
After collecting my car I called in at Five Rivers in the hope that the warmer temperatures had encouraged the OT’s to start flying. However there was only a single Peacock at Comma Corner but on the bright side I did see my first Swallow of 2021!
Took a chance trip out
The sun was in short supply
Result! A Small White
As I wandered round all was very quiet butterfly wise although the local birds were making up for it, a G.S. Woody drummed, a Green Woody ‘yaffled’, from the reeds came the occasional percussive blast from a Cetti’s and various other birds led their voices to the cacophony. Suddenly like curtains had been thrown back the sun appeared. Within a matter of seconds I was squinting instead of staring and feeling hot rather than comfortable. Almost as sudden were the butterflies – a Small White appeared heading South out of the Dip while a Small Tort crossed paths with it heading North. I decided to try and follow the Small White as they’re still something of a novelty this season but it was hard work with the butterfly doubling back on itself and sensing the coming cloud, landed in the very middle of a massive patch of Bramble.
I climbed out of the Dip and walked along the banked mid path, zig zagging from side to side so that I could scan down across the footy field or into Dips 2 and 3 but nothing was showing. When I reached the end of Dip 3 I planned to head straight to the end but a Peacock was down on the little cross path and so I attempted a few shots. Despite the cool and cloudy conditions it was still pretty hard going following it as it flew back along the bank of the mid path. Luckily it went down so I managed to pick up at least something for a posting.
As I was getting back on track a Small Tort went whizzing over my head far too quick to see where it ended up so it just became an entry on the Tally and then I found a second Peacock. This one was sunning itself on the slope of the bank and so was much more approachable than the first. Up to the end and nothing more so I retraced my footsteps. The second Peacock was still there and on the other side of the mid path from Dip 3 was another which I though could make it 3. However it had a square cut out of the right fore wing tip which meant that this was the first individual that I’d seen. The Dips 3 and 2 were empty despite plenty of likely looking nectar sources and the sun coming out for another brief spell and warming everything up nicely and as I waited for another patch of sun, which looked like it could be reasonably long lasting I busied myself with a Bee- Fly. It was sitting with its wings still for once so I could clearly see the spots on the wings and that with the black back end meant that it was a Dotted Bee-fly, Bombylius discolour, and the line of white dots meant that it was a female.
My dalliance with the Bee-fly had paid off as the sun had crept out and I was again starting to feel a little too warm in my fleece so I popped over the path and down into Dip1. Sure enough I spotted a Small White on the far side near to the Bramble that it had disappeared into earlier. It fluttered around and about a few times but never seemed t want to leave the Dip, it acted kinda like a skater in a half pipe – it would fly towards and then up the slope of the Dip, reach the top and then tumbled back down and out across the flatter bottom. This proved quite useful for me as I could wait in the middle for it to land on some Dandelions and then grab a few shots before it pottered off to the next feeding stop. I did this three times and then left it in peace.
Back round at the Hotspot things had warmed up nicely and there were a few Nomada bees feeding/diving in the Dandelions and down in the dried pond was a Peacock that was trying to hide from me. I got a few shots by nonchalantly picking my way down and focusing my attentions on a Bee-fly; a Dotted male, and then surreptitiously turning my lens onto the Peacock. I climbed back out with the Peacock leading the way and then after a quick turn around the main pond I made to leave and as I did so a Small Tort flew right at me, skimming my cheek as it passed. Talk about a close encounter.
The stroll back was interrupted by a call from the garage to tell me that my car had been serviced so I stopped for a little bit by a very close Little Egret. It was looking quite splendid with the plumes on show, the very same plumes that got it into trouble as ladies liked them on hats – mind you this did give us the RSPB so I suppose it wasn’t all bad…
After collecting my car I called in at Five Rivers in the hope that the warmer temperatures had encouraged the OT’s to start flying. However there was only a single Peacock at Comma Corner but on the bright side I did see my first Swallow of 2021!
Took a chance trip out
The sun was in short supply
Result! A Small White
Stourhead and on… 04-04-2021
To take advantage of the final day of spring/summer for the foreseeable future we’d booked a slot at Stourhead. Normally by this time of the year I could be guaranteed some butterflies on a visit here but what with Co-vid restrictions still having an effect and so causing all the best bit for this time of year to out of bounds I wasn’t as sure as I’d usually be about picking up some shots. I was hoping maybe for my first Specklie on the walk down the side of the hill and maybe an Orange-tip up near the Temple of Apollo? However my hopes were dashed as the areas in shade stayed cold and even when out in the warmth of the sun a cruel wind clawed then temperature back down. In the end I settled for a nice walk, enjoying those moments when the wind died and the suns warmth was noticeable on my back and the glorious scents and smells that seemed to fill the air. It was only on the very last stage as we were leaving the gardens that a butterfly finally hove into view – a brilliant Brimstone that didn’t hang around for long.
There were several more on the latter parts of the drive home and when we’d gotten back and I was unloading the car it felt positively balmy! So instead of unpacking I poured the remnants of my flask into my travel cup, picked up my camera and headed out once more. My feet took over and I realised that I was walking the familiar route to Five Rivers, sipping coffee on the go. A Brimstone went sailing past and unusually it flopped down and took a breather…Now I was in a bit of a quandary; I usually have my camera over my shoulder and I’m used to using both hands to swing it round ready for shot taking but now one of my hands was full with my coffee so I had to swing it round with one hand, switch it on, hold it steady and shoot all one handed as well as making a stealthy approach so as not to spook it. As I stood back the butterfly took to the air and so I managed to change settings and point and shoot again one handed. I think I got away with it and so a little chuffed I carried on with another couple of Brimstones along the way.
As I strolled along the river side and up to towards the glades I was joined by a brace of Peacocks. One was down low and then flew further into the reserve and up into some blossom where I spied out the second, hanging upside down and drinking deeply of the nectar. There was a third Peacock in the glades but a Willow-Chiff and a Robin were skulking about in the brambles and so scaring the other butterflies off so I continued up to Comma Corner. This now seems to be the place to be for the butterflies of Five Rivers with the banks possibly a bit too overgrown and the grass stifling the nettles and wildflowers. As I approached a brace of Small Whites were flying away to the other corner and a Peacock looked to have usurped the usual Comma as it was sitting on the deck in the idle of the little track that runs into the spinney. I carried on up the hill and spotted another Peacock and a pair of Small Torts locked in mortal combat, spiralling upwards like Tony Stark and Obadiah Stane in Iron Man. A Small White was much more mundane as it flew in a predictable fashion, teasing at landing but never doing so. I retraced my steps and worked my way along the other bank adding another pair of Brimstone and a Comma to the tally.
From here I worked back around to start my wanderings along the Banks. What in previous years has been a vast swathe of Nettles is now a tussocky mess of cooch and other grasses so it was no wonder that a single Comma on the riverside path and a Peacock near the bench along the Banks were the only butterflies seen through this stretch – neither of which were on the banks proper. The less grassy end of the Banks held a couple of Peacocks and I pressed on walking the back path to the far side of the reserve. Once in the far corner there were a couple of Brimstones and then I cut diagonally back towards the top of the Banks stopping off at the ‘island’ on the way. The mass of blossom here saw another battle although this time I think the Small Tort was punching outside of its weight class as it was taking on a Peacock. In my mind Small Torts are the toughest of the Vanessids – I think it’s the combination of tiger colours and stripes – and I swear that I could hear it ripping the piss out of the showy Peacock before seeing it off and landing so that it could seek out its next challenger.
I found myself back at Comma Corner and placed myself on the very tip of the corner so that I could see the Comma hang out and the far bank at the same time. This paid off and over the time I was there I notched up two a piece of Small White, Brimstone and Peacock as well as singletons of Small Tort, Comma and Large White. However by now it had got quite warm so nothing was settling, or if it did take a pause it was to refuel from the blossom high up and out of reach of my lens so I started back. I paused to allow a Brimstone to help me identify a fast flying white as a Large (they were the same size) but then after crossing the wooden bridge instead of heading home I turned right and headed up river.
There wasn’t anything to see until just before nature reserve sign when there was a Comma basking near the edge of the river. A Peacock flew overhead threatening to spook the Comma so I was extra careful in my approach expecting the marauding Peacock to dive down and hassle my quarry at any moment but luckily this didn’t come to pass and I was able to fire off a few shots. I needed to head back now so just watched a couple of Small Whites instead of trying to follow them. It was as I watching them that I spied a smaller, creamy looking butterfly, a male Orange-tip. It was flying upstream but instead of flying to my side of the river it crossed over and I watched, grinding my teeth in frustration as it proceeded to fly into the Glades and settle down near to the spot I’d been at only 5 minutes previously! Oh well there’s always another day…
Cold wind at Stourhead
Meant a trip to Five Rivers
For butterfly fix
There were several more on the latter parts of the drive home and when we’d gotten back and I was unloading the car it felt positively balmy! So instead of unpacking I poured the remnants of my flask into my travel cup, picked up my camera and headed out once more. My feet took over and I realised that I was walking the familiar route to Five Rivers, sipping coffee on the go. A Brimstone went sailing past and unusually it flopped down and took a breather…Now I was in a bit of a quandary; I usually have my camera over my shoulder and I’m used to using both hands to swing it round ready for shot taking but now one of my hands was full with my coffee so I had to swing it round with one hand, switch it on, hold it steady and shoot all one handed as well as making a stealthy approach so as not to spook it. As I stood back the butterfly took to the air and so I managed to change settings and point and shoot again one handed. I think I got away with it and so a little chuffed I carried on with another couple of Brimstones along the way.
As I strolled along the river side and up to towards the glades I was joined by a brace of Peacocks. One was down low and then flew further into the reserve and up into some blossom where I spied out the second, hanging upside down and drinking deeply of the nectar. There was a third Peacock in the glades but a Willow-Chiff and a Robin were skulking about in the brambles and so scaring the other butterflies off so I continued up to Comma Corner. This now seems to be the place to be for the butterflies of Five Rivers with the banks possibly a bit too overgrown and the grass stifling the nettles and wildflowers. As I approached a brace of Small Whites were flying away to the other corner and a Peacock looked to have usurped the usual Comma as it was sitting on the deck in the idle of the little track that runs into the spinney. I carried on up the hill and spotted another Peacock and a pair of Small Torts locked in mortal combat, spiralling upwards like Tony Stark and Obadiah Stane in Iron Man. A Small White was much more mundane as it flew in a predictable fashion, teasing at landing but never doing so. I retraced my steps and worked my way along the other bank adding another pair of Brimstone and a Comma to the tally.
From here I worked back around to start my wanderings along the Banks. What in previous years has been a vast swathe of Nettles is now a tussocky mess of cooch and other grasses so it was no wonder that a single Comma on the riverside path and a Peacock near the bench along the Banks were the only butterflies seen through this stretch – neither of which were on the banks proper. The less grassy end of the Banks held a couple of Peacocks and I pressed on walking the back path to the far side of the reserve. Once in the far corner there were a couple of Brimstones and then I cut diagonally back towards the top of the Banks stopping off at the ‘island’ on the way. The mass of blossom here saw another battle although this time I think the Small Tort was punching outside of its weight class as it was taking on a Peacock. In my mind Small Torts are the toughest of the Vanessids – I think it’s the combination of tiger colours and stripes – and I swear that I could hear it ripping the piss out of the showy Peacock before seeing it off and landing so that it could seek out its next challenger.
I found myself back at Comma Corner and placed myself on the very tip of the corner so that I could see the Comma hang out and the far bank at the same time. This paid off and over the time I was there I notched up two a piece of Small White, Brimstone and Peacock as well as singletons of Small Tort, Comma and Large White. However by now it had got quite warm so nothing was settling, or if it did take a pause it was to refuel from the blossom high up and out of reach of my lens so I started back. I paused to allow a Brimstone to help me identify a fast flying white as a Large (they were the same size) but then after crossing the wooden bridge instead of heading home I turned right and headed up river.
There wasn’t anything to see until just before nature reserve sign when there was a Comma basking near the edge of the river. A Peacock flew overhead threatening to spook the Comma so I was extra careful in my approach expecting the marauding Peacock to dive down and hassle my quarry at any moment but luckily this didn’t come to pass and I was able to fire off a few shots. I needed to head back now so just watched a couple of Small Whites instead of trying to follow them. It was as I watching them that I spied a smaller, creamy looking butterfly, a male Orange-tip. It was flying upstream but instead of flying to my side of the river it crossed over and I watched, grinding my teeth in frustration as it proceeded to fly into the Glades and settle down near to the spot I’d been at only 5 minutes previously! Oh well there’s always another day…
Cold wind at Stourhead
Meant a trip to Five Rivers
For butterfly fix
Another Rescue Mission 03-04-2021
I don’t know what it is but I’ve become something of a magnet for Small Whites… Last year I had an early one desperate to escape from my Lab in mid-February. This year I saved one from freezing to death in January and then a third sought out my assistance. The weather had taken a turn for the much cooler and on this particular Saturday the morning had been bright but very cold. Around lunch time it had warmed up slightly – reaching high single figures but not making it quite into the double digits and this along with the very intermittent sun meant that getting out and looking for butterflies seemed like a futile exercise.
My wife and I decided to leave the girls in peace (or was it so we could get some peace ourselves?) and head out for our usual exercise walk. I’d just stepped out and was turning to lock up behind us when I spotted an off-white triangle in the middle of the footpath. As I approached it resolved into a Small White, down on the deck and down on its luck. It must have set forth from somewhere snug in one of the very short breaks in the cloud and had got caught out by the sudden drop in temperature when the sun had been swallowed up by the thick cloud. I got a few shots as we’ve reached that time of year when I don’t leave home without my camera and then moved it onto the closest door frame so that it wouldn’t get trampled or squashed.
On returning from our walk the sun had well and truly disappeared and it had remained cold so I moved the butterfly from the exposed doorframe which it was still grimly clutching. After it had crawled onto my finger and encouraged it to crawl into a tumble of weeds that were growing at the side of the path between the bricks of the terrace and the flagstones. I reasoned that this would the most natural shelter for it and hopefully tomorrow it would be able fly off when the cloud cleared as we were forecast a nice afternoon…
If only I had this effect on Large Tortoiseshells?
Caught out by the cold
A Small White down on its luck
Rescuer Wurzel
My wife and I decided to leave the girls in peace (or was it so we could get some peace ourselves?) and head out for our usual exercise walk. I’d just stepped out and was turning to lock up behind us when I spotted an off-white triangle in the middle of the footpath. As I approached it resolved into a Small White, down on the deck and down on its luck. It must have set forth from somewhere snug in one of the very short breaks in the cloud and had got caught out by the sudden drop in temperature when the sun had been swallowed up by the thick cloud. I got a few shots as we’ve reached that time of year when I don’t leave home without my camera and then moved it onto the closest door frame so that it wouldn’t get trampled or squashed.
On returning from our walk the sun had well and truly disappeared and it had remained cold so I moved the butterfly from the exposed doorframe which it was still grimly clutching. After it had crawled onto my finger and encouraged it to crawl into a tumble of weeds that were growing at the side of the path between the bricks of the terrace and the flagstones. I reasoned that this would the most natural shelter for it and hopefully tomorrow it would be able fly off when the cloud cleared as we were forecast a nice afternoon…
If only I had this effect on Large Tortoiseshells?
Caught out by the cold
A Small White down on its luck
Rescuer Wurzel
Five Rivers 02-04-202
We’d started the day by visiting Mottisfont but the sun belied and flattered to deceive as it was mighty nippy out despite the brightness. We started off over the boardwalk and then paused on the bridge for the now obligatory ‘fish jumping from the water’ shot. The small path running alongside the crystal clear stream that flows from the eponymous ‘Font’ and so we took this for a change. The dappled sun light meant that we experienced fluctuating temperatures from pleasant back to cold. In one of the flower beds landed and I managed to approach it by following a little track that obviously set out by the gardener when they’d planted out the clutches of Primroses and Daffs.
There was a second up near the Font while we were walking along the feature woodland path though this time it remained pretty well hidden (or so it thought) and unapproachable (which indeed it was). After a few record shot attempts we carried on and from here through the Walled Garden, out across the fields and back by the Riverside path but alas there wasn’t a single butterfly…that is until we reached Broughton on the drive home when a Brimstone flew along the hedgerow beside us. It seemed that we’d made the visit too early and the butterflies were only just waking up…
Once we’d gotten back things and warmed up sufficiently and so I grabbed my camera and was away to Five Rivers. I don’t know why I chose this site over Middle Street today but I had an inkling that it might produce the goods…And it didn’t take long for my hunch to play out as my first butterfly of the trip was a First for the Year. As I walked along the riverside path hoping to catch a White of some description that’s exactly what I saw. It was large and very white, a possible male Large White I thought. Luckily as I followed it with my eyes, feeling my head swivel and bob echoing the slightly frenetic and rapid flight of the butterfly it decided to land on the some large blossom which beautifully complimented it. A short spring later and I was within range and there on the memory card was my first Large White of 2021. After this fuel stop it went on another searing flight before ending up a short distance away this time down on a Dandelion showing off the pure white forewings with their large shark fin like tips. While I was celebrating this I temporarily adopted Molly the puppy. She took a liking to me so much so that I had to walk back the way I’d come throwing a stick for her to fetch several times so that she’d return to her actual owner.
Once Molly had been reunited with her owner I headed back once more to the Glades. As I cut through the trees a Red Admiral bombed by me. I watched with bated breath as it went down but I could tell by the rapid wing flicking that it was agitated and so all I could get was a record shot – but at least I’d gotten shots now of all the species that I’d seen so far in 2021. As I watched it vamoose up ahead I spied a familiar tangerine coloured butterfly. As I approached cautiously and the butterfly grew in size the tangerine became darker until there was my first Orange-tip of 2021. I fired off a few record shots realising that it wouldn’t be hanging around for long and indeed he didn’t. No matter I’d seen the butterfly that for me means the season is well underway, the one I long for all through those dreary winter months. That shock of orange on the fore wings is just stunning; an assault on the visual cortex.
To be perfectly frank I could have called it a day right then and I’d have been happy. However the problem with this time of year is that you can never really tell when the next trip will come. During the summer months it doesn’t matter where you go you can expect to see a couple of butterflies pretty much anywhere but at this time of year, what with the vagaries of the weather there could be a week or more between butterflies. So when you’re out there’s a feeling of making sure you see everything! So onwards and upwards towards Comma Corner. When I arrive there a Peacock has usurped the Commas and is sunning itself on the little path that leads into the spinney that the Commas are always fighting over. I carry on up the rise and round behind the spinney and I spot two Small Whites sunning themselves on the brambles. One comes down a little lower and the other comes down onto the deck so I fire off a few shots hoping that something will come out unbleached. At the either end of the spinney there are a Comma and Peacock and I wonder how long it’ll take the former to fight his way back to the hallowed turf on the little path into the spinney?
After this I take the normal route along the Banks and as usual I spend almost as much time noting down sightings in my notebook as taking photographs of the butterflies. At the fallen tree there’s a Peacock to get the ball rolling. Then just after the line of trees there are a further two Peacocks and a Comma. At the bench are another pair of Peacocks and a Small Tort with a second, more resplendent one down on the deck on the corner at the end. After getting a few shots of this lovely looking Small Tort I poke my head round the corner and look along the back path to the far corner of the site. The wind is fairly whipping along, and like a stiletto blade it slices expertly through my jacket chilling me. I decide to double back the way I’ve come as that will offer me the best chance of finding some butterflies along the sheltered Banks.
Among the Peacocks ad the Comma this time I was joined by 2 Small Whites and a Brimstone. The former kept interfering with each other much to my annoyance. I’d have a shot lined up on one Small White and then the second would patrol by and either the first would take off to chase away the second or the second would dive in an attack the first. Either way it meant that I could have covered the length and breadth of the Banks several times over if I’d have tried to follow one or the other so in the end I found a likely looking patch of Bramble, stood back from it and waited. A Small White landed, I stepped forward and took a few shots and then stood back just as the second appeared and off the two of them went again bickering like siblings. It was at this juncture that I noticed a Brimstone that was low down feeding on Dead Nettles and trying to keep a low profile. He certainly seemed to be enjoying the nectar; his head was so far in I wondered if he’d misidentified it and it was actually a pitcher plant and he was falling to his doom!
Back at Comma Corner the Commas had taken their territory back with a pair seemingly on guard duty, one on either side of the small path into the spinney. This pair were soon joined by a third and this one’s arrival proved that two’s company and three’s an argument (that is the way the saying goes isn’t it?) and all three went tearing off after each other. I lose track of them as two Small Whites go past one after the other followed by another pair almost as quickly. I follow them up and round to the back but the strong sun is making getting any on film tricky. To this end I head back to the corner and go round the lower side of the spinney hoping that there might be a little shade here which means any shots won’t be bleached out in the surprisingly strong sun. I manage to find a couple of Small Whites and so step back and wait for them to settle. Eventually they do and with a quick step or two forward I bag a few more shots. As I’m wandering back chuffed to bits after such a brilliant (shots of all 8 species that I’ve seen in 2021) spring afternoon male Orange-tip does a fly-by to wave me off.
I love Orange-tips
That vivid splash of orange
Cannot get enough
There was a second up near the Font while we were walking along the feature woodland path though this time it remained pretty well hidden (or so it thought) and unapproachable (which indeed it was). After a few record shot attempts we carried on and from here through the Walled Garden, out across the fields and back by the Riverside path but alas there wasn’t a single butterfly…that is until we reached Broughton on the drive home when a Brimstone flew along the hedgerow beside us. It seemed that we’d made the visit too early and the butterflies were only just waking up…
Once we’d gotten back things and warmed up sufficiently and so I grabbed my camera and was away to Five Rivers. I don’t know why I chose this site over Middle Street today but I had an inkling that it might produce the goods…And it didn’t take long for my hunch to play out as my first butterfly of the trip was a First for the Year. As I walked along the riverside path hoping to catch a White of some description that’s exactly what I saw. It was large and very white, a possible male Large White I thought. Luckily as I followed it with my eyes, feeling my head swivel and bob echoing the slightly frenetic and rapid flight of the butterfly it decided to land on the some large blossom which beautifully complimented it. A short spring later and I was within range and there on the memory card was my first Large White of 2021. After this fuel stop it went on another searing flight before ending up a short distance away this time down on a Dandelion showing off the pure white forewings with their large shark fin like tips. While I was celebrating this I temporarily adopted Molly the puppy. She took a liking to me so much so that I had to walk back the way I’d come throwing a stick for her to fetch several times so that she’d return to her actual owner.
Once Molly had been reunited with her owner I headed back once more to the Glades. As I cut through the trees a Red Admiral bombed by me. I watched with bated breath as it went down but I could tell by the rapid wing flicking that it was agitated and so all I could get was a record shot – but at least I’d gotten shots now of all the species that I’d seen so far in 2021. As I watched it vamoose up ahead I spied a familiar tangerine coloured butterfly. As I approached cautiously and the butterfly grew in size the tangerine became darker until there was my first Orange-tip of 2021. I fired off a few record shots realising that it wouldn’t be hanging around for long and indeed he didn’t. No matter I’d seen the butterfly that for me means the season is well underway, the one I long for all through those dreary winter months. That shock of orange on the fore wings is just stunning; an assault on the visual cortex.
To be perfectly frank I could have called it a day right then and I’d have been happy. However the problem with this time of year is that you can never really tell when the next trip will come. During the summer months it doesn’t matter where you go you can expect to see a couple of butterflies pretty much anywhere but at this time of year, what with the vagaries of the weather there could be a week or more between butterflies. So when you’re out there’s a feeling of making sure you see everything! So onwards and upwards towards Comma Corner. When I arrive there a Peacock has usurped the Commas and is sunning itself on the little path that leads into the spinney that the Commas are always fighting over. I carry on up the rise and round behind the spinney and I spot two Small Whites sunning themselves on the brambles. One comes down a little lower and the other comes down onto the deck so I fire off a few shots hoping that something will come out unbleached. At the either end of the spinney there are a Comma and Peacock and I wonder how long it’ll take the former to fight his way back to the hallowed turf on the little path into the spinney?
After this I take the normal route along the Banks and as usual I spend almost as much time noting down sightings in my notebook as taking photographs of the butterflies. At the fallen tree there’s a Peacock to get the ball rolling. Then just after the line of trees there are a further two Peacocks and a Comma. At the bench are another pair of Peacocks and a Small Tort with a second, more resplendent one down on the deck on the corner at the end. After getting a few shots of this lovely looking Small Tort I poke my head round the corner and look along the back path to the far corner of the site. The wind is fairly whipping along, and like a stiletto blade it slices expertly through my jacket chilling me. I decide to double back the way I’ve come as that will offer me the best chance of finding some butterflies along the sheltered Banks.
Among the Peacocks ad the Comma this time I was joined by 2 Small Whites and a Brimstone. The former kept interfering with each other much to my annoyance. I’d have a shot lined up on one Small White and then the second would patrol by and either the first would take off to chase away the second or the second would dive in an attack the first. Either way it meant that I could have covered the length and breadth of the Banks several times over if I’d have tried to follow one or the other so in the end I found a likely looking patch of Bramble, stood back from it and waited. A Small White landed, I stepped forward and took a few shots and then stood back just as the second appeared and off the two of them went again bickering like siblings. It was at this juncture that I noticed a Brimstone that was low down feeding on Dead Nettles and trying to keep a low profile. He certainly seemed to be enjoying the nectar; his head was so far in I wondered if he’d misidentified it and it was actually a pitcher plant and he was falling to his doom!
Back at Comma Corner the Commas had taken their territory back with a pair seemingly on guard duty, one on either side of the small path into the spinney. This pair were soon joined by a third and this one’s arrival proved that two’s company and three’s an argument (that is the way the saying goes isn’t it?) and all three went tearing off after each other. I lose track of them as two Small Whites go past one after the other followed by another pair almost as quickly. I follow them up and round to the back but the strong sun is making getting any on film tricky. To this end I head back to the corner and go round the lower side of the spinney hoping that there might be a little shade here which means any shots won’t be bleached out in the surprisingly strong sun. I manage to find a couple of Small Whites and so step back and wait for them to settle. Eventually they do and with a quick step or two forward I bag a few more shots. As I’m wandering back chuffed to bits after such a brilliant (shots of all 8 species that I’ve seen in 2021) spring afternoon male Orange-tip does a fly-by to wave me off.
I love Orange-tips
That vivid splash of orange
Cannot get enough
Middle Street 01-04-2021
It was noticeably cooler and cloudier this morning and we’d also had a spell of rain showers. I shouldn’t have been surprised as after all today is when the schools break up across England for possibly the most frustrating school holiday. Luckily we finished on a half day and by the time I was driving home the sun had started to sneak through the clouds and it looked like it might be an okayish afternoon. Another lucky feature of today was that I’d had a couple of frees first things and so I’d already eaten my lunch early and the final lucky thing was that it was a non-uniform day so I dropped my bags in the door and headed straight back out towards Middle Street.
From the entrance to the first corner the cloud just covered the sun so I knew why it was still quiet and as I approached the first corner and made across the grass to the little nook a Small Tort was basking and as the first rays peered round the cloud he took off and started doing ‘circuits and bumps’; taking off, flying round in a wide circle and then touching down for a fraction of a second in a very similar place before repeating the process ad infinitum. I found a Wasp and a Peacock and got a few shots of the later before the Small Tort did a wider circuit and put the Peacock up along with a second Small Tort that I’d not noticed. A second Peacock joined the fray and all four went spiralling up, locked in a battle to the death.
While I was almost at the Quagmire path (giggity) I spot a Peacock down on the rushes from where it practically jumps out it’s so obvious, just to the other side of it there’s a Small Tort but this one isn’t playing ball and so I continue round to the Hotspot. It seems that the small field is used as a basking pint and everything had warmed up nicely as it’s now quiet but down in the dry pond a Peacock and a Comma are taking advantage of the peace afforded by this piece of sheltered accommodation as they’re sitting close enough to get them both within view. After clambering down and then back out without disturbing them a Small Tort goes hurtling skywards upon my final step out- so my perfect record became tarnished!
From here I moved straight over to the Dips the first of which only holds a Peacock which is surprising as this is normally the busiest spot of the three and I couldn’t work out whether this was because things had yet to come out into the sun or had already done so and would be zooming about elsewhere? I carried on along the bank path towards Dip 2 while a Small Tort and Peacock keep buzzing each other from the side of the bank and a couple more Small Torts disappear away from me towards the end of the site. Down in Dip 2 itself there is an old, battered Peacock which I wondered whether it still possessed the ability to fly but I recall a few years back encountering Stumpy the Small Tort who possessed even less wing surface and he did okay. A fresher Peacock joins the old timer and I move onto Dip 3. Looking down I can see both a Peacock and a really obvious Small Tort. I went for the Small Tort first as it probably felt a little conspicuous sitting on the reed pile and then photos taken I stalked down the Peacock which hadn’t moved from its spot. It was using a patch of bare soil as a sun bed, absorbing as much warmth from it as it could.
By the time that I reach the end of the site the wind has picked up, just it make it a little trickier still along with the constantly changing light levels and temperature! While I let it blow itself I add up the tally; I’m confident about the accuracy of the 8 Small Torts but the Peacocks at 10 seem a little high as they seem to have been more active today and I reckon the same Peacock turned up in Dip 1, 2 and 3…Oh well I decide to see if I can count the same number on the second half of the outing and as the wind has dropped down to a slight breeze I start the return journey. Mainly this time sticking to the Banked path and looking down into the Dips. As I’m making my way Small tort flies past me, over my shoulder so that’s one to be careful not to double count. Another does the same thing for a way but then drops down so I can strike a mark on the tally. The old Peacock is still down in Dip 2 and I catch up with the grounded second Small Tort with one more further along the Bank – the first one possibly? There’s also a Dotted Bee-fly – a female, the line of white spots making it identifiable even when in flight.
At the end of the Bank level with Dip 1 but on the opposite side the path slopes down into the Footy field and there was a flurry of activity which started with two Small Torts one of which goes down whilst the other flies down into Dip 1. I spy another Peacock and then watch as two Small Torts fly out of Dip1, over the path and seemingly away over the field leaving a single, solitary Small Tort looking a little alone down in Dip1. I walk to the other side of the path and look down into the corner where it slopes down and both Peacock and Small Tort are in view but they seem a little twitchy. I go for it and pull off a few shots of each anyway and then backing up I reverse up the slope and away along the banked path before they’ve even realised. Checking back the photos there are at least 4 Small Torts in this little area, I say ‘at least’ as I didn’t manage to get shots of every one and it was a bit of a blur.
As I’m making my way along the path I happen to look down into and spot a Peacock but even better than that- a Comma. I look closely at it through the viewfinder and my hunch that it’s a different individual from the one in the dried up pond proves correct as on the back edge of the fore wings are a pair of silver studs. Chuffed I carry on and the/a Peacock is down on the rushes. It sits nicely right up until the pint when an Ashy mining Bee bombs it, sending it packing. As it flies away I actually ignore it as I’ve spotted all manner of other macro subjects – 2 Bumble Bees, and interesting Drone fly, tiny mining bees, ladybirds, Bee-flies and disappearing as soon as you set eyes on them a myriad of tiny black spiders.
Back at the dried up pond the Peacock (I’m guessing it was the same one) and the Comma (yep this one was definitely) had been joined by a Brimstone. As I’d already gotten shots of the other two I concentrated on the incomer and after what felt like a thousand shots I slowly backed up and out of the pond and realised that it was time to go so I turned my camera off, underlined the final entry in my notebook and head down set a course for home…well I did note the two Peacocks near the boundary fence. A pretty great start to the break!
Oh surprise, surprise
With the break comes the cold cloud
Get out while I can!
From the entrance to the first corner the cloud just covered the sun so I knew why it was still quiet and as I approached the first corner and made across the grass to the little nook a Small Tort was basking and as the first rays peered round the cloud he took off and started doing ‘circuits and bumps’; taking off, flying round in a wide circle and then touching down for a fraction of a second in a very similar place before repeating the process ad infinitum. I found a Wasp and a Peacock and got a few shots of the later before the Small Tort did a wider circuit and put the Peacock up along with a second Small Tort that I’d not noticed. A second Peacock joined the fray and all four went spiralling up, locked in a battle to the death.
While I was almost at the Quagmire path (giggity) I spot a Peacock down on the rushes from where it practically jumps out it’s so obvious, just to the other side of it there’s a Small Tort but this one isn’t playing ball and so I continue round to the Hotspot. It seems that the small field is used as a basking pint and everything had warmed up nicely as it’s now quiet but down in the dry pond a Peacock and a Comma are taking advantage of the peace afforded by this piece of sheltered accommodation as they’re sitting close enough to get them both within view. After clambering down and then back out without disturbing them a Small Tort goes hurtling skywards upon my final step out- so my perfect record became tarnished!
From here I moved straight over to the Dips the first of which only holds a Peacock which is surprising as this is normally the busiest spot of the three and I couldn’t work out whether this was because things had yet to come out into the sun or had already done so and would be zooming about elsewhere? I carried on along the bank path towards Dip 2 while a Small Tort and Peacock keep buzzing each other from the side of the bank and a couple more Small Torts disappear away from me towards the end of the site. Down in Dip 2 itself there is an old, battered Peacock which I wondered whether it still possessed the ability to fly but I recall a few years back encountering Stumpy the Small Tort who possessed even less wing surface and he did okay. A fresher Peacock joins the old timer and I move onto Dip 3. Looking down I can see both a Peacock and a really obvious Small Tort. I went for the Small Tort first as it probably felt a little conspicuous sitting on the reed pile and then photos taken I stalked down the Peacock which hadn’t moved from its spot. It was using a patch of bare soil as a sun bed, absorbing as much warmth from it as it could.
By the time that I reach the end of the site the wind has picked up, just it make it a little trickier still along with the constantly changing light levels and temperature! While I let it blow itself I add up the tally; I’m confident about the accuracy of the 8 Small Torts but the Peacocks at 10 seem a little high as they seem to have been more active today and I reckon the same Peacock turned up in Dip 1, 2 and 3…Oh well I decide to see if I can count the same number on the second half of the outing and as the wind has dropped down to a slight breeze I start the return journey. Mainly this time sticking to the Banked path and looking down into the Dips. As I’m making my way Small tort flies past me, over my shoulder so that’s one to be careful not to double count. Another does the same thing for a way but then drops down so I can strike a mark on the tally. The old Peacock is still down in Dip 2 and I catch up with the grounded second Small Tort with one more further along the Bank – the first one possibly? There’s also a Dotted Bee-fly – a female, the line of white spots making it identifiable even when in flight.
At the end of the Bank level with Dip 1 but on the opposite side the path slopes down into the Footy field and there was a flurry of activity which started with two Small Torts one of which goes down whilst the other flies down into Dip 1. I spy another Peacock and then watch as two Small Torts fly out of Dip1, over the path and seemingly away over the field leaving a single, solitary Small Tort looking a little alone down in Dip1. I walk to the other side of the path and look down into the corner where it slopes down and both Peacock and Small Tort are in view but they seem a little twitchy. I go for it and pull off a few shots of each anyway and then backing up I reverse up the slope and away along the banked path before they’ve even realised. Checking back the photos there are at least 4 Small Torts in this little area, I say ‘at least’ as I didn’t manage to get shots of every one and it was a bit of a blur.
As I’m making my way along the path I happen to look down into and spot a Peacock but even better than that- a Comma. I look closely at it through the viewfinder and my hunch that it’s a different individual from the one in the dried up pond proves correct as on the back edge of the fore wings are a pair of silver studs. Chuffed I carry on and the/a Peacock is down on the rushes. It sits nicely right up until the pint when an Ashy mining Bee bombs it, sending it packing. As it flies away I actually ignore it as I’ve spotted all manner of other macro subjects – 2 Bumble Bees, and interesting Drone fly, tiny mining bees, ladybirds, Bee-flies and disappearing as soon as you set eyes on them a myriad of tiny black spiders.
Back at the dried up pond the Peacock (I’m guessing it was the same one) and the Comma (yep this one was definitely) had been joined by a Brimstone. As I’d already gotten shots of the other two I concentrated on the incomer and after what felt like a thousand shots I slowly backed up and out of the pond and realised that it was time to go so I turned my camera off, underlined the final entry in my notebook and head down set a course for home…well I did note the two Peacocks near the boundary fence. A pretty great start to the break!
Oh surprise, surprise
With the break comes the cold cloud
Get out while I can!
