Perham Down 26th July
After a reasonably successful trip to Shipton the walk up to the foot of the Down was reasonably chilled. There was the odd Meadow Brown and Hedgie on the way but the Blues weren’t falling over themselves to greet us as in previous years. However things picked up almost immediately we stepped foot onto the down as a Silver-spot appeared and was swiftly followed by a Chalkhill. At last they’re out!
After spending a bit of time with these two we started slowly working up the gentlest of slopes seeking more of our quarry. About half way up we bumped into Denise and Sheila again as well as finding a few more Silver-spots. Whilst following one we were led away from the foot of the down and around the ankle onto the main track, peppered with chalk that runs up to the steeper slopes and on to Warren Hill. As we wandered Philzoid calls out just in time for me to catch sight of my first definite Painted Lady for 2024. The black and white wing tips visible against the peach coloured as it passed by. We halted our progress at the real foot of the down when the slope suddenly alters it’s inclination from about 5degrees to 40 in the hope that the Chalkhills would also be playing here. But it wasn’t to be and there were only Meadow Browns and Brimstones flying so we started retracing our steps back. However a couple of Silver-spots had other ideas and we ended up following them off of the path and down into the thicker scrubby area.
Once we’d ticked these off we got back to the main site and started quartering it in a bid to find a few more Silver-spots. It seemed that the trick was to walk slowly in a straight line then watch the blur for as long as possible, then when it disappeared slowly, ever so slowly, walk to the last place it was observed. Most of the time it was within a metre of so left of right of this spot. Another trick was to scan the various flower heads that protruded through the thin, springy turf. If a Skipper was spotted then a brief ‘Click-step’ usually did the trick and if not then you could always hang around at the next available clump of the same flower as the Skippers it seemed developed a taste for a particular nectar.
Once we’d had our fill of the cutest butterfly in the UK we decided to make a move home. When we reached the corner however the Chalkhills suddenly reappeared and made our move off tricky. They loved the little triangle of scrub in the bottom corner; flying along the various trackways and resting temporarily on the path. As it was still relatively early in their season they were all males and there were three in this little spot with a second brood interloper – a male Common Blue. Eventually we tore ourselves away and somehow made it back to the cars.
Could this be the final episode in the ‘Philzoid and Wurzel’ show? I seriously hope not!
Part 2 of the trip
Finally get a Chalkhill
Now need plenty more
After spending a bit of time with these two we started slowly working up the gentlest of slopes seeking more of our quarry. About half way up we bumped into Denise and Sheila again as well as finding a few more Silver-spots. Whilst following one we were led away from the foot of the down and around the ankle onto the main track, peppered with chalk that runs up to the steeper slopes and on to Warren Hill. As we wandered Philzoid calls out just in time for me to catch sight of my first definite Painted Lady for 2024. The black and white wing tips visible against the peach coloured as it passed by. We halted our progress at the real foot of the down when the slope suddenly alters it’s inclination from about 5degrees to 40 in the hope that the Chalkhills would also be playing here. But it wasn’t to be and there were only Meadow Browns and Brimstones flying so we started retracing our steps back. However a couple of Silver-spots had other ideas and we ended up following them off of the path and down into the thicker scrubby area.
Once we’d ticked these off we got back to the main site and started quartering it in a bid to find a few more Silver-spots. It seemed that the trick was to walk slowly in a straight line then watch the blur for as long as possible, then when it disappeared slowly, ever so slowly, walk to the last place it was observed. Most of the time it was within a metre of so left of right of this spot. Another trick was to scan the various flower heads that protruded through the thin, springy turf. If a Skipper was spotted then a brief ‘Click-step’ usually did the trick and if not then you could always hang around at the next available clump of the same flower as the Skippers it seemed developed a taste for a particular nectar.
Once we’d had our fill of the cutest butterfly in the UK we decided to make a move home. When we reached the corner however the Chalkhills suddenly reappeared and made our move off tricky. They loved the little triangle of scrub in the bottom corner; flying along the various trackways and resting temporarily on the path. As it was still relatively early in their season they were all males and there were three in this little spot with a second brood interloper – a male Common Blue. Eventually we tore ourselves away and somehow made it back to the cars.
Could this be the final episode in the ‘Philzoid and Wurzel’ show? I seriously hope not!
Part 2 of the trip
Finally get a Chalkhill
Now need plenty more
Shipton Bellinger 26th July
As I had a free day it was off to Shipton Bellinger in the search for Brostreaks! I arrived at 10:30 and started searching the main hedge from the bottom up. Things vegetation wise had gone as crazy here as elsewhere and the Wild Parsnip in particular had shot up from its usual waist height to towering above me. A Brown Argus was the first butterfly that I spotted and then there were Meadow Browns and Hedgies everywhere along with plenty of Brismtones although these were staying down reasonably low. There were fly-pasts from Holly Blue, Peacock and Red Admiral and a little further on a Marbled White flew lazily along the margin of the long grass in the field, its wing tips occasionally brushing the seed heads. About half way along I bumped into Sheila and Denise who were investigating some Smessex Skippers. After a quick catch-up we started checking out the antennae closely, peering round to the undersides. And on candidate was very clearly an Essex. The spot where I saw the Brostreak before didn’t bear fruit and so Jenny and I started back down along the hedge to try the triangle picking Philzoid up along the way.
The Hypotenuse which runs at ninety degrees to the road was our first port of call, approaching from the far side. The Wild Parsnip here had gone even crazier and we had to edge our way along the track; Wild Parsnips on one side and neck high nettles on the other. We only managed to get in a few metres before it became impenetrable due to the sneaky Brambles that laced the two sides of the path together, generally at about knee or groin height. Still we’d managed to reach the first little scallop but despite finding 3 Red Admirals and a Peacock there were no Brostreaks so we edged back out and tried the other side. There were a few Hedgies and Meadow Browns but again no Brostreaks sitting on any of the soft/Creeping Thistles. Round at the little enclave a few Brimstone added some variety but then it was back up to the main hedge.
On the way up a Marbled White (the same as before?) passed by on our left whilst on our right every Hedgie was scrutinized just in case and there were also a few Smessex flying. As we approached the rectangle of Wild Parsnips I spotted a familiar looking shark-fin shape protruding from the surface of the sea of yellow flowertops. As I call out it took off and moved up into the hedge sitting about 2 metres up. But with a bit of manual zoom I managed a few shots. As well as Denise and Sheila I also put Mr Mantle onto it. Well at first it was a gent that I recognized and then as I was looking at his shots to confirm Silver-spots I twigged who that they were the parent of one of my old pupils.
Leaving everyone to await the deigning of a closer audience Philzoid and I worked our way up the hill. The little field and scallops on the way up held the Browns and Skippers including a pair of Essex in cop. When we reached the top and the ground had levelled out we found the usual fare with the added bonus of a Wall maintaining a territory on the intersection of various paths. We tried our luck a little further along but the various little tunnels into the hidden clearings were closed and choked with Brambles and the ever present danger of sap burns never left us as the Wild Parsnip seemed to take up every inch of ground.
Luckily the main track along the down top was still as passable as ever and so we walked along here investigating the little scallops carved into the line of vegetation as we went. The first of these had some white flowered umbellifers and sitting proud atop one was another male Brostreak. It didn’t hang around for too long as they often don’t in the afternoon/warmer weather. We pressed on round checking all of the usual spots at the ‘top’ part of the site. Well we tried to check but the Triffid like growth curtailed most of our investigation and so we completed a much shorter and quicker circuit round. Back at the initial scallop the Brostreak had returned. This time it was in a much better position but was still just as flighty. Still a few shots were managed and then we worked our way back down the hill and along the hedge (which was now empty of butterfliers as it was that time of day). As I still had a couple of hours allowance it was over to Perham to see if I could finally bag a Chalkhill.
With Brostreaks again
It was just another day
At good old Shipton
The Hypotenuse which runs at ninety degrees to the road was our first port of call, approaching from the far side. The Wild Parsnip here had gone even crazier and we had to edge our way along the track; Wild Parsnips on one side and neck high nettles on the other. We only managed to get in a few metres before it became impenetrable due to the sneaky Brambles that laced the two sides of the path together, generally at about knee or groin height. Still we’d managed to reach the first little scallop but despite finding 3 Red Admirals and a Peacock there were no Brostreaks so we edged back out and tried the other side. There were a few Hedgies and Meadow Browns but again no Brostreaks sitting on any of the soft/Creeping Thistles. Round at the little enclave a few Brimstone added some variety but then it was back up to the main hedge.
On the way up a Marbled White (the same as before?) passed by on our left whilst on our right every Hedgie was scrutinized just in case and there were also a few Smessex flying. As we approached the rectangle of Wild Parsnips I spotted a familiar looking shark-fin shape protruding from the surface of the sea of yellow flowertops. As I call out it took off and moved up into the hedge sitting about 2 metres up. But with a bit of manual zoom I managed a few shots. As well as Denise and Sheila I also put Mr Mantle onto it. Well at first it was a gent that I recognized and then as I was looking at his shots to confirm Silver-spots I twigged who that they were the parent of one of my old pupils.
Leaving everyone to await the deigning of a closer audience Philzoid and I worked our way up the hill. The little field and scallops on the way up held the Browns and Skippers including a pair of Essex in cop. When we reached the top and the ground had levelled out we found the usual fare with the added bonus of a Wall maintaining a territory on the intersection of various paths. We tried our luck a little further along but the various little tunnels into the hidden clearings were closed and choked with Brambles and the ever present danger of sap burns never left us as the Wild Parsnip seemed to take up every inch of ground.
Luckily the main track along the down top was still as passable as ever and so we walked along here investigating the little scallops carved into the line of vegetation as we went. The first of these had some white flowered umbellifers and sitting proud atop one was another male Brostreak. It didn’t hang around for too long as they often don’t in the afternoon/warmer weather. We pressed on round checking all of the usual spots at the ‘top’ part of the site. Well we tried to check but the Triffid like growth curtailed most of our investigation and so we completed a much shorter and quicker circuit round. Back at the initial scallop the Brostreak had returned. This time it was in a much better position but was still just as flighty. Still a few shots were managed and then we worked our way back down the hill and along the hedge (which was now empty of butterfliers as it was that time of day). As I still had a couple of hours allowance it was over to Perham to see if I could finally bag a Chalkhill.
With Brostreaks again
It was just another day
At good old Shipton
Shipton 24th July
It was the last day of term and so we finished early and after the ‘goodbyes’, some of them final, we were free to and so with an extra hour to spare before my usual arrival time at home I decided to call in on Shipton on the way home. My expectations were well and truly in check as the sun kept slipping behind the cloud and there is a bit of a breeze, plus everything this season seemed to be keeping to its own timetable so as I locked the car and set off I told myself that it was just a recce for later in the week; a chance to monitor progress and find the likely looking spots…
As I’d parked off the Bulford Road I made my way to the triangular Nettle Bed first of all as this is often the best spot what with plenty of Creeping Thistle, sheltered from the breeze on all sides and also relatively easy access. Through the small enclosure on my way there were the usual Meadow Browns and Hedgies and a Red Admiral drew me onwards. As I worked along the first and more open track at the Nettle Bed a H.Comma took off from the path and did a few passes before disappearing upwards and over the tallest of the trees. There was a good showing of Creeping thistle sticking out above the nettles and lining the tracks but the hypotenuse was impassable due to the massive growth in wild parsnip which towered over me and made the path seem non-existent, the nettles were also at head height and the sneaky Brambles intertwined themselves across the passage at around waist height! Despite making my way a short way in to investigate the various stands of Creeping Thistle no Hairstreak presented itself. “No worries it’s still a little early” I told myself and then walked round to try from the other side. Again it was impenetrable and after a few metres, which only took me to the first little ‘alcove’ in the tree-line I gave up. There were three Red Admirals and a Peacock but nothing else to show for all the scratches, stings but hopefully no WP sap.
From here I walked over to the main hedge and slowly walked up it. The odd Brimstone flew by and examined the huge Thistle heads or sat, hidden under leaves while the cloud covered the sun. There were also plenty of Hedgies and Meadow Browns and a single Peacock. When I reached the end I was greeted by a head shoulder to head height wall of WP. The welcome sight of Bramble flowers and creeping thistle showed on the far side of the yellow peril. After scanning across the tops for a little triangle and drawing a blank I realized there was only one thing for it. Girding my loins and rolling my sleeves DOWN I did my best to shimmy in and out or duck under the WP to actually get to the main hedge. On the other side I shook myself off and as I scanned up a cleft in the Bramble I spotted a familiar beige/almost ginger shark fin sticking out from the top of a dark green Bramble leaf. It was only a male Brostreak, well bugger me! I fired off a few shots and stood back to watch it as it bumbled about for a bit. A Meadow Brown eventually got a little too close and so it had to chase it off and as it flew deeper into the hedge I decided leave it in peace in the hope that it would continue to perform over the next couple of days.
Having extricated myself, hopefully without any sap, I wondered if the Walls or Chalkhills were out here as well? In normal years I generally find the pattern of sightings runs DGFs, Chalkhills, Brostreaks, Walls and Silver-spots. Having seen the first, middle and last of these I was hoping for the other two. To this end I followed the main track along the last couple of metres of the hedge and then crossed over the cross-tracks and up to the top of the rise when to wander between the various scallops/clearings of the ribbon of wood that the main hedge expands into. There were plenty of Meadow Browns and Hedgies about but I couldn’t find a more ginger looking, partially gliding Brown that would be a Wall. There was also a deficit of Blues with not a Common Blue let alone a Chalkhill and the fact that I couldn’t find a Brown Argus either made me wonder if it was still a bit early for the summer blues? I did spot a few Marbled Whites and a Small Heath appeared out of nowhere along with a Smessex at the largest of the clearings. But with the lack of the other two ‘hopeful targets’ I started back down the rise with a DGF waving me off.
My return route took me back along the Main Hedge so I again slipped through the head high Parsnips but the main hedge was bereft of a Brostreak, no wonder as was past 3pm and so they’d all have climbed the wooden ladder and tucked themselves up in bed. I made my way homewards to chill out and enjoy a much needed break, slightly elated from a very fruitful recce.
A last day triumph
From a quick stop at Shipton
Season first - Brostreak
As I’d parked off the Bulford Road I made my way to the triangular Nettle Bed first of all as this is often the best spot what with plenty of Creeping Thistle, sheltered from the breeze on all sides and also relatively easy access. Through the small enclosure on my way there were the usual Meadow Browns and Hedgies and a Red Admiral drew me onwards. As I worked along the first and more open track at the Nettle Bed a H.Comma took off from the path and did a few passes before disappearing upwards and over the tallest of the trees. There was a good showing of Creeping thistle sticking out above the nettles and lining the tracks but the hypotenuse was impassable due to the massive growth in wild parsnip which towered over me and made the path seem non-existent, the nettles were also at head height and the sneaky Brambles intertwined themselves across the passage at around waist height! Despite making my way a short way in to investigate the various stands of Creeping Thistle no Hairstreak presented itself. “No worries it’s still a little early” I told myself and then walked round to try from the other side. Again it was impenetrable and after a few metres, which only took me to the first little ‘alcove’ in the tree-line I gave up. There were three Red Admirals and a Peacock but nothing else to show for all the scratches, stings but hopefully no WP sap.
From here I walked over to the main hedge and slowly walked up it. The odd Brimstone flew by and examined the huge Thistle heads or sat, hidden under leaves while the cloud covered the sun. There were also plenty of Hedgies and Meadow Browns and a single Peacock. When I reached the end I was greeted by a head shoulder to head height wall of WP. The welcome sight of Bramble flowers and creeping thistle showed on the far side of the yellow peril. After scanning across the tops for a little triangle and drawing a blank I realized there was only one thing for it. Girding my loins and rolling my sleeves DOWN I did my best to shimmy in and out or duck under the WP to actually get to the main hedge. On the other side I shook myself off and as I scanned up a cleft in the Bramble I spotted a familiar beige/almost ginger shark fin sticking out from the top of a dark green Bramble leaf. It was only a male Brostreak, well bugger me! I fired off a few shots and stood back to watch it as it bumbled about for a bit. A Meadow Brown eventually got a little too close and so it had to chase it off and as it flew deeper into the hedge I decided leave it in peace in the hope that it would continue to perform over the next couple of days.
Having extricated myself, hopefully without any sap, I wondered if the Walls or Chalkhills were out here as well? In normal years I generally find the pattern of sightings runs DGFs, Chalkhills, Brostreaks, Walls and Silver-spots. Having seen the first, middle and last of these I was hoping for the other two. To this end I followed the main track along the last couple of metres of the hedge and then crossed over the cross-tracks and up to the top of the rise when to wander between the various scallops/clearings of the ribbon of wood that the main hedge expands into. There were plenty of Meadow Browns and Hedgies about but I couldn’t find a more ginger looking, partially gliding Brown that would be a Wall. There was also a deficit of Blues with not a Common Blue let alone a Chalkhill and the fact that I couldn’t find a Brown Argus either made me wonder if it was still a bit early for the summer blues? I did spot a few Marbled Whites and a Small Heath appeared out of nowhere along with a Smessex at the largest of the clearings. But with the lack of the other two ‘hopeful targets’ I started back down the rise with a DGF waving me off.
My return route took me back along the Main Hedge so I again slipped through the head high Parsnips but the main hedge was bereft of a Brostreak, no wonder as was past 3pm and so they’d all have climbed the wooden ladder and tucked themselves up in bed. I made my way homewards to chill out and enjoy a much needed break, slightly elated from a very fruitful recce.
A last day triumph
From a quick stop at Shipton
Season first - Brostreak
Perham 23-07-2024
Summer was fast approaching but I’d gotten further and further behind and also family commitments had been building so I had to try and make the most of any available time and maybe even engineer some free time out of nowhere…hence an after work visit. I was hoping for Chalkhills and DGFs although the former was being a little slow off the mark and the latter had been out for a while. As for Silver-spotted Skipper? It still seemed too early for them even though I’d seen them at the end of July before. With the targets set I raced through Bus Duty, chucked my gear in the car and made my way straight to Tidworth and from there on to Perham.
I pulled up and was greeted immediately by a Red Admiral. I hadn’t even gotten out of the car let alone had time to get my boots on before it was flapping around the windscreen. It continued to pester me as I got my boots on at one point landing on my boot itself whilst I tried to tie my laces. Eventually it left me alone and I wandered across the field and up the track with Meadow Browns, Skippers and Hedgies flying all around. The former lazily flapping, the Skippers zipping here there and everywhere and the Hedgies launching themselves from the hedge as I passed by. A Large White doesn’t sit still on the corner and then I broached onto the foot of the Down. Silver-spotted Skipper! Well that’s what the loosely lime coloured blur had been. I managed to pick it up again and sure enough it was one. After this shock it was no surprise that I lost it again; however what was surprising was that a few more steps onto the down and I found three more! Even better still two were paired up whilst the third was sitting next to them and trying to force his way in; three all in one shot. After I got a few record shots the would-be usurper must have sensed my presence and so ‘did one’ leaving me to focus on the pair in cop.
After this cracking start I carried on walking up to the old hotspot hoping to find a few Chalkhills but it’s all Browns and no Blues on the small field that normally hosts the Chalkhills. At the old hotspot a Peacock bombs past and it all goes a bit quiet. I press on hoping to find my quarry so it’s up and over the top looking for ghostly blue Chalkhills and ginger DGFs. Still the only butterflies flying are the Browns so I just keep walking up hill and then over to the other slope/side of the hill which falls more gently down into agricultural land. On one of the clumps of Bramble along the way a Red Admiral passes and a Peacock sits for a few photos. I recall finding DGFs here in the past so I mooch about following various animal tracks through the longer grass. As I take a call from my wife I tense slightly as she has an unerring ability to phone just as I’ve gotten onto something good…Sure enough we’re three sentences into the conversation when a DGF shoots past. This has happened so many times now that I’m starting to believe that it’s anything but a coincidence WINK.
As I finished the call I looked about and realized that I’d reached the end section. Historically this used to be the first part that I’d visit but I’ve reversed the route as the new starting point is much easier to work. The hill slopes down reasonably gently for a while and then gets noticeably steeper. I worked along this gentler section walking forward and back on the path and the small trackways after some very flighty DGFs which had turned up once my phone was back in my pocket. There were about 5 or 6 of them, some were tired and faded, the margins torn and worn but there were a couple of females that looked much fresher and more sultry looking. As well as the DGFs there were also Meadow Browns, Hedgies, Smessex and a few Marbled Whites still lingering on. Both Small White and Large White out in an appearance but the DGFs were what I spent most of my time on. They didn’t play fair you see; flying up the hill and over the rise and so out of view or when you tried to watch them you’d lose sight of them in the contrast from the grass and the white of the sky. I took one or two chances and a few grab shots but I had a feeling that this was the time to just enjoy the hunt as it were and hope that something good would miraculously turn up on the memory card when it was checked later.
The promised sun didn’t arrive and in fact it seemed that the Weather Gamblers had gotten it back to front again; instead of cloud on arrival clearing to full sun the sun that had been there to greet me had disappeared to be replaced with a blanket of light grey cloud. I still felt warm and bright enough for the butterflies to fly but this was misleading and so I wandered back relatively butterfly-less. It seemed that I’d have to wait a bit for my first Chalkhill, still I’d gotten one target and also a nice surprise so it was definitely worth the chronological engineering.
Off to Perham Down
Too early for Silver-spots?
Apparently not!
I pulled up and was greeted immediately by a Red Admiral. I hadn’t even gotten out of the car let alone had time to get my boots on before it was flapping around the windscreen. It continued to pester me as I got my boots on at one point landing on my boot itself whilst I tried to tie my laces. Eventually it left me alone and I wandered across the field and up the track with Meadow Browns, Skippers and Hedgies flying all around. The former lazily flapping, the Skippers zipping here there and everywhere and the Hedgies launching themselves from the hedge as I passed by. A Large White doesn’t sit still on the corner and then I broached onto the foot of the Down. Silver-spotted Skipper! Well that’s what the loosely lime coloured blur had been. I managed to pick it up again and sure enough it was one. After this shock it was no surprise that I lost it again; however what was surprising was that a few more steps onto the down and I found three more! Even better still two were paired up whilst the third was sitting next to them and trying to force his way in; three all in one shot. After I got a few record shots the would-be usurper must have sensed my presence and so ‘did one’ leaving me to focus on the pair in cop.
After this cracking start I carried on walking up to the old hotspot hoping to find a few Chalkhills but it’s all Browns and no Blues on the small field that normally hosts the Chalkhills. At the old hotspot a Peacock bombs past and it all goes a bit quiet. I press on hoping to find my quarry so it’s up and over the top looking for ghostly blue Chalkhills and ginger DGFs. Still the only butterflies flying are the Browns so I just keep walking up hill and then over to the other slope/side of the hill which falls more gently down into agricultural land. On one of the clumps of Bramble along the way a Red Admiral passes and a Peacock sits for a few photos. I recall finding DGFs here in the past so I mooch about following various animal tracks through the longer grass. As I take a call from my wife I tense slightly as she has an unerring ability to phone just as I’ve gotten onto something good…Sure enough we’re three sentences into the conversation when a DGF shoots past. This has happened so many times now that I’m starting to believe that it’s anything but a coincidence WINK.
As I finished the call I looked about and realized that I’d reached the end section. Historically this used to be the first part that I’d visit but I’ve reversed the route as the new starting point is much easier to work. The hill slopes down reasonably gently for a while and then gets noticeably steeper. I worked along this gentler section walking forward and back on the path and the small trackways after some very flighty DGFs which had turned up once my phone was back in my pocket. There were about 5 or 6 of them, some were tired and faded, the margins torn and worn but there were a couple of females that looked much fresher and more sultry looking. As well as the DGFs there were also Meadow Browns, Hedgies, Smessex and a few Marbled Whites still lingering on. Both Small White and Large White out in an appearance but the DGFs were what I spent most of my time on. They didn’t play fair you see; flying up the hill and over the rise and so out of view or when you tried to watch them you’d lose sight of them in the contrast from the grass and the white of the sky. I took one or two chances and a few grab shots but I had a feeling that this was the time to just enjoy the hunt as it were and hope that something good would miraculously turn up on the memory card when it was checked later.
The promised sun didn’t arrive and in fact it seemed that the Weather Gamblers had gotten it back to front again; instead of cloud on arrival clearing to full sun the sun that had been there to greet me had disappeared to be replaced with a blanket of light grey cloud. I still felt warm and bright enough for the butterflies to fly but this was misleading and so I wandered back relatively butterfly-less. It seemed that I’d have to wait a bit for my first Chalkhill, still I’d gotten one target and also a nice surprise so it was definitely worth the chronological engineering.
Off to Perham Down
Too early for Silver-spots?
Apparently not!
Godshill 21-07-2024 Part 2
Near the bottom I found a few more Graylings and then I climbed the rise once more, broached the brow and walked down the triangle path hotspot from yesteryear. On I went over the brook and from the closely cropped turf I waded back into Heath proper ending up in a little field, enclosed on three sides by walls of gorse turning it into the natural equivalent of a walled garden. There were several SSBs here; at least 3 females and four different males. On the other side I ran into a brace of Graylings and then I left the heather at the second, more wooded ford. This was something of a dragonfly magnet with Brown passing over, Golden-ringed, a Large Red in a copulation wheel, and Scarce, Keeled and Common Darter all perching and then making forays out over the slow flowing brook. There was also a type of Emerald Moth and I used this to move my attention back from Odonata to Lepidoptera.
On the return to the original ‘field’ there were numerous Hedgies, the odd Small Heath and Meadow Brown and a single Peacock. Back at the main field there were Graylings all over the place and a summer Brimstone flew past. I chatted with another couple of enthusiasts and watched their closely controlled dog keenly. Unfortunately it didn’t put up any Grayling and so I had to revert to wandering along the edge of the Heather on the closely cropped and more exposed turf. I saw several different Grayling in various hues ranging from chestnut brown to charcoal. One reminded me of the livery of a particular species of moth as it was salt and pepper with just a hint of yellow in the mix and an almost invisible white band whilst another appeared almost two tone dark rich chocolate brown and a blinding white band. While I watched various Grayling and joined in their games of ‘hide and seek’ I noticed that the lighter coloured Grayling and those with much less obvious bands would more often alight on the more open areas and on the piles of horse dungs which were sitting out in the open. The darker and more obviously banded however would tend to stick to the thicker growths of heather, flying along the small channels between the sprawling plants and touching down in the tiniest of clearings or on the heather itself. This could just have been a coincidence but then again it would make sense to take advantage of the most appropriate background considering the nature of your cryptic colouring? My tracking of various Grayling eventually brought me to one of the main tracks across the heath and so I took to it and cross back over the ford to start for home.
On the walk up the Hill I stopped for a little while to watch the wasps. There were a few mining bees on the lower part of the slope. Slightly further up, with bigger entrance holes were what I think were Bee Wolfs. Occasionally one would turn up laden with the food for its larva caged underneath its body by its legs. They seemed to perceive me as a threat as they would fly round and wait for me to take a few steps back before they’d enter their burrows. Then when they did I could watch their heads peeking out at me while they waited for me to back off again before they left their burrows. If I got a little close they would disappear back into the darkness further down the tunnel. It was great watching this behaviour but what I was really hoping for was the return of the Jewel Wasp (Hedychrum niemelai) which was the first species I’d seen when I’d arrived at Apis Avenue. Sadly it didn’t and so I pressed on up the hill. At the top I worked my round the cricket pitch through the final stands of Gorse finding another Golden Ringed Dragon as I did. It was struggling finding something to perch on, the gorse being too spiky and the single, tall grass stem available was far too unsubstantial. Somehow it managed to find a single spike of Gorse that stuck out at just the right amount and it took a welcome breather…only to be sent packing by a Common Darter that buzzed it. By now the sun was out in force and so I beat a hasty retreat to the welcome shade of home.
Over to Godshill
Many games of Hide-and–seek
Graylings 10, me nil
On the return to the original ‘field’ there were numerous Hedgies, the odd Small Heath and Meadow Brown and a single Peacock. Back at the main field there were Graylings all over the place and a summer Brimstone flew past. I chatted with another couple of enthusiasts and watched their closely controlled dog keenly. Unfortunately it didn’t put up any Grayling and so I had to revert to wandering along the edge of the Heather on the closely cropped and more exposed turf. I saw several different Grayling in various hues ranging from chestnut brown to charcoal. One reminded me of the livery of a particular species of moth as it was salt and pepper with just a hint of yellow in the mix and an almost invisible white band whilst another appeared almost two tone dark rich chocolate brown and a blinding white band. While I watched various Grayling and joined in their games of ‘hide and seek’ I noticed that the lighter coloured Grayling and those with much less obvious bands would more often alight on the more open areas and on the piles of horse dungs which were sitting out in the open. The darker and more obviously banded however would tend to stick to the thicker growths of heather, flying along the small channels between the sprawling plants and touching down in the tiniest of clearings or on the heather itself. This could just have been a coincidence but then again it would make sense to take advantage of the most appropriate background considering the nature of your cryptic colouring? My tracking of various Grayling eventually brought me to one of the main tracks across the heath and so I took to it and cross back over the ford to start for home.
On the walk up the Hill I stopped for a little while to watch the wasps. There were a few mining bees on the lower part of the slope. Slightly further up, with bigger entrance holes were what I think were Bee Wolfs. Occasionally one would turn up laden with the food for its larva caged underneath its body by its legs. They seemed to perceive me as a threat as they would fly round and wait for me to take a few steps back before they’d enter their burrows. Then when they did I could watch their heads peeking out at me while they waited for me to back off again before they left their burrows. If I got a little close they would disappear back into the darkness further down the tunnel. It was great watching this behaviour but what I was really hoping for was the return of the Jewel Wasp (Hedychrum niemelai) which was the first species I’d seen when I’d arrived at Apis Avenue. Sadly it didn’t and so I pressed on up the hill. At the top I worked my round the cricket pitch through the final stands of Gorse finding another Golden Ringed Dragon as I did. It was struggling finding something to perch on, the gorse being too spiky and the single, tall grass stem available was far too unsubstantial. Somehow it managed to find a single spike of Gorse that stuck out at just the right amount and it took a welcome breather…only to be sent packing by a Common Darter that buzzed it. By now the sun was out in force and so I beat a hasty retreat to the welcome shade of home.
Over to Godshill
Many games of Hide-and–seek
Graylings 10, me nil
Godshill 21-07-2024
I waited in all morning for the sun, occasionally looking up from my book muttering about weather apps and inaccuracies but by mid morning it started to get a little brighter (so I had to eat my words, a healthy mid-morning snack ;-) ) and luckily I’d packed my bag the evening before so off I went. Recently I’d missed out because of the weather and family commitments so I had some catching up to do, a little reacquainting with some annual favourites. As I walked to the car I weighed up my two choices. I could go to Martin Down in a bid to find DGFs and Chalkhills or Godshill for Graylings? As Graylings are one of my favourite species the choice was obvious.
As I strolled across the Cricket pitch and then on down the hill Hedgies started flying amid the fronds of Bracken that hung over the edges of the track. About half way down I turned left along a smaller track that ran along the side of the hill and as it widened into a small clearing amid the Gorse and Bracken I watched a Small Copper nip off. I tried to follow it but it was too fast and I lost the metallic orange little beauty as it disappeared off across the purple topped heather. A little look around yielded a Smessex in amongst a few Meadow Browns and the many Hedgies. I followed the line of Bracken down the hill and crossed the ford at the bottom of the slope and then set about searching along the edge of the main track in the 'field’. A few Meadow Browns and Hedgies flew here and then a slightly larger butterfly took off from an unseen perch and flew across the heath. It was swiftly followed by a second butterfly of the same species. I managed to follow the second to ground so I was able to get a few shots but the first benefited from me being a year out of practice. Despite this was confident in my identification due to the ‘jizz’; the rapid wing beats followed by a short glide and then twists and turns before it drops down to vanish before your eyes.
As I worked back towards the main track and spotted two more that had a bit of a kerfuffle. I was hoping for a courtship display but I think these must have been males as they scrapped away rather than fluttering their wings at each other. Doubling back to where I’d found the first I found another which actually sat still for long enough for a few shots and a Silver-stud also drifted past. There was yet another at the top of the rise after a fruitless climb so things were starting to look up especially as it was now noticeably brighter and there were a few shards of blue revealed through the cracks in the cloud. I followed a green, grass lined channel back down the hill, the slight dip offered some shelter from the breeze that had picked up just as the sun had appeared. As the ditch petered out, leveling itself with the surrounding ground there was a large Gorse growing at the terminus. Around this I found 2 male SSBs – one very aged the other younger looking although the veteran seemed to have the upper hand in the several bouts that I witnessed. There was also a female here but the males seemed to be unaware/unconcerned with her and more with smashing seven bells out of each other. There were also a few Hedgies around the Gorse, a Small Heath passed by and a female Large Skipper popped up. She was in a fine state of dress for this stage of the season, possibly a late emerged.
As I strolled across the Cricket pitch and then on down the hill Hedgies started flying amid the fronds of Bracken that hung over the edges of the track. About half way down I turned left along a smaller track that ran along the side of the hill and as it widened into a small clearing amid the Gorse and Bracken I watched a Small Copper nip off. I tried to follow it but it was too fast and I lost the metallic orange little beauty as it disappeared off across the purple topped heather. A little look around yielded a Smessex in amongst a few Meadow Browns and the many Hedgies. I followed the line of Bracken down the hill and crossed the ford at the bottom of the slope and then set about searching along the edge of the main track in the 'field’. A few Meadow Browns and Hedgies flew here and then a slightly larger butterfly took off from an unseen perch and flew across the heath. It was swiftly followed by a second butterfly of the same species. I managed to follow the second to ground so I was able to get a few shots but the first benefited from me being a year out of practice. Despite this was confident in my identification due to the ‘jizz’; the rapid wing beats followed by a short glide and then twists and turns before it drops down to vanish before your eyes.
As I worked back towards the main track and spotted two more that had a bit of a kerfuffle. I was hoping for a courtship display but I think these must have been males as they scrapped away rather than fluttering their wings at each other. Doubling back to where I’d found the first I found another which actually sat still for long enough for a few shots and a Silver-stud also drifted past. There was yet another at the top of the rise after a fruitless climb so things were starting to look up especially as it was now noticeably brighter and there were a few shards of blue revealed through the cracks in the cloud. I followed a green, grass lined channel back down the hill, the slight dip offered some shelter from the breeze that had picked up just as the sun had appeared. As the ditch petered out, leveling itself with the surrounding ground there was a large Gorse growing at the terminus. Around this I found 2 male SSBs – one very aged the other younger looking although the veteran seemed to have the upper hand in the several bouts that I witnessed. There was also a female here but the males seemed to be unaware/unconcerned with her and more with smashing seven bells out of each other. There were also a few Hedgies around the Gorse, a Small Heath passed by and a female Large Skipper popped up. She was in a fine state of dress for this stage of the season, possibly a late emerged.
Babysitting 14-07-2024
An evening of babysitting was on the cards but first we had to pick my niece up from her drama club before we could head over to Sixpenny Handley for the evening. Luckily her drama club was over at Castle Hill Country Park which I visited for the first time in 2023 when it yielded a surprise Brostreak. It was still a bit too early for this species so I crossed that off my ‘expectation list’ and instead hoped for a few Golden Blurs or Smessex Skippers…
While we waited for the session to end I took a 10 minute stroll up onto the rough ground around the local playpark and saw a few Meadow Browns flapping about across the low growing vegetation. Then there was a fast moving orange blur and when I tracked it down it looked it took on a more sandy hue than orange – could it be an Essex? I couldn’t spot a sex brand and the abdomen appeared large and bulbous so it was a female. I ran though the other markers; sandy colour, dark and club shaped antennae before I knelt down, craned my neck through ninety degrees and then was able to confirm that it was an Essex – either that or it had just been ‘nabbed and dabbed’ by the local constabulary.
After more than a few shots I started back towards the car where there were 7 or 8 more Skippers. I could confirm 2 as definitely Essex having been able to contort my neck so as to get a view of the underside of their antennae. As for all the others I was fairly confident from their comparative colour and freshness that they were also Essex but nonetheless Smessex they remained.
It was then time to revert to babysitting….
The next morning we took a quick stroll up at Martin Down, from the main Car Park down to the half way point. All the usual suspects were flying Meadow Browns, Hedgies, Marbled Whites and a few Smessex too but due to a combination of the wind and their flighty natures I think I came away with only a couple of butterfly shots although I did find a double headed Spotted orchid and a nice comparative shot of the sizes of a Cinnabar Moth larvae instars.
Off babysitting
Get a year tick on the way
A David Skipper ;-)
While we waited for the session to end I took a 10 minute stroll up onto the rough ground around the local playpark and saw a few Meadow Browns flapping about across the low growing vegetation. Then there was a fast moving orange blur and when I tracked it down it looked it took on a more sandy hue than orange – could it be an Essex? I couldn’t spot a sex brand and the abdomen appeared large and bulbous so it was a female. I ran though the other markers; sandy colour, dark and club shaped antennae before I knelt down, craned my neck through ninety degrees and then was able to confirm that it was an Essex – either that or it had just been ‘nabbed and dabbed’ by the local constabulary.
After more than a few shots I started back towards the car where there were 7 or 8 more Skippers. I could confirm 2 as definitely Essex having been able to contort my neck so as to get a view of the underside of their antennae. As for all the others I was fairly confident from their comparative colour and freshness that they were also Essex but nonetheless Smessex they remained.
It was then time to revert to babysitting….
The next morning we took a quick stroll up at Martin Down, from the main Car Park down to the half way point. All the usual suspects were flying Meadow Browns, Hedgies, Marbled Whites and a few Smessex too but due to a combination of the wind and their flighty natures I think I came away with only a couple of butterfly shots although I did find a double headed Spotted orchid and a nice comparative shot of the sizes of a Cinnabar Moth larvae instars.
Off babysitting
Get a year tick on the way
A David Skipper ;-)
Alners Gorse 06-07-2024 Part 2
As I walked through the gate and reverted to scanning the hedge Frank beckoned me over. There was a Whitter down low and what a cracker too! Jokingly berating Frank for not calling it out I stepped into shot range and reeled off some record shots before it nipped off as it had been there for some considerable time. After this we took turns to fire away shots as when a Whitter as amenable as this turns up you make sure that you fill your memory card!
After a short while Frank and his mate moved off leaving Mark and myself to keep vigil. The Whitter then set about looking for somewhere to lay. It took off, fly round the branch for a little bit and then landed again whereupon it flipped round and walked upside down along a twig, dragging its abdomen behind it until it reached a node. After this it heaved itself back up and round to the topside and wandered back into the sun where it sat for a while. Quite similar behaviour to a Brostreak actually minus the opening of the wings during the basking. Instead to maximise its warming it up it would tilt and angle its closed wings to catch the most rays. It did this a few times and then after one final flurry of shots it flew round and then up and up and up out of sight.
Shortly after this, while Mark and I waited for the Whitter to return, John and Kate arrived. While the others stood, craning necks I wandered back though the gate into the little field. While I was watching a few Hedgies a slightly smaller, much darker and much more jittery butterfly detached itself from somewhere deeper in the hedge and jinked its way to the edge of the hedge on my left. I gave out the shout and luckily it stayed long enough for the others to arrive and at least get a view. I reckon John got the best shots as it moved slightly so it was directly in his sight. This one didn’t hang for anywhere near as long and once it was off I took that as my cue to head off too so with ‘goodbyes’ said I wandered back up the hill. Another cracking day at Alners, what a site it never disappoints.
With White Admirals
And then Whites and Silver-washed
Whitters are apt end
After a short while Frank and his mate moved off leaving Mark and myself to keep vigil. The Whitter then set about looking for somewhere to lay. It took off, fly round the branch for a little bit and then landed again whereupon it flipped round and walked upside down along a twig, dragging its abdomen behind it until it reached a node. After this it heaved itself back up and round to the topside and wandered back into the sun where it sat for a while. Quite similar behaviour to a Brostreak actually minus the opening of the wings during the basking. Instead to maximise its warming it up it would tilt and angle its closed wings to catch the most rays. It did this a few times and then after one final flurry of shots it flew round and then up and up and up out of sight.
Shortly after this, while Mark and I waited for the Whitter to return, John and Kate arrived. While the others stood, craning necks I wandered back though the gate into the little field. While I was watching a few Hedgies a slightly smaller, much darker and much more jittery butterfly detached itself from somewhere deeper in the hedge and jinked its way to the edge of the hedge on my left. I gave out the shout and luckily it stayed long enough for the others to arrive and at least get a view. I reckon John got the best shots as it moved slightly so it was directly in his sight. This one didn’t hang for anywhere near as long and once it was off I took that as my cue to head off too so with ‘goodbyes’ said I wandered back up the hill. Another cracking day at Alners, what a site it never disappoints.
With White Admirals
And then Whites and Silver-washed
Whitters are apt end
Alners Gorse 06-07-2024
I arrived a little early in the hope that the Purps would come down early here like they seem to elsewhere and I was also hoped that the sun would come out for some sensible stretches. After wandering down the hedge I kept wandering but this time along the hedge up towards the first gate. There wasn’t an awful lot around although I did start seeing a few Meadow Browns and the odd Skipper which I put down as Smalls in most cases.
When I reached the Banks at the back of the site I stood back to take in the view. There were a couple of Silver-washed about whilst in the field Marbled Whites and the odd Ringlet fluttered by. I bumped into Mark from Shipton and before that Priddy Mineries and as we both scanned into the Bramble a Silver-washed deigned to come just low enough for a few record shots. He didn’t open up at all, just sat there gazing down at us imperiously; more a sort of ginger Vader than Emperor Palpatine. A much, much smaller silver looking butterfly drifted across up high from one Oak to another; all of which data led me to believe that it was a Purple Hairstreak. I took to wandering back and with the odd Hedgie amongst the Meadow Browns.
Back at the main hedge a few more people arrived including Zonda/Frank and his mate. A we craned our necks upwards a Whitters went over and a Purp landed up almost at the top of the same tree as the Whitters. We all waited for them to come down but the Whitters, despite reappearing, remained at its lofty perch and did its best to hide behind a selection of leaves. With the sun dipping in and out of the cloud, the wind buffeting the tree tops and the rain from the previous night having washed the honeydew away all our hopes of a Whitters were pinned on one not finding the altitude suitable and so venturing much lower in the canopy. However I got itchy feet so set off for another bit of a wander. I followed the hedge one over from the edge of the site and found a mating pair of Small Skippers near the start of my foray. On slightly further and just around the corner of the hedge there was a nice Large Skipper. However the Mulberry or Wayfarer Tree (or whatever it is) didn’t have any Purps and the best I could do was find a Silver-washed which eventually sat still and settled. There were also some lovely fresh Ringlets around displaying their crushed velvet topsides.
My travels took me back to the ‘newly cleared’ enclosure by the shed. As I strolled through I spotted a couple of familiar faces from previous trips to Bentley Wood, John and Kate, who very kindly put me onto some White Admirals that were regularly visiting a large island of Bramble roughly in the middle of the clearing. As we chatted away various butterflies would stop by, have their photos taken and then move on whereupon we’d pick up the conversation from where we’d left off. I picked up a Silver-washed and a nice Small Skipper as well as a Marbled White in between various White Admirals. Some were quite infuriating, landing for just long enough for us to clock them and try and approach them. Others were just plain shy, perching overhead on the small trees that edged the Bramble bush where sometimes the only view of them was a shadow cast through a leaf. Perseverance paid off and one or two eventually found a decent sup of nectar and so hung around for a reasonable time; however once they’d fed the flight time between pitstops increased exponentially. I ended up with what I hoped were one or two cracking views which would hopefully materialize into some fairly decent images so I said my thanks once again to John and Kate and slowly made my was back to the main hedge skirting round the site and arriving back though the little field through the gate...
When I reached the Banks at the back of the site I stood back to take in the view. There were a couple of Silver-washed about whilst in the field Marbled Whites and the odd Ringlet fluttered by. I bumped into Mark from Shipton and before that Priddy Mineries and as we both scanned into the Bramble a Silver-washed deigned to come just low enough for a few record shots. He didn’t open up at all, just sat there gazing down at us imperiously; more a sort of ginger Vader than Emperor Palpatine. A much, much smaller silver looking butterfly drifted across up high from one Oak to another; all of which data led me to believe that it was a Purple Hairstreak. I took to wandering back and with the odd Hedgie amongst the Meadow Browns.
Back at the main hedge a few more people arrived including Zonda/Frank and his mate. A we craned our necks upwards a Whitters went over and a Purp landed up almost at the top of the same tree as the Whitters. We all waited for them to come down but the Whitters, despite reappearing, remained at its lofty perch and did its best to hide behind a selection of leaves. With the sun dipping in and out of the cloud, the wind buffeting the tree tops and the rain from the previous night having washed the honeydew away all our hopes of a Whitters were pinned on one not finding the altitude suitable and so venturing much lower in the canopy. However I got itchy feet so set off for another bit of a wander. I followed the hedge one over from the edge of the site and found a mating pair of Small Skippers near the start of my foray. On slightly further and just around the corner of the hedge there was a nice Large Skipper. However the Mulberry or Wayfarer Tree (or whatever it is) didn’t have any Purps and the best I could do was find a Silver-washed which eventually sat still and settled. There were also some lovely fresh Ringlets around displaying their crushed velvet topsides.
My travels took me back to the ‘newly cleared’ enclosure by the shed. As I strolled through I spotted a couple of familiar faces from previous trips to Bentley Wood, John and Kate, who very kindly put me onto some White Admirals that were regularly visiting a large island of Bramble roughly in the middle of the clearing. As we chatted away various butterflies would stop by, have their photos taken and then move on whereupon we’d pick up the conversation from where we’d left off. I picked up a Silver-washed and a nice Small Skipper as well as a Marbled White in between various White Admirals. Some were quite infuriating, landing for just long enough for us to clock them and try and approach them. Others were just plain shy, perching overhead on the small trees that edged the Bramble bush where sometimes the only view of them was a shadow cast through a leaf. Perseverance paid off and one or two eventually found a decent sup of nectar and so hung around for a reasonable time; however once they’d fed the flight time between pitstops increased exponentially. I ended up with what I hoped were one or two cracking views which would hopefully materialize into some fairly decent images so I said my thanks once again to John and Kate and slowly made my was back to the main hedge skirting round the site and arriving back though the little field through the gate...
