Sidbury 31-05-2024 Part 2
At first I thought that this was because we’d gotten our eyes in and so were getting good at picking out the butterflies against their backdrop but then I suddenly realised that it was more to do with the slightest of increase in the temperature than out improved visual acuity. In fact once back at the ‘break’ in the ring, despite the cloud cover stubbornly clinging to the sky, it felt noticeably warmer. Added to this it had become quite still out of the wind so it was little wonder that the butterflies responded and were still flying here. A Common Blue hung around and the Small Copper reappeared although it was once again harassed by one of the two or indeed both of the Brown Argus. After a short while we reconvened our return journey and having left the rings we paused only a couple of times on the walk back down the hill to the car.
The first such pause was for a Wall at the cross-roads. The second came later after we’d drawn a blank at Duke Corner and were making our way across the small field to the grassy track the ran across at the mid-point. Here a Large Skipper hung around for a few shots in a couple of different spots before nipping off in a fast, tumbled blur as is their wont. The final pause was at the junction of the main track where another Wall (at least I assume it wasn’t the same one as before and had followed us all the way down the hill?) led us on a little dance, dropping down and then taking off again almost as soon as we were ready to get a few shots of it.
Once we’d reached the ’triangle’ we essentially turned right instead of left which would take us back to the cars. A small cluster of Bee Orchids had popped up in the time between my last visit and after admiring these we carried on first to the little triangle where an aged Dingy hung out and then the strip of verge I’d first investigated on my evening recce visit. It was all quiet here baring a Large Skipper so I was left wondering if this more of a roosting site than the everyday living zone? As it was so quiet we started heading for home and then finally on the thin turf near the cars an Adonis went up and was whipped away by the wind. This was followed by another 5 or 6 all of which would go up only to then be carried across the turf and on to the road by the wind. Still despite the inclement weather it had still been a cracking trip; catching up a mate, witnessing some different behavoiurs and just generally exploring to see what we could see. It’s good to get out…
Cloudy Sidbury
The chill grounds the butterflies
Still it’s time well spent
The first such pause was for a Wall at the cross-roads. The second came later after we’d drawn a blank at Duke Corner and were making our way across the small field to the grassy track the ran across at the mid-point. Here a Large Skipper hung around for a few shots in a couple of different spots before nipping off in a fast, tumbled blur as is their wont. The final pause was at the junction of the main track where another Wall (at least I assume it wasn’t the same one as before and had followed us all the way down the hill?) led us on a little dance, dropping down and then taking off again almost as soon as we were ready to get a few shots of it.
Once we’d reached the ’triangle’ we essentially turned right instead of left which would take us back to the cars. A small cluster of Bee Orchids had popped up in the time between my last visit and after admiring these we carried on first to the little triangle where an aged Dingy hung out and then the strip of verge I’d first investigated on my evening recce visit. It was all quiet here baring a Large Skipper so I was left wondering if this more of a roosting site than the everyday living zone? As it was so quiet we started heading for home and then finally on the thin turf near the cars an Adonis went up and was whipped away by the wind. This was followed by another 5 or 6 all of which would go up only to then be carried across the turf and on to the road by the wind. Still despite the inclement weather it had still been a cracking trip; catching up a mate, witnessing some different behavoiurs and just generally exploring to see what we could see. It’s good to get out…
Cloudy Sidbury
The chill grounds the butterflies
Still it’s time well spent
Sidbury 31-05-2024
I was about due for another meet up with Dave and so we made plans to visit Sidbury based upon week old weather reports…As the day approached the forecast got a little worse each day but luckily there was still sunny intervals for the morning so it would be a case of heading out and fingers crossed. With typical alacrity Dave pulled up almost as soon as I did and we headed straight off up the main track catching up as we went. In the breeze the butterflies attempted to keep their heads down and so despite visiting all the good spots that were butterfly filled on my previous visit there was very little that fell under our gaze let alone lenses. The odd Small Heath popped up here and there as well as the occasional Dingy but the Duke in the corner was a no show as was the one in the little valley. Even the Walls weren’t flying at the cross tracks and so we made our way into the Rings.
As we skirted the large log at our entrance the wind whipped along the bottom of the banks, funneled down and then around by the steep banks on either side which don’t allow the rushing air to escape. Luckily the flow isn’t constant and so when a butterfly was found it was a case of getting into position for the shots and then waiting for the wind to die down enough to stop the butterfly rocking forward and back. The first little section almost as soon as we’d entered the ring was the best with Small Heath, Dingy Skipper and a territorial Wall which kept roosting on the bare soil tracks up the banks only to disappear almost as soon as you even thought about trying for a shot. There was also a Brown Argus and a brace of Marshies, both of which were in pretty good nick. Needless to say we spent a bit of time here before the call of more butterflies drew us on to continue to progress round the ring.
It all went quiet as we carried on round right up until we reached the break in the rings, presumably an old gateway when this was a fortification. The bare soil on the slope of the gap in times past has been good for Wall and there are often plenty of Blues and Skippers here so it’s a productive spot. So it turned out to be again today, possibly as we’d ‘turned the corner’ as it were and no the wind had died down to barely a whisper. A brace of Common Blues weren’t allowed to settle for long as a complementary brace of Brown Argus harried them mercilessly. When they weren’t going for the Blues they’d turn their attention to the Grizzlie or Dingy Skippers all while a Wall blustered past a few times, always looking to land but never doing so, at least not in a sensible place. Dave managed to conjure a Small Copper out of the ether but annoyingly the Brown Argus also took a dislike to this and the Greenstreak didn’t even last for more than two seconds before it was set upon.
Over the next stretch this and that also turned up but we’d completed another turn around the corner as no the wind was back, ripping along the bottom of the tunnel again and colling everything it touched. It was assisted by the clouds covering over and it was feeling almost chilly in the gloom so we hastily retreated back to where we’d come in and things had calmed down slightly by now. The Wall (at least I think it was the same one) was there again and we found a pair of Marshies, a less belligerent Brown Argus and a stunning female Common Blue dropped in. As we were shooting away the clicks of our cameras and the tings of the focus wheels were interleaved with a slightly monotonous two note call. It was a Cuckoo slightly further along the ring which after a bit of tree staring revealed itself for some very distant shots. With some good lighting and a cracking imagination the image of the bird is clear to see 😉.
We set to trundling along at the bottom of the ring again and got almost all of the way round to where the wood swallowed the ring up seeing very little in the thick cloud. In the final section a little white flag shone out of the grass. It was a moribund Common Blue, grounded as the chill had set in it seemed, banner unfurled and waving in the slight breeze that was able to permeate the slight breaks in the banks. A few paces on and Dave found another pair of Common Blues, their grey ground colour suggesting that they were males which was proven once they had been offered and accepted Dave’s finger the warmth of which encouraged both of them to open up. After plenty of shots Dave did his best to get them to vacate but they declined as they were enjoying their heat bath far too much. Eventually with a little gentle persuasion both were redistributed back to roughly where they’d initially been and we started out wander back. But this section of the ring wasn’t done with us yet and we’d pause every couple of steps as yet another butterfly appeared atop the green. First a Brown Argus, then a different Common Blue and then another pair of male Common Blues, in fact more Common Blues in one place than I’d seen so far in the entire season, all dead-calmed and grounded.
As we skirted the large log at our entrance the wind whipped along the bottom of the banks, funneled down and then around by the steep banks on either side which don’t allow the rushing air to escape. Luckily the flow isn’t constant and so when a butterfly was found it was a case of getting into position for the shots and then waiting for the wind to die down enough to stop the butterfly rocking forward and back. The first little section almost as soon as we’d entered the ring was the best with Small Heath, Dingy Skipper and a territorial Wall which kept roosting on the bare soil tracks up the banks only to disappear almost as soon as you even thought about trying for a shot. There was also a Brown Argus and a brace of Marshies, both of which were in pretty good nick. Needless to say we spent a bit of time here before the call of more butterflies drew us on to continue to progress round the ring.
It all went quiet as we carried on round right up until we reached the break in the rings, presumably an old gateway when this was a fortification. The bare soil on the slope of the gap in times past has been good for Wall and there are often plenty of Blues and Skippers here so it’s a productive spot. So it turned out to be again today, possibly as we’d ‘turned the corner’ as it were and no the wind had died down to barely a whisper. A brace of Common Blues weren’t allowed to settle for long as a complementary brace of Brown Argus harried them mercilessly. When they weren’t going for the Blues they’d turn their attention to the Grizzlie or Dingy Skippers all while a Wall blustered past a few times, always looking to land but never doing so, at least not in a sensible place. Dave managed to conjure a Small Copper out of the ether but annoyingly the Brown Argus also took a dislike to this and the Greenstreak didn’t even last for more than two seconds before it was set upon.
Over the next stretch this and that also turned up but we’d completed another turn around the corner as no the wind was back, ripping along the bottom of the tunnel again and colling everything it touched. It was assisted by the clouds covering over and it was feeling almost chilly in the gloom so we hastily retreated back to where we’d come in and things had calmed down slightly by now. The Wall (at least I think it was the same one) was there again and we found a pair of Marshies, a less belligerent Brown Argus and a stunning female Common Blue dropped in. As we were shooting away the clicks of our cameras and the tings of the focus wheels were interleaved with a slightly monotonous two note call. It was a Cuckoo slightly further along the ring which after a bit of tree staring revealed itself for some very distant shots. With some good lighting and a cracking imagination the image of the bird is clear to see 😉.
We set to trundling along at the bottom of the ring again and got almost all of the way round to where the wood swallowed the ring up seeing very little in the thick cloud. In the final section a little white flag shone out of the grass. It was a moribund Common Blue, grounded as the chill had set in it seemed, banner unfurled and waving in the slight breeze that was able to permeate the slight breaks in the banks. A few paces on and Dave found another pair of Common Blues, their grey ground colour suggesting that they were males which was proven once they had been offered and accepted Dave’s finger the warmth of which encouraged both of them to open up. After plenty of shots Dave did his best to get them to vacate but they declined as they were enjoying their heat bath far too much. Eventually with a little gentle persuasion both were redistributed back to roughly where they’d initially been and we started out wander back. But this section of the ring wasn’t done with us yet and we’d pause every couple of steps as yet another butterfly appeared atop the green. First a Brown Argus, then a different Common Blue and then another pair of male Common Blues, in fact more Common Blues in one place than I’d seen so far in the entire season, all dead-calmed and grounded.
Bentley Wood 30-05-2024
It looked like being one of those days when the weather forecasters were in total disagreement and so the best thing to do was go out anyway and cross yer fingers. On the drive over to Bentley the sun was shining but I wasn’t fooled for a moment as recent trips have seen the cloud bubble up from out of nowhere and then cover the reserve in a dense blanket of grey. It looked like history was repeating itself for almost as soon as I arrived the sun went in and I completed my first pass round distance.
My somewhat despondent mooch saw me end up in the ‘new’ clearing. A short way into the field my attention was drawn to a few Bracken plants which were being utilized as perches by two Broad-bodied Chasers. Whilst I was setting myself up for some shots a butterfly took off from deep within the grass. It’s idle eruption and overly flappy flight stirred something in my memory and even before I’d had a proper look or taken note of the colour I knew it was a Meadow Brown and my first of the season. I don’t usually make a habit of going out of my way for this species as they are ubiquitous come the summer proper but I made an exception for this individual as I didn’t know if I would actually find anymore butterflies on the visit. After I’d got a few shots from different angles and vantage points I pressed on working along the Back track and at one point I had to dig my jacket out of my bag as the rain had started. By the time I’d done a second and third fruitless circuit there were several blue patches and the sun was starting to show itself a little more readily. Even so I had still only seen one butterfly so I gave up and made my way over to Barnridge…
As well as watching the road on the drive over to Barnridge I also took a few sneaky glances heaven wards and I clocked some bubbling in the distance hence my right boot came down a tad heavier. As I pulled up and jumped out with my gear there was still blue sky. My rapid progress was stalled just long enough to take in a pair of Specklies dancing on the edge of the path, spiraling and sliding through the air as if on stage. Then I was off, once again racing the cloud but now my progress was difficult to gauge as there was the view of the blue above on offer was severely limited by the tall trees lining either side of the track. As I reached the more open copse I looked to have just been pipped to the post for as my boot crossed the threshold the cloud covered the sun. Luckily my cursing didn’t just turn the air blue but also the sky above and with the temperatures rising as the sun took hold of the territory I set about looking for Pearls. This time it was easy as on the second pile of dead Bracken one sat soaking up the rays. I followed it one or two more times as it
Leaving it to enjoy its retirement I moved over to the other side of the clearing and while I mooched about a bit I noticed a mown path. ‘There must be a purpose for this’ I reasoned and so set to following it. Sure enough a Grizzlie popped up and a Marshie both appeared along the edge/verge. It was almost like Waynes World 2 and the Jim Morrison dream; “if you mow a path they will come”. I then spent the next half an hour walking up and down this one little section of path. As I wandered another Marshie turned up, then another and another. My wandering was now more of a few steps before stopping to lean in to grab some shots of another Marshie. This one with a clip in the wing, that one with a black ground colour and the other with a nice blend of white, yellow and cream. All told there must have been at least 6 different individuals flying here. Of these there were two highlights. A fresh individual still releasing merconium was one and another had an interesting distribution of chequers creating thick black bands over both wings.
After all this revelry I made the mistake of checking the time and unfortunately it was almost up so I started following the mown path to its end over by the enclosure fence primarily to make my way back to the main track and home. However the butterflies had other ideas as two more Marshies appeared from what felt like nowhere. One was par for the course but the second was a cracking looking female. I can classify her into the female gender very easily as she was extremely rotund, fantastically fecund and also very fresh almost as if she’d only just emerged. Despite her heavy egg load she didn’t hang around for very long but I did manage more than several shots before she did her best to shoot off. After this I finally escaped the confines of the Copse and made it back to the car without any more diversions.
While I drove home I mulled over the visit. After a dire start it actually, eventually, became a George Fornby day: “it’s turned out nice again”…
Eerie Bentley Wood
A butterfly deficit
Barnridge saves the day
My somewhat despondent mooch saw me end up in the ‘new’ clearing. A short way into the field my attention was drawn to a few Bracken plants which were being utilized as perches by two Broad-bodied Chasers. Whilst I was setting myself up for some shots a butterfly took off from deep within the grass. It’s idle eruption and overly flappy flight stirred something in my memory and even before I’d had a proper look or taken note of the colour I knew it was a Meadow Brown and my first of the season. I don’t usually make a habit of going out of my way for this species as they are ubiquitous come the summer proper but I made an exception for this individual as I didn’t know if I would actually find anymore butterflies on the visit. After I’d got a few shots from different angles and vantage points I pressed on working along the Back track and at one point I had to dig my jacket out of my bag as the rain had started. By the time I’d done a second and third fruitless circuit there were several blue patches and the sun was starting to show itself a little more readily. Even so I had still only seen one butterfly so I gave up and made my way over to Barnridge…
As well as watching the road on the drive over to Barnridge I also took a few sneaky glances heaven wards and I clocked some bubbling in the distance hence my right boot came down a tad heavier. As I pulled up and jumped out with my gear there was still blue sky. My rapid progress was stalled just long enough to take in a pair of Specklies dancing on the edge of the path, spiraling and sliding through the air as if on stage. Then I was off, once again racing the cloud but now my progress was difficult to gauge as there was the view of the blue above on offer was severely limited by the tall trees lining either side of the track. As I reached the more open copse I looked to have just been pipped to the post for as my boot crossed the threshold the cloud covered the sun. Luckily my cursing didn’t just turn the air blue but also the sky above and with the temperatures rising as the sun took hold of the territory I set about looking for Pearls. This time it was easy as on the second pile of dead Bracken one sat soaking up the rays. I followed it one or two more times as it
Leaving it to enjoy its retirement I moved over to the other side of the clearing and while I mooched about a bit I noticed a mown path. ‘There must be a purpose for this’ I reasoned and so set to following it. Sure enough a Grizzlie popped up and a Marshie both appeared along the edge/verge. It was almost like Waynes World 2 and the Jim Morrison dream; “if you mow a path they will come”. I then spent the next half an hour walking up and down this one little section of path. As I wandered another Marshie turned up, then another and another. My wandering was now more of a few steps before stopping to lean in to grab some shots of another Marshie. This one with a clip in the wing, that one with a black ground colour and the other with a nice blend of white, yellow and cream. All told there must have been at least 6 different individuals flying here. Of these there were two highlights. A fresh individual still releasing merconium was one and another had an interesting distribution of chequers creating thick black bands over both wings.
After all this revelry I made the mistake of checking the time and unfortunately it was almost up so I started following the mown path to its end over by the enclosure fence primarily to make my way back to the main track and home. However the butterflies had other ideas as two more Marshies appeared from what felt like nowhere. One was par for the course but the second was a cracking looking female. I can classify her into the female gender very easily as she was extremely rotund, fantastically fecund and also very fresh almost as if she’d only just emerged. Despite her heavy egg load she didn’t hang around for very long but I did manage more than several shots before she did her best to shoot off. After this I finally escaped the confines of the Copse and made it back to the car without any more diversions.
While I drove home I mulled over the visit. After a dire start it actually, eventually, became a George Fornby day: “it’s turned out nice again”…
Eerie Bentley Wood
A butterfly deficit
Barnridge saves the day
The Devenish 29-05-2024
I wandered up through the wood from the car park and then into the Orchid Meadow in hope although I was racing the clouds that the forecasters had predicted. They seem to have an eerie capacity to be correct when it’s bad news. Unfortunately even though I was slightly ahead of the cloud I saw nowt so carried on right to the top of the Down checking out the grasses on the edge of track. Still not a single butterfly flew and so I picked my way along the top along the top hoping for something, anything but still I see nothing so despondently I descended down along the gully and then walked along the side of the Down along the tree line. As I scanned the green leaves looking for little flags and checking them out for any Whites I finally spotted a butterfly. It was a Brown Argus, not closed up like a little flag but instead open winged and displaying all its glory, a veritable “here I am, look at me!”.
Pleased to have actually seen something, to have broken my duck, a carried on following the track along the tree line and soon reached the steps by which a Dingy and Grizzlie and another Brown Argus all flew. It was as if a switch had been thrown; “butterflies on”. Slightly lower down the slope, right at the edge of the down near the tunnel track I spotted two Grizzlies together. I grabbed a few shots before continuing downwards and back into the level ground of the Orchid Meadow. As I closed the gate behind me I spotted a third Brown Argus enjoying the Coltsfoot and in between checking some of the Orchids – Southern Marsh I think, the Brown Argus landed on a Spotted Orchid and made a nice addition to my ‘Butterflies on Orchids’ collection. At the far end of there was a late orange-tip, still in a good state with the white and black chequered margins still reasonably intact and a Small White also did a fly-by.
After this busy little spell I wandered into the Paddocks and right to the far end. By now the cloud had overtaken me and it felt noticeably cooler under its cover. I scanned about and a dead leaf actually turned into a Specklie before my eyes. Normally it’s the other way round so it was nice to have it this way for once. With this spotted and after a brief ‘hello’ to the sheeps I raced the cloud back to the other end and found a tired looking Grizzlie. It looked like the cloud had won for a second or two but I managed to grab some shots as the sun clawed its way back into the game.
I carried on along the middle down and over the stile. Where before there had been the brace of Grizzlies now there was a single Grizzlie still, at least I thought it was one of the two from earlier but it actually turned into something a little bit special. Instead of the usual dominating white markings on the hind wings this ones’ were much reduced to a line of small dots running along the margin and a tiny tooth-like one into the centre of the hind wing. Also the colour on it was stunning. In the cloud induced dark it looked obsidian black but when the sun tore away the cloud and the light caught it, it took on a rosy red sheen, almost like the red-underwing skippers I saw in Portugal. The reddish purple colour was accentuated by the bright white and dark black chequered fringes and black patches radiating out form the thorax. A stunning looking butterfly and as I made for home happy with my haul I couldn’t help but wonder if it actually was a Grizzlie and not something more exotic?
Up until this point the Brown Argus on the Orchid was on its way to the ‘butterfly of the visit’ accolade but it was promptly usurped by the cracking looking Grizzlie which certainly wasn’t living up to its name! It only takes one to make a visit but today there were at least two.
Cloud racing morning
Orchid clinging Brown Argus
Grizzlie dethrones it
Pleased to have actually seen something, to have broken my duck, a carried on following the track along the tree line and soon reached the steps by which a Dingy and Grizzlie and another Brown Argus all flew. It was as if a switch had been thrown; “butterflies on”. Slightly lower down the slope, right at the edge of the down near the tunnel track I spotted two Grizzlies together. I grabbed a few shots before continuing downwards and back into the level ground of the Orchid Meadow. As I closed the gate behind me I spotted a third Brown Argus enjoying the Coltsfoot and in between checking some of the Orchids – Southern Marsh I think, the Brown Argus landed on a Spotted Orchid and made a nice addition to my ‘Butterflies on Orchids’ collection. At the far end of there was a late orange-tip, still in a good state with the white and black chequered margins still reasonably intact and a Small White also did a fly-by.
After this busy little spell I wandered into the Paddocks and right to the far end. By now the cloud had overtaken me and it felt noticeably cooler under its cover. I scanned about and a dead leaf actually turned into a Specklie before my eyes. Normally it’s the other way round so it was nice to have it this way for once. With this spotted and after a brief ‘hello’ to the sheeps I raced the cloud back to the other end and found a tired looking Grizzlie. It looked like the cloud had won for a second or two but I managed to grab some shots as the sun clawed its way back into the game.
I carried on along the middle down and over the stile. Where before there had been the brace of Grizzlies now there was a single Grizzlie still, at least I thought it was one of the two from earlier but it actually turned into something a little bit special. Instead of the usual dominating white markings on the hind wings this ones’ were much reduced to a line of small dots running along the margin and a tiny tooth-like one into the centre of the hind wing. Also the colour on it was stunning. In the cloud induced dark it looked obsidian black but when the sun tore away the cloud and the light caught it, it took on a rosy red sheen, almost like the red-underwing skippers I saw in Portugal. The reddish purple colour was accentuated by the bright white and dark black chequered fringes and black patches radiating out form the thorax. A stunning looking butterfly and as I made for home happy with my haul I couldn’t help but wonder if it actually was a Grizzlie and not something more exotic?
Up until this point the Brown Argus on the Orchid was on its way to the ‘butterfly of the visit’ accolade but it was promptly usurped by the cracking looking Grizzlie which certainly wasn’t living up to its name! It only takes one to make a visit but today there were at least two.
Cloud racing morning
Orchid clinging Brown Argus
Grizzlie dethrones it
Compton Down 27-05-2024 Part 2
I retraced my steps and finally got onto a Marshie and then an Adonis before a quick glance across the vale suggested that it might be a good idea to head back to the bank and make the most of the Glannies while the sun still shone. Along the way I spotted a few more Glannies as well as some Marshies, where they’d been hiding I couldn’t say, but they were a welcome sight after so much searching. Another or possibly the same Adonis also put in an appearance as I moved back through the lower slopes steadily making my way towards the stile.
One Marshie in particular stood out, not for the pristine livery but for quite the opposite. One fore wing was entirely devoid of scales, looking a little like smoked glass with the underside pattern filtering through. It looked too drastic and uniform in its nature to be caused by general wear and tear from the acts of daily living and in my mind I put it down as water damage; heavy rain washing away all the scales? Whatever the cause I couldn’t tarry as from out of nowhere a herd of cattle had arrived so I grabbed a few shots and once again I beat a retreat, but this time back down to the bank and away from the bovine invasion.
As the morning had progressed I shouldn’t have been surprised that the bank was now a lot busier but I was still slightly taken aback as where previously I’d been one of four, then one of two and then all on my todd, now there people all along the bank. Despite this I still managed to spot at least 10 Glannies along the length. One in particular was very fresh and must only just have emerged. Another enthusiast was keeping a close eye on it to try and stop people trampling to get at it and I found that by leaning forward and supporting my weight on two fingers I could get my lens trained on it from a decent angle without having to set foot on the bank itself.
When I reached the bisecting line of trees I paused to check around the edges of the more scrubby foliage and there was a little golden blob, which on closer examination turned out to be my first Large Skipper of the season. There was also the smallest Small Blue that I’d seen in a long time. After checking along the second half of the bank my total of Glannies stood at 14 and the bank also turned up a Brown Argus and 2 Marshies to add to the days tally. Most of the Glannies remained higher up on the bank out of reach of my lens but luckily some of the freshest individuals were to be found lower down; where supporting yourself with a single boot step or on two fingers allowed you to get the shot. As there were the freshest they were also the most attractive looking and at one point a small queue had almost formed behind one.
And then the weather caught up with itself and the clouds rolled over in such a fashion that it looked like they were there to stay. With them the threat of the promised rain came to fruition so I packed up and shipped out after the first drops had fallen. I didn’t mind the rain and there had been an ample window of opportunity and my memory card was filled with plenty of goodies!
Prior to the rain
Compton Down produced the goods
Rain comes and offski!
One Marshie in particular stood out, not for the pristine livery but for quite the opposite. One fore wing was entirely devoid of scales, looking a little like smoked glass with the underside pattern filtering through. It looked too drastic and uniform in its nature to be caused by general wear and tear from the acts of daily living and in my mind I put it down as water damage; heavy rain washing away all the scales? Whatever the cause I couldn’t tarry as from out of nowhere a herd of cattle had arrived so I grabbed a few shots and once again I beat a retreat, but this time back down to the bank and away from the bovine invasion.
As the morning had progressed I shouldn’t have been surprised that the bank was now a lot busier but I was still slightly taken aback as where previously I’d been one of four, then one of two and then all on my todd, now there people all along the bank. Despite this I still managed to spot at least 10 Glannies along the length. One in particular was very fresh and must only just have emerged. Another enthusiast was keeping a close eye on it to try and stop people trampling to get at it and I found that by leaning forward and supporting my weight on two fingers I could get my lens trained on it from a decent angle without having to set foot on the bank itself.
When I reached the bisecting line of trees I paused to check around the edges of the more scrubby foliage and there was a little golden blob, which on closer examination turned out to be my first Large Skipper of the season. There was also the smallest Small Blue that I’d seen in a long time. After checking along the second half of the bank my total of Glannies stood at 14 and the bank also turned up a Brown Argus and 2 Marshies to add to the days tally. Most of the Glannies remained higher up on the bank out of reach of my lens but luckily some of the freshest individuals were to be found lower down; where supporting yourself with a single boot step or on two fingers allowed you to get the shot. As there were the freshest they were also the most attractive looking and at one point a small queue had almost formed behind one.
And then the weather caught up with itself and the clouds rolled over in such a fashion that it looked like they were there to stay. With them the threat of the promised rain came to fruition so I packed up and shipped out after the first drops had fallen. I didn’t mind the rain and there had been an ample window of opportunity and my memory card was filled with plenty of goodies!
Prior to the rain
Compton Down produced the goods
Rain comes and offski!
Compton Down 27-05-2024 Part 1
The weather wasn’t the best but this season has been a case of ‘go out and be damned’ so I set off for another Glannie fix. The early start was actually for two reasons; the first obviously to get there while any sun lasted but the second was to enjoy the butterflies before the hoards arrived. To that end the breakfast washing up was still drip drying by the time I’d hit the road but as I wandered down the track the sun was still snuggled up in a blanket of cloud. There were a few rips and tears with blue showing through and in the distance I saw a swathe of blue sky so I wasn’t too concerned about the early morning grey and in fact it played to my favour.
Down at the Bank there are only three other people, Calvin being one of them and it was nice to be able to scan along the bank and just see flowers and butterflies instead of a line of hats and heads. The earlier arrivals had been busy as they’d found a couple of Glannies, close together on the strip of verge opposite the Bank. This made for much easier photography as they were ‘on the level’ and sitting wings tightly closed meant that it was only the lightest of breezes that caused any motion. In between getting shots of these two I also ventured along the path and stared up along the Bank itself and managed to spot a further three Glannies roosting from the midway point up a little higher as well as a single, solitary Adonis.
I strolled further down the track and once past the bisecting line of trees resume searching. I walked even more slowly and scanned up and down the bank looking for the tell-tale triangle of a roosting Glannie or the vivid orange should they be basking. After the small hollow cut into the bank where the mating pair had been a few days before I spotted one up on the bank. Luckily there was a thin, bare soil track right up the side of the bank which I was able to climb up without trampling anything and the roosting butterfly was still within reach. As I started climbing up I happened to glance down to check my footing and there, hiding under a stunted bit of vegetation was a second Glannie down on the deck. Whilst this one was slightly obstructed it was a joy to see as micro droplets of dew bedecked the edges of its wings. After getting a few shots of both of these butterflies I spotted a third, again within reach but to my right as well as a Grizzlie. It was almost as if the butterflies were deciding to roost within range for once. As I showed Clavin the three Glannies the number rose to a total of 5 as a couple more appeared but this time well out of reach.
I worked back to the first half of the bank and managed to relocate the Adonis, count 5 Glannies along the bank and find a Dingy as well. As things were still quiet, I did another pass of the bank, the cooler morning air making the butterflies stick to their positions so finding them again was very easy. This was pretty much the case on the second half of the bank with the three all still in their respective places on either side of, or on the path itself. The other couple had moved though but I did spot two more which I took to be them. As the day was progressing a few more butterflies were starting to appear including a Small Blue in the tussocky grass at the edge of the bank by the bisecting trees. However my butterflying was cut short as then the Motorbikes arrived. To my mind it seemed a little surreal as they looked to be road bikes and not motocross, so climbing up the alternating rocky then slippery clay track seemed a little odd. Each to their own I suppose although the noise and fumes shattered the peace and tranquility I’d been enjoying so I retreated to the Down itself.
Once over the stile and on the down I got onto a Brown Argus aberrant straight off the bat. It was an ab.snelleni, with white edgings around the black cell spot on the fore wing. I spent as much time with it as it would allow before moving on and skirting round the lower slope along the hedge line. There were Grizzlies and Dingies about in good numbers, another Brown Argus and as for Small Heath, well I had a Marmite moment. It was great to see so many of them flying after a few dismal years for them but now that they seem to be bouncing back with a vengeance they were annoyingly spooking everything in their path. In the first hollow I counted four Glannies bombing about and stopping only occasionally and so I pressed on to the corner hoping to relocate some of the Marshies from a few days before. I bumped into Calvin again who was similarly looking for Marshies but all was quiet and even more so further round the bend of the Down.
Down at the Bank there are only three other people, Calvin being one of them and it was nice to be able to scan along the bank and just see flowers and butterflies instead of a line of hats and heads. The earlier arrivals had been busy as they’d found a couple of Glannies, close together on the strip of verge opposite the Bank. This made for much easier photography as they were ‘on the level’ and sitting wings tightly closed meant that it was only the lightest of breezes that caused any motion. In between getting shots of these two I also ventured along the path and stared up along the Bank itself and managed to spot a further three Glannies roosting from the midway point up a little higher as well as a single, solitary Adonis.
I strolled further down the track and once past the bisecting line of trees resume searching. I walked even more slowly and scanned up and down the bank looking for the tell-tale triangle of a roosting Glannie or the vivid orange should they be basking. After the small hollow cut into the bank where the mating pair had been a few days before I spotted one up on the bank. Luckily there was a thin, bare soil track right up the side of the bank which I was able to climb up without trampling anything and the roosting butterfly was still within reach. As I started climbing up I happened to glance down to check my footing and there, hiding under a stunted bit of vegetation was a second Glannie down on the deck. Whilst this one was slightly obstructed it was a joy to see as micro droplets of dew bedecked the edges of its wings. After getting a few shots of both of these butterflies I spotted a third, again within reach but to my right as well as a Grizzlie. It was almost as if the butterflies were deciding to roost within range for once. As I showed Clavin the three Glannies the number rose to a total of 5 as a couple more appeared but this time well out of reach.
I worked back to the first half of the bank and managed to relocate the Adonis, count 5 Glannies along the bank and find a Dingy as well. As things were still quiet, I did another pass of the bank, the cooler morning air making the butterflies stick to their positions so finding them again was very easy. This was pretty much the case on the second half of the bank with the three all still in their respective places on either side of, or on the path itself. The other couple had moved though but I did spot two more which I took to be them. As the day was progressing a few more butterflies were starting to appear including a Small Blue in the tussocky grass at the edge of the bank by the bisecting trees. However my butterflying was cut short as then the Motorbikes arrived. To my mind it seemed a little surreal as they looked to be road bikes and not motocross, so climbing up the alternating rocky then slippery clay track seemed a little odd. Each to their own I suppose although the noise and fumes shattered the peace and tranquility I’d been enjoying so I retreated to the Down itself.
Once over the stile and on the down I got onto a Brown Argus aberrant straight off the bat. It was an ab.snelleni, with white edgings around the black cell spot on the fore wing. I spent as much time with it as it would allow before moving on and skirting round the lower slope along the hedge line. There were Grizzlies and Dingies about in good numbers, another Brown Argus and as for Small Heath, well I had a Marmite moment. It was great to see so many of them flying after a few dismal years for them but now that they seem to be bouncing back with a vengeance they were annoyingly spooking everything in their path. In the first hollow I counted four Glannies bombing about and stopping only occasionally and so I pressed on to the corner hoping to relocate some of the Marshies from a few days before. I bumped into Calvin again who was similarly looking for Marshies but all was quiet and even more so further round the bend of the Down.
Martin Down 25-05-2024
Up the down and over the top, down through Broadchalke and up over Hogger road before crossing the dual carriage way and turning right after a short way into Martin Down. That was the route that we took for the final part of the saga worthy trio of trips. When we pulled in the sun was still shining unlike on our previous visit and as we wandered along the side path making for the start of the Dyke we could actually feel the warmth. The butterflies were responding and taking to the wing rather than dropping moribund to the floor. However slightly worrying was the dearth of butterflies despite the seemingly ideal conditions. In the Dyke, in past times possibly the only place to visit as it was the microcosm of the whole site, we didn’t see a single butterfly amid the tall grass. Perhaps this is responsible as it chokes out the wildflowers and nectar sources? Eventually we found something, right at the end of the part of the Dyke a single Dingy and possibly only here as it was able to take advantage of the trampling as butterfly enthusiasts had clambered out of the Dyke at this spot in the past.
We carried on following the track and then it joined up with one of the larger ones than ran from the car park. Along the way we notched up three Dingies and there was the briefest of sightings of a Marshie – literally ‘Marshie, click-step, click-step’ and then it was gone. About half way along as we stopped as a Greenstreak at flown weakly and low to the ground across the track. It seemed a little lost as there were no obvious Hawthorns nearby, only some slightly taller and thicker leafed vegetation. As we were working out where it had gone we were joined by Ben and his Dad, the last time I’d seen them was at Shipton when we ‘magic-ed Brostreaks’ into existence. We had a bit of a chat and then wishing them well returned our attentions to the Greenstreak which somehow we’d managed to relocate.
Carrying on we checked out the fields on the car park side of Bug Butt but all was quiet. When we rounded the corner to check out the the other side my hopes of the butterflies taking advantage of the shelter were dashed and we only saw a single butterfly the whole time that we were in this spot; a single, tired looking Greenstreak right at the edge of the thin turfed field. As we climbed back out a Marshie flashed past leaving a chequered pattern emblazoned on my retina but only two butterflies after this amount of searching was a very poor return. I couldn’t work out why things were so quiet but the dearth continued as we made out way along the Dyke-side track. We got all the way to the Burnt-tips without another butterfly sighting. Luckily the Burnt-tips were still going strong so we had something to show for our efforts at least.
Ordinarily I’d cut through and check out the cross-path at this, the Half-way point but there was a small group on the other end of the track examining the ground on the edge of the diagonal path that cuts across the site. This piqued our interest and so we mooched over and moved to see what they were looking at. As it turned out they were having a chat in between photographing and so we were free to have a look around for ourselves. In a few minutes I notched up a Marshie, Grizzlie, Brown Argus and in the taller grass along the edge of the track a brace of Small Blues. So it seemed like all the butterflies were vacating the usual sheltered hotspots and venturing out into the exposed wilds of the main fields.
Having pointed out where everything was we started on the walk back which was equally as quiet as the walk out. Things only picked up once back at the Big Butt when there was another little flourish of butterflies. On the steps up Big Butt a Small Blue appeared amidst the taller grasses, a Dingy held its territory and a little apart from these two a pair of Small Blues were busy making sure that there was the possibility of more of them later in this season or the next. Again it served to remind me that the pattern of this was a lot of walking and nothing doing and then a mad five minutes where everything turned up. It kinda reminded me of roving tit flocks in the winter. The woods will be silent and then there is a cacophony of ‘ticks’ and ‘churrs’ and ‘whistles’ as an unruly band of birds descend on the tees and pick them clean. Perhaps this was why the butterflies seemed to be in clumps – they were trying to avoid getting to a flower that had already been drained of nectar?
After this final flurry of activity the sands of time were exceedingly low and so we decided to beat a hasty retreat back to the car and then back to Salisbury. As is often the way however the butterflies had other ideas and so having left the mating pair of Small Blues behind we were accosted by one final Marshie. Unluckliy it played too hard to get and so with no snaps a quicker step to the car and some very careful driving (staying just on the right side of every speed limit) I eventually strolled through the door with seconds to spare! Exhausted from walking, butterfly chasing and concentration I collapsed into the chair to reminisce and mull over the day. It was a cracker by all accounts, good people well meet, a great constant companion and a delectable array of species. The only bit of negativity nagging slightly round the edges of my consciousness was whilst the diversity was there the numbers were quite limited - where were they all?
A few and then nowt
That’s how the butterflies flew
At slow Martin Down
We carried on following the track and then it joined up with one of the larger ones than ran from the car park. Along the way we notched up three Dingies and there was the briefest of sightings of a Marshie – literally ‘Marshie, click-step, click-step’ and then it was gone. About half way along as we stopped as a Greenstreak at flown weakly and low to the ground across the track. It seemed a little lost as there were no obvious Hawthorns nearby, only some slightly taller and thicker leafed vegetation. As we were working out where it had gone we were joined by Ben and his Dad, the last time I’d seen them was at Shipton when we ‘magic-ed Brostreaks’ into existence. We had a bit of a chat and then wishing them well returned our attentions to the Greenstreak which somehow we’d managed to relocate.
Carrying on we checked out the fields on the car park side of Bug Butt but all was quiet. When we rounded the corner to check out the the other side my hopes of the butterflies taking advantage of the shelter were dashed and we only saw a single butterfly the whole time that we were in this spot; a single, tired looking Greenstreak right at the edge of the thin turfed field. As we climbed back out a Marshie flashed past leaving a chequered pattern emblazoned on my retina but only two butterflies after this amount of searching was a very poor return. I couldn’t work out why things were so quiet but the dearth continued as we made out way along the Dyke-side track. We got all the way to the Burnt-tips without another butterfly sighting. Luckily the Burnt-tips were still going strong so we had something to show for our efforts at least.
Ordinarily I’d cut through and check out the cross-path at this, the Half-way point but there was a small group on the other end of the track examining the ground on the edge of the diagonal path that cuts across the site. This piqued our interest and so we mooched over and moved to see what they were looking at. As it turned out they were having a chat in between photographing and so we were free to have a look around for ourselves. In a few minutes I notched up a Marshie, Grizzlie, Brown Argus and in the taller grass along the edge of the track a brace of Small Blues. So it seemed like all the butterflies were vacating the usual sheltered hotspots and venturing out into the exposed wilds of the main fields.
Having pointed out where everything was we started on the walk back which was equally as quiet as the walk out. Things only picked up once back at the Big Butt when there was another little flourish of butterflies. On the steps up Big Butt a Small Blue appeared amidst the taller grasses, a Dingy held its territory and a little apart from these two a pair of Small Blues were busy making sure that there was the possibility of more of them later in this season or the next. Again it served to remind me that the pattern of this was a lot of walking and nothing doing and then a mad five minutes where everything turned up. It kinda reminded me of roving tit flocks in the winter. The woods will be silent and then there is a cacophony of ‘ticks’ and ‘churrs’ and ‘whistles’ as an unruly band of birds descend on the tees and pick them clean. Perhaps this was why the butterflies seemed to be in clumps – they were trying to avoid getting to a flower that had already been drained of nectar?
After this final flurry of activity the sands of time were exceedingly low and so we decided to beat a hasty retreat back to the car and then back to Salisbury. As is often the way however the butterflies had other ideas and so having left the mating pair of Small Blues behind we were accosted by one final Marshie. Unluckliy it played too hard to get and so with no snaps a quicker step to the car and some very careful driving (staying just on the right side of every speed limit) I eventually strolled through the door with seconds to spare! Exhausted from walking, butterfly chasing and concentration I collapsed into the chair to reminisce and mull over the day. It was a cracker by all accounts, good people well meet, a great constant companion and a delectable array of species. The only bit of negativity nagging slightly round the edges of my consciousness was whilst the diversity was there the numbers were quite limited - where were they all?
A few and then nowt
That’s how the butterflies flew
At slow Martin Down
Fovant 25-05-2023
Where to next? As we’d passed Fovant on the way to Compton Down and we were planning on Martin Down calling in at Fovant seemed like a good call. After many visits here and hopping over the stile or mounting the gate today I learnt something new…the gate isn’t locked! Suitably impressed with the ‘new and improved’ access we followed the short, winding track round and up into the Bowl/old quarry. The sight of a brace of SBJ’s (Small Brown Jobs) wasn’t unexpected as they turned out to be two Dukes still fighting it out in the Thunderdrome but the sight of a Marshie was a bit of a shock. I don’t know why as they’re on the hills all around but as I hadn’t seen one here before and wasn’t expecting one by the time I’d drunk in the sighting it had shot off. Still I consoled myself with trying for one of the two Dukes. As we worked our way round the circumference of the Bowl a Green-veined White fluttered across the diameter and a quick check of the large Bramble bush around the margins yielded a Grizzlie taking nectar on the blooms.
We climbed out of the and cut across the side of the hill to the diagonal track cut into a deep furrow across the side of the hill. As we ascended a few Dingies did their best to confuse us as we marked off Dukes on our digits. As well as the distracting Dingies counting was also made tricky by the Dukes themselves as when they would go up they would fly ahead a short way. Sometimes they would land within sight so there was no danger of counting them twice. Other times they would spook another Duke and then they would fly over the lip of the bank possibly to re-emerge further ahead of us. By the time we reached the junction of the tracks about half way up the hill we reckoned on 7 definite different individuals along with a single Small Heath.
Time was ticking by and I was eager to see what Martin Down and the Dyke would have to offer so started to make our way back but wanting to investigate a little further we took the more circuitous route rather than just retracing our steps. The Down was pretty steep but by we safely negotiated it without any slips by taking a series of acute angled zig-zags. On the way down we found two different Dukes. If was abundantly clear that there were two individuals as they were poles part in terms of wear and tear. The first was near the top and only gave underside views. I had to walk on the sides of my feet to get to it before grasping a handful of grass to anchor myself while shooting with my other hand. This one was so fresh that it must have only recently emerged. The other was lower down the slope and was in a much worse state; margins all gone, scutum scraped bare and starting to get the greasy look through lack of scales.
Having reached the bottom our next task would be to get back to the gate. No mean feat as the track at the bottom sent us into several little ‘alcoves’ hemmed in by vicious Bramble. Still we managed to find another two Dukes here and a Dingy as well for our troubles. Even once we escaped out onto the side of the Down it wasn’t easy going as there were a lot of old rabbit holes and deep potholes perfectly camouflaged by the grass. As we neared the gate a Peacock flashed past to further up the days tally and then we found ourselves making for out final destination.
Over to Fovant
For a quick Duke filled pitstop
Martin Down next…
We climbed out of the and cut across the side of the hill to the diagonal track cut into a deep furrow across the side of the hill. As we ascended a few Dingies did their best to confuse us as we marked off Dukes on our digits. As well as the distracting Dingies counting was also made tricky by the Dukes themselves as when they would go up they would fly ahead a short way. Sometimes they would land within sight so there was no danger of counting them twice. Other times they would spook another Duke and then they would fly over the lip of the bank possibly to re-emerge further ahead of us. By the time we reached the junction of the tracks about half way up the hill we reckoned on 7 definite different individuals along with a single Small Heath.
Time was ticking by and I was eager to see what Martin Down and the Dyke would have to offer so started to make our way back but wanting to investigate a little further we took the more circuitous route rather than just retracing our steps. The Down was pretty steep but by we safely negotiated it without any slips by taking a series of acute angled zig-zags. On the way down we found two different Dukes. If was abundantly clear that there were two individuals as they were poles part in terms of wear and tear. The first was near the top and only gave underside views. I had to walk on the sides of my feet to get to it before grasping a handful of grass to anchor myself while shooting with my other hand. This one was so fresh that it must have only recently emerged. The other was lower down the slope and was in a much worse state; margins all gone, scutum scraped bare and starting to get the greasy look through lack of scales.
Having reached the bottom our next task would be to get back to the gate. No mean feat as the track at the bottom sent us into several little ‘alcoves’ hemmed in by vicious Bramble. Still we managed to find another two Dukes here and a Dingy as well for our troubles. Even once we escaped out onto the side of the Down it wasn’t easy going as there were a lot of old rabbit holes and deep potholes perfectly camouflaged by the grass. As we neared the gate a Peacock flashed past to further up the days tally and then we found ourselves making for out final destination.
Over to Fovant
For a quick Duke filled pitstop
Martin Down next…
Compton Down 25-05-2024 Part 3
Eventually I managed to tear myself away from the mesmerizing Marshie and we retraced our steps back along the bottom track following the hedge. The same butterflies appeared as we walked, often still in the same places (holding territories?). There were also a few other things as an Adonis turned up in one of the sections of thinner turf where the sun was easily able to penetrate and warm the ground. We also added singletons of a fly-by Red Admiral and a Holly blue and Specklie on the hedge itself.
Back on the track there are even more people present, ultimately more people than Glannies and so after accidently spooking one by trying to shade it to it opens its wings we took our leave. Philzoid marched on ahead to try and get his steps in but I was content to dawdle and saunter up with Brian so we could catch up. A great start to the day…
Crowded Compton Down
Glannies and Marshies abound
Such variation
Back on the track there are even more people present, ultimately more people than Glannies and so after accidently spooking one by trying to shade it to it opens its wings we took our leave. Philzoid marched on ahead to try and get his steps in but I was content to dawdle and saunter up with Brian so we could catch up. A great start to the day…
Crowded Compton Down
Glannies and Marshies abound
Such variation
Compton Down 25-05-2024 Part 2
After this Philzoid and I left the masses and made our way up the track and then up onto the Down proper. A couple more Glannies flew along the bottom track along the hedgerow and as we followed the track up and down we carried on racking up the species with Greenstreak and more Small Heaths, Grizzlies and Dingies. We kept working along the bottom of the hedge as this seemed to act as a magnet for the butterflies and in the next little alcove a Brown Argus held court battering anything that drew near. A Greenstreak kept out of the way of the small chocolate and orange psycho by sticking to the taller Hawthorns that were sprinkled across the bottom of the down. There was also a Marshie that dropped in and was promptly sent packing by the Brown Argus. This got my goat a little as there was something odd about the Marshie, it was almost two tone. Luckily it didn’t fly too far and I was able to grab a few shots before it decided to move on. It was swiftly replaced by a second more conventional looking Marshie.
We moved on slightly only to pause for a dazzling mustard coloured moff – it was a Wood Tiger, a stunning looking moth and a species that I’d seen here before and also one which was actually sitting still. It seemed that we were walking in a butterfly wonderland and so our progress was ridiculously slow as every few steps something else would appear and tempt us to photograph it. A Small heath here, a Grizzlie there or even a fine looking Marshie. I knew that they could be very variable but today was proving just how variable whilst still keeping to the familiar pattern/lay-out. The next couple proved a prime example. The first was very dark looking from afar and when I got in closer I could see that the ground colour was black and not dark brown. I’ve seen the effect light can have on Marshies in the past; under cloud cover they appear black and then as the sun comes out they lighten to a milk chocolate brown, but this one was black in full sun. The second took on a more yellow hue as it flew due to the nice combination of light orange and cream chequers on a brown background.
After much more stumbling and pausing for this and that we reached the corner of the down and the area that the Marshies have a penchant for. Sure enough a couple took to the air including one that was struggling to fly as she was so egg bound. She was also a bit of a looker with the usual oranges and cream replaced in part by whites giving it the slight appearance of a Scarce Frit. I spent a good while with this one as she bumbled about and managed to pick up a nice selection of shots including some undersides. I once again called out and Philzoid and Calvin came to the viewing, Calvin with a Marshie hitching a lift on his camera hood. A pale and greasy looking Marshie appeared at one point but I found myself back with the ‘Stunner’ without even realizing that she’d lured me back.
We moved on slightly only to pause for a dazzling mustard coloured moff – it was a Wood Tiger, a stunning looking moth and a species that I’d seen here before and also one which was actually sitting still. It seemed that we were walking in a butterfly wonderland and so our progress was ridiculously slow as every few steps something else would appear and tempt us to photograph it. A Small heath here, a Grizzlie there or even a fine looking Marshie. I knew that they could be very variable but today was proving just how variable whilst still keeping to the familiar pattern/lay-out. The next couple proved a prime example. The first was very dark looking from afar and when I got in closer I could see that the ground colour was black and not dark brown. I’ve seen the effect light can have on Marshies in the past; under cloud cover they appear black and then as the sun comes out they lighten to a milk chocolate brown, but this one was black in full sun. The second took on a more yellow hue as it flew due to the nice combination of light orange and cream chequers on a brown background.
After much more stumbling and pausing for this and that we reached the corner of the down and the area that the Marshies have a penchant for. Sure enough a couple took to the air including one that was struggling to fly as she was so egg bound. She was also a bit of a looker with the usual oranges and cream replaced in part by whites giving it the slight appearance of a Scarce Frit. I spent a good while with this one as she bumbled about and managed to pick up a nice selection of shots including some undersides. I once again called out and Philzoid and Calvin came to the viewing, Calvin with a Marshie hitching a lift on his camera hood. A pale and greasy looking Marshie appeared at one point but I found myself back with the ‘Stunner’ without even realizing that she’d lured me back.
Compton Down 25-05-2024
With the way the weather was going when a good day struck you had to make the most of it. Luckily constant surveillance of several weather Apps looked like paying off as the weather didn’t look too shabby, which was surprising as it was the start of the half term break and a Bank Holiday weekend to boot. Add to this the fact that the Glannies had been spotted at Compton Down and my mind was set to working out where to go and how to get there. When Philzoid arrived at our usual rendezvous we jumped in the car and set to rally driving along the country lanes to Shaftesbury and slightly beyond and were soon pulling into the lay-by as, despite or prompt departure, was full. I hoped that they were all ramblers or dog walkers…
As we strolled down the track we passed a good way before anything flew and the occasional cloud drifted over the sun darkening and then brightening quickly. The first entry to the day’s tally was a Green-veined White which was quickly followed by a brace of Grizzlies on the other side of the track. As we approached the bank it became apparent that plenty of people had had the same thought process as myself and most of the cars in the car park obviously weren’t dog walkers and ramblers. Still it lent a more convivial air to proceedings and I was able to catch up with a few people from previous trips in between snaps. At the start of the bank there had been 3 Glannies in quick succession as well as a Marshie. It was strange seeing them all quite close together and then none despite the habitat looking exactly the same to my eyes. Other butterflies that vied for our attention here were Grizzlies, Dingies, Brown Argus, Small Blue and Small Heath which was good really as the Glannies in this section seemed to prefer the top of the bank safe from my macro lens. There were four in view at any one time further along the bank close to where the trees spilled down the bank from the hedge demarcating the two downland reserves. Two were far to high to start with but would occasionally drift down the slope and fly along the track whilst one remained stubbornly open winged just out of reach. Luckily the final one posed very nicely at ¾ wings open right at the edge of the bank.
Past the bisecting line of trees to the next section and there were a few more Glannies and another hide away Marshie. There were also several Whites flying of which a brace of Brimstones and a Large White were the only clearly discernible species. A few more Grizzlies fluttered about at the margins of the bank and the stony track and these encouraged me to spend a little more time here which had the added bonus of being a lot quieter. In fact, I had the whole of this section of the bank to myself. I made the most of this temporary solitude by finding a few grounded Glannies some of which closed up to reveal the stunning underside patterning. Images were racking up nicely on the memory card and then I spotted the piece de resistance; a mating pair. I got a few shots and then made a fatal/rookie error and announced their presence quite quickly. Before I knew it there were a cluster of people around the pair and I found myself somehow at the back of the queue. I left them to it and occasionally snuck back in for a few shots in between watching other Glannies.
Interestingly once they’ve un-coupled they stayed together for some time, just perched together, wing tips gently caressing. Philzoid and I then retreated slowly back up the track with Glannies all along the way and a single Small Blue which was the only other butterfly behaving sensibly!
As we strolled down the track we passed a good way before anything flew and the occasional cloud drifted over the sun darkening and then brightening quickly. The first entry to the day’s tally was a Green-veined White which was quickly followed by a brace of Grizzlies on the other side of the track. As we approached the bank it became apparent that plenty of people had had the same thought process as myself and most of the cars in the car park obviously weren’t dog walkers and ramblers. Still it lent a more convivial air to proceedings and I was able to catch up with a few people from previous trips in between snaps. At the start of the bank there had been 3 Glannies in quick succession as well as a Marshie. It was strange seeing them all quite close together and then none despite the habitat looking exactly the same to my eyes. Other butterflies that vied for our attention here were Grizzlies, Dingies, Brown Argus, Small Blue and Small Heath which was good really as the Glannies in this section seemed to prefer the top of the bank safe from my macro lens. There were four in view at any one time further along the bank close to where the trees spilled down the bank from the hedge demarcating the two downland reserves. Two were far to high to start with but would occasionally drift down the slope and fly along the track whilst one remained stubbornly open winged just out of reach. Luckily the final one posed very nicely at ¾ wings open right at the edge of the bank.
Past the bisecting line of trees to the next section and there were a few more Glannies and another hide away Marshie. There were also several Whites flying of which a brace of Brimstones and a Large White were the only clearly discernible species. A few more Grizzlies fluttered about at the margins of the bank and the stony track and these encouraged me to spend a little more time here which had the added bonus of being a lot quieter. In fact, I had the whole of this section of the bank to myself. I made the most of this temporary solitude by finding a few grounded Glannies some of which closed up to reveal the stunning underside patterning. Images were racking up nicely on the memory card and then I spotted the piece de resistance; a mating pair. I got a few shots and then made a fatal/rookie error and announced their presence quite quickly. Before I knew it there were a cluster of people around the pair and I found myself somehow at the back of the queue. I left them to it and occasionally snuck back in for a few shots in between watching other Glannies.
Interestingly once they’ve un-coupled they stayed together for some time, just perched together, wing tips gently caressing. Philzoid and I then retreated slowly back up the track with Glannies all along the way and a single Small Blue which was the only other butterfly behaving sensibly!
Sidbury 20-05-2024 Part 3
I almost went home but I do like to check out a new part of the site when I visit and so instead of turning round and returning to the car I carried on along the motorway for tanks up over the rise. On the other side beyond the line of trees rough ground sloped gently off into the distance. On my left one of the tracks ran down, a few White Helleborines standing just on the edge of the wood, and a slither of turf bisected the track. This proved to be a cracking little spot and I wandered up and then down the hill on this little ribbon like island of downland cut off from the mainland by a sea of dust and flint. On the first pass down I notched up 2 Common Blues, a Wall, a Brown Argus and finally some Small Blues 3 or 4. On the walk back up this increased, possibly because I was going slightly slower what with it being uphill. The Common Blues had increased to 3, all having a final sunbathe before settling down. I lost count of the Small Heaths that would pop up from under my feet but the Wall were easier to count as I watched one fly into the territory of another and they both went up in a scrap. Both Grizzlie and Dingy Skippers got onto the list and the sole Brown Argus manifested into three but unlike the Common Blues they were already shut up for the night. The best return though came from the Small Blues with at least a dozen now showing more readily. Most were still active but a couple had chosen their spot and were laying out the beach towels whilst one in particular had doled out the sun cream and was busy catching some rays, its wings spread the widest that I’ve ever seen in this species.
Eventually as the shadows started lengthening and the butterflies started flying less and closing up more I tore myself away and started to head for home. Only I didn’t make it straight back to the car as a Marshie had other ideas and led me on one final dance across the grasslands. It would fly to somewhere with a patch of yellow flowers nearby and then sup away, occasionally looking to close its wings. I would watch and wait and hope that it would before it would once again take to the air and I would trail after it in the hope of getting some underside shots to go with the growing collection of topside ones. It didn’t come to pass and eventually I felt the metaphorically tap on my shoulder and the Marshie waltzed off with a new partner, a Small Heath that was hassling it. I strolled back to the car, tired but exceedingly happy and toting up the species count to a year best of 16.
At last it happened
A Marshie flew into view
Job done and relax!
(until the next time)
Eventually as the shadows started lengthening and the butterflies started flying less and closing up more I tore myself away and started to head for home. Only I didn’t make it straight back to the car as a Marshie had other ideas and led me on one final dance across the grasslands. It would fly to somewhere with a patch of yellow flowers nearby and then sup away, occasionally looking to close its wings. I would watch and wait and hope that it would before it would once again take to the air and I would trail after it in the hope of getting some underside shots to go with the growing collection of topside ones. It didn’t come to pass and eventually I felt the metaphorically tap on my shoulder and the Marshie waltzed off with a new partner, a Small Heath that was hassling it. I strolled back to the car, tired but exceedingly happy and toting up the species count to a year best of 16.
At last it happened
A Marshie flew into view
Job done and relax!
(until the next time)
Sidbury 20-05-2024 Part 2
Led on by a male Orange-tip I then dove briefly into the cool shade of the wood and back out into the sun and shelter of the rings themselves. As this part is the more shaded part the grass had grown taller than elsewhere in the ring and so I progressed along the bottom quite quickly as there weren’t any butterflies. As I rounded the corner of the ellipse the wood ceased on one side and retreated on the other and here the sun poured in, the gentle breeze dropped and it felt noticeably warmer and drier. The turf under my feet was now much thinner and there seemed to be an inverse relationship between butterfly numbers and sward height as now I entered into something of a battle zone. Dingies and Grizzlies hassled each other whilst the Brown Argus had it in for both and the Common Blue that turned up. It also had a pop at the Small Copper that appeared, much to my annoyance but I carried on round safe in the knowledge that they would still be there when I came back this way. As I did a Wall did a few passes, Small Heath either erupted as like they do or turned up just as I was about to get a shot of something else and there were good numbers of Dingies but only a couple of Grizzlies.
At the ‘end’ I climbed out of the ring, walked across the bridge and then headed back down into the ring again. Just ahead of me the wood once again swallowed up the rings and as I drew near the sward increased and I followed a Marshie. However it pulled a nasty little trick and flew from the bright sunshine into the shade offered by the trees and I lost it as I reacted too slowly in removing my shades. After picking up a Greenstreak which didn’t sit still for too long I started the return route this time wandering over the exposed side of the rings on my way back to the bridge. A Marshie popped up, fresher looking than the previous sneaky one and so I managed to keep it in view as it flew from nectar stop to nectar stop. Then it was over the bridge and back into the ring proper with the usual stuff and by that I mean the same species and in some cases the exact same butterflies that I saw on the outward leg. In addition there was a Greenstreak and the Wall was a little more relaxed this turn round.
At the exit point instead of walking out I carried on along the ring a short way. Unlike last year I didn’t find any Dukes but there was a Wall on the top of the ring in a large crop of Bugle. After this I worked back to the Cross Tracks pausing for the Wall again and then worked swiftly down the steep track making for Duke Corner again. I took a shortcut through the Beech wood and in the shade and stumbled across a solitary Bird’s Nest Orchid before being almost blinded as I left the wood behind and ventured out into the open again. I contemplated heading to Duke Corner itself but the cloak and fingers of shadow had lengthened sufficiently to the point of covering the spot and so any butterflies would have moved elsewhere. I then strolled back along the byways, down to the little spot where I’d found the Marshies in a bid to catch up with them a second time and maybe make a more accurate count. This proved easy as I couldn’t find any and they must have moved on but instead there was a stunning Duchess. At first I didn’t know what it was, the patterning from a far was actually quite suggestive of a bright and variable Heath Fritillary. It was only when I got close enough to see the individual markings and get an idea of the size that I sussed it out as a Duke/Duchess. The inner row of markings on the hind wing weren’t the usual orange colour but instead a pale lemon colour and it was this that had made me momentarily think that it was something else. It’s possible that some Victorian Aurelian had given it a proper name but that didn’t really matter to me I was just enjoying it being a ‘little Beaut’. When it nipped off I wandered down the main track, the odd Brimstone sailing by in the distance and had one last look around the little triangle of scrub finding a few Dingies, Small Heath and a roosting Common Blue. Looked like it was time to go…
At the ‘end’ I climbed out of the ring, walked across the bridge and then headed back down into the ring again. Just ahead of me the wood once again swallowed up the rings and as I drew near the sward increased and I followed a Marshie. However it pulled a nasty little trick and flew from the bright sunshine into the shade offered by the trees and I lost it as I reacted too slowly in removing my shades. After picking up a Greenstreak which didn’t sit still for too long I started the return route this time wandering over the exposed side of the rings on my way back to the bridge. A Marshie popped up, fresher looking than the previous sneaky one and so I managed to keep it in view as it flew from nectar stop to nectar stop. Then it was over the bridge and back into the ring proper with the usual stuff and by that I mean the same species and in some cases the exact same butterflies that I saw on the outward leg. In addition there was a Greenstreak and the Wall was a little more relaxed this turn round.
At the exit point instead of walking out I carried on along the ring a short way. Unlike last year I didn’t find any Dukes but there was a Wall on the top of the ring in a large crop of Bugle. After this I worked back to the Cross Tracks pausing for the Wall again and then worked swiftly down the steep track making for Duke Corner again. I took a shortcut through the Beech wood and in the shade and stumbled across a solitary Bird’s Nest Orchid before being almost blinded as I left the wood behind and ventured out into the open again. I contemplated heading to Duke Corner itself but the cloak and fingers of shadow had lengthened sufficiently to the point of covering the spot and so any butterflies would have moved elsewhere. I then strolled back along the byways, down to the little spot where I’d found the Marshies in a bid to catch up with them a second time and maybe make a more accurate count. This proved easy as I couldn’t find any and they must have moved on but instead there was a stunning Duchess. At first I didn’t know what it was, the patterning from a far was actually quite suggestive of a bright and variable Heath Fritillary. It was only when I got close enough to see the individual markings and get an idea of the size that I sussed it out as a Duke/Duchess. The inner row of markings on the hind wing weren’t the usual orange colour but instead a pale lemon colour and it was this that had made me momentarily think that it was something else. It’s possible that some Victorian Aurelian had given it a proper name but that didn’t really matter to me I was just enjoying it being a ‘little Beaut’. When it nipped off I wandered down the main track, the odd Brimstone sailing by in the distance and had one last look around the little triangle of scrub finding a few Dingies, Small Heath and a roosting Common Blue. Looked like it was time to go…
Sidbury 20-05-2024
As the working day came to a close I was packed, ready and in my mind at least I was already in the car negotiating the back roads to Sidbury! Having found a brace of Small Heath and watched a Wall whiz by on my lunch time walk up the field and what with the distinct lack of cloud in the blue sky (finally) I had a feeling that this would be a great trip. My feelings were further justified as I drove up the final stretch of track and a Wall flew alongside my car. Having necked my coffee and donned my hat I was soon away across the grass to the rougher patch, ripped and gouged by past tank tracks, in front of the copse. Small Heath seemed to erupt with each step but the rough ground was quiet with only a Brown Argus pausing from its flight to sup and switching from silver to chocolate brown as it stopped. I followed the main track down and worked back round the copse as a spotted a Marshie. It hung around the damper vegetation on the North side of the copse and so did I. It fluttered about a fair bit as nothing else would let it settle and it would be turfed out of one spot only to fly clumsily into another butterfly’s territory when the scenario would play out once more. Once it had worked its way through the territories of a Brown Argus, Dingy Skipper and Small Heath it would fly back round and, having not learnt its lesson, run through the whole rigmarole once more. Once I finally had a few shots I stood back and a Common Blue flashed past making me realise that I had seen one on my visit to Martin Down a week or so previously.
I carried on up the track towards the base of the hill with that slight sense of satisfaction that comes with having ‘got what I came to see’ scanning slightly more intently than before now I knew that my quarry was definitely ‘out’. As I rounded the corner at the top I wasn’t greeted by the hoped for Small Copper but instead more Marshies – which seemed like a more than reasonable trade. As I carefully picked my way into and across the top of the field, snaking my feet around the tussocks I spotted a couple more Marshies, maybe 4 in total possibly 5. The job of counting wasn’t made any easier by the blessed Small Heaths. A few years back they seemed to have a dip in number but now they’re back to their annoying best and with a vengeance, spooking pretty much every Marshie that I approached. I changed up my methods and tried to follow the spooked butterfly in the hope that when it landed I would be able to grab a few shots before the Small Heath cottoned on to its presence and set it off again. As well as the Marshies there were plenty of Moffs that would zip off like misfiring rockets and also a somewhat out of place Greenstreak.
I waded back out of the field on followed the hard track up the slight rise at the foot of the hill with a Wall passing by and various Grizzlies and Dingies scattered about like dull confetti. On one of the little side paths a Brown Argus caught my attention and then I carried on to Duke Corner. As I approached I spotted a Wall landing at the bottom of the deeply gouged rut of the path. It was hidden from view so I needed to get close enough to look over the grass. Then I hit a snag as sitting on the opposite side of the rut, looking down from atop the overhanging grasses was a Duke. I didn’t know quite what to go for and in the end my internal debate was settled for me. As I tried for a record shot of each a Fox Moth shot past and the Wall went up in pursuit practically knocking the Duke from its perch. I waited about for a bit and the Wall returned almost as briefly but I couldn’t relocate the Duke so I carried on, back along the path and then round to the thin turf on the side of the hill behind Duke Corner.
As I broke through much overgrown cover a Holly blue drifted past and up into the surrounding trees whilst lower to the ground both a Dingy and Grizzlie popped up, a Common Blue flashed past and various Forester Moths buzzed around like flying jewels. Up in the Little Valley as well as a Dingy there was also a surprise awaiting me – it was a Duke. Unfortunately as I got so few shots of the one from Duke Corner and despite getting a memory card full of this one, I couldn’t say if it was a different individual or not. Either way it was nice seeing this charismatic little butterfly in yet another part of the site. On up the hill I went and climbed over the fence to the Cross Tracks where a Wall was waiting for me and also a strong scent of burning ‘herbage' from some local lads out on their motocross bikes. Still they had the decency to freewheel away down the hill and not start their engines until they were out of sight/hearing!
I carried on up the track towards the base of the hill with that slight sense of satisfaction that comes with having ‘got what I came to see’ scanning slightly more intently than before now I knew that my quarry was definitely ‘out’. As I rounded the corner at the top I wasn’t greeted by the hoped for Small Copper but instead more Marshies – which seemed like a more than reasonable trade. As I carefully picked my way into and across the top of the field, snaking my feet around the tussocks I spotted a couple more Marshies, maybe 4 in total possibly 5. The job of counting wasn’t made any easier by the blessed Small Heaths. A few years back they seemed to have a dip in number but now they’re back to their annoying best and with a vengeance, spooking pretty much every Marshie that I approached. I changed up my methods and tried to follow the spooked butterfly in the hope that when it landed I would be able to grab a few shots before the Small Heath cottoned on to its presence and set it off again. As well as the Marshies there were plenty of Moffs that would zip off like misfiring rockets and also a somewhat out of place Greenstreak.
I waded back out of the field on followed the hard track up the slight rise at the foot of the hill with a Wall passing by and various Grizzlies and Dingies scattered about like dull confetti. On one of the little side paths a Brown Argus caught my attention and then I carried on to Duke Corner. As I approached I spotted a Wall landing at the bottom of the deeply gouged rut of the path. It was hidden from view so I needed to get close enough to look over the grass. Then I hit a snag as sitting on the opposite side of the rut, looking down from atop the overhanging grasses was a Duke. I didn’t know quite what to go for and in the end my internal debate was settled for me. As I tried for a record shot of each a Fox Moth shot past and the Wall went up in pursuit practically knocking the Duke from its perch. I waited about for a bit and the Wall returned almost as briefly but I couldn’t relocate the Duke so I carried on, back along the path and then round to the thin turf on the side of the hill behind Duke Corner.
As I broke through much overgrown cover a Holly blue drifted past and up into the surrounding trees whilst lower to the ground both a Dingy and Grizzlie popped up, a Common Blue flashed past and various Forester Moths buzzed around like flying jewels. Up in the Little Valley as well as a Dingy there was also a surprise awaiting me – it was a Duke. Unfortunately as I got so few shots of the one from Duke Corner and despite getting a memory card full of this one, I couldn’t say if it was a different individual or not. Either way it was nice seeing this charismatic little butterfly in yet another part of the site. On up the hill I went and climbed over the fence to the Cross Tracks where a Wall was waiting for me and also a strong scent of burning ‘herbage' from some local lads out on their motocross bikes. Still they had the decency to freewheel away down the hill and not start their engines until they were out of sight/hearing!
Bentley 15-05-2024
Having missed the Bentley Pearls by a day or so I was anxious to get my annual fix of this species and so it transpired that at the end of a heavy day of assessments and marking I found myself negotiating the terrible track towards the eastern car park at Bentley Wood. I was pleased that my tires and suspension were still intact, I hadn’t grounded my car and even more pleased to hear the diphthong call of the Cuckoo amongst the various others calls and songs having safely reached the parking space. It was a glorious racket that accompanied me as I cut through the trees, enjoying the delicious cool of the shade for the first time this year, to the Cowley Copse track. From here I worked into the Eastern Clearing via the Marshie Field and as I stepped over the ditch I spotted my first Pearl of 2024. As I watched it zoom this way and that I spotted a cyclist who I only recognized once we started chatting. While we talked about how the Pearls were faring one stopped right in front of us and I grabbed a few record shots whilst it supped on Bugle.
When we parted ways I set off for a walk around the Clearing and the surrounding environs. Down to the ‘Duke’ end and round and back up the other side and then across and up and down the Back track. It was all very quiet with main butterfly activity restricted to the EC itself and then it was only a single Green-veined White and the occasional Brimstone. As I walked the odd Fox Moth or plenty of Speckled Yellows had me falsely exclaiming “Pearl” to myself until I’d completed the thought process of; that’s too big/too small, that’s too fast/too slow and too flappy or that’s too brown/too yellow. Luckily by the time I got to the middle section of the main part of the E.C. I’d gotten my eye in and I managed to spot a few of the Goldilocks butterfly that I was seeking. They seemed to be ranging across the length of the site but favouring the section from the middle to the end nearest the car park for slowing down, probably as this was slightly drier and held more Bugle than the wetter end which was rich in various reedy looking grasses. I followed a fast moving male, which slowed down when he came close to me. He had found a female (which I’d missed) and after she’d seen off his unwanted attentions she settled down giving me the chance for a few underside shots. Unfortunately I was on the shaded side but over the years I’ve learnt not to be fussy (I find it’s better to get what you can as often great stuff appears, the few times I’ve ‘tried’ I’ve ended up with nothing) and so clicked away. I moved back, stood up and contemplated my next move when the female took to the wing again so I decided to follow her to see where she’d land. I was also using her as living bait, hoping that she’d entice any roving males my way. She started feeding on a Bugle at the edge of the little ditch on the other side of which was another enthusiast with their own Pearl.
When our respective Pearls has departed and we’d had a bit of a natter I worked back to the middle section and found a Grizzlie sitting in the middle of one of the narrowest track ways. After a few shots it moved off and so did I, to stand at the edge of the ‘wet bit’ and look out for the Pearls to return and slow down having completed the faster part of their circuit/patrol route. As I stood and watched and waited an Argent and Sable appeared but unfortunately I couldn’t get any shots as despite my best efforts it only stopped for a fractions of a second each time it landed. It led me on a merry dance around the clearing first before disappearing up and off into the tree line. Brimstones kept catching my attention but as I was here for the Pearls I couldn’t get distracted. The Pearls themselves seemed to come in waves, hanging around the middle section and then zooming off so I settling down to waiting for them to pass through on their next pass was the best and also least tiring option. It paid off as another pairing turn up as well as a brilliantly behaved singleton who showed off the under wing to great effect.
I spotted another courting pair which left me wondering whether this was a case of ‘love is in the air’ or a mass harassment case in the making? Snapping myself out of such idle musings I followed the pair pretty much from the centre of the EC right up into Marshie field. They would stop occasionally, he would fly avidly around here whilst she would sit, lined up with the grass stem she was perched on, head down to the ground and wings flapping irritably. She was having none of it! At one point they sat on a log and the male seemed to caress her hind wing with the clubs on his antennae but still she wasn’t interested and they went off in what turned out to be one final chase. She lost him amongst some old Bracken stacks and sat there gathering her breath. It didn’t feel right to bother her anymore so I just stood and watched to see what she would do. Which as it turned out was make a couple more small flights with pauses on various perching points before, at 5:30 flying up into one of the Birch trees for the night. I made my way back into the EC and had a chat with the other enthusiast he suggested that that would be it now, they’d all be tucked up in their beds roosting. I had one final pass and sure enough didn’t see another butterfly, let alone another Pearl…
I headed for home job done but feeling slightly uneasy that the Pearls - could be going the same way as their slightly smaller relations?
Fast moving gingers
Pearls glittering in the sun
Bentley evening trip
When we parted ways I set off for a walk around the Clearing and the surrounding environs. Down to the ‘Duke’ end and round and back up the other side and then across and up and down the Back track. It was all very quiet with main butterfly activity restricted to the EC itself and then it was only a single Green-veined White and the occasional Brimstone. As I walked the odd Fox Moth or plenty of Speckled Yellows had me falsely exclaiming “Pearl” to myself until I’d completed the thought process of; that’s too big/too small, that’s too fast/too slow and too flappy or that’s too brown/too yellow. Luckily by the time I got to the middle section of the main part of the E.C. I’d gotten my eye in and I managed to spot a few of the Goldilocks butterfly that I was seeking. They seemed to be ranging across the length of the site but favouring the section from the middle to the end nearest the car park for slowing down, probably as this was slightly drier and held more Bugle than the wetter end which was rich in various reedy looking grasses. I followed a fast moving male, which slowed down when he came close to me. He had found a female (which I’d missed) and after she’d seen off his unwanted attentions she settled down giving me the chance for a few underside shots. Unfortunately I was on the shaded side but over the years I’ve learnt not to be fussy (I find it’s better to get what you can as often great stuff appears, the few times I’ve ‘tried’ I’ve ended up with nothing) and so clicked away. I moved back, stood up and contemplated my next move when the female took to the wing again so I decided to follow her to see where she’d land. I was also using her as living bait, hoping that she’d entice any roving males my way. She started feeding on a Bugle at the edge of the little ditch on the other side of which was another enthusiast with their own Pearl.
When our respective Pearls has departed and we’d had a bit of a natter I worked back to the middle section and found a Grizzlie sitting in the middle of one of the narrowest track ways. After a few shots it moved off and so did I, to stand at the edge of the ‘wet bit’ and look out for the Pearls to return and slow down having completed the faster part of their circuit/patrol route. As I stood and watched and waited an Argent and Sable appeared but unfortunately I couldn’t get any shots as despite my best efforts it only stopped for a fractions of a second each time it landed. It led me on a merry dance around the clearing first before disappearing up and off into the tree line. Brimstones kept catching my attention but as I was here for the Pearls I couldn’t get distracted. The Pearls themselves seemed to come in waves, hanging around the middle section and then zooming off so I settling down to waiting for them to pass through on their next pass was the best and also least tiring option. It paid off as another pairing turn up as well as a brilliantly behaved singleton who showed off the under wing to great effect.
I spotted another courting pair which left me wondering whether this was a case of ‘love is in the air’ or a mass harassment case in the making? Snapping myself out of such idle musings I followed the pair pretty much from the centre of the EC right up into Marshie field. They would stop occasionally, he would fly avidly around here whilst she would sit, lined up with the grass stem she was perched on, head down to the ground and wings flapping irritably. She was having none of it! At one point they sat on a log and the male seemed to caress her hind wing with the clubs on his antennae but still she wasn’t interested and they went off in what turned out to be one final chase. She lost him amongst some old Bracken stacks and sat there gathering her breath. It didn’t feel right to bother her anymore so I just stood and watched to see what she would do. Which as it turned out was make a couple more small flights with pauses on various perching points before, at 5:30 flying up into one of the Birch trees for the night. I made my way back into the EC and had a chat with the other enthusiast he suggested that that would be it now, they’d all be tucked up in their beds roosting. I had one final pass and sure enough didn’t see another butterfly, let alone another Pearl…
I headed for home job done but feeling slightly uneasy that the Pearls - could be going the same way as their slightly smaller relations?
Fast moving gingers
Pearls glittering in the sun
Bentley evening trip
Martin Down 19-05-2024
The weather forecast for the Saturday hadn’t been that accurate, instead of the heavy shows and black clouds there was a little covering of grey and even the occasional brighter interlude that had me second guessing about staying in and catching up on Wandavision. This boded well for the Sunday though as there was a window off about 4 hours in the morning showing full sun, blue skies and 15 degrees minimum, which judging by the level of inaccuracy today should have meant it would possibly be more conducive than suggested. So I’d be able pop over first thing, grab a few Marshies and be back before anyone realised. Even better I had to do a trip to Ikea in the afternoon when the cloud, and wind and rain would be smothering the site so there would be no FOMO. What a great plan…
But it didn’t happen like that…I was greeted by blue skies when I arose but by the time I’d washed, dressed and grabbed my gear it had started to cloud over and as I set off once at Martin Down it was still grey and surprisingly cold. Unsurprisingly the butterflies weren’t showing at all. I kept checking the app and it assured me that it was pleasantly warm under the full sun without a cloud in the sky…I ended up walking from the main car park to the top of the Dyke, then all the way along to the half way point where I paused for the Burnt-tips, on down to the terraces and round the old hotspot near Greenstreak field and then back to the half-way point without seeing a single thing, not even a hardy Brimstone that managed to fly in the chill of February nor a butterfly roosting atop a seed head. As I was walking I would pause occasionally to check to see if they’d updated the forecast but no they carried on telling me to relax and enjoy the balmy weather under a cloudless sky! I must confess that more than a few choice words were uttered but luckily they got carried away on the strengthening breeze so they were barely a whisper.
As I approached the half way point from the main track and I was inwardly chuntering away I suddenly stopped dead and silenced the inner monologue. Among the taller tussocks of green grass I’d spotted a miniscule white flag. As I neared to confirm that it was a Small Blue suddenly there were three more, closed up Small Blues hiding in plain sight. I set about getting some shots and tried for all four individuals but this proved tricky as one was sitting much lower than the others on its perch and so I had to shoot from an angle which proved tricky.
Slightly relieved to have actually found something to photograph of the lepidopteran variety I strolled up the path aiming to get back on the path that runs along the Dyke. As I turned the corner I examined the tussocks on the corner as this little spot often holds Small Blue. So it turned out again and once again there were four Small Blues spread across the various tussocks. Getting shots felt slightly easier this time as I’d picked up a thin stick which I was able to thread amongst the grass blades and hold back those that would obstruct my view of the butterfly. I started back, now scanning the seed heads and pods and the dried husks and skeletons of last years’ plants. It paid off as about half way back to the Butts I found a Grizzlie and then when I was three quarters of the way to the Butts there were a brace of Grizzlies together.
With raised hopes I carried on seeking out dead seed heads and often glancing up at the sky and convincing myself that it was looking a little brighter or that there was a slither of blue. There wasn’t and whilst checking out the little scallops at the foot of the Big Butt I spotted an enthusiast that I’ve often bumped into. Unfortunately every time I’ve bumped into them in the past I’ve failed to find what I was looking for. As we talked all hope of a Marshie evaporated and seemingly condensed as I swear there was a slight mizzle. When we went our separate ways I set off along the Dyke to check the start and in the first little hollow there was a Dingy clinging to a rounded seed head, doing its best to blend in. If I hadn’t have gotten my eye in on its smaller cousin then I would definitely have missed it.
After this I carried on checking out the Dyke and bumped into Chris C and his partner and after a chat and a catch-up carried on round and back down the main track to the Butts which runs parallel to the Dyke. I relocated and found a few more Green-winged Orchids along the way but I was starting to feel pressed for time so I didn’t tarry too long and my circular route brought me back to the little hollow where the Dingy had been. It was still there but in the now brightening skies (typical) it had been joined by both a Small Blue and a Grizzlie. The former was clambering around in the grasses lower to ground and so getting any shots without a forest of green in the way was next to impossible and the latter clung grimly to its perch. With that I made my way back to car Marshie-less.
In a way this trip had proved to be a boon as I’d managed to get plenty of closed wing shots of Grizzlies, a Dingy wrapped round a seed head and also gotten my eye in on roosting butterflies – a habit which may come in useful on future trips either when the weather isn’t great or for those when I make a very early start. At least this is what I told myself as I drove away, to blue-ing skies and increasing temperatures which by the time I’d gotten home and picked the girls up to walk around an industrial, artificially lit, blue and yellow monstrosity, had become possibly the best weather of the year! Typical, so much for no FOMO!
Where were they hiding?
Roosting under leaded skies
And who could blame them
But it didn’t happen like that…I was greeted by blue skies when I arose but by the time I’d washed, dressed and grabbed my gear it had started to cloud over and as I set off once at Martin Down it was still grey and surprisingly cold. Unsurprisingly the butterflies weren’t showing at all. I kept checking the app and it assured me that it was pleasantly warm under the full sun without a cloud in the sky…I ended up walking from the main car park to the top of the Dyke, then all the way along to the half way point where I paused for the Burnt-tips, on down to the terraces and round the old hotspot near Greenstreak field and then back to the half-way point without seeing a single thing, not even a hardy Brimstone that managed to fly in the chill of February nor a butterfly roosting atop a seed head. As I was walking I would pause occasionally to check to see if they’d updated the forecast but no they carried on telling me to relax and enjoy the balmy weather under a cloudless sky! I must confess that more than a few choice words were uttered but luckily they got carried away on the strengthening breeze so they were barely a whisper.
As I approached the half way point from the main track and I was inwardly chuntering away I suddenly stopped dead and silenced the inner monologue. Among the taller tussocks of green grass I’d spotted a miniscule white flag. As I neared to confirm that it was a Small Blue suddenly there were three more, closed up Small Blues hiding in plain sight. I set about getting some shots and tried for all four individuals but this proved tricky as one was sitting much lower than the others on its perch and so I had to shoot from an angle which proved tricky.
Slightly relieved to have actually found something to photograph of the lepidopteran variety I strolled up the path aiming to get back on the path that runs along the Dyke. As I turned the corner I examined the tussocks on the corner as this little spot often holds Small Blue. So it turned out again and once again there were four Small Blues spread across the various tussocks. Getting shots felt slightly easier this time as I’d picked up a thin stick which I was able to thread amongst the grass blades and hold back those that would obstruct my view of the butterfly. I started back, now scanning the seed heads and pods and the dried husks and skeletons of last years’ plants. It paid off as about half way back to the Butts I found a Grizzlie and then when I was three quarters of the way to the Butts there were a brace of Grizzlies together.
With raised hopes I carried on seeking out dead seed heads and often glancing up at the sky and convincing myself that it was looking a little brighter or that there was a slither of blue. There wasn’t and whilst checking out the little scallops at the foot of the Big Butt I spotted an enthusiast that I’ve often bumped into. Unfortunately every time I’ve bumped into them in the past I’ve failed to find what I was looking for. As we talked all hope of a Marshie evaporated and seemingly condensed as I swear there was a slight mizzle. When we went our separate ways I set off along the Dyke to check the start and in the first little hollow there was a Dingy clinging to a rounded seed head, doing its best to blend in. If I hadn’t have gotten my eye in on its smaller cousin then I would definitely have missed it.
After this I carried on checking out the Dyke and bumped into Chris C and his partner and after a chat and a catch-up carried on round and back down the main track to the Butts which runs parallel to the Dyke. I relocated and found a few more Green-winged Orchids along the way but I was starting to feel pressed for time so I didn’t tarry too long and my circular route brought me back to the little hollow where the Dingy had been. It was still there but in the now brightening skies (typical) it had been joined by both a Small Blue and a Grizzlie. The former was clambering around in the grasses lower to ground and so getting any shots without a forest of green in the way was next to impossible and the latter clung grimly to its perch. With that I made my way back to car Marshie-less.
In a way this trip had proved to be a boon as I’d managed to get plenty of closed wing shots of Grizzlies, a Dingy wrapped round a seed head and also gotten my eye in on roosting butterflies – a habit which may come in useful on future trips either when the weather isn’t great or for those when I make a very early start. At least this is what I told myself as I drove away, to blue-ing skies and increasing temperatures which by the time I’d gotten home and picked the girls up to walk around an industrial, artificially lit, blue and yellow monstrosity, had become possibly the best weather of the year! Typical, so much for no FOMO!
Where were they hiding?
Roosting under leaded skies
And who could blame them
Martin Down 11-05-2024
After a surprisingly short time I found myself out of the car and walking the paths at Martin Down. Despite the apparent ideal conditions it seemed very quiet on the butterfly front and the only thing I saw as I walked across to the Dyke and along it towards the Big Butt was a single Brimstone. There was a feeling of it being a little too early hanging in the air but I had high hopes for the more sheltered little sun trap on the other side of the Big Butt. Again things turned out as hoped for because as I rounded the track to work along the foot of the Big Butt a Grizzlie flew up to greet me and led me along to the other end. I lost it as I reached the big of Bramble that stuck out onto the path and formed one arc of the scallop. I paused in the scallop itself and watched as a Green Hairstreak flashed past over the head of a Dingy. As I was thinking about approaching a small flash of silver flew in from the main part of the field and plopped itself down on a Bugle. At first I wondered if it was a Small Blue but once I’d relocated it I could see that it was in fact a Brown Argus. I needed to get used to the fact that they were on the scene and so now there were two possibilities for a ‘little silver job’. This one was a bit of a looker and so fresh out of the box but it didn’t hang around for too long to be admired as it got embroiled in a bitter dispute with a brace of Dingies that were also frequenting the scallop. After a chat with another couple of enthusiasts who as pleased with the Brown Argus as I was I made my way across the small field and got back onto the main path parallel to the Dyke; a Holly Blue flashed by as I did so.
The walk down to the Half-way point was, barring the bird song, pretty quiet with only a Peacock and a distant White, however as I neared the spot where the Burnt-tips grow I followed the lower track along the side of the Dyke and was soon onto various butterflies. I spent an agreeable 10 minutes or so here photographing anything that would allow me and if not adding it to the days tally. The Burnt-tips obviously were the easiest as all I had to do was sit and wait for the breeze to stop buffeting them and then click away whilst the lull lasted. A Peacock passed by but didn’t stop but a Small Blue, two Dingies and four Grizzlies were slightly more accommodating after a fashion, well some of them were as I got photos of all three species but I’m not sure how many individuals?
I had a quick look along the path at the Half-way point and the tussocks of long grass where path crosses path produced first a Grizzlie looking a little out of place amid the long grass and then a Small Blue which fitted right in. I love the way these diminutive butterflies walk along the blades of grass like crossing a bridge. The rest of the path was quiet and when I retraced my steps back out into the open grassland of the Dyke both the Grizzlie and the Small Blue had vanished and so I made my way all the way back to the start of the Dyke, drifting along lazily despite drawing dangerously near to ‘time to go’. The only thing of note was a Greenstreak frequenting the part of the Dyke so beloved of Marshies and a possible Common Blue as I crossed back to the car park side of the ditch.
I drove home happily despite not finding a Marshie as a day with great company, a double figure species count and 5 (possibly 6) new species for the year certainly isn’t too shabby! Hopefully by the following weekend Marshies and Pearls will finally be on the Tally.
A blank on Marshies
But still what a cracking day
A great ensemble
The walk down to the Half-way point was, barring the bird song, pretty quiet with only a Peacock and a distant White, however as I neared the spot where the Burnt-tips grow I followed the lower track along the side of the Dyke and was soon onto various butterflies. I spent an agreeable 10 minutes or so here photographing anything that would allow me and if not adding it to the days tally. The Burnt-tips obviously were the easiest as all I had to do was sit and wait for the breeze to stop buffeting them and then click away whilst the lull lasted. A Peacock passed by but didn’t stop but a Small Blue, two Dingies and four Grizzlies were slightly more accommodating after a fashion, well some of them were as I got photos of all three species but I’m not sure how many individuals?
I had a quick look along the path at the Half-way point and the tussocks of long grass where path crosses path produced first a Grizzlie looking a little out of place amid the long grass and then a Small Blue which fitted right in. I love the way these diminutive butterflies walk along the blades of grass like crossing a bridge. The rest of the path was quiet and when I retraced my steps back out into the open grassland of the Dyke both the Grizzlie and the Small Blue had vanished and so I made my way all the way back to the start of the Dyke, drifting along lazily despite drawing dangerously near to ‘time to go’. The only thing of note was a Greenstreak frequenting the part of the Dyke so beloved of Marshies and a possible Common Blue as I crossed back to the car park side of the ditch.
I drove home happily despite not finding a Marshie as a day with great company, a double figure species count and 5 (possibly 6) new species for the year certainly isn’t too shabby! Hopefully by the following weekend Marshies and Pearls will finally be on the Tally.
A blank on Marshies
But still what a cracking day
A great ensemble
Fovant 11-05-2024
As I was heading in the general direction of Martin Down via Wilton I reasoned that I could call in at Fovant to see how things were progressing there with only a slight detour so I was soon pulled up in the lay-by and hopping over the stile. As I wove round the track and up the steep bank to the Bowl the sun beat down and it was proper warm so I had a feeling that things were going to be good on the Duke front. So it was because as I skirted round the edge of the Bowl I watched as a pair of Brown Jobs flew upwards and into each other. As they buzzed around each other a third joined the fray and as I drew near I was just in time and close enough to catch glimpses orange on the wings of the initial two. They soon departed in separate directions but two of them didn’t travel far (probably the initial two combatants) so I kept an eye on the third hence I was able to confirm that all three were, indeed, Dukes. Out of the car for less than a minute and on 3 Dukes already! I was just starting to consider which to photograph first when two of them started on each other again and a smaller, silvery butterfly got caught up in the fray. I opted to watch this one and when it landed I was treated to views of the freshest Small Blue that I can recall, so fresh that the underwings shone like pure silver when the light hit the wings at the right angle.
I then reverted my attentions back to the Dukes but they proved hard to photograph as they would settle for only a short time before launching into yet another attack of one or both of their compadres. I kept on and grabbed as many shots that I could from my limited opportunities before making my way out of the Bowl and up the track that runs diagonally across the side of the hill. Despite the shortness of the track it took much longer to ascend than I had expected. This was because every metre or so I had to stop as I had inadvertently wandered into a Dukes territory. By the time I’d reached the top I’d counted a further 9 to add to my previous 3 which worked out at about 1 Dpm (Duke per minute). I’d be strolling upwards when a Duke would take off, fly ahead of me a little and attempt to perch but by the time it had done a few flies around the prospective perch I’d have drawn near and so it would fly further ahead of me. Not long after this it would stray into the territory of the next Duke in line and so a fight would break out and occasionally both Dukes would top the bank and then tumble down the other side, still locked in combat. Due to the heat, those that sat still long enough for a few photos invariably held their wings between three quarters and fully closed so as to reduce the amount of heat absorbed but I kinda like that type of shot.
Because of their antics and pitched battles there were slightly fewer on the route back down the hill but time was pressing on and I only really had time for the odd shot here and there as well as a very brief catch up with ‘Allthingswild’ and then I was on the road again; up the hill, down the other side, though Broadchalke and up Hogger Road, past Vernditch and right across the A354…
I then reverted my attentions back to the Dukes but they proved hard to photograph as they would settle for only a short time before launching into yet another attack of one or both of their compadres. I kept on and grabbed as many shots that I could from my limited opportunities before making my way out of the Bowl and up the track that runs diagonally across the side of the hill. Despite the shortness of the track it took much longer to ascend than I had expected. This was because every metre or so I had to stop as I had inadvertently wandered into a Dukes territory. By the time I’d reached the top I’d counted a further 9 to add to my previous 3 which worked out at about 1 Dpm (Duke per minute). I’d be strolling upwards when a Duke would take off, fly ahead of me a little and attempt to perch but by the time it had done a few flies around the prospective perch I’d have drawn near and so it would fly further ahead of me. Not long after this it would stray into the territory of the next Duke in line and so a fight would break out and occasionally both Dukes would top the bank and then tumble down the other side, still locked in combat. Due to the heat, those that sat still long enough for a few photos invariably held their wings between three quarters and fully closed so as to reduce the amount of heat absorbed but I kinda like that type of shot.
Because of their antics and pitched battles there were slightly fewer on the route back down the hill but time was pressing on and I only really had time for the odd shot here and there as well as a very brief catch up with ‘Allthingswild’ and then I was on the road again; up the hill, down the other side, though Broadchalke and up Hogger Road, past Vernditch and right across the A354…
Cotley 11-05-2024
As the first Marshie had only just been recorded over at the neighbouring hill things weren’t looking too crash hot in terms of them showing at Cotley. But wanting to have the first meet up with Dave and reasoning that ‘someone has to see the first one’ I set off along the A36. When I arrived it was lovely and warm and the sun was shining but not strongly enough to have evaporated the dew which started off soaking my boots and as the length of the sward increased the water progressed up to mid shin. At the top of the rise I stepped into the first Hollow and there, waiting for me was the first butterfly of the day, my first Wall for the year. Even this early it was quite flighty and so I managed a few shots before it zoomed off and round the curve of the hill.
I carried on round searching all the little spots where things had turned up before but it seemed that it was a little too early for most stuff and by the time I’d reached the little triangle of grass round by the second curve of the hill I’d only seen various Moffs and a single Green Hairstreak. I climbed down the hill and into the little grass triangle, the water soaking into my trousers now reached my knees as I pursued a Grizzlie. Pleased with my ‘capture’ I was just about to leave and head back to the start ready to meet Dave when an orange butterfly erupted from the grass and proceeded to tease me, my first Small Heath of the year. I’d just get into position and start focusing before it would be up and away, zigging and zagging with its deceptively fast flight before alighting several metres away and repeating the whole procedure.
Time was passing and it was getting to just past 9 so I started back to the Amphitheatre to try and find Dave. As I rounded the corner I spotted him on the other side of the Hill but as I was about to call out I got distracted by a vivid orange coloured butterfly. I knew immediately that it was a Small Copper – the colour was burnt onto my retina so could it be anything else? I followed it and leant in a few times for shots as it worked up the side of the Amphitheatre making its way from one ‘pitstop’ to another. Pleased to have reacquainted myself with this species I shifted focus from it back to finding Dave who had disappeared from view. I worked my way round and back to the initial Hollow, trying to ignore the Wall on the way so as to not get distracted gain and put in a call. Dave was on the other side of the small wood and so I strode down the track and turned and carried on through the wood and out to the other side. It was little more overgrown here on the lower slopes but there was Dave photographing a Grizzlie. Having caught up we started wandering along the narrow trackways as various Moffs vied for our attention. The odd Greenstreak passed by and then towards the far side of the down as the vegetation thinned and shortened we found a newly emerged Wall. It’s fresh status meant that not only was it a real looker but it was comparatively docile and flew only a few metres before stopping at the next nectar source.
With this in the bag we looped up and round and across the top of the Hill heading back to the more usual side. A Peacock, Green-veined White, Green Hairstreak and another Wall all flew here, skirting the barbed wire fence marking the ‘wild down’ on one side and Oil Seed Rape on the other. The Wall occasionally would fly over the fence but not hang around for long in the deceptive sea of yellow. Having reached the very top of the hill behind the wood we then started down the sweeping diagonal track right to the bottom and the starting Hollow. As we set off for my second pass of the site there were plenty of Greenstreaks and it dawned on me why it looked different; the small Hawthorns had gown up and hedge along the fence line it missing. There were more Greenstreaks on the expanse of Bramble round to the Amphitheatre and on the corner a Small Blue, Grizzlie and Small Copper all showed up. Annoyingly they only hung around briefly before nipping over the barbed wire fence and frequented the loose soil margins of the field on the other side. As we watched this a massive Orange-tip went past, so large it would have been shocking had we not encountered them this big here before.
Form here we worked our way along the bottom and when the path was barred by Bramble we climbed up and then continued on round. We ended up walking right to the end to the boundary with Scratchbury and then up over the top. On the way a few Walls popped up, a Peacock (possibly the same one from earlier) gorged itself on Dandelions at the very top and various whites fluttered by. About half way along the walk along the top we picked our way all the way back down to the little triangle which is where we’d initially been aiming for. When we waded into the grass at first it looked like our round about journey had been for nought but luckily that was the moment that a Small Blue showed up. Once we’d had our fill of shots we started to make out way back out of the triangular patch of grass but paused as a Small Heath popped up. One minute there was nothing to see but the dark, lush green grass and the next there was a little orange triangle. It behaved better than earlier in the morning and after a few more shots we started the climb back up to the path and followed it until we’d skirted round the bramble and we could get back on the bottom path. As we started off on the lower path we were met by another first for the year for me – a Brown Argus. It was clearly on a mission and only hung around for long enough for a few record shots but it was great to add it to both the daily and season tally – my fifth year tick of the morning.
Back at the Bowl the Small Blue, Grizzlie and Small Copper were still occupying their respective patches on the bare soil of the field margin over the fence so we checked out the Bowl itself. Greenstreaks occupied the thin, scraggly Hawthorn right on the corner whilst a Wall did a few fly-bys whilst it maintained its territory. We set about enjoying the Grizzlies that were frequenting the Bowl itself when a medium sized butterfly shot out of the grass giving us both fleeting glimpse of browns, creams and red. We both couldn’t be sure that it was but had it been a couple of weeks later or we’d already seen Marsh Frits that’s what we’d have out it down as. Unfortunately the view was so brief that no matter how hard I try I still can’t picture it in my memory and the fact that we couldn’t relocate means that it will always remain ‘?’.
We started back round as the day was passing and the Marshies weren’t showing although the Greenstreaks were. We tarried a little in the Hollow with more Greenstreaks, an Orange-tip flashing past (a normal sized one now) and of course the seemingly ubiquitous Walls. As we were just stepping onto the track l down the hill I spotted a pair of Small Blues in cop of the Hawthorn there. After a minute or two of contortion I managed to inveigle myself into the bush itself so that I could get some side on shots of the pairing. Once I’d unwrapped myself from the bush we carried on down the track, hemmed in on either side by the hedges. A Wall bounced away ahead of us while a brace of Peacocks spiraled upwards battling it out. The final place we checked was the blocked off and overgrown lay-by which was now bathed in sun and sheltered from the breeze on all sides. A Green-veined White welcomed us in whilst at the far end a Beautiful Demioselle landed briefly and two Orange-tips patrolled. A Holly Blue fell upwards into the treeline and a Greenstreak stopped in briefly. And all before the star of the show arrived – a cracking little Grizzlie which kept showing us its stunning underside.
This seemed like the perfect time to call it a day here; no Marshies but still a brilliant morning with excellent company and equally excellent butterflies. Waving goodbye to Dave I jumped in the car and started driving home…Well that was the intention at first but as I ate up the miles I kept wondering what was happening over at Martin Down what with the onset of clement weather?
I carried on round searching all the little spots where things had turned up before but it seemed that it was a little too early for most stuff and by the time I’d reached the little triangle of grass round by the second curve of the hill I’d only seen various Moffs and a single Green Hairstreak. I climbed down the hill and into the little grass triangle, the water soaking into my trousers now reached my knees as I pursued a Grizzlie. Pleased with my ‘capture’ I was just about to leave and head back to the start ready to meet Dave when an orange butterfly erupted from the grass and proceeded to tease me, my first Small Heath of the year. I’d just get into position and start focusing before it would be up and away, zigging and zagging with its deceptively fast flight before alighting several metres away and repeating the whole procedure.
Time was passing and it was getting to just past 9 so I started back to the Amphitheatre to try and find Dave. As I rounded the corner I spotted him on the other side of the Hill but as I was about to call out I got distracted by a vivid orange coloured butterfly. I knew immediately that it was a Small Copper – the colour was burnt onto my retina so could it be anything else? I followed it and leant in a few times for shots as it worked up the side of the Amphitheatre making its way from one ‘pitstop’ to another. Pleased to have reacquainted myself with this species I shifted focus from it back to finding Dave who had disappeared from view. I worked my way round and back to the initial Hollow, trying to ignore the Wall on the way so as to not get distracted gain and put in a call. Dave was on the other side of the small wood and so I strode down the track and turned and carried on through the wood and out to the other side. It was little more overgrown here on the lower slopes but there was Dave photographing a Grizzlie. Having caught up we started wandering along the narrow trackways as various Moffs vied for our attention. The odd Greenstreak passed by and then towards the far side of the down as the vegetation thinned and shortened we found a newly emerged Wall. It’s fresh status meant that not only was it a real looker but it was comparatively docile and flew only a few metres before stopping at the next nectar source.
With this in the bag we looped up and round and across the top of the Hill heading back to the more usual side. A Peacock, Green-veined White, Green Hairstreak and another Wall all flew here, skirting the barbed wire fence marking the ‘wild down’ on one side and Oil Seed Rape on the other. The Wall occasionally would fly over the fence but not hang around for long in the deceptive sea of yellow. Having reached the very top of the hill behind the wood we then started down the sweeping diagonal track right to the bottom and the starting Hollow. As we set off for my second pass of the site there were plenty of Greenstreaks and it dawned on me why it looked different; the small Hawthorns had gown up and hedge along the fence line it missing. There were more Greenstreaks on the expanse of Bramble round to the Amphitheatre and on the corner a Small Blue, Grizzlie and Small Copper all showed up. Annoyingly they only hung around briefly before nipping over the barbed wire fence and frequented the loose soil margins of the field on the other side. As we watched this a massive Orange-tip went past, so large it would have been shocking had we not encountered them this big here before.
Form here we worked our way along the bottom and when the path was barred by Bramble we climbed up and then continued on round. We ended up walking right to the end to the boundary with Scratchbury and then up over the top. On the way a few Walls popped up, a Peacock (possibly the same one from earlier) gorged itself on Dandelions at the very top and various whites fluttered by. About half way along the walk along the top we picked our way all the way back down to the little triangle which is where we’d initially been aiming for. When we waded into the grass at first it looked like our round about journey had been for nought but luckily that was the moment that a Small Blue showed up. Once we’d had our fill of shots we started to make out way back out of the triangular patch of grass but paused as a Small Heath popped up. One minute there was nothing to see but the dark, lush green grass and the next there was a little orange triangle. It behaved better than earlier in the morning and after a few more shots we started the climb back up to the path and followed it until we’d skirted round the bramble and we could get back on the bottom path. As we started off on the lower path we were met by another first for the year for me – a Brown Argus. It was clearly on a mission and only hung around for long enough for a few record shots but it was great to add it to both the daily and season tally – my fifth year tick of the morning.
Back at the Bowl the Small Blue, Grizzlie and Small Copper were still occupying their respective patches on the bare soil of the field margin over the fence so we checked out the Bowl itself. Greenstreaks occupied the thin, scraggly Hawthorn right on the corner whilst a Wall did a few fly-bys whilst it maintained its territory. We set about enjoying the Grizzlies that were frequenting the Bowl itself when a medium sized butterfly shot out of the grass giving us both fleeting glimpse of browns, creams and red. We both couldn’t be sure that it was but had it been a couple of weeks later or we’d already seen Marsh Frits that’s what we’d have out it down as. Unfortunately the view was so brief that no matter how hard I try I still can’t picture it in my memory and the fact that we couldn’t relocate means that it will always remain ‘?’.
We started back round as the day was passing and the Marshies weren’t showing although the Greenstreaks were. We tarried a little in the Hollow with more Greenstreaks, an Orange-tip flashing past (a normal sized one now) and of course the seemingly ubiquitous Walls. As we were just stepping onto the track l down the hill I spotted a pair of Small Blues in cop of the Hawthorn there. After a minute or two of contortion I managed to inveigle myself into the bush itself so that I could get some side on shots of the pairing. Once I’d unwrapped myself from the bush we carried on down the track, hemmed in on either side by the hedges. A Wall bounced away ahead of us while a brace of Peacocks spiraled upwards battling it out. The final place we checked was the blocked off and overgrown lay-by which was now bathed in sun and sheltered from the breeze on all sides. A Green-veined White welcomed us in whilst at the far end a Beautiful Demioselle landed briefly and two Orange-tips patrolled. A Holly Blue fell upwards into the treeline and a Greenstreak stopped in briefly. And all before the star of the show arrived – a cracking little Grizzlie which kept showing us its stunning underside.
This seemed like the perfect time to call it a day here; no Marshies but still a brilliant morning with excellent company and equally excellent butterflies. Waving goodbye to Dave I jumped in the car and started driving home…Well that was the intention at first but as I ate up the miles I kept wondering what was happening over at Martin Down what with the onset of clement weather?
Fovant 06-05-2024
The Bank Holiday weekend had started unusually sunny but by about lunchtime it had realized what it was doing, given itself a stern talking too and reverted to the norm; cloud, rain and cool temperatures. So it remained most of the rest of the weekend and on Monday, though the rain had abated, the cloud and cooler temperatures remained. I kept checking the various weather apps and the promised sunny intervals had been replaced with dark grey clouds…: “stuff it” I thought, grabbed my camera and went out anyway.
I started out in the Bowl on the left of the lay-by. The grass was soaking wet, the cooler temperatures having failed to evaporate it away and so by the time I’d walked half way round my boots were soaked through. I pressed on completing my tour of the Bowl and then heading up the diagonal track and then back down having drawn a blank. I crossed over the road and set off along the densely overgrown path at the bottom of the hill the vegetation meaning that now I was soaked from bootstraps to just above the knees. As I waded on I made the occasional glance upwards but things skyward weren’t changing although it was starting to feel imperceptibly warmer. I took heart in this and also when I spooked a Fox in the Bowl on this side of the road as the last time that had happened I’d gotten onto a Duke. Climbing out of the Bowl I carried on climbing but this time up the diagonal track. The first hollow was empty and so was the second and the third. Still I climbed on, hope slipping away with each step, perhaps not the omen I’d hoped for? I started back down on the parallel track checking out into the dyke as I did so. All of a sudden something caught my eye as it crawled and then climbed its way first out of the low grass and then up one of the taller blades. As it twizzled around its white markings flashed out in the gloom – it was a Duke! And a really dark and fresh one at that, so fresh and intact in fact I was left wondering if it had only just left the chrysalis?
I spent a good while with it and my previous thoughts about it having just emerged seemed to be supported by the short and weak flights it made between ‘sittings’ although this could have been because of the cooler temperatures? The set of short flights it made were great as they allowed me to pick up a range of images from side on to close up, the more normal to a great almost open winged shot from below.
Eventually I left it in peace and set off back down the track passing the various hollows on the way. Despite my success with the Duke the rest of the track and all the hollows remained empty, the slightest of temperature rises obviously not enough to tempt out any of the other butterflies along this more exposed part of the site. Probably because it’s slightly more sheltered the Bowl felt warmer and more humid and as a traversed the bottom a White took off. I followed it and watched intently as it fluttered weakly about so I was able to identify it as a Large White but getting shots was another matter entirely as it was exceedingly twitchy and even getting within a couple of metres of it set it off in another one of its flappy, lazy flights. Persistence paid off in the end and once I’d grabbed a few record shots I set off homeward, spooking a brace of Peacocks along the way. The first shot up from a circle of dead grass and disappeared before I’d almost had time to recognize it whilst the second hung about at the end of my walk for a few shots before I had to brave the overgrown path to get back to the car.
Having crossed the road I had another quick look in the Bowl but alas there was still nowt and so I started packing the car. As I chucked my coat in the boot I spotted a clump of Garlic Mustard on the verge. What with the cool, cloudy weather and the masses of Cow Parsley and now I gotten my eye in, Garlic Mustard, I wondered if there would be a roosting OT? There was only one way to find out and so I started walking along the road scanning the verge as I went. I didn’t turn up an OT but at the start of my search a Green-veined White dropped in from the other side of which spurred me on to finish my mission. With that it felt like a good time to call it a day and head for home.
Gloomy dull grey cloud
But a Duke and a Large White
Two to save the day
I started out in the Bowl on the left of the lay-by. The grass was soaking wet, the cooler temperatures having failed to evaporate it away and so by the time I’d walked half way round my boots were soaked through. I pressed on completing my tour of the Bowl and then heading up the diagonal track and then back down having drawn a blank. I crossed over the road and set off along the densely overgrown path at the bottom of the hill the vegetation meaning that now I was soaked from bootstraps to just above the knees. As I waded on I made the occasional glance upwards but things skyward weren’t changing although it was starting to feel imperceptibly warmer. I took heart in this and also when I spooked a Fox in the Bowl on this side of the road as the last time that had happened I’d gotten onto a Duke. Climbing out of the Bowl I carried on climbing but this time up the diagonal track. The first hollow was empty and so was the second and the third. Still I climbed on, hope slipping away with each step, perhaps not the omen I’d hoped for? I started back down on the parallel track checking out into the dyke as I did so. All of a sudden something caught my eye as it crawled and then climbed its way first out of the low grass and then up one of the taller blades. As it twizzled around its white markings flashed out in the gloom – it was a Duke! And a really dark and fresh one at that, so fresh and intact in fact I was left wondering if it had only just left the chrysalis?
I spent a good while with it and my previous thoughts about it having just emerged seemed to be supported by the short and weak flights it made between ‘sittings’ although this could have been because of the cooler temperatures? The set of short flights it made were great as they allowed me to pick up a range of images from side on to close up, the more normal to a great almost open winged shot from below.
Eventually I left it in peace and set off back down the track passing the various hollows on the way. Despite my success with the Duke the rest of the track and all the hollows remained empty, the slightest of temperature rises obviously not enough to tempt out any of the other butterflies along this more exposed part of the site. Probably because it’s slightly more sheltered the Bowl felt warmer and more humid and as a traversed the bottom a White took off. I followed it and watched intently as it fluttered weakly about so I was able to identify it as a Large White but getting shots was another matter entirely as it was exceedingly twitchy and even getting within a couple of metres of it set it off in another one of its flappy, lazy flights. Persistence paid off in the end and once I’d grabbed a few record shots I set off homeward, spooking a brace of Peacocks along the way. The first shot up from a circle of dead grass and disappeared before I’d almost had time to recognize it whilst the second hung about at the end of my walk for a few shots before I had to brave the overgrown path to get back to the car.
Having crossed the road I had another quick look in the Bowl but alas there was still nowt and so I started packing the car. As I chucked my coat in the boot I spotted a clump of Garlic Mustard on the verge. What with the cool, cloudy weather and the masses of Cow Parsley and now I gotten my eye in, Garlic Mustard, I wondered if there would be a roosting OT? There was only one way to find out and so I started walking along the road scanning the verge as I went. I didn’t turn up an OT but at the start of my search a Green-veined White dropped in from the other side of which spurred me on to finish my mission. With that it felt like a good time to call it a day and head for home.
Gloomy dull grey cloud
But a Duke and a Large White
Two to save the day
Star Wars Day! 04-05-2024
The Pearls at Bentley are normally out by the first few days into May and so it was time for the first of several annual meet ups with Philzoid. Surprisingly the weather forecast was favourable for the morning and so things looked good, on paper to be at least. I arrived slightly earlier than Philzoid but slightly later than intended, the crater strewn road and hummocky track having made me slightly tardy. I set off full of hope as overhead there was a rare sight – blue sky – and made my way to the ‘Back track’ the upper corner of which is usually where I spot my first Pearls. In a little clump of Bluebells, unfortunately on the wrong side of the fence, I watched two Small Whites and a Brimstone pootling about while Speckled Yellow Moths erupted from the old Bracken or longer turf. At the other end of the track, which I’d reached butterfly-less I finally managed to get something on the memory card; a Peacock feeding on the Bluebells. As I made my way back up a Brimstone teased me before a second posed beautifully ‘a la Diana and that skirt’ on a Bluebell just before the bridge into the main part of the Eastern Clearing.
Whilst I was here I spotted Philzoid and we joined forcing and starting walking and talking, our conversation punctuated with ‘Tree Pipit, Brimstone, some sort of Bee etc’ as various wildlife came under the scrutiny of out gaze. We took to following out established route to take in the back track as well as the far corner of the Clearing, all the while hoping for the flash of orange that would denote a Pearl. Alas, despite much searching and covering all the usual spots a couple of times a pearl didn’t appear. There were a fair few Brimstones about as well as the odd Peacock and in the far corner where the Dukes used to hang out we picked up both Large White and Green-veined White but of Pearls there was narry a sniff. As we were leaving an Orange-tip seemed to shoo us out of the Clearing but we hung around for a bit waiting for a Garden Warbler to show itself so that Philzoid could add some more photos to his repertoire.
We then took the short drive over to the Western side of the wood, towards the Hawksgrove area. This really produced the goods last year and it also the site from which the first records usually come so once again we walked and talked pinning all our hopes on the little triangle of grass where the track curves round. Along the way there were the usual Brimstones and a Peacock also turned up once we were at the Triangle but again of the Pearls there not a sighting so we carried on, slightly morose along the track. I mean to say after what felt like weeks and weeks of dull, cold and wet weather the sun was finally shining, the ground was drying but it seems that no-one had sent out the invitations to the butterflies, or at least those that would respond to a polite invitation and not the usual gatecrashers (Hibernators and Whites 😉). After passing a nicely cleared verge with another Peacock, smattering of Brimstones and a Large White the wood enclosed us once more and so due to the lack of butterflies we reverted to birding with a Firecrest showing itself albeit briefly. I really struggled to find these back when I was a teenager so enjoyed the firey flash on the head and the bold eye strip set off nicely against the forest green uppers all the more.
Where were all the Pearls
Not out enjoying the sun!
Come on sort it out!
However…this was supposed to be a butterfly trip and so we made our way back to the cars and then drove over to Martin Down. I have commented/moaned/whinged before about the unusual weather that pervades my local area; I’ve regaled tales of ‘racing the cloud’ and voiced concerns about the way that a cloud will eerily hang directly over the exact spot I’m looking for butterflies. So I was glad that we’d decided to head to Martin Down in a way as Philzoid was able to experience the phenomenon first hand. On the drive over the skies were mainly blue with the odd fair weather cloud drifting past and so high as to not make any noticeable difference. However when we got out of the cars it was entirely different. Just over the border in Dorset there were the blue skies, form where we’d come the village of Martin was illuminated, shining brightly and lit by the sun yet over the entire reserve a massive, gun metal grey cloud sat, unmoving and blocking on the light but also the infrared radiation to the extent that it was cold enough to warrant a hat.
We pressed on regardless hoping to find at least one Grizzlie that would make the day worthwhile but the cloud was conspiring against us and very little, bit it bird or butterfly, was flying. As we moved along the start of the Dyke we heard a Cuckoo in the far distance and a Cron Bunting rattled its keys at us. As we wandered along the top path the cooler temperature caused by the behemoth above was demonstrated by a moribund Brimstone that was lying on the track and looking to all intents and purposes as if it just fallen out of the sky. Trying to cheer ourselves and find the positive I reasoned that the cloud cover would at least offer us the chance to check the metal sheets safely as any sheltering Adders would be slowed down. Even so we both got a stick to lift the sheets with. Under the first was a Slow Worm and then under the second a large female Adder slunk away into the grasses having given Philzoid a small window of opportunity for some shots.
After this I played my penultimate card as it were and so as we walked round to the other side of the Butts and approached the corner I started scanning intently; looking at each Dandelion, each blade of grass that was slightly taller than the rest of the sward and each twig or ‘sticky uppy thingy’. Boom there was the miniscule object I was hoping to find. It was my first Grizzlie of the season, the ‘trip maker’. It was closed up tight in the chill and almost locked into position so we were able to get a really good look at it. Some of the markings along the hind wing costa were larger or joined giving the wing a more overall white appearance. I’d tried cupping my hands around it whilst it was still perched and the slight increase in temperature from the heat radiating out from me was enough to make it open up and again there was a lot of white on the butterfly making it appear even more grizzled than usual.
Leaving the butterfly in peace we carried on after bugging a Lesser Whitethroat for a while and on our way to the half way point we bumped into Jenny who had seen almost as little as we had so I pointed her in the rough direction of the Grizzlie which I’d left clinging to a grass stem. The Halfway point was deadly silent and so we headed back to the Big Butt, counting up 5 Marsh Frit cats on the way. Philzoid kept on trying for the Lesser Whitethroat while I reacquainted myself with the Grizzlie and had a chat with Jenny, the terrible weather and dearth of butterflies being the main topic of conversation. All too soon it was time to head home and so it was back to the car pronto, with just enough time to call in for a Green-winged Orchid. One of those days really, started well but the butterflies didn’t respond accordingly and get their abdomens out of their chrysalises and then when things turn for the worse a single stalwart remained. Is this going to be a ‘late year’ or a ‘bad year’?
Off to Martin Down
Martin-under-cloud more like
Still, get a Grizzlie
Whilst I was here I spotted Philzoid and we joined forcing and starting walking and talking, our conversation punctuated with ‘Tree Pipit, Brimstone, some sort of Bee etc’ as various wildlife came under the scrutiny of out gaze. We took to following out established route to take in the back track as well as the far corner of the Clearing, all the while hoping for the flash of orange that would denote a Pearl. Alas, despite much searching and covering all the usual spots a couple of times a pearl didn’t appear. There were a fair few Brimstones about as well as the odd Peacock and in the far corner where the Dukes used to hang out we picked up both Large White and Green-veined White but of Pearls there was narry a sniff. As we were leaving an Orange-tip seemed to shoo us out of the Clearing but we hung around for a bit waiting for a Garden Warbler to show itself so that Philzoid could add some more photos to his repertoire.
We then took the short drive over to the Western side of the wood, towards the Hawksgrove area. This really produced the goods last year and it also the site from which the first records usually come so once again we walked and talked pinning all our hopes on the little triangle of grass where the track curves round. Along the way there were the usual Brimstones and a Peacock also turned up once we were at the Triangle but again of the Pearls there not a sighting so we carried on, slightly morose along the track. I mean to say after what felt like weeks and weeks of dull, cold and wet weather the sun was finally shining, the ground was drying but it seems that no-one had sent out the invitations to the butterflies, or at least those that would respond to a polite invitation and not the usual gatecrashers (Hibernators and Whites 😉). After passing a nicely cleared verge with another Peacock, smattering of Brimstones and a Large White the wood enclosed us once more and so due to the lack of butterflies we reverted to birding with a Firecrest showing itself albeit briefly. I really struggled to find these back when I was a teenager so enjoyed the firey flash on the head and the bold eye strip set off nicely against the forest green uppers all the more.
Where were all the Pearls
Not out enjoying the sun!
Come on sort it out!
However…this was supposed to be a butterfly trip and so we made our way back to the cars and then drove over to Martin Down. I have commented/moaned/whinged before about the unusual weather that pervades my local area; I’ve regaled tales of ‘racing the cloud’ and voiced concerns about the way that a cloud will eerily hang directly over the exact spot I’m looking for butterflies. So I was glad that we’d decided to head to Martin Down in a way as Philzoid was able to experience the phenomenon first hand. On the drive over the skies were mainly blue with the odd fair weather cloud drifting past and so high as to not make any noticeable difference. However when we got out of the cars it was entirely different. Just over the border in Dorset there were the blue skies, form where we’d come the village of Martin was illuminated, shining brightly and lit by the sun yet over the entire reserve a massive, gun metal grey cloud sat, unmoving and blocking on the light but also the infrared radiation to the extent that it was cold enough to warrant a hat.
We pressed on regardless hoping to find at least one Grizzlie that would make the day worthwhile but the cloud was conspiring against us and very little, bit it bird or butterfly, was flying. As we moved along the start of the Dyke we heard a Cuckoo in the far distance and a Cron Bunting rattled its keys at us. As we wandered along the top path the cooler temperature caused by the behemoth above was demonstrated by a moribund Brimstone that was lying on the track and looking to all intents and purposes as if it just fallen out of the sky. Trying to cheer ourselves and find the positive I reasoned that the cloud cover would at least offer us the chance to check the metal sheets safely as any sheltering Adders would be slowed down. Even so we both got a stick to lift the sheets with. Under the first was a Slow Worm and then under the second a large female Adder slunk away into the grasses having given Philzoid a small window of opportunity for some shots.
After this I played my penultimate card as it were and so as we walked round to the other side of the Butts and approached the corner I started scanning intently; looking at each Dandelion, each blade of grass that was slightly taller than the rest of the sward and each twig or ‘sticky uppy thingy’. Boom there was the miniscule object I was hoping to find. It was my first Grizzlie of the season, the ‘trip maker’. It was closed up tight in the chill and almost locked into position so we were able to get a really good look at it. Some of the markings along the hind wing costa were larger or joined giving the wing a more overall white appearance. I’d tried cupping my hands around it whilst it was still perched and the slight increase in temperature from the heat radiating out from me was enough to make it open up and again there was a lot of white on the butterfly making it appear even more grizzled than usual.
Leaving the butterfly in peace we carried on after bugging a Lesser Whitethroat for a while and on our way to the half way point we bumped into Jenny who had seen almost as little as we had so I pointed her in the rough direction of the Grizzlie which I’d left clinging to a grass stem. The Halfway point was deadly silent and so we headed back to the Big Butt, counting up 5 Marsh Frit cats on the way. Philzoid kept on trying for the Lesser Whitethroat while I reacquainted myself with the Grizzlie and had a chat with Jenny, the terrible weather and dearth of butterflies being the main topic of conversation. All too soon it was time to head home and so it was back to the car pronto, with just enough time to call in for a Green-winged Orchid. One of those days really, started well but the butterflies didn’t respond accordingly and get their abdomens out of their chrysalises and then when things turn for the worse a single stalwart remained. Is this going to be a ‘late year’ or a ‘bad year’?
Off to Martin Down
Martin-under-cloud more like
Still, get a Grizzlie
