Five Rivers 31-03-2025
A quick trip out at lunch time was a tale of two halves; first at the end of the field a Peacock sat amid the wood chippings at the start of the football fields. After this there was a butterfly about half way along the path just on the other side of the wire fence. It fed for a while on some Dandelions nicely posed a la Lady Di. Then all went quiet until I was making my return journey when another Brimstone stopped momentarily on another patch of Dandelion.
As the Specklies had arrived I decided that now might be a good time to see of I could catch up with a few more…so I started off over at Five Rivers. I parked up behind the Leisure centre and then cut straight along side the football pitches arriving at Top Comma Corner directly where I was greeted by a Brimstone and a White of some description. Not a bad start really and slightly different from the expected Comma at the eponymously named spot. I then set out along the Banks, starting at the bottom and working across diagonally to end up almost at the top. This gave me the advantage of quartering almost the entire Bank without having to criss-cross or wander up and down plus I use a preexisting animal track so reducing my trampling. At the start where the Bank is really just a verge, less than a metre deep, there was a Comma which kept getting disturbed by one of the two Peacocks that were alternatively basking on the path or having a little stretch of their wings unfortunately for them, right the way through the Comma’s territory. Or were they flying there on purpose just to annoy the Comma? That’s the danger of anthropomorphizing I guess. Slightly further on a White flew, hugging the tree line almost as effectively as the trees were hugging the top of the bank and there were a further brace of Peacocks and another lone Comma.
This pattern seemed to continue once I’d squeezed through the gap to the second half of the Banks as my further ambulation saw me observing a Comma, next a Peacock and then a pair of scraping Whites. Form the end of the Banks I went down the hill and made my way to the very far end. The little strip of cleared ground that abutted the allotment fence right at the end/start of the reserve was good last year for Orange-tip and Small Torts so I hoped for the same this year. Alas this year it didn’t seem to be quite ready as everything seemed to pop and say hello before vanishing; a pair of Brimstones shots over the fence into the allotments, a Comma disappeared into the undergrowth and a Small Tort attempted to break the sound barrier. It was no wonder that I made a swift return to the Banks and its better behaved butterflies.
The return trek was almost a re-run of the outward journey with a Peacock, Comma, another Peacock and a Small White from the end to the gap and then two more Commas once through it. Then there was one a piece of Peacock and Comma at bottom Comma Corner. However normal service had resumed at Top Comma Corner with the previously seen Whites gone to be replaced by what I’d expected to see there, a Comma. From here I worked back via the Glades to my car. It was all very quiet until I was on the final stretch of more open grass where I was enticed to linger by a fidgety Red Admiral. It was only my second confirmed sighting of the year of this species And even better it decided to sit a few times so I could attempt an approach and a few shots.
After this success I decided to push my luck and so I shot over to Middle Street. I followed my traditional route along the back path to the Woodpile where a Comma was waiting for me. Then round to old hotspot where 2 Peacocks messed about and a Comma sat on the edge of the dried up pond which can no longer be accessed as the briars have formed an impenetrable wall of thorns. I felt the pressure of the usual time constraint and so hurried onwards when one or two didn’t play ball whereas I may have waited (often fruitlessly) in the past.
Today it was a case of onwards and up/downwards; to the Dips! As I followed the narrow path into Dip 1 on the near side a Comma was basking on the remaining tussocks of dried grasses and there was a Peacock on the far side. A great start but Dip 2 and 3 threw up precisely nothing and I was starting to wonder if it wasn’t a little too late in the afternoon for the butterflies when I spotted not one but 2 Small Torts down on the bank towards The End. The one behind was smaller and was ticking the other with its antennae getting wing quivering in response from the larger, foremost female. Eventually they departed together so I didn’t know whether the little Romeo had been successful.
A Red Admiral
Adds itself to the Year List
The Glade delivers!
As the Specklies had arrived I decided that now might be a good time to see of I could catch up with a few more…so I started off over at Five Rivers. I parked up behind the Leisure centre and then cut straight along side the football pitches arriving at Top Comma Corner directly where I was greeted by a Brimstone and a White of some description. Not a bad start really and slightly different from the expected Comma at the eponymously named spot. I then set out along the Banks, starting at the bottom and working across diagonally to end up almost at the top. This gave me the advantage of quartering almost the entire Bank without having to criss-cross or wander up and down plus I use a preexisting animal track so reducing my trampling. At the start where the Bank is really just a verge, less than a metre deep, there was a Comma which kept getting disturbed by one of the two Peacocks that were alternatively basking on the path or having a little stretch of their wings unfortunately for them, right the way through the Comma’s territory. Or were they flying there on purpose just to annoy the Comma? That’s the danger of anthropomorphizing I guess. Slightly further on a White flew, hugging the tree line almost as effectively as the trees were hugging the top of the bank and there were a further brace of Peacocks and another lone Comma.
This pattern seemed to continue once I’d squeezed through the gap to the second half of the Banks as my further ambulation saw me observing a Comma, next a Peacock and then a pair of scraping Whites. Form the end of the Banks I went down the hill and made my way to the very far end. The little strip of cleared ground that abutted the allotment fence right at the end/start of the reserve was good last year for Orange-tip and Small Torts so I hoped for the same this year. Alas this year it didn’t seem to be quite ready as everything seemed to pop and say hello before vanishing; a pair of Brimstones shots over the fence into the allotments, a Comma disappeared into the undergrowth and a Small Tort attempted to break the sound barrier. It was no wonder that I made a swift return to the Banks and its better behaved butterflies.
The return trek was almost a re-run of the outward journey with a Peacock, Comma, another Peacock and a Small White from the end to the gap and then two more Commas once through it. Then there was one a piece of Peacock and Comma at bottom Comma Corner. However normal service had resumed at Top Comma Corner with the previously seen Whites gone to be replaced by what I’d expected to see there, a Comma. From here I worked back via the Glades to my car. It was all very quiet until I was on the final stretch of more open grass where I was enticed to linger by a fidgety Red Admiral. It was only my second confirmed sighting of the year of this species And even better it decided to sit a few times so I could attempt an approach and a few shots.
After this success I decided to push my luck and so I shot over to Middle Street. I followed my traditional route along the back path to the Woodpile where a Comma was waiting for me. Then round to old hotspot where 2 Peacocks messed about and a Comma sat on the edge of the dried up pond which can no longer be accessed as the briars have formed an impenetrable wall of thorns. I felt the pressure of the usual time constraint and so hurried onwards when one or two didn’t play ball whereas I may have waited (often fruitlessly) in the past.
Today it was a case of onwards and up/downwards; to the Dips! As I followed the narrow path into Dip 1 on the near side a Comma was basking on the remaining tussocks of dried grasses and there was a Peacock on the far side. A great start but Dip 2 and 3 threw up precisely nothing and I was starting to wonder if it wasn’t a little too late in the afternoon for the butterflies when I spotted not one but 2 Small Torts down on the bank towards The End. The one behind was smaller and was ticking the other with its antennae getting wing quivering in response from the larger, foremost female. Eventually they departed together so I didn’t know whether the little Romeo had been successful.
A Red Admiral
Adds itself to the Year List
The Glade delivers!
Finally some Spring 23-03-2025
I took a quick trip out on Wednesday (19th March) as there wasn’t a single attendee at the Intervention session. What’s that phrase; “Build it and they will come”? Not really…still it meant that I was able to do a quick sweep of the usual work route. It felt a little like the butterflies were adopting the same attitude as the pupils for a while but by the little triangle of rough ground at the nd of the field a Small Tort was hanging out in amongst the dead grass stalks. It was a while until the next sighting a Brimstone flew along the path around the half way point disappearing as it rounded the cherry tree. After this I didn’t see another butterfly until I completed the return trip where the Small Tort was sitting back in almost the same spot.
I did think that this would be it for the week as I was busy but I managed to wangle a bit of a break on Sunday afternoon and so set off for a few spots. First up I walked through town along the river to Five Rivers my new lens weighing heavily around my neck but proving useful for a few birds along the way and also enabling me to confirm my first Small White of the season even though it was on the other side of the river as I used it like a pair of binoculars. This set the expectations rising and so I sped up slightly and swung the macro camera round in readiness…As usual at this time of year The Glades was quiet even though the sun was shining through the budding leaves and starting to dapple. Whereas up at Top Comma Corner the sun was in full flow and warming the flat piece of clearance up nicely so it was no surprise that the resident Comma was out.
On along the Banks was the next part of the visit but there wasn’t a lot to see until I broke through the gap and had almost reached the bench. Something caught my eye as it floated, drifting on the breeze over the top of the rambling patch of Bramble. As I settled stalked closer and closer, using the large lens to try and get a distant shot as it was so twitchy. They came out very blurry but the grey lines striping the wings were clearly visible; it was my first Green-veined White. My state of chuffed-ness didn’t last long however as it had obviously had enough of a breather and so set off along the Bank in the direction I’d just come from. I did my best to follow it but it kept ranging higher and higher up into the line of trees before flipping over the top. I had to settle for a second Comma before I retraced my steps and ended back where I’d been 5 minutes earlier.
When I reached the rambling bramble bush again I thought I was having a touch of de-ja vu as there was another white butterfly drifting down over the aforementioned bush. This time however it made off towards the bench and so I eagerly round the bottom of the bush and started scanning for it spotting it on a red nettle. A few grab shots were all that I could manage before a third Comma sent it packing. Luckily it did a loop over the line of vegetation and then dropped back down near the bramble bush. With a bit of careful feet placement I was able to get in close enough to use my macro rather than my large lens and so get something more than a grab shot.
Having extricated myself without disturbing the butterfly I carried on but alas by the time I reached the end it had clouded over again and so I had a snack and waited and watched the wildlife in the reeds but also for the fingers of light that would reach out when the sun returned. It didn’t and so I decided that I would quickly pop over to Martin Down just for half an hour before tea. The cloud didn’t really shift there either which was unfortunate. However I took both cameras in the hope that I might relocate the webs of Marsh Frits that I’d found the day before. The usual stretch of path had at least one Adder, I did manage to find the Marshie cats and a Yellowhammer sat nicely but there were no more butterflies. Still I drove home happy that I’d made the most of the smallest window of opportunity and it had produced two firsts for the year.
A brief spell of sun
Wove its magic pleasingly
For a brace of Whites
I did think that this would be it for the week as I was busy but I managed to wangle a bit of a break on Sunday afternoon and so set off for a few spots. First up I walked through town along the river to Five Rivers my new lens weighing heavily around my neck but proving useful for a few birds along the way and also enabling me to confirm my first Small White of the season even though it was on the other side of the river as I used it like a pair of binoculars. This set the expectations rising and so I sped up slightly and swung the macro camera round in readiness…As usual at this time of year The Glades was quiet even though the sun was shining through the budding leaves and starting to dapple. Whereas up at Top Comma Corner the sun was in full flow and warming the flat piece of clearance up nicely so it was no surprise that the resident Comma was out.
On along the Banks was the next part of the visit but there wasn’t a lot to see until I broke through the gap and had almost reached the bench. Something caught my eye as it floated, drifting on the breeze over the top of the rambling patch of Bramble. As I settled stalked closer and closer, using the large lens to try and get a distant shot as it was so twitchy. They came out very blurry but the grey lines striping the wings were clearly visible; it was my first Green-veined White. My state of chuffed-ness didn’t last long however as it had obviously had enough of a breather and so set off along the Bank in the direction I’d just come from. I did my best to follow it but it kept ranging higher and higher up into the line of trees before flipping over the top. I had to settle for a second Comma before I retraced my steps and ended back where I’d been 5 minutes earlier.
When I reached the rambling bramble bush again I thought I was having a touch of de-ja vu as there was another white butterfly drifting down over the aforementioned bush. This time however it made off towards the bench and so I eagerly round the bottom of the bush and started scanning for it spotting it on a red nettle. A few grab shots were all that I could manage before a third Comma sent it packing. Luckily it did a loop over the line of vegetation and then dropped back down near the bramble bush. With a bit of careful feet placement I was able to get in close enough to use my macro rather than my large lens and so get something more than a grab shot.
Having extricated myself without disturbing the butterfly I carried on but alas by the time I reached the end it had clouded over again and so I had a snack and waited and watched the wildlife in the reeds but also for the fingers of light that would reach out when the sun returned. It didn’t and so I decided that I would quickly pop over to Martin Down just for half an hour before tea. The cloud didn’t really shift there either which was unfortunate. However I took both cameras in the hope that I might relocate the webs of Marsh Frits that I’d found the day before. The usual stretch of path had at least one Adder, I did manage to find the Marshie cats and a Yellowhammer sat nicely but there were no more butterflies. Still I drove home happy that I’d made the most of the smallest window of opportunity and it had produced two firsts for the year.
A brief spell of sun
Wove its magic pleasingly
For a brace of Whites
Five Rivers 18-03-2025
I took a quick trip out at lunch time in the hope that the coming of the sun would bring out the local butterflies. It did but not to the extent that I’d been hoping for. In the end a Small Tort at the end of the field in the little rectangle was all that I could find. I’d been so surprised to actually see one there that almost before I’d clocked it, it was off, over the wooden panel fence to hide in the neighbouring gardens.
So to compensate for this I made a little stop off on the way home at Five Rivers. The Glades didn’t hold much in the way of nectar and the nettles there were still barely clearing the ground so I left it hopefully to return in about a fortnight when things should have moved on somewhat. Hence I found myself walking up the short rise to one of the Comma Corners (to be honest I can’t remember which is the original and which is the new so I from now on I’ll try to remember to call this Top Comma Corner). Waiting for me at the top in the area cleared of Bramble was the namesake butterfly which was being hassled occasionally by a Peacock.
Onto the Banks which turned into something of a Comma Fest. In the first section there were a brace of the ginger beauties, their occasional wing flashes belying the fact that they weren’t in fact leaves. On through the gap in the trees to the second section which is a little less like a woodland clearing and more like the tussocky bottom of a Down and there were another two Comma. One would settle and the second would fly overhead and then both would go spiral upwards in a reverse tumble. There was another Comma near the bench and a final one at the far end which when I walked up was clinging to the edge of the Bramble bush like an amber brooch. Totalling this up brought me to the grand total of a single Peacock and 7 Commas, none too shabby a ration for 13 minutes work.
I hung around a little bit listening to the birds; Chiff-chaff, Cetti’s and various tits and then picked my way back along the Banks. I moved more quickly now, eager to get home and so I observed less and walked more. Despite this I still recounted four of the Commas; 1 at the end back in its brooch position, 1 at the bench, near the cut through 1 more and a fly-by near the other end of the Banks by Bottom Comma Corner. A quick check of top Comma Corner and the original Comma was still holding his territory and as a bonus for it (but not for me) it had seen off the pesky Peacock.
Numbers are building
With a surplus of Commas
Rounding off the day
So to compensate for this I made a little stop off on the way home at Five Rivers. The Glades didn’t hold much in the way of nectar and the nettles there were still barely clearing the ground so I left it hopefully to return in about a fortnight when things should have moved on somewhat. Hence I found myself walking up the short rise to one of the Comma Corners (to be honest I can’t remember which is the original and which is the new so I from now on I’ll try to remember to call this Top Comma Corner). Waiting for me at the top in the area cleared of Bramble was the namesake butterfly which was being hassled occasionally by a Peacock.
Onto the Banks which turned into something of a Comma Fest. In the first section there were a brace of the ginger beauties, their occasional wing flashes belying the fact that they weren’t in fact leaves. On through the gap in the trees to the second section which is a little less like a woodland clearing and more like the tussocky bottom of a Down and there were another two Comma. One would settle and the second would fly overhead and then both would go spiral upwards in a reverse tumble. There was another Comma near the bench and a final one at the far end which when I walked up was clinging to the edge of the Bramble bush like an amber brooch. Totalling this up brought me to the grand total of a single Peacock and 7 Commas, none too shabby a ration for 13 minutes work.
I hung around a little bit listening to the birds; Chiff-chaff, Cetti’s and various tits and then picked my way back along the Banks. I moved more quickly now, eager to get home and so I observed less and walked more. Despite this I still recounted four of the Commas; 1 at the end back in its brooch position, 1 at the bench, near the cut through 1 more and a fly-by near the other end of the Banks by Bottom Comma Corner. A quick check of top Comma Corner and the original Comma was still holding his territory and as a bonus for it (but not for me) it had seen off the pesky Peacock.
Numbers are building
With a surplus of Commas
Rounding off the day
A Couple of trips 09-03-2025
It was getting to that time of the year when things would start emerging in a rapid acceleration of diversity…at least this was what I was hoping for when I had an afternoon free to check out a couple of the local sites…I also had to work on my two camera strategy which until now had meant missing out on everything whilst I decided which camera of the two to use. Either they were too close and so I had to switch to the macro or they were so far away that they were colourful dots through my macro. Either way by the time I was close enough or had the correct lens they were a blur disappearing into the distance or I had a perfectly focused leaf in the viewfinder. Today I was going to try something different; I had my macro ready to slip off my shoulder and the larger 150-600 hanging round my neck.
I started off at Five Rivers and as I broached the small rise up to New Comma Corner sure enough there was a Comma. I tried with my 150-600, got as close as I could whilst still being able to focus at 150 and then swung it round to about 550 and clicked away. Then I could ‘click-step’ in with the macro until I was kneeling, the large lens resting across my thigh, and capture some images on my trusty old 105.
Once I was safely down the rise and back on the riverside path I started scanning the ever increasing bank on my right. Sure enough there was a Comma at the Old Comma Corner and so I deployed the two camera strategy again and again it seemed to work quite well. I was able to get record shots without fear of spooking the butterfly and this seemed to settle it almost as if it had worked out that I wasn’t really a threat and so I was able to then approach with the 105. As I carried on I worked my way diagonally up the Banks from the main path and I came across Commas number 3 and 4 just before the little break between the trees. On through the gap I went and the grass here was longer and in tussocks so I had to approach more carefully as the last thing that the butterfly wanted to see was my ugly mug appearing over the top of their grass stockade. I managed to find 2 apiece of Comma and Peacock and by the Bench there was Comma number 7 and a lovely looking Small Tort. The latter played hard to get and in the end I lost it as it flitted in and out of the miniature clearings amongst the tussocks.
Having lost the Small Tort I retraced my steps and walked on a little further to the end bench and by way of compensation, found Commas 8 and 9 which had a bit of a set too and then they were joined by number 10 and a Peacock, it was certainly all go! At the very far end I found nowt so I worked my way back along the Banks. From the end bench to the mid Banks section I counted 6 Commas, a Peacock but best of all I caught up with a/the Small Tort. I can’t be sure if it was the same one and I’d like to think it wasn’t but better to err on the side of caution and under record. From the ½ way back to Comma Corner I added another 2 Commas and at the new Comma Corner the original was still holding its territory. What a great way to start, it was great to finally see more than one or two butterflies.
I then loaded the car back up and cut across town to Middle Street. It was quite busy and so I ended up parking about half way along the road and hence started my foray by walking along the central path and up onto the Bank Path. Staring down into Dip3 I didn’t find anything but a similar gaze across Dip 2 and there was the ginger glow of a Comma. I half stepped and half slid down the bank ending up in a slightly crumpled kneeling heap but luckily I didn’t spook the butterfly and ended up practically on top of it. When the butterfly had had enough and set off to find a drink I unfolded myself and investigated Dip 1 but all it held was a typically flighty Peacock. Looking round after this disappointment I noticed the shadows lengthening and clawing their way across banks so even though it was only about 3pm I departed for home…
At last it happened
With multiple butterflies
A gurt proper day
I started off at Five Rivers and as I broached the small rise up to New Comma Corner sure enough there was a Comma. I tried with my 150-600, got as close as I could whilst still being able to focus at 150 and then swung it round to about 550 and clicked away. Then I could ‘click-step’ in with the macro until I was kneeling, the large lens resting across my thigh, and capture some images on my trusty old 105.
Once I was safely down the rise and back on the riverside path I started scanning the ever increasing bank on my right. Sure enough there was a Comma at the Old Comma Corner and so I deployed the two camera strategy again and again it seemed to work quite well. I was able to get record shots without fear of spooking the butterfly and this seemed to settle it almost as if it had worked out that I wasn’t really a threat and so I was able to then approach with the 105. As I carried on I worked my way diagonally up the Banks from the main path and I came across Commas number 3 and 4 just before the little break between the trees. On through the gap I went and the grass here was longer and in tussocks so I had to approach more carefully as the last thing that the butterfly wanted to see was my ugly mug appearing over the top of their grass stockade. I managed to find 2 apiece of Comma and Peacock and by the Bench there was Comma number 7 and a lovely looking Small Tort. The latter played hard to get and in the end I lost it as it flitted in and out of the miniature clearings amongst the tussocks.
Having lost the Small Tort I retraced my steps and walked on a little further to the end bench and by way of compensation, found Commas 8 and 9 which had a bit of a set too and then they were joined by number 10 and a Peacock, it was certainly all go! At the very far end I found nowt so I worked my way back along the Banks. From the end bench to the mid Banks section I counted 6 Commas, a Peacock but best of all I caught up with a/the Small Tort. I can’t be sure if it was the same one and I’d like to think it wasn’t but better to err on the side of caution and under record. From the ½ way back to Comma Corner I added another 2 Commas and at the new Comma Corner the original was still holding its territory. What a great way to start, it was great to finally see more than one or two butterflies.
I then loaded the car back up and cut across town to Middle Street. It was quite busy and so I ended up parking about half way along the road and hence started my foray by walking along the central path and up onto the Bank Path. Staring down into Dip3 I didn’t find anything but a similar gaze across Dip 2 and there was the ginger glow of a Comma. I half stepped and half slid down the bank ending up in a slightly crumpled kneeling heap but luckily I didn’t spook the butterfly and ended up practically on top of it. When the butterfly had had enough and set off to find a drink I unfolded myself and investigated Dip 1 but all it held was a typically flighty Peacock. Looking round after this disappointment I noticed the shadows lengthening and clawing their way across banks so even though it was only about 3pm I departed for home…
At last it happened
With multiple butterflies
A gurt proper day
A bit of a day…08-03-2025
I took both cameras with me for a trip out to a couple of sites but as I hadn’t worked out how to effectively use both at the same time when I arrived at Middle Street I had to do a quick ‘eenie-meanie’ and my macro wasn’t out. So with my trusty 105 slung over my shoulder an feeling like I was carrying a feather I set off. It was still cold enough to wear a jacket and a hat but the sun was shining down strongly which helped boost the ground temperature. I walked along the Bank path from The End peering own into Dips 3 and 2 before slipping/walking down into and across Dip 1. There was nothing I was started to wonder if I’d plumbed for the right lens? Luckily as I worked through the Dip a Brimstone shot past. I was able to follow it but unfortunately it landed too far away and too deeply in the large Bramble on the very corner of Dip 1. Still it was a butterfly and hopefully where there was one there would be more. And indeed there was for as I climbed up out of the quagmire and onto the Old Hotspot a Brimstone took off from behind me. I cursed slightly as I watched it as had been in a perfect position and now was making headway into the neighbouring gardens. Fortunately for me it did a U-turn and after a few false stops it plopped down practically in front of me. So I had chosen the correct lens 😊
After this I wandered onwards around the curve and back along the Bank path checking down in the various hollows on either side as I went. When I reached Dip 1 the original Brimstone was still in position and so I pressed on as it was still unobtainable with the 105. A trawl through Dip 1 didn’t yield anything extra and so I moved swiftly on to Dip 2. There didn’t appear to be anything in there but once again the butterfly appeared from behind. In fact I’d have missed it entirely if I hadn’t turned round to watch a Bumble Bee struggling to remain airborne. I clicked-stepped down into the bank aware that at this time of the year the butterflies can be a bit nervous and take flight at the slightest little thing and I really wanted to get a good shot of this as it was my first Comma of the year.
I did another I walked to The End and back not seeing anything until I was back at Dip2 where the Comma was still in residence. A quick trip through Dip 1 saw first two Brimstones which then became three but they all departed almost as quickly as they’d arrived and so I retired to the car making my decision where to head next as I went…
I decided to try Langford Lakes in the hope of connecting with a Great White Egret which had been frequenting one of the smaller lakes recently. On the drive over I clocked up 5 Brimstones so I was hoping to add a few more once I got onto the reserve. When I arrived I managed to take the last and only recently vacated parking space but despite this the reserve and the hides were actually quite quiet as most people seemed to be in the café? I checked out the furthest hide first and it was quite quiet with a few Teal sleeping round the margins, a Heron on the other side and a few Tufties bobbing about and periodically disappearing under the water. A couple of Red Kites passed by in the distant as did a pair of Raven but the highlights were a pair of Gadwall close in and a Kestrel hovering at various points round the margins of the lake.
I took a quick stroll round the main lake to the hide on the opposite side of the lake so that I was a little loser to the gull flock. They were mainly Black-headed Gulls but in amongst them were a couple of juvenile Herring gulls and about 6 Lesser-black Backed. There was also a smaller, more delicate looking Black-headed which I tried to convince myself was a Little, unsuccessfully. After a few micro cups of coffee from the flask I started back round the lake to the furthest hide. A Brimstone played really hard to get along the way and when I got back in the hide there was more of the same but this time there was an odd looking Tuftie which may have been a hybrid between a Pochard and a Tuftie? As I made my way back to the car a Peacock flashed across the path.
From here I set off back to Salisbury and out the other side to Britford. It had been a few years since I’d paid a visit here but as I drove down the narrowing roads and over the humpback bridge it all came back to me and funnily enough I hoped to see the same species here today as I did back then. After negotiating a few turns I spotted the sign for the Trout Farm and as I started down the track I saw a few of my target species. Over in the distance, skulking around and under the small herd of cattle there were a few Cattle Egrets. I kept walking down the track stopping whenever there was a break in the hedge to push my lens through the barbed wire and try for a few shots. I saw a maximum of 7 Cattle Egret and also 4 of their smaller and slimmer cousins the Little Egrets.
I then took a quick turn down to the water meadows at the end of the track and a Green Sandpiper played along the edge of the first drainage channel. It was hard to photograph being so distant, so small and also as it was incessantly moving but I took a few chance shots before returning back to balance my lens on the wire fence and try for a few more Cattle Egrets. After this I eschewed the Shorties and instead made for home as it had been quite a day after all.
A trio of sites
Got to sneak some butterflies
In amongst the birds
After this I wandered onwards around the curve and back along the Bank path checking down in the various hollows on either side as I went. When I reached Dip 1 the original Brimstone was still in position and so I pressed on as it was still unobtainable with the 105. A trawl through Dip 1 didn’t yield anything extra and so I moved swiftly on to Dip 2. There didn’t appear to be anything in there but once again the butterfly appeared from behind. In fact I’d have missed it entirely if I hadn’t turned round to watch a Bumble Bee struggling to remain airborne. I clicked-stepped down into the bank aware that at this time of the year the butterflies can be a bit nervous and take flight at the slightest little thing and I really wanted to get a good shot of this as it was my first Comma of the year.
I did another I walked to The End and back not seeing anything until I was back at Dip2 where the Comma was still in residence. A quick trip through Dip 1 saw first two Brimstones which then became three but they all departed almost as quickly as they’d arrived and so I retired to the car making my decision where to head next as I went…
I decided to try Langford Lakes in the hope of connecting with a Great White Egret which had been frequenting one of the smaller lakes recently. On the drive over I clocked up 5 Brimstones so I was hoping to add a few more once I got onto the reserve. When I arrived I managed to take the last and only recently vacated parking space but despite this the reserve and the hides were actually quite quiet as most people seemed to be in the café? I checked out the furthest hide first and it was quite quiet with a few Teal sleeping round the margins, a Heron on the other side and a few Tufties bobbing about and periodically disappearing under the water. A couple of Red Kites passed by in the distant as did a pair of Raven but the highlights were a pair of Gadwall close in and a Kestrel hovering at various points round the margins of the lake.
I took a quick stroll round the main lake to the hide on the opposite side of the lake so that I was a little loser to the gull flock. They were mainly Black-headed Gulls but in amongst them were a couple of juvenile Herring gulls and about 6 Lesser-black Backed. There was also a smaller, more delicate looking Black-headed which I tried to convince myself was a Little, unsuccessfully. After a few micro cups of coffee from the flask I started back round the lake to the furthest hide. A Brimstone played really hard to get along the way and when I got back in the hide there was more of the same but this time there was an odd looking Tuftie which may have been a hybrid between a Pochard and a Tuftie? As I made my way back to the car a Peacock flashed across the path.
From here I set off back to Salisbury and out the other side to Britford. It had been a few years since I’d paid a visit here but as I drove down the narrowing roads and over the humpback bridge it all came back to me and funnily enough I hoped to see the same species here today as I did back then. After negotiating a few turns I spotted the sign for the Trout Farm and as I started down the track I saw a few of my target species. Over in the distance, skulking around and under the small herd of cattle there were a few Cattle Egrets. I kept walking down the track stopping whenever there was a break in the hedge to push my lens through the barbed wire and try for a few shots. I saw a maximum of 7 Cattle Egret and also 4 of their smaller and slimmer cousins the Little Egrets.
I then took a quick turn down to the water meadows at the end of the track and a Green Sandpiper played along the edge of the first drainage channel. It was hard to photograph being so distant, so small and also as it was incessantly moving but I took a few chance shots before returning back to balance my lens on the wire fence and try for a few more Cattle Egrets. After this I eschewed the Shorties and instead made for home as it had been quite a day after all.
A trio of sites
Got to sneak some butterflies
In amongst the birds
Middle Street on the way home…05-03-2025
We were still getting frosts in the morning but with the lengthening days the warmth seemed to be building. The delectable cloudless, blue skies felt as if they were doing more to warm the soul than the sun and so at the start of the week I ventured forth at lunchtime; the first, I hoped, of many such fruitful trips…
It was certainly bright enough and when I held my hand a few centimeters above the scattered patches of bare soil it certainly felt warm enough but there was still a slight spike of chill in the air. My hopes of a fruitful visit seemed forlorn as despite finding and rescuing a large, moth pupae from the middle of the path I had only fleeting glimpses of a Brimstone.
A day later however the weather forecast told a tale of double figures temperature wise and blue skies rather than grey and so after nearly completing the mindfulness jigsaw at lunchtime I stopped off at Middle Street on the way home for a quick mooch and a little meditation. Because of where I’d parked I started at ‘The End’ and worked along the bank towards the Dips, I’d only gotten about half way along when a Small Tort took off from it’s hiding place and set off across the football field. The last I saw of it was when it went up high over the boundary trees. Still it was a Small Tort and so not to be sneezed at.
Things went a little quiet after this as I checked the Dips, the Woodpile and the far end hotspot; all to no avail. I was starting back and had reached Dip 2 when I spotted a butterfly down low on the ground. Brill! I carefully click-stepped my way down the bank and knelt down to get my first Small Tort shots of 2025. Along with it I felt the prickling sensation of my first nettle stings but this is almost the accepted payment for Small Tort shots at this time in the season it seems. The butterfly flew again, buffeted by the breeze, from Dip 2 into Dip 3 where it put up another Small Tort. After a brief tussle one made it’s way back along the Bank Path to Dip 2 whilst the other plumbed for dropping down onto the sheltered side of the Bank Path itself. I mentally flipped a coin which landed on ‘Heads’ and so I set off in pursuit of the later…Which as it turned out was the original one from Dip 2. I didn’t mind too much as my further travels meant that I encountered Small Tort number 4 back at the corner of the End section.
So 4 Small Torts – none too shabby a haul after their poor showing last summer – hopefully there will be plenty more to come!
Middle Street stop-off
And with four Small Tortoiseshells
Not a shabby start
It was certainly bright enough and when I held my hand a few centimeters above the scattered patches of bare soil it certainly felt warm enough but there was still a slight spike of chill in the air. My hopes of a fruitful visit seemed forlorn as despite finding and rescuing a large, moth pupae from the middle of the path I had only fleeting glimpses of a Brimstone.
A day later however the weather forecast told a tale of double figures temperature wise and blue skies rather than grey and so after nearly completing the mindfulness jigsaw at lunchtime I stopped off at Middle Street on the way home for a quick mooch and a little meditation. Because of where I’d parked I started at ‘The End’ and worked along the bank towards the Dips, I’d only gotten about half way along when a Small Tort took off from it’s hiding place and set off across the football field. The last I saw of it was when it went up high over the boundary trees. Still it was a Small Tort and so not to be sneezed at.
Things went a little quiet after this as I checked the Dips, the Woodpile and the far end hotspot; all to no avail. I was starting back and had reached Dip 2 when I spotted a butterfly down low on the ground. Brill! I carefully click-stepped my way down the bank and knelt down to get my first Small Tort shots of 2025. Along with it I felt the prickling sensation of my first nettle stings but this is almost the accepted payment for Small Tort shots at this time in the season it seems. The butterfly flew again, buffeted by the breeze, from Dip 2 into Dip 3 where it put up another Small Tort. After a brief tussle one made it’s way back along the Bank Path to Dip 2 whilst the other plumbed for dropping down onto the sheltered side of the Bank Path itself. I mentally flipped a coin which landed on ‘Heads’ and so I set off in pursuit of the later…Which as it turned out was the original one from Dip 2. I didn’t mind too much as my further travels meant that I encountered Small Tort number 4 back at the corner of the End section.
So 4 Small Torts – none too shabby a haul after their poor showing last summer – hopefully there will be plenty more to come!
Middle Street stop-off
And with four Small Tortoiseshells
Not a shabby start
Quick trip out with the lens…26-02-2025
As I was in the area and the weather whilst being still cool was nice and clear I decided to make a quick stop at the Pumping Station with my new lens to try and get to grips it a little more (no mean task as it’s four times the weight of my trusty 105!). I was quite shocked when I turned up to find that I was the only observer about and so I parked up and strolled down the road scanning both sides as I went. There were a few Corvids flying in the distance and a couple of Mipits piped as they passed overhead but in the golden light nothing much seemed to be showing.
I’d reached the half way point along the road when another car turned up and it driver hopped out with impeccable timing as at that exact moment I spotted a Shortie sitting atop a spindly bush. It looked a little ridiculous, this stocky, hefty bird of prey sitting atop a tiny twig a little like a Christmas tree topper. It sat for a good while so I was able to creep as close as I could along the road and then use the boundary fence to stabilise my lens. All of a sudden it was off for a quick hunt before resuming its sentinel position on the same bush.
A cracking way to round of the working day…now I just need to work out how to get the best of the lens when targeting butterflies?
In the golden hour
Short-eared Owls take their supper
Then settle to roost
I’d reached the half way point along the road when another car turned up and it driver hopped out with impeccable timing as at that exact moment I spotted a Shortie sitting atop a spindly bush. It looked a little ridiculous, this stocky, hefty bird of prey sitting atop a tiny twig a little like a Christmas tree topper. It sat for a good while so I was able to creep as close as I could along the road and then use the boundary fence to stabilise my lens. All of a sudden it was off for a quick hunt before resuming its sentinel position on the same bush.
A cracking way to round of the working day…now I just need to work out how to get the best of the lens when targeting butterflies?
In the golden hour
Short-eared Owls take their supper
Then settle to roost
A new year…a new lens 22-02-2025
After many years of saving and tucking pennies away down the back of the sofa I finally had enough to put towards a new lens. Luckily Bugboy and a gent called Clive both put me onto the Sigma 150-600 which I duly ordered and after what felt like an age but was actually only 6 days I was able to pick it up. The very next day I was off and out on a local safari to test it out for various uses.
First up was Blashford with its collection of lakes a ponds, wooded paths and most interestingly the woodland feeders. This myriad of habitats would offer me the chance to test out maximum distance, middle distance and close up. First to the hide by the large. I scanned around with my bins and picked up a plethora of ducks – most of which were very far into the distance and when I switched to my camera whilst I could make out what they were but shots would have been just little grey blobs. Still it was good to see such a wide variety; Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Greylag, Canadian and 2 Egyptian Geese; Cormorants, Tufties and Pochard. The stars of the show for me though were the Goldeneye and I made out three pairs and an errant male who seemed to be a bit a chancer when it came to the ladies.
After this I walked back through the car par, crossed the road and made for the Woodland Hide. On the way a few Coal Tits proved too fast for me but I was able to judge the progress of the Treecreeper and clicked away as it appeared in the spot I’d pre-focused upon. When I got into the hide I had the place to myself and so I was able to set up at the one opening window looking out onto the main feeder. As I watched I noticed that there seemed to be a hierarchy. The Siskins and Goldfinch would fly in and feed whilst the Greenfinch looked on nervously from the side lines. As a Blue Tit would drop in the Siskins would look around and then all would fly off when the bully boy Great Tits landed. Once they left, sated and filled with seed the Coal Tit would nip in before the Siskins once more took up position. While this was going on up above, down below the Dunnock, Blackbirds and Robin mopped up the spoils and crumbs at their leisure until the local Squirrels stopped in for a snack. This pecking order or resource partitioning went through several cycles while I sat there and had my lunch and the only time I saw it breakdown was when a Nuthatch dropped in dispersing everything as it did so.
After this I wandered back and forth along the paths visiting the two hides that looked out over the smaller Ivy Lake. Someone very kindly pointed out an Earth Star to me so I had to see how the lens wold cope at the smaller end with ‘macro’ and then it was back to ‘distance’. The lakes had more of the same but luckily the Wigeon were closer in and a Black Headed Gull dropped in on one of the small Tern islands. Time was ticking by so I retraced my steps back to the car but something made me pop back into the main hide. I was only there for a matter of moments before I spotted something a little different. In amongst the silver grey and russets of the Wigeon was something white and much less sleek. In fact it was positively fluffy; “Black-necked Grebe” I exclaimed at the same time that I twigged what it was. The man next to me laughed and told me that he wanted to tell me it was there but also wanted to give me the satisfaction of finding it myself – which I rather appreciated.
As I drove away I found myself reaching for the sunglasses on the dash and so instead of heading directly to my final spot I took a quick detour and called in at Middle Street along the way. I stepped across the threshold and started to wander down the back path when I spotted a sight that lifted my spirits more than any other. Flapping lazily along the hedge was a vision in lemon, my first Brimstone of the year. Chuffed I carried on round checking the woodpile, the old hotspot and along the bank path. Nothing else seemed to be flying so I wandered across the bottom of Pit 1. I was about half way across when I glanced behind me and there was my second butterfly of the season – a Peacock. It was very flighty and it was difficult to get any shots with my new lens as I still approached it as if I was using my macro and hence I’d get too close and couldn’t focus on it. After a few attempts I swung my other camera round and reverted to the trusty 105. After this I scouted around and checked the other Dips but nothing else was flying. Still two butterflies in February isn’t to be sneezed at.
Detour a success I moved onto the final stop of the day; the Pumping station near Sixpenny Handley. When I eventually found a parking spot I walked along the straight bit of road and bumped into Clive who’d informed me about the 150-600. We got to chatting and every now and again scanned across the rough ground looking for a flash of wings in the failing light. Eventually this was spotted and then another so in the end there may have been up to 4 Short-eared Owls flying about and seeking a supper of Voles. A fantastic looking bird which changed colour chameleon style as the light shifted but all the while showing the dark comma on the carpel on the under wing. A stunning way to finish the inaugural trip with my new lens.
New year a new lens
Lots of birds to photograph
And two butterflies
First up was Blashford with its collection of lakes a ponds, wooded paths and most interestingly the woodland feeders. This myriad of habitats would offer me the chance to test out maximum distance, middle distance and close up. First to the hide by the large. I scanned around with my bins and picked up a plethora of ducks – most of which were very far into the distance and when I switched to my camera whilst I could make out what they were but shots would have been just little grey blobs. Still it was good to see such a wide variety; Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Greylag, Canadian and 2 Egyptian Geese; Cormorants, Tufties and Pochard. The stars of the show for me though were the Goldeneye and I made out three pairs and an errant male who seemed to be a bit a chancer when it came to the ladies.
After this I walked back through the car par, crossed the road and made for the Woodland Hide. On the way a few Coal Tits proved too fast for me but I was able to judge the progress of the Treecreeper and clicked away as it appeared in the spot I’d pre-focused upon. When I got into the hide I had the place to myself and so I was able to set up at the one opening window looking out onto the main feeder. As I watched I noticed that there seemed to be a hierarchy. The Siskins and Goldfinch would fly in and feed whilst the Greenfinch looked on nervously from the side lines. As a Blue Tit would drop in the Siskins would look around and then all would fly off when the bully boy Great Tits landed. Once they left, sated and filled with seed the Coal Tit would nip in before the Siskins once more took up position. While this was going on up above, down below the Dunnock, Blackbirds and Robin mopped up the spoils and crumbs at their leisure until the local Squirrels stopped in for a snack. This pecking order or resource partitioning went through several cycles while I sat there and had my lunch and the only time I saw it breakdown was when a Nuthatch dropped in dispersing everything as it did so.
After this I wandered back and forth along the paths visiting the two hides that looked out over the smaller Ivy Lake. Someone very kindly pointed out an Earth Star to me so I had to see how the lens wold cope at the smaller end with ‘macro’ and then it was back to ‘distance’. The lakes had more of the same but luckily the Wigeon were closer in and a Black Headed Gull dropped in on one of the small Tern islands. Time was ticking by so I retraced my steps back to the car but something made me pop back into the main hide. I was only there for a matter of moments before I spotted something a little different. In amongst the silver grey and russets of the Wigeon was something white and much less sleek. In fact it was positively fluffy; “Black-necked Grebe” I exclaimed at the same time that I twigged what it was. The man next to me laughed and told me that he wanted to tell me it was there but also wanted to give me the satisfaction of finding it myself – which I rather appreciated.
As I drove away I found myself reaching for the sunglasses on the dash and so instead of heading directly to my final spot I took a quick detour and called in at Middle Street along the way. I stepped across the threshold and started to wander down the back path when I spotted a sight that lifted my spirits more than any other. Flapping lazily along the hedge was a vision in lemon, my first Brimstone of the year. Chuffed I carried on round checking the woodpile, the old hotspot and along the bank path. Nothing else seemed to be flying so I wandered across the bottom of Pit 1. I was about half way across when I glanced behind me and there was my second butterfly of the season – a Peacock. It was very flighty and it was difficult to get any shots with my new lens as I still approached it as if I was using my macro and hence I’d get too close and couldn’t focus on it. After a few attempts I swung my other camera round and reverted to the trusty 105. After this I scouted around and checked the other Dips but nothing else was flying. Still two butterflies in February isn’t to be sneezed at.
Detour a success I moved onto the final stop of the day; the Pumping station near Sixpenny Handley. When I eventually found a parking spot I walked along the straight bit of road and bumped into Clive who’d informed me about the 150-600. We got to chatting and every now and again scanned across the rough ground looking for a flash of wings in the failing light. Eventually this was spotted and then another so in the end there may have been up to 4 Short-eared Owls flying about and seeking a supper of Voles. A fantastic looking bird which changed colour chameleon style as the light shifted but all the while showing the dark comma on the carpel on the under wing. A stunning way to finish the inaugural trip with my new lens.
New year a new lens
Lots of birds to photograph
And two butterflies
