World of Wurzel - The Blog

The BLOG 2017

This is the Blog for 2017 detailing my exploits and trips around the UK...It's in reverse order so please scroll down for the first posts.

The Blues 2017 Part 2

43 Common Blue, 14-05-2017 Martin Down

Martin Down yielded my first Common Blue of the year 18 days earlier than last and once I’d seen one I saw them at most sites including back in Wales and one even strayed onto my Devon list. Seeing them all over the shop was great and they seemed to have a reasonable year. Not a vintage one but still nowhere near the dire wasted years. The main thing I noticed this year was a complete dearth of brown females. Time was, when I was just starting out in this game, that a large female Brown Argus was tricky to separate from a small female Common Blue. If the cell spot was hidden and the hindwing underside was obstructed you’d be left staring at the wings hoping to find blue scales…I and others have remarked over the last couple of years that the females have been getting bluer so identifying against a Brown Argus has almost become a doodle. In fact I can’t recall a single female this year that wasn’t an obvious blue.

44 Chalkhill Blue, 16-07-2017 The Devenish

Despite finding my first Chalkhill 6 days early at the Devenish I was slightly concerned for the species here as they seemed down compared to previous years. There were only a couple the first time around and on my second visit only a single male was found. I didn’t get back after this until later in the year but still they were down. Despite worries from one site I still feel that they had an oaky year as they were around at Martin Down and I even saw there or four at Broughton Down. Really for a fair assessment I need to get to somewhere like Stockbridge or Laverstock Down – both places where I’ve seen them in reasonable numbers before.

45 Adonis Blue, 14-05-2017 Martin Down
My first brood Adonis came from Martin Down this year whilst I was nurdling along the Dyke looking for anything but Adonis Blues. They were 2 weeks early the first time round compared to last year but I’m wondering if in this case it was because of their more Eastern location? It would certainly tie in with my own pet theory. After this I encountered them at my Marshie site where they were a bit sparser. The second brood however was much better and as usual seemed even more electric blue than the first. They lasted well as well, still turning up on visits to both Larkhill and Martin Down into September.

46 Holly Blue, 05-04-2017 Enford

I saw my first Holly Blue at one of my early sites – the Enford pull-in, a tiny lay-by big enough for a couple of cars on the ‘scenic’ route home. I was looking for Orange-tips and other Whites when a tiny blue butterfly flew by and I managed possibly one of the worst shots I’ve ever gotten of this species LOL! As it was a month and a day earlier than in 2016 I took it to be a good omen of things to come. In fact things did turn out well for this species this year as I saw them at a great range of sites – from Enford to Bentley Wood, on a one holly tree in the middle of the Down leading to Bentley, at Durlston and I even had one trying to steal my coffee (not as successful as the Dingy Skipper) at my Marshie site. The best site for them was without doubt Shipton and the Hedge Hotspot at the back of the site again held good numbers of them and they were settling long enough for photos.

47 Large Blue, 18-06-2018 Daneways

This was my second visit to Daneways and whilst the butterflies were easier to latch onto here than at Collard getting an accurate judgement or even a gut feeling was difficult. I made my visit 8 days earlier but that’s not to say that they emerged any earlier, it was just that was when I was able to make my visit. But the timing of the visit is the reason why making a call on how well they fared tricky. You see I went during the mini heatwave that we had, with temperatures getting up to 30 degrees. I got there early in the morning before it got really hot but the butterflies were still really active and most of my shots were either ‘grab’ shots or distant in flight ones. I’d read somewhere that the females are more active at the end of the day when they will fly to find suitable places to lay their eggs but I saw this happening at 11 in the morning and by midday they were either almost impossible to follow or were hidden away sitting out the broiling sun. Because of this I felt like I saw fewer butterflies thought they probably were on a par? I again found a very dark female, one which appeared almost black when in flight so it will be interesting to see if a third visit throws up a similar variant but the highlight was the mating pair.

The 2017 Season

And so ends the 2017 Tally. It was a funny old year really with the vagaries of the weather playing havoc with some trips and so I feel lucky to have managed 47 species.

Lows

I was slightly disappointed after the early start that things didn’t pan out so I could get to the magic 50.I was often playing catch-up as the weather would be non conducive for a butterflying when I was in the right place, then when I was elsewhere the weather would be great etc.
No Clouded Yellows; despite going to the right places at the right times I just wasn’t able to latch onto one. It wasn’t exactly a Clouded Yellow year so maybe 2018 will be a biggy?
The MOD blocking off the lay-by at my Larkhill stop-off.
I still didn’t get it together to get another British tick – I just can’t seem to justify the travelling to myself…

Highs

Revisiting East Blean for my second taste of Heath Frits
Any trip I made with Philzoid as invariably these trips produced the goods either in terms of ‘firsts for the year’, the range of species seen or some fantastic butterfly memories.
Greenstreaks by the bucket load at my Duke site

Looking forward to 2018:

With a family trip to the Dordogne in August I’ll hopefully pick up a few foreign lifers including Scarce Swallowtail.
Finally get the nerve to go for a British tick – High Brown (British) or Black Hairstreak (lifer) though I’ll probably bottle it.
This year I’m going to try for 45 species from Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset only.
Get some decent shots of Chalkhills, more shots of Marbled Whites and check out more areas for Pearls/Small Pearls at Bentley Wood.

So now I’ve finished with 2017 I better start sorting out my 2018 posts (at the time of writing there are 5 to do already). I hope everyone out there has a cracking season!

The Blues 2017 Part 1

Ironically only one of the four species covered here is actually blue…

39 Small Copper, 22-04-2017 Duke Site

My first came in spectacular fashion 13 days earlier and from my Duke site. I’d sent the first part of the trip on the lower reaches searching for Dukes (no luck) and Greenstreaks (crawling with em!) and then set out to walk up and round the ramparts of the Hill Fort. Having worked my way up and round I then cut back across the top of the hill and there glowing vividly like a spot light was shining on it was my first Small Copper of the year. After this brill start I saw them at many sites and in much better numbers than I can recall. Each site that I visited which had them had them in multiples whereas I’m used to finding only the odd one here or there. The Devenish and Duke site were particularly good (ONLY UKB this bit – and at times I felt it had all gone a bit Hoggers) with 5 or 6 whizzing about. They lasted right through with my final singleton on 23rd of September and I even had a garden ‘tick’ with one turning up amongst the Hedge Browns during our family holiday to Devon. The only downside was that I didn’t find a Welsh Copper this year but this was probably because of the terrible weather the first time and the fact that the ‘field’ is now blocked.

40 Small Blue, 14-05-2017 Martin Down

It’s great to think back and write about Small Blues as for once the memories are cheerful and positive as round my way they seemed to have a good year. My first came 15 days earlier and from Martin Down where there were a couple around. I wasn’t too worried by their only being a couple as it was still earl in their flight. I then found them at my Marshie site where they had a propensity of hanging around the bottom of the hill amongst the scrubby bits which the Wall Browns also seem to favour. To bolster my positive vibes further I rediscovered them at Larkhill. All in all a great year for Small Blues.

41 Silver-studded Blue, 13-06-2017 Slop Bog

A tricky one this as unlike in previous years I only saw them at one site, Slop Bog and I saw them 6 days earlier. This could be because they’re a bit further than some of the other species so I have to ‘make a plan’ to see them. However I usually wait for them to emerge further East before venturing out. So if I saw them early it’s quite likely that they were early elsewhere. In terms of numbers I feel they did quite well as I probably saw more of them at Slop Bog than last year and also they were more widespread across the Bog and not just restricted to the aptly named ‘Silver Stud Field’.

42 Brown Argus, 02-05-2017 Duke Site

Last year I described Brown Argus as ‘patchy’ but this year they just seemed to be down. I’d look back on the sightings and I’d be seeing them but the odd one rather than a handful, almost the exact opposite of Small Coppers to be honest. I found very few at Larkhill and other sites weren’t much better. However it might not be all doom and gloom as I did see hem 26 days earlier, almost an entire lunar month and so what could have been happening was that they were around in the their usual numbers but not as time compressed, more temporally spaced. Also I probably missed their final flourish as I didn’t get out as much as I’d like to have during September. So this could have accounted for my gut feeling that they were down, here’s hoping this is the case.

The Hairstreaks 2017

35 Green Hairstreak, 09-04-2017 Martin Down

I had an exceedingly good year with the Greenstreak as they had an exceedingly good year. I found my first one very early indeed in 2017, a one day shy of a whole month earlier in fact. As my first came from a different site and one which was slightly further south whether this explains the early sighting or not I can’t be sure although they’d been seen before even my early date so it seems like the dry and warm spell worked out well for them.

After this initial single sighting I struggled to get out again for a while what with work and a visit to my Outlaws getting in the way but when I finally managed to get out proper my Duke Site was crawling with them. There weren’t any at the usual Cypress tree as the small Hawthorns had been hacked down over the winter but from base of the hill fort they were in great numbers. In fact I gave up counting in the end there were so many. This must have been their peak at this site but there were still good numbers here on successive visits. I also found them again at Martin Down and on into almost June at my Marshie site, although by then they were looking slightly tired. So numbers wise a very. Very good year and something of a success story.

I suppose it was because there were so many of them but this year I really started noticing the variation. My first was a one spot, then I got a two spotter at my Duke site. Here the punctata form was quite common and there were also a few inferopunctatas. However the best aberration/form that I saw was one which was almost brown in certain lights or olive in others which could be an ab. Brunnea?

36 Brown Hairstreak, 05-08-2017

There’s good news and bad news. So first the bad news – the hedgerows from the car park to the Master tree and the field are still replete of Brostreaks. From two visits I encountered only a single male on one occasion in this area. It seems that it is still suffering the effects of the Japanese collector…
Now to the good news. The Hedge Hotspot is back on form, 2 trips and two males and two females on both occasions, easily found and all at the edge of the hedge and low enough down for photos. They were two days earlier this year but due to a band of dodgy weather that settled over the West of the country they were well behind the Brostreaks emerging in the East which is a common occurrence really and something you have to get used to living on this side of the country.

The one disadvantage of the Hedge Hotspot being back on form is that on one visit I had to queue for shot! It was all very civilised and less of a punch-up than a birding twitch but having previously visited this site and had the place to myself it was strangely disconcerting. I’m used to the enjoying the peace and solitude these visits normally offer. Even more galling was when over enthusiasm to get ‘the perfect shot’ by one person led to spooking of a glorious female. Oh well maybe next year I’ll get a quiet day and it’ll be just me and the Brostreaks?

37 Purple Hairstreak, 02-07-2017 Bentley Wood

It was a good year for Purple Hairstreaks. I saw my first on the same day and at the same place as last year and although I saw them at only this site and made only one visit they were showing well. They’d flit from one Oak to another across the Switchback and other Rides putting in regular appearances. Others were doing well with them as well and one of my memories of 2017 will be the sheer number of shots people were getting; not the usual ‘here’s a tree and just left of the third leaf you can see a wing tip’ variety but real juicy close-ups that suggested at a hitherto unknown exhibitionist nature. I also managed to see them relatively grounded. As with all of my ‘low altitude’ shots they were on Bracken. Why they chose to come down this year I’m not sure but I have suspicions that it’s related to heat as we were baking in a mini- heatwave during the start of their flight period. Perhaps the Honeydew at the top of the trees has dried up or evaporated first so they had to come down lower into the shade to refuel?

38 White-letter Hairstreak, 02-07-2017

Again the same day and same site. This species provided me with a first this year, my first ever shots of Bentley Wood Whiter. After seeing them here every year for several years it was grand to finally capture one on film. Unfortunately my joy was quickly stifled on the walk home; the Wytch Elm sucker is looking in a really bad way and I saw only 2 individuals from the ‘colony’. Hopefully the colony can shift to the next set of suckers so that this won’t become their last hurrah…

Metalmarks 2017

34 Duke of Burgundy, 07-05-2017 Duke Site

Only a day earlier than last year and it took advantage of the reasonable spell of weather we had just prior to its emergence. However I’m still really concerned about this species at this site as once again I only saw a singleton. That being said the same thing happened in the previous year and yet this year there was one again so fingers crossed the species will continue here. If it does then I really need to check back here later in the species flight as I’m sure this is a ‘late’ site and I only ever seem to catch the very first one. The one I found was again in the usual spot and this has now become my ‘go to’ area when looking for them. My idea last year was perhaps they were working their way up the hill but that doesn’t seem to be the case as this little corner of the field, sheltered and catching the sun early until late afternoon, seems ideal for Dukes.

Reports from other areas in the county were actually reasonably favourable with one being found at my Marshie site again being the stand out record. If they do colonise this site that would be really handy and it certainly seems feasible with strong colonies and good numbers at other sites local to this one (25 on one visit). I also heard about their presence at a site close to my work which could work out quite well although to be honest I’d much rather they continue at my current site.

Perhaps there are reasons to celebrate in Wiltshire as although one was recorded at Martin Down nationally it seems that they perhaps had a slightly disappointing year overall? The record from Martin Down took me back to my very first proper season when a small brown and orange butterfly landed just long enough to make a mental note of the markings. It was my very first Duke but as I was so new I didn’t realise what it was nor the importance of that particular sighting.

The Browns 2017

This is when things get difficult as the majority of these species are very numerous and so estimating/counting/commenting on their numbers is often down to a hunch or gut feeling unless there is a drastic change in their circumstances.

26 Specked Wood, 01-04-2017 Five Rivers

The Specklie I saw first was a whole month early this year and it came from Fie Rivers where it was flying around the outskirts of the copse (so more of a Speckled Spinney…) that follows the water course. Overall I felt they did quite well this year though the patchy weather meant that I noticed gaps when they were absent. Normally once I’ve seen one I see them throughout but not so this year. Their final showing was probably when they were strongest and they were my penultimate species of 2017, my final Specklie being seen in late October. Hopefully they will be one of the big beneficiaries of the ‘Beast from the East’…

27 Wall, 21-05-2017 Marshie Site

Two. That’s the number I’ll associate with Wall Browns in 2017. Two was the number of weeks that they were early. Two was the number of sites that I saw them at. Two is the minimum number I saw at both sites. For me this wasn’t exactly a vintage year but it was certainly better than 2016. I even managed shots of most, if not all of the individuals seen, including some real close ups from the excellent site Trevor ‘discovered’. Others too seemed to be finding them in good numbers particularly the later brood. Even though I couldn’t match their plethora of Walls I was still chuffed with my meagre haul as both sites are ‘non-coastal’ which is something of an oddity nowadays.
NB. Having written this and being happy with the prose I suddenly remembered that I saw one at Durlston – so my whole two thing and non-coastal goes out of the window – that’s the problem with writing off the cuff from memory...better start making notes next year…

28 Marbled White, 15-06-2017 Larkhill

This is one of those unfortunate species. I eagerly await them each year but then with a few shots in the bag I start to concentrate on other species. This is because when they emerge so to do a whole host of other species at roughly the same time in rapid succession – Ringlets and Meadow Browns, Hedgies and woodland specialists aren’t far behind and then there are the golden skippers and Large Blues as well etc. That being said it felt a bit ‘blink and you’ll miss them’ this year and three weeks into their flight, after arriving 6 days earlier, I stopped noticing them. Whilst they were still on my radar they were still about at the usual range of sites but I had a feeling that they were slightly down on last year.

29 Grayling, 23-07-2017 Godshill

I finally saw my Grayling at the ever reliable Godshill on exactly the same day as last year. As is oft the way as I set off across the car park it was sunny but by the time I’d reached the ‘triangle’ hotspot the sun had all but disappeared to be replaced with intermittent rain and drizzle. Yet still the Grayling showed and they put in a reasonable showing despite the weather which made me think that they were actually having a good year here as I was seeing similar numbers to last year even though there would have been plenty of others sitting out the rain.
In previous years I’ve seen them in a range of tones from creams to browns, greys to jet black. This year I saw them I saw my first two toner hunkering down in the heather within the triangle. I was only able to get back to Dorset once during their flight and missed them at Durlston but I reckon a 5 minute stop on the Heaths during the return journey would have yielded some. Also I wonder if they’re about in West Wales? Something to investigate next season.

30 Hedge Brown/Gatekeeper, 02-07-2017 Bentley Wood

Hedge Browns had a variable year I feel. They were 10 days earlier this year, my first sighting coming from Bentley Wood, but they didn’t seem to be abounding. I’d go to Larkhill and they’d be up on previous years but at Bentley and The Devenish they were down. Then I visited ‘The Lane’ in Wales and they were doing well. Back at Shipton and they were down before a final visit to Devon where there was a good smattering. Averaging this out they probably had a reasonable year. I just wish they’d had a great one.
The Lane again threw up a fantastic range of variation; male and female excessa, a male with only one pupil in the fore wing ‘eye’ and a striking individual with white streaks rather than spots on its underwing. It looked like the paint had run when it came out of the chrysalis.

31 Meadow Brown, 28-05-2017 Swanage.

The great run of weather that we enjoyed in early May finally broke the very evening we pitched up down at Downshay. This may have accounted for why the Meadow Browns were 10 days later – perhaps the too hot weather had kept them in their cocoons? Or it could have been that by normal standards they were early but last year they were even earlier?
They came quickly and their numbers build rapidly appearing to do better than in 2016. But then they seemed to disappear even more quickly than how they’d arrived. I did see a few stragglers into September but nowhere near similar to what I’ve encountered before.

32 Small Heath, 02-05-2017 Duke Site

Normally people offer ‘good news’ to counter bad news but I don’t think I can so let’s get this over with…
Twelve days earlier. Seen in usual sites. Even fewer in number. Moving on…

33 Ringlet, 13-06-2017 Larkhill

This species was 8 days earlier this year and again put in a very good showing so had a good year (perhaps this is the good news to counter the bad Small Heath news?). That being said there’s not much else to comment on – apart from the unusually high numbers of ‘arete/blind Ringlet’ records that I saw posted on UK Butterflies. I myself saw 2 this year and a lot of other enthusiasts also featured them in their posts and in the ‘Favourite Photo of…’ thread. This could just be down to human nature; that collector desire in us that covets the unusual above the ordinary BUT in order for us to focus our efforts on the oddities they have to actually be there…

Fritillaries 2017

20 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, 21-05-2017 Bentley Wood

A trip to Bentley Wood earlier than last year saw me getting onto my first Small Pearl of the year. It was a beauty; first hanging from the moor grass like a chequered flag, then opening up for a topside view before piratically orientating itself to bask meaning I could get a brill double page spread of a shot. It stayed like this for an age, even long enough for Philzoid to arrive, set up and get some similar shots. Brill! Or was it? Despite the stunning butterfly it was a one man show…A visit a fortnight later and there were more but they were still thin on the ground with a maximum count of 5. This is better than my singleton last from 2016 but is still down on what I used to see. It’s slightly frustrating that in other parts of the country they’re being re-introduced whilst here, with an extant population seemingly they’re left to dwindle to nothing. I only hope they don’t go the same way as the Bentley Wood High Browns…

21 Pearl-bordered Fritillary, 23-04-2017 Bentley Wood

In 2017 the Pearl-bordered Fritillary lived up to its old name of April Fritillary. My first was just over a fortnight earlier this year though as I was onto a joint second for the county (and first record from the Eastern Clearing) this ‘early emergence’ was probably about a week earlier in actual fact. Again there was divide between the East and the West with the Pearls from Sussex coming out about a week/week and half earlier than those over here in Wiltshire/Hampshire.

Compared to last year they seemed to hold their own. Initially I was slightly concerned as I only found one but it was my first visit and the first and joint second records all came from different parts of the wood. This one was a real cracker but unfortunately it didn’t show any tendencies towards melanism. In fact none of the Pearls I saw seemed ‘darker’, hopefully the genes are recessive and they’re still sloshing about somewhere in the gene pool just waiting for the right coupling so they can be expressed.

There were reasonable numbers on my second visit with probably about 6 to 7 in the Eastern Clearing and also still a couple knocking around 5-6 weeks later when looking for their smaller cousins. So despite the poor state of repair of the ‘Clearing’ the Pearls seemed to have a reasonable year. Hopefully though something can be done about the ‘Clearing’, like actually coppicing/clearing it, for the sake of both of the Pearls.

22 Dark Green Fritillary, 02-07-2018 Bentley Wood

From woe and concern to better news – that’s the way it seems for DGFs. They, unlike a lot of their kin, had a bit of a lie-in with my first coming 6 days later this year. What got me thinking to the fact that they did okay was that my first came from Bentley Wood, something I don’t always see. I also saw them again at Larkhill and it seems that I’ve found their preferred spot as they were in the best numbers that I’ve seen them at here (Stop Press – the MOD have now blocked access to the little stop-off point). Both things point to them doing well as well as previously and the final pint in support of this viewpoint was that I saw them in a wide range of sites; Bentley, Larkhill, Martin Down, Durlston and they were still going strong at Broughton Down later in their flight.

23 Silver-washed Fritillary, 02-07-2018 Bentley Wood

The same trip that saw my first PE, PH, WLH, DGF also yielded my first Silver-washed of the year. I’d walked the girls about 30 metres along the path from the car park to the cross roads only to be stopped in my tracks by a valesina. What a cracking way to start the SWF tally! As I continued around Bentley they felt slightly more numerous than last year although it’s difficult to totally convinced as I only made the one visit. They weren’t buzzing around bothering each other every 30 steps or so as in days of yore (well 5-6 years ago) but neither was it a struggle to see them as in 2016. So I would give them a tentative thumbs up. I also saw them in some unusual places; the flower border at Kingston Lacey, in one of the small picnic fields at Durlston and also on Buddleia at Pennywell Farm in Devon well into late August. All good signs that things are looking more positive for the SWF.

24 Marsh Fritillary, 10-05-2017 Larkhill

I had a really good season with this species with three definite highlights the first of which was the fact that my first sighting came from Larkhill. My first came five days earlier than last year but they’d been mentioned on the Website from the weekend previous. I decided I needed a break from work and also I wanted to salve my feelings of envy as I knew that on the same day various UKBers were visiting the Hill in near perfect weather conditions. I couldn’t believe it though when my five minutes stop-off produced my first Marshie of the year as well as my first for this site! Highlight number two was the seeing them all the way along Bokerley Dyke at Martin Down. A few years back the local Branch didn’t want them recorded from here and if they were mentioned at all it was from ‘a Hampshire site’, very cloak and dagger. It seems to have worked though as on a visit I started by seeing my ‘second’ of the year, then my third etc etc until in the end I lost count. So now I have two decent sites for this species about thirty minutes from home.

The final highlight was the fact that the increase in numbers was also noticeable at the Hill suggesting that Marshies had a good year this year, perhaps last year was a slight ‘Bust’ and now we’re back on track for a ‘Boom’? It started a bit disconcertingly with 5 seen but then a few days later despite many pairs of eyes on site only one was found. It didn’t seem to get much better as there weren’t any more records on the Branch sightings board. I then discovered the Facebook page and the sightings from there seemed slightly better so when Philzoid and I went they were all over the Hill. They were back on track for definite after a slight blip last year. There were also good numbers recorded from sites all along the valley and across the Plain as well to further back this feeling up.

25 Heath Frit, 17-06-2018 East Blean

It seems that I am destined not to see Heaths and Glanvilles in the same year and so after Glanvilles in 2016, 2017 was the year for Heaths! My first visit fell 3 days later than in 2015 but as this was only the second time I’d seen this species I’m not confident enough to comment on any emergence patterns. However one thing that was very clear = they were certainly more numerous and much wider ranging. When I saw last there were the odd one or two in the scallop near the car park and then good numbers in one small cleared patch and that was it. This time there were more in the car park and again the first scallop which had been cleared more extensively along with various other cleared areas. Always less numerous than when I saw them the first time but when added together producing a much bigger total. This time getting the underwing was a bit of a bugger as it was so warm that not only were they more active but they always seemed to land wings open. But that was fine by me as I’m so unused to seeing them each one was novel.

The “Aristocrats”

13 White Admiral, 17-06-2018 East Blean

I found my first White Admirals at East Blean this year while seeking out Heath Frits. They were 15 days earlier here compared to last year but I reckon that that would have been because I’d travelled East where most species are regularly out a week to a fortnight earlier anyway.
They were certainly not in short supply at East Blean and I reckon Philzoid and I came across at least 5 ‘territories’. It seemed that each cleared section had its own White Admiral sentry present . This was great news for me as I could fill me boots photographing a species which was very elusive last year. I also fund them at Bentley Wood and they were in better numbers there so a good White Admiral year from my standpoint, which makes a nice change.

14 Purple Emperor, 02-07-2018 Bentley Wood

This was the second year of my usual three year cycle and so I wasn’t surprised when I wasn’t able to get any photos of this species – next year however it’ll be a different story. I was further unsurprised as the Emperors were out very early this year, so early in fact that I almost missed them. My first came 15 days earlier and even then they’d been around for a while as the one I saw was a fussy female intent on checking out Sallows rather than a salt taking grounded male. Their early arrival was probably due to the mini-heatwave we experienced at the end of June and into July and it made it even trickier for me to see them as there was so much going on at work and with various other species emerged or emerging. As I only saw the one it’s difficult to comment on numbers but I have a suspicion that most sites (barring Kneppworth Estate) didn’t live up to their former glory, Fermyn for instance seemed quite quiet this year?

15 Red Admiral, 07-02-2017 Work

A whole 3 months and 8 days earlier this year, my first butterfly of the year and possibly the first for the county. I’m never sure if my records are county firsts until the annual report comes out as some people like to hold onto their reports and post their sightings my later in the year – shocking behaviour I know! WINK So a great start for me with this species. Then they started playing really hard to get. I’d see them regularly but I wasn’t able to get a shot of one until almost the end of April. Right from the start they seemed to be doing really well and I saw them all over the place, in good numbers right the way through until my final sighting at the end of October. Hopefully this will bode well for sightings next year if the multitudes can either migrate south to breed or hibernate undisturbed here.

16 Painted Lady, 31-05-2017 Middle Street

My first Painted Lady came 3 days earlier this year and from Middle Street. It flew from one side of the reserve to the other, flowing the watercourse as if it was a motorway. My second came from Bentley Wood for the second time over my records. This one was a little beaten, the odd tear in the wing, the colours faded so it was probably the vanguard of the invasion. The invasion itself was actually more of a raiding party and I saw only 2 more over the rest of the season. Both of these were brighter, bolder and busy feeding frenetically possibly ready for a return journey (as these were probably ‘home grown’), well not really a return journey but you get my gist.
So not exactly a vintage year for the Painted ones. The highlight for me came with the third individual I saw as it bore a few blue spots in the submarginal band.

17 Small Tortoiseshell, 17-02-2017 Pewsey Vale

My first came during a break from my holiday revision class and I like to think of it as compensation for having to work on my Birthday. It was almost a month early and a possible county first? During the rest of the spring the Small Tort populations at Five Rivers, Middle Street and the small path behind the school were burgeoning as ever with boundless Small Torts, with 14 seen in a brief 10 minute break.
Later in the season they seemed to dwindle and whilst I saw reasonable numbers at Larkhilll they were fewer and further between at my ‘later’ sites. I’m hoping this doesn’t bode ill for the start of this season and it was just down to not paying them much attention rather than a continuation of their decline?

18 Peacock, 13-03-2017 Pewsey Vale

Not quite as early as other Aristos but still a respectable 8 days more prompt. There’s not an awful lot to say really about this species. Once it arrived it did so in good numbers, not quite as good as the Small Torts but possibly catching them up (though the Small Torts were still dominate at work, on the small path behind the school). It also mirrored the Small Tort pattern in that after a large spring surge later sightings dropped off, though less noticeably than the Small Torts.

19 Comma, 11-03-2017 Five Rivers

It was almost a Comma spring as there were reports coming in thick and fast and my first was 10 days early this year. They were very numerous in their first brood in particular and I went from seeing one or two at Five Rivers and Middle Street to four or five instead. This good showing carried on right through the year including into the autumn, when I feel that they look their best. It was interesting to see this species increase tis numbers so strongly whilst the Small Tort saw a drop – is this due to the natural cycle of parasitic attack affecting on so it goes into a ‘bust’ year while the Comma was ‘booming’ or own to something climatic and a continuation of the Commas rise?

The Whites 2017

The continuation of my yearly Tally...

8 Brimstone, 09-03-2017 Pewsey Vale

I saw my first Brimstone 2 days earlier this year. The first one of the season is always a joy to behold because it is generally in the first ‘real’ sun of the year when the butterflies glow vividly, burning into your retina at the gloom and grey of winters end. I often struggle when considering this species as they are so ubiquitous and widespread turning up in almost all of the sites and habitats that I visit. In fact they often ‘save the day’ as it were, turning up in places where I wouldn’t have expected butterflies to be or when I’ve not seen anything much. Always they add a bit of colour so often making up for the lack of other butterflies, a case of quality rather than quantity. The same struggle occurred for me this year and so going with my gut feeling I reckon no more, no less…One thing I was able to notice was that I saw plenty of them with little streaks/dashes regularly placed on the hind wing underside – a named aberration? Whether this was because of genetic drift or just because I was subconsciously looking out for this aberration/patterning I’m not sure?

9 Large White, 02-04-2017 Kingston Lacey

The problem with ding this tally is that I often forget what happened the year before so spotting trends means trawling back through old posts either on UKB or on a hard drive. And so it was for this species. From my retrospective research I found that 2016 had been a good year which meant that they’d fared slightly worse this year. There were fewer for definite in the first brood but over subsequent broods they picked up and on occasion they could be considered ‘numerous’, for example the flower bed at Kingston Lacey in August held more Large Whites than Brimstones with four feeding from one large flower at once. I was still seeing them right through to the end of October so perhaps others concerns about their numbers were an artefact of their spread emergence? Oh and they were 18 days earlier so was this a factor in their success?

10 Small White, 25-03-2017 Middle Street

“Where were they?” This is the one thing I can recall really clearly about the Small White in 2017. I did see my first 3 weeks earlier than last year over at Middle Street but across Spring I saw only a few (maybe 4?) others and it didn’t get much better with the later broods. I’d be driving home and they just weren’t flopping all over the place like they have in previous years. The hedgerows seemed strangely quiet and bereft of activity due to their absence. I’m hoping that this was just a blip, a bust year which will then be followed by a boom and recovery like it’s larger cousin – fingers crossed.

11 Green-veined White, 06-04-2017 Enford

A massive 23 days earlier this year! What climatic factors caused this I wonder and also did it account for why the first brood also seemed down numbers wise? Was the gradual, protracted emergence the cause for me seeing the odd one or two at a time early in the season? Things did pick up later in the year, perhaps because their emergencies were more aligned but I never thought ‘wow what a lot of Green-veined Whites!’ One thing I did notice was that the females in the first part of the season were particularly heavily marked; much more than I’ve encountered before. In fact they could almost have been ‘Green-veined Grays’.

12 Orange-tip, 01-04-2017 Five Rivers

Over two weeks earlier this year than in 2016 with my first coming from Five Rivers and it was unexpectedly a female. Also they lasted really well; my last photographed OT came from a trip to my Marshie site on 21st May and a fly-by on 2nd June was my final sighting giving them a flight period of at least 8 weeks and that’s not even taking into consideration the fact that I was still a few weeks behind sites further East with my first sighting.

I reckon that 2017 was even better for Orange-tips than 2016 as I encountered them at almost every site I visited and this seemed to be echoed nationally. There were some really memorable moments from this season; that first unexpected female and then the bright, vivid orange of my first males wing tips being such a delight to see after the drabness of winter, watching the interplay between several males at Vera Jones Mill and the failed courtship that I witnessed in Wales. Mind you they’re still on the hit list for an ‘in cop’ shot, maybe next year…Part of the reason I think was that despite conditions generally being dry and bright through April the temperatures seemed to be below average and so the Orange-tips would fly but they weren’t quite as solar charged as usual and an close approach was possible more times than in ‘normal’ years.

The Skippers 2017

1 Small Skipper, 17-06-2018 Wrecclesham

My first Small Skipper came 11 days earlier this year and was quite a surprise, at the time, finding it as I did at Wrecclesham whilst making a hopeful search for Glanvilles. However this earlier sighting is probably accounted for more by my travelling so far East. I’ve noticed over the years that butterflies emerge between a week and a fortnight earlier on the eastern side of the country and so this earlier sighting isn’t actually that surprising and factoring this in their emergence was therefore about the same time. I was slightly worried last year as they seemed to be down in numbers but they appear to have bounced back with good numbers at all of my usual sites and Larkhill in particular was almost crawling with them and their Essex cousins; so a good year for Small Skipper.

2 Essex Skipper, 21-06-2017 Larkhill

After a later start in 2016 this year it seems like the alarm clocks were turned back to ‘early’ as my first Essex, from Larkhill as in 2016, came a fortnight earlier. I was even more worried about this Skipper last year than its ‘Small’ cousin so it was great to see clouds of them enjoying the long grasses at Larkhill. There were so many it felt like a new county, Smessex, had been formed! As well as doing well on home territory I also discovered them further afield in Dorset during a notable trip which accounted for all four golden skippers in one afternoon.

3 Lulworth Skipper, 08-07-2017 Corfe Castle

Judging whether early or late for this species is really difficult due to their protracted emergence and also because I have to travel to see it, I can’t just encounter it on my way to work like I can Smessex. So even though recorded a month later this was because that was the first time I could get back to Dorset. I’d visited at the end of May but the weather then was terrible so butterflying was minimal and most species spent a week hunkered down and so I had to wait until July before taking the road trip to see them. It was worth the wait as I was handed my easiest year tick; literally spotting it as I got out of the car, four or five steps across the car park and then ‘click, click’. There were probably about 10 or so on the very steep banks of the Corfe Castle car park and most were quite old so they must have been out a good while here. Later that same day at Durlston they were all over the place, in the little picnic area, along the coastal path and in amongst the tor grasses and short cropped turf. It was great to see so many and some still in excellent condition. Because of this I reckon they had a better year this year than last but might not be out of the woods yet…

4 Silver Spotted Skipper, 24-07-2017 Broughton Down

I found this species 5 days earlier this year than last at the ever reliable Broughton Down. However this earlier visit meant that they weren’t as numerous as last year which I hope was down to them not reaching their peak rather than a decline in numbers? The highlight for me with this species came after my annual visit to Broughton Down. I was checking out Shipton for the second time hoping to find some more Brostreaks and I was checking out the area near the hotspot hedge. In amongst a few blues there was something flying faster and more erratically, veering off at acute angles and disappearing momentarily from view. Eventually I managed to track it down thinking it might some type of moth but it was actually a Silver-spot, a species I not encountered or expected to encounter here before. So something to check up on next year – was this a one off last wanderer or is there a colony here or near-about?

5 Large Skipper, 31-05-2017 Middle Street

Only two days later this year than last and from a different site. So a similar start for this species in 2017 and unfortunately the similarity continued when considering the actual numbers. There were many fewer than I can recall from various sites over the last few years apart from last year when I noticed a decline. This ear there were probably a few fewer still actually though I don’t know how they fared nationally? It comes to something when I only saw two females all year – one at Durlston and one in Oxford. Where were they? Did the stop-start and fitful spring mess up their emergence? Fingers crossed that 2018 us a bounce back year like 2017 was for the Smessex.

6 Dingy Skipper, 22-04-2017 Duke Site

A whole eight days earlier this year and also seen on the same day as my first Grizzlie at my Duke site. Both sightings might actually have been a first for the county. Number wise despite not seeing them at either Bentley Wood or Larkhill they seemed to have fared a little better this year as the places where I did find them they certainly put in a better showing. I also managed to get to Martin Down properly this year and they were showing really well along the Dyke. There were a few highlights with this species; my first mating pair, one stealing my coffee at The Hill but the one that topped the lot was finding a second brood Dingy at Shipton in August whilst searching for Brostreaks. All the other enthusiasts present strangely didn’t seem that interested, they didn’t even break from their fourth rotation of photographing the same female Brostreak to see this, in my mind, star attraction…

7 Grizzled Skipper, 22-04-2017 Duke Site

As mentioned above I saw my first Grizzlie on the same day as m first Dingy just like last year however the Grizlie came first…by 23 minutes! I found it interesting that they seemed to prefer slightly different habitat at this site – with the Grizzlie on the shorter turf that bedecked the slopes of the Iron Age fort whilst the Dingy preferred the rockier slopes where the vegetation is patchier and alternates between really short springy turf and tussocks of Cooch grass. Over the season the Grizzlie seemed to hold its own compared to last year so hopefully that will continue into 2018 though it would be nice to see it across a greater range of sites next year.

The final sightings…up to 29-10-2017

The final run-in, although I didn’t know it at the time started on the Thursday of half term (26-10). We were heading off to the marvellous Riverford Farm, not the one in Devon but the Hampshire one. It was time to pick our Pumpkins, and also sample a few of the wares from all of the stalls. Whilst there I kept my eyes open, hoping for a Red Admiral to hove into view or a butterfly to be hanging out in the warmth of the Poly tunnels while we carved our carefully selected pumpkin. However this didn’t come to fruition as it was surprisingly cold outside and near tropical in the Poly tunnels – any sheltering butterfly would have been cooked in its own exoskeleton! I still had a nurdle around but there wasn’t much about. We drove to another local farm where you could walk up down the rows to not just pick (select) by pick (harvest) a pumpkin. On the journey I saw at least four Red Admirals and a Comma, all good views as we slowly drove the twisting lanes but no photos unfortunately.

A couple of days later (28-10) we headed up to my sister in-laws and while the girls played and the rest of the family gossiped I nipped out into the garden. I headed straight to the top and the old Ivy bush but stopped before I got there as a Red Admiral was basking on the fence sticking out like a sore thumb as it contrasted heavily with the pale, old wood. It was a fat bodied/abdomen-ed female possibly looking for a final feast or somewhere to snuggle down?

The following day (29-10) we took the girls on our circular walk that starts out along the Town Path, brings around and back through the Close and past the Cathedral and then home through the city. The start of the walk was pretty quiet and even the gulls were not as raucous as usual. It wasn’t until we’d reached the half way point having gone through what I would have pegged as prime habitat (meadows, sheltered Ivy clad walls, park land and fences at the end of huge gardens) that I saw any butterflies. I went from none to 4 or 5 in a matter of driveways. Three were pretty distant, flying close by and then bombing off once I’d worked out what they were to flit about at the bottom of the drive. The other two were slightly more accommodating. The first needed a quick ‘stumble from the path’ which meant that I ‘accidentally’ ended up on someone’s driveway and hence while I was there took an additional couple of steps to ‘right’ myself, stretched out my camera and took a few shots. The second was even more accommodating landing in a tree in the local church’s graveyard.

We completed the walk and even found time to stop of for some old fashioned sweets and so ended my butterflying for 2017. Try as I might I didn’t see any more Red Admirals but I was content that I finished the year with the same species that had started it.

Five Rivers 25-10-2017

Making the most of the half term break I took a quick jaunt while the girls were in the pool. I started off along the Riverpath deciding to wend my way along with the slight meanders and then cut up and across to the top of the Banks. There were still leaves on the trees but they were definitely on the turn and despite this there were still sizeable patches of nettles filling in the gaps. As I examined one such patch I was delighted to find a Red Admiral hiding away, the angle of its posture making it cryptically patterned despite the glaring red epaulets.

As I watched it a second flew into view and both took off and there then ensued a multitude of frenzied attacks. One would settle just long enough for a cautious approach and a few shots before the other buzzed back in and they would fly quickly forward and back, round in a circuit before spiralling seemingly ever upwards and disappearing from view. Moments later one would alight close by and the process repeated itself. During all of this a smaller, browner butterfly also appeared. At first I thought I was seeing things and that it was just a dead leaf come to its final resting place down on the deck but I shouldn’t have been quite as nonchalant as it turned out to be a Specklie which promptly took off. Luckily for me it didn’t go far and I was able to get a couple of shots of this old timer before heading back to the duelists.

Leaving the Red Admirals squabbling I made my way over to the banks proper – with another, different pair of Red Admirals playing on the slope leading up to the Banks. It seemed that it was going to be a bit of a Red Admiral fest and the theme continued on the second Bank with a singleton and a Common Darter. I moved across to the other side of this Bank fully expecting yet more Red Admrials but instead of the now familiar dark blur a vivid lemon butterfly hove into view. It landed and I lost it from view mystified how some so bright and vivid one moment could simply disappear the minute that it closed its wings. I knew roughly where it had landed to a scanned across checking every leaf; too green, brown, wrong shape etc until I found it and crept in. I must have been out of practice because it flew again but this time laded at a lower level and in a much more obvious and convenient position among the foliage.

I turned to leave and on cue another Red Admiral made a pass. There was another at the turning point and that was it Red Admiral wise until I had completed my circuit and ended up back at the nettle patch where it had all begun. There was a White flying along the top of the Banks while I was walking back along the lower path – I immediately thought Large White but I put it down as ‘UFW’ in the end I my gut can sometimes call it incorrectly. Back at the where it had all started there were two Red Admirals still at it, though whether they were the original pairing I’m not sure but I’d like to think that they were. I was running out of time and had to get back to help with the hair-washing and drying so I was only able to grab a few shots before racing back to load up with towels, shampoo, conditioner etc. It had been a cracking hour out in the autumnal air and as we left the car park a Specklie flew across as if to wish us farewell.

Stourhead 22-10-2017

We are now entering the period of the year when any butterfly sighting should be cherished as if it is the last of the season because it could well be. So it was great to see a Red Admiral on Saturday 21st bravely battling before blustery Brian (storm) outside Waitrose. As my sister in-law was down to visit on Sunday we headed to Stourhead and I took my camera though I was pretty sure that the storm would have out paid to any final butterflies. As we wandered through the damp and cool it was as if someone had decided to just turn the heating off; bang we’re in Autumn proper although the occasional bursts of sun lit up the autumnal leaves and momentarily warmed my back. Another warming moment was when I spied a Red Admiral flying alongside the feeder pond: “Was that to be my last?” I wondered.

We carried on winding our way round, through the Grotto pausing outside the Fairy-tale Cottage before settling down at the Pantheon for lunch. A few Darters and an Emperor buzzed around the bank lading down to the lake and another Red Admiral did a few circuits coming tantalisingly close while I munched lunch. It even stopped awhile half way up a tree so I was able to get a few distant record shots.

Further round we went, the weak sun continuing to occasionally light up the trees but all too son we were wending our way through the gate and making up the hill towards the Spread Eagle and beyond to the car park. I’d wandered slightly ahead and something buzzed by me and landed on the side of the steep bank. I edged in between a parked car and the bank and leant up for a few shots but I didn’t climb up the bank for fear of clattering down and denting the car.
As if reading my mind the Red Admiral took off, had a bit of a fly about before settling down further along the bank and well away from the parked car. I scrambled up, held on to some weeds with one hand and clicked away with the other. Could this one be my last?

Stourhead 08-10-2017

After what felt like an age since my last trip out, a little over two weeks in fact, we were finally on the road; picnic lunch packed, National Trust membership cards to hand and camera fully charged and ready to go. Despite a slight detour we soon arrived and bundled out of the car and through the gates. I was in a bit of a rush as the weather was quite decent for the time of year (so there was a reasonable chance of finding some butterflies) but it was set to turn more cloudy throughout the course of the day and so chances of finding butterflies would diminish with the suns warmth waning.

My wife suggested that we took the top path which then dives down through the woods coming out near the feeder pond. I was all for this as it would mean walking through the kitchen garden with its late flowers offering nectar and the walls keeping out any chilling breezes. Things weren’t too good during the first part as a sneaky little bit of cloud was giving us a taste of things to come. But it finally moved off just as we were about to leave the garden and walk through. As we walked through the gate a bright orange flag looked out of place against the violet colouration of the flowers, a beautiful looking Comma. I doubted whether I would get any shots as I let K take some on her phone for her Insta-feed (whatever that is?) but luckily it seemed intent on gorging itself and after a good few minutes with it I wandered off whilst still it fed!

The wall on which the gate was hung was half way along the back wall of the stable yard buildings and extended along the rest of the length was a small border containing all manner of flowers. In spring it’s a real riot of colour but now it mainly features pink and violet. Mid way along the border a small arched doorway takes you through and into the stable yard. K and I spent a while here just wandering up and down the length of the border as it was a veritable butterfly haven. As well as the Comma a Large White fed in amongst a couple of Peacocks and 11 Red Admirals (lowest count so there could have been more).

From here was carried on across the ‘back garden’ of the House where we found a warm bench and had lunch. Then it was on along the Avenue and cutting down through the wood until we came out by the feeder pond. While the girls played Pooh sticks at the overflow I tried to follow some of the many Dragonflies. There was what looked like a Chaser and a long bodied blue one which might have been an Emperor but these were there one second and gone the next. Even with Sports mode I didn’t have much luck because not only were they fast but they also kept well back so they were distant as well, not conditions conducive to great shots – too fast and too distant. Luckily a pin-wheeling pairing of Common Darters almost fell into my lap, well landed relatively close to me, so I was rewarded for my patience. I caught the girls up and despite a few more fly-by Red Admirals and the odd white that seemed to be it for the day and as we started back up the hill the cloud came in from the west...

As we drove for home we broke out from the cloud and all was sunny and warm again so when we pitched up at my Sister in-laws I took my camera in and we spent some time looking round not only their new house but also their new garden. Up on the and now their old veggie patch was a Small White clinging to a yellow flower and looking like it was going to plummet to its doom any moment. Up at the back was a huge patch of Ivy and on it at least four Red Admirals one of which was showing an unusual patterning on one fore wing which I think may have been caused by water damage?

After about 15 minutes I turned to make my way back to the house to be sociable only to realise that the cloud had reached us and with a shiver I headed in and so ended yet another great family/butterfly day out.

Larkhill 26-09-2017

This was likely to be my final visit to this site in 2017; what with the nights starting to draw in, the weather starting to cool and also term time now in full swing, so I was hoping to end with a final flourish. I started in the area round the Car Park but the patch of Golden Rod was looking all mined out and only a distant Small White lingered here amongst the Nettles. I remembered that there was a large patch of late flowering plants about half way along the Northbound path and so that was the route that I took. A few steps into my journey and a Comma appeared trying to blend in with the yellowing leaves as they started to turn to copper.

A few more steps along and a black and white flash announced the arrival of a Red Admiral, a lovely female showing the white spotting and making her a ‘bialbata’. She seemed disinclined to go anywhere so I took plenty of photos before carrying on my way. Strangely she waited for me to pass by and carry on my way before she left her spot – flying over my head and then up and over the hedge. And that was it for 2017…

When I look back on the year here I’m drawn to the conclusion that it was a ‘reasonable one’ when reflecting on the fact that I wasn’t able, for a multitude of reasons, to stop off here as much as in previous years. However when considering the species seen it was actually a pretty great year – with Greenstreak, Small blue and Dark Green Fritillary again on the year list with the excellent addition of Marsh Fritillary! Next year a Duke or Duchess would be nice…and actually not that unthinkable…

Middle Street 23-09-2017

When I look back on this trip it is with fondness. It was one of those serendipitous days where you don’t set out to do anything but things fall into your lap. The weather was warm and sunny and it being the weekend and not knowing how long it would last all the family headed out. We didn’t really know where we were going to end up but somehow our feet pointed us in the direction of the Town Path which cuts across Harnham Meadows. It was glorious to see the still lunch green grass and poking out amongst the trees, well more like towering out, was the spire of the Cathedral. On round the Mill we went with the autumnal sun warming our backs and then rather than turning left and completing a circuit which would take us back into town via the Cathedral and The Close we went right and onto Middle Street.

I’d brought my camera, the girls had a jam jar and bright pink fishing net and my wife had a blanket and a good book so we were totally sorted. Once on site my wife found a warm spot to settle back in, the girls headed to the jetty to fish for Minnows and I checked out the dried up pond – a rich source of butterflies early in the season. Today however it was really quiet and it wasn’t until I started round the pond that I located my first butterfly, a tired looking Red Admiral. There was a second flightier one as well but it stayed out of reach, fluttering and landing high on the birch trees rather than down where I could reach it with my lens. I didn’t mind I was feeling lackadaisical and so I mooched back to check in with my wife. I would then make little sorties out to see if the Red Admirals were ready to have their photos taken or to help the girls identify something that had come out of their net. On one such sortie the Red Admirals were ready to grant me an audience and so I finally got some shots which were all the better for the patient wait.

Back at camp the girls were ready to try another jetty and so we moved slightly further along. While they dipped in their new locale I checked out the benches as these seemed quite attractive to the Common Darters. Happy that everyone else was happy I took myself off for a slightly longer foray wandering upstream along the river and cutting down into the Meadow that’s not mown as harshly as the football pitch. It was all quiet it here with only a fly-by UFW, possibly a Small…

Unperturbed I made my way back to camp and then stopped as a little orange jewel bumbled across worn turf. I approached wondering why this Small Copper appeared so orange and when I got up close I could see straight away that it was very lightly spotted. It was hard work keeping up with it as it fed frenziedly at a flower before sprinting to the next source of nectar. I’d just get into position, focus and then maybe if I was quick enough get a shot or two before it was off again. It felt like I’d wound down too soon, I should have kept myself sharp! In the end I found it easier to follow it and then look further ahead in the direction it had been taking and then station myself and wait by any of the few remaining flowers. This paid off and I correctly predicted its movements 3 times out of four and after the fourth I let it go on its way and headed back to collect the girls.

We packed up and somewhat reluctantly started for home, the peace ceased and we came out of the happy little bubble that we’d been in all afternoon. A Comma put in a final goodbye on one of the walls of the houses along the road and then we were back into normality. But what a fantastic afternoon spent with family and butterflies, they don’t come much better than that!

Larkhill 19-09-2017

As I was due to stop off at Teddy’s Vets for his meat (the excellent Jaffa's www.jaffavets.com) I made sure my camera was ready as I’d also be able to sneak in about 10 minutes at Larkhill…

I started at the main Car Park and made my way down the Eastbound path but it was very quiet – not even a White flying by. I’d worked to about half way along the path before I found my first butterfly, a Meadow Brown still looking in very good nick and certainly not decrepit as it easily escaped my lens. Further on I was stopped dead in my tracks by a glorious female blue, she was a first rate stunner and practically glowed amongst the fading green. I spent some time with her enjoying her company as she fluttered about like a fading sapphire.

I realised I’d used all of my time and so scurried back up the path. As I beetled on a pair of Blues took off from the middle of the path and proceeded to start scraping. When they landed they did so in tandem contrary to how they’d just been behaving. It wasn’t a friendly stop though, they were just sizing each other up before they started at one another again. The victor (I assume?) landed back relatively close to where they’d originally appeared from.

Once again I started scurrying car-wards and once again I was brought to a shuddering stop but this time by a Common Lizard. It was stretched out on the base of the ‘Do not Enter Live Ordinance’ sign as if contemplating whether to risk it or not?

Finally I made it back to the car and from there to the Vets and home without my subterfuge being detected…

The Devenish 16-09-2017

With the kids back at school and my sister back in Oz things were settling down and we were getting back into our usual rhythm. That being said I managed to fit in an afternoon at The Devenish between the weekend chores. The weather was settled and so for once I wasn’t racing the clouds. Upon my arrival I made my way, crunching up the path, over the gate and into the tiny paddock. I scanned around the tall stand of trees/Ivy to my left where a second gate led through a tunnel of trees to the Orchid Meadow. Almost straight away I saw what I’d expected to find – Red Admirals.

It was hard to get an accurate count of them as the September sun was keeping them pretty active and they regularly took flight for no apparent reason; often setting off a neighbouring butterfly in the process. Most were higher up the vertiginous tree but luckily one or two stayed lower taking advantage of the fence posts with one even coming down to the deck. In amongst the Red Admirals were a few Comma, the odd White fluttered by (Brimstones and Large) and a single Peacock. All told there were probably 3 Commas and 10+ Red Admirals though, again, it was difficult to be sure. There were also a few Specklies hanging about around the gate and fluttering at mid to low levels amongst the dappled shade. One individual in particular stood out as he gave the impression of being quite fresh, almost glittering golden when the light caught him just right.

At the top of the Paddock there’s a large dead tree which is covered in Ivy. In turn it was covered in butterflies and again it was nigh on impossible to get an accurate count as they would keep moving from nectar source to nectar source or would disturb/jostle/hassle a neighbour. I made my way through the right hand gate, past this tree and headed up the hill through the large Paddock towards the Down. As I wended my way upwards I stopped only twice, the first time for a Small Tort that didn’t return the compliment and the second for a Small Copper that did. On the Down proper there were still butterflies flying but capturing them on film was proving tricky although I did manage a couple more shots; Large White, Green-veined White and also a pair of Commas feeding side by side-ish from the same flower head of a Blackberry. I then entered the last part of the circular walk the Orchid Meadow. This is usually the most productive part of the site at any other time of year but in Autumn it can be bereft of butterflies and so it appeared today. I only managed singles of Green-veined and Specklies which stopped long enough for photos whilst Red Admirals and various other whites flew rapidly over this field seeking richer feeding grounds.

I was almost back at the ‘Tree Tunnel’ when an orange blur flashed past out of the corner of my eye. I turned and was able to follow it and watch it land and so I cautiously approached it. My stealth wasn’t necessary though as it was very contented bumbling around the furry flower feeding. Another, brighter Copper hove into view and this one was much flightier and didn’t hang around for very long. So I went back to the aged one who was still patiently feeding.

I came away relaxed and happy; what a cracking quick trip out; with double digits for species and some of those into double digits number wise to boot! There was me thinking the season was over…

Larkhill 13-09-2017

It had been a good while between my last outing looking for butterflies and when I was able to get out again. Work had been full on since I’d gotten back and the weekends had been spent sorting out all those things that needed to be sorted out during the week but couldn’t be because of work. But finally things fell into place and I was able to make one of my stop-offs at Larkhill on the way home. I parked in the ‘main’ car park and then worked my way downhill along the Eastbound path. Instantly I was struck by how long it had been – the last proper time I’d visited there had been DGFs and Small Blues and multitudes of Golden Skippers. Today there were a few Whites bombing about and the odd tried and faded Blue. I’d walked down the path and was approaching the half way point when a few butterflies out in an appearance and sat still for long enough so that I could get a few shots. The first was a nicely placed Common Blue, one of two that we flipping around this little area.

Slightly further on, only a couple of steps I was brought to a stand still by a flash of electric blue from the light beige of the dried grasses. The butterfly in question took off but luckily came in closer and landed practically in front of me. A male Adonis which close up seemed more powder blue than Electrical and was also more worn than I’d been led to believe by its show-stopping entrance.

I left it in peace and carried on down tot eh half way point seeing a few more Common Blues on the way, or possibly the same pair of males. I started back towards the car and was just wondering if there were any Brown Argus about when a small brown Blue showed itself from the edge of the path. A close inspection later along with a few shots and brown Argus was ticked off the list.

Happy with this I thought about heading back to the car so I checked my watch and I was well over the allotted 10 minutes that I usually gave myself so I made haste back up the hill heading Westwards along the Eastward path stopping only briefly for the ‘original’ Common Blue which despite several bouts of fighting was in a very similar situation to where I’d left it.

St Peter’s, Great Cheverell
29-08-2017

Having discovered Wall Browns at the churchyard local to his daughter’s excellent Pub and Hostelry (The Bell Inn) a friend of mine was kind enough to pass on the info to me as well as some useful tips about when they were flying. So while many butterfly enthusiasts were making their way eastwards and to the coast I was heading North and inland. I suppose I could have joined the throngs looking for Queen of Spain but it just seemed a little too far to travel when fingers crossed they’ll be breeding along the entire south coast in about 10 years time.

As usual for this season I set off in sunny weather with blue skies overhead and headed into greyer and greyer weather. Luckily the sun still managed to shine through some of this so it was still bright enough for decent shots but there was no danger of glare or the quarry becoming super solar charged. Abandoning the car I strolled up the path and through the gate, carried on up the stone paved path towards the entrance to the church and something on the small path to the graveyard caught my eye. It took off from the path and flew towards up the length of the path before doubling back down. It was a male Wall Brown and the butterfly I’d come to see. I watched it for some time as it moved from one grave to another before always returning back to a similar spot about half way along the small path.

Having found one I set about to look for more and so I mooched around the headstones finding a Specklie and a few different Whites, although all of these were very flighty. Somehow I ended back at the same place (well it is a small church) and there was the Wall, waiting for me. A few more shots and then a bit more of a mooch this time finding a Meadow Brown and the Whites increasingly frustrating. They’d land I get in position and then they’d fly off just as I was focusing. I managed to get to the other side of the church on this recce and put up a Peacock as well as discovering five Specklies.

Back on the path the Wall was still there but once the sun came out he was off. I thought I’d lost him but then I saw two browny-orange blurs buzzing around amongst the headstones. I thought at first it might be a male and female as one seemed to be flying in circles around the other and the chase went on for a good 15 minutes from right across the graveyard, the neighbouring field and back, along and over the church, back to the top of the graveyard etc. I saw them go over and along the church roof at least 7 times. In fact when I thought I’d lost them I’d simply look to the top of the church roof and presently the pair would reappear and I could watch them again. As I say I thought it was a pair but some distant Sport Modes shots suggested otherwise.

After this I made my way to work and then back with the briefest of stops at Larkhill; Small Heath, 3 Adonis, 5 Common Blues and at least 3 Small Torts were the best of the bunch – but still no Cloudy!

Mottisfont 28-08-2017

A quick trip out with the girls to make the most of the glorious weather, why couldn’t it have been like this at the start of the holiday when the Silver-spots and Brostreaks were emerging and the Chalkhills and Graylings were in their prime? Still I got on and enjoyed what there was on offer. It seemed like everyone else had the same idea as we were demoted to the ‘Overflow’ car park but to be honest this is probably better as I didn’t have to walk as far to return the picnic once we’d all munched down. The odd white fly by during my lunch but nothing to pique my interest and make me bound off leaving sandwiches behind!

After the repast we sedately made our way to the Walled garden and as my wife set off to seek some shade to read her book in and the girls did likewise I made my way round scanning for butterflies. It was actually trickier than I’d anticipated as the heat had made them all very active and they stopped most of the time for only the briefest of refuelling sessions. Even the single Meadow Brown that I saw stopped for only a few seconds and just long enough for a couple of record shots. After little reward for trawling round various Lavender beds and roses patches I located myself by one of the Buddleia bushes and waited. This plan worked a treat and I’d soon seen three species of whites, a fly by Red Admiral, three Small Tortoiseshells and the best of the bunch a gorgeous Painted Lady, only my third this year.

I had a bit more of a wander and the shade of a Quince tree offered some respite to a shade loving Specklie and one of the other Buddleia bushes held a(nother) Red Admiral. It was quite interesting to see the Specklie taking juice from one of Quinces it hadn’t fallen from the tree but something had damaged it and that was enough for the Specklie.

After this though we strolled round various other parts of the site including the excellent exhibition of the art work of Axelas Scheffler and the only other butterflies of note were a single Common Blue at the Ha-Ha and numerous whites in the shade near the stream. We headed home sun tired and happy…a great little day.

Martin Down 26-08-2017

Having gotten back from our family holiday to Devon I thought we’d have a few days kicking our heels and settling back into our usual holiday routine. But that wasn’t the case and so on Saturday I was heading back towards Sixpenny Handley so that the girls could have a sleep over with their cousin. I left an hour early in order to make a stop-off at Martin Down on the way.. I was still hoping for a Clouded Yellow so once in the car park we followed Bokerley down towards the Butts as this is usually a good area for them.

We arrived at the Butts with no Cloudy and only a few Blues and Browns and the girls disappeared off to make ‘Musically’ videos or some such so I was free to take in the short turfed areas sheltered by the Butts. Since our return the weather had sorted itself out somewhat but there were still a few cloudy moments. The trick was to find your quarry and wait with it while it sat out the shade. Then when the sun reappeared click away to capture it in the best light before it became active again, just like I did at the start of the year with Orange-tips. I didn’t get the timing right all of the time but it meant that I could observe the difference in appearance that different lighting produced. This species was the most numerous and not just because it was the most ‘noticeable’. I did see Common Blues, Brown Argus, Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and various Whites but the 2nd brood Adonis were the main attraction and I was finally able to do the females justice.

Having flattened the battery on my iPod the calls of “Wurzel” from the girls weren’t that unexpected and I left the ladies to re-join the girls. We packed up and started back towards the car park though we didn’t get too far – only to the other side of the Butts before a few Brown Argus caught my eye. One was miniscule and as I leant in to take my shot I felt like Gulliver towering over a Lilliputian. I was checking my shots back when a beautiful blue Blue flew into view.

We were almost back at the car but with some time remaining before I needed to drop the girls off we walked round checking the little scallops in the scrub island next to the car park. A Small Copper landed and for a moment I held my breath and my heart was in my mouth…from the quick glance that I’d had it appeared to have white forewings…Nervously I took a second look. It was really tatty and the unfortunately the white looked like water damage or wear than it being a Schmidt…Oh well, after a few bad years for this species seeing Small Coppers of any hue is always a delight.

Devon Holiday

18-08-2017

To make the most of my sister being back from Australia my parents had booked a holiday cottage down at Dartington in Devon for all the family. I didn’t mind the drive down too much despite only seeing a few Whites along the verges as I’d been out the day plus there were only a few species that I could still possibly see. The journey was pleasant right up until half way through the Blackdown Hills when the ‘weakest link’ lived up to it’s name. After an hour of sitting and crawling, sitting and crawling along we finally passed the burnt out car that had been the hold up and we were again on our way, finally reaching our destination an hour later than planned and so limiting any chance to check out the garden apart from the briefest of glances while carrying luggage in from the car. I did clock what looked like a female Common Blue on the drive way – or it could have been a rain damaged Holly Blue but that was it and so ended day one.

Oak Barn Cottage 19-08-2017

Come Saturday morning the weather was a bit iffy; cloud covered the surrounding hillsides but it looked like it might brighten later so I took the girls and went with my dad to stock up with provisions at Totnes. Once back and lunched the sun broke through and while everyone else decided what we were going to do over various days I headed out to have a look round the garden. The ‘upside down’ cottage was built into the side of the hill with a small leveled lawn also cut into the hillside at the same level as the upstairs kitchen. A small path and steps took you up and past the woodshed on one side and a small flower patch on the other coming out at the parking spot – again cut and leveled into the side of the hill. On the other side the garden was allowed to be a ‘hill’ with a few fruit tees and a swing which little L made very good use of. The main area of interest was the almost vertical banks surrounding the parking spot as here there were good nectar sources cascading like Victoria Falls. I spent most of my time here when I was ‘up the garden’.

On this first visit I got straight onto a couple of older looking Hedge Browns. Actually looking back at the photos there were at least four different identifiable females. The first was great as despite not being in the best nick she had reduced orange panels on her hind wings and was a single spot excessa but the spot had run into the ‘eye’. The second was a cleaner looking excessa, the third and the fourth were more typical Hedge Brown females. Also around here were a few Small Whites and a heavily marked Green-veined.

Not a bad start and I was obviously going to have to keep an eye on the Hedgies as it looked like there could be some interesting variations available here. I wandered back down the little path to the cottage and a blue fluttered across the garden. As it landed in some Ivy I was pretty sure that it was a Holy Blue. Luckily whilst the Ivy being a good height would normally mean that the HB would land beyond reach because of the way the garden was plotted I was actually seeing the top of the bush and so the Holly Blue was pretty much level with my camera. She was pretty tired and her fore wings seemed to have lost a lot of their blue colouration – possibly water damage (?). Mind you she still played hard to get, hiding herself in amongst the foliage. I channelled a bit of Miller luck and whispered away and she did come out into the open but I don’t think I’ve got the technique quite right as she didn’t open up for me.

Back to the cars I headed and this time I arrived to watch a Specklie land and sup nectar for a while. It looked really fresh and still had golden sprinkles around the margins of its wings and close to its thorax. The Hedge Browns were still bumbling around and a Red Admiral did a fly past, stopping too briefly for my lens. As I watched it sail up and over the wall of vegetation something else caught my eye, a Southern Hawker. After watching it not move for a good few minutes I got back to the butterflies, finally locating a male Hedgie which seemed to have three and not two pupils in its ‘eye’.

Just as I was about to head back in to find out where we were heading (despite a Large White final settling) I was stopped in my tracks by a little jewel of a butterfly – a Small Copper. True it was tired and ragged looking, it lacked blue badges but when the light hit it glittered golden.

Chuffed I went in to face my fate…

Buckfast Abbey 19-08-2017

I headed back inside and we started planning out what we would do over the coming days and it was decided that as we were so close we should look around the grounds of Buckfast Abbey. So we bundled into the cars and headed over. When we arrived there was a slightly autumnal feeling with some of the leaves starting to turn and a cool wind. The lack of butterflies didn’t help with the strange feeling. The only butterflies I saw flying were whites and those that I could get close enough to were all in some state of disrepair. They were also very fidgety, not staying still nor indeed in one pace for long enough for any type of shot apart from the worst ones. In the end I waited for a while in the tiny Lavender garden while the girls ran over the lawns. The occasional white and even a Brimstone stopped but I was only able to capture a few shots of one of the less worn whites. Their fidgety mood was further exacerbated by the breeze that seemed to strengthen just as I was getting any subject in focus.

After this despite checking out the other small gardens I wasn’t able to capture any more butterflies. There were other highlights including watching a Peregrine come in to roost atop the Abbey and spying a Red Admiral flying across the stained glass windows but the afternoon activity was drawing to a close and we needed to get back for tea. In the car park a Common Darter landed on one of the walls. These were covered in Ivy but the Common Darter landed on one of the only clear patches, almost like a chopper landing on a Helipad. The Autumnal feel to the afternoon was nicely rounded off by a set of fungal fruiting bodies…

Pennywell and ‘Home’ 21-08-2017

The day after the Abbey I spent mostly in bed and so missed out on visiting the Riverford Farm which supplies the Wurzel World with most of it’s food. All the muscles in my limbs felt like they were about to cramp and I could barely walk at one point. Luckily it must have only been a 24 hour thing as the next morning I was right as rain and we all headed out to Pennywell, a local farm park. There would be pig cuddling and pony rides as well as small pet handling I was sure but I took my camera along anyway reasoning that there would be hedges and therefore Hedgies…

Once we were there and through the gate the girls, all of them (my sister, wife and mum included) had a great time. While they were all engaged with the pigs I sloped off, primarily to find out about the pony and tractor rides but really to scope out the site. At the bottom of the park was a small pond where the visitors could go pond dipping and the Swallows were making much use of it. However the best thing about it was a small Buddleia bush along the path between the pond and the go-karting course.
As I approached it a Peacock took off never to return but it was crawling with butterflies and I counted at least 8 Red Admirals, I say at least because it was a struggle to see round the whole bush as half of it hung over go-karting track. Also present were two Small Tortoiseshells and a real surprise find – a female Silver-washed. I have seen them slightly later than this in previous years but I was under the impression that they were all over for this season. She wasn’t anywhere near pristine but still enjoyable to watch as she fed, another diner at the butterfly bush.

After this I tried for a few shots of the Swallows as they took sips of water by skimming the surface of the pond but by now the sun had gone in, just like the Peacock it didn’t return, and so getting shots was difficult in the less than ideal light. I made my way back to the others and enjoyed the rest of the farm yard frolics.

We got back and while tired and happy girls had their baths I nipped out for a few minutes to bring in some things from the car and I took my camera just in case. The usual suspects were present but two Hedgies stood out as it were. One was a ‘one spot’ excessa with very small orange areas on the hind wings and the other had extra eyes visible on the fore wings. Chuffed with the brief interlude and the butterflies from a family trip I headed inside for tea wondering what the wilds of Dartmoor would bring on the next day?

Later that day...and the next 21-08-2017

21-08-2017

I didn’t have to wait long for some more ‘butterflies’ as after the evening meal and while preparing another round of drinks my dad pointed out a small black and white moth on the wall. Best ID so far is Aethes cnicana (Thisltle Conch)? Either way it was a species that I’d not encountered before so I was chuffed with one of my easiest lifers; “I was getting another G&T and there it was” I’ll be able to recount in future years...

22-08-217 Out on the Moor.

The next morning the moths again took the limelight with my first Setaceaous Hebrew Character. I’d wanted to photograph on of these for ages as it’s a species that stands out when swiping through my UK Moth App, not for its appearance but its unusual name...

Today was the day that we were going to get booted up and head out onto the Moor. I’ve been out and about on Dartmoor many times but not since I’d gotten into butterflies and so I was intrigued as to what it would offer species wise, where the butterflies would be and whether it would be like the Heath lands of home in species range? However I’ll have to make another visit to answer these questions as the day was the worst of the holiday weather wise. It was terrible with cloud blocking out all the sun, a cool and damp feel to the air and as we headed up and up onto the moor the fog rolled in. For most of the drive all that could be seen were the hedges on either side of the road.

Even when we stopped occasionally (Widdecoombe “where the hell are we going to visit?”, “pee stop” and Becka Falls “How much to park? Stuff that”) visibility was poor and it was so cold and clammy you were glad to get back in the car. Eventually we made it to Badgers Holt and the magnificent cream tea more than raised my spirits. Outside the River Dart flowed eventually dropping off the moor and flowing more sedately past the cottage we were staying at. The Grey Wagtails ‘chiswick-ed’ away and added a splash of vibrancy as did an Emperor Dragonfly and a few of the Common Darters. On the stroll down towards the old bridge a Red Admiral flew by a few times – well it was either that or 6 different individuals – possibly the vanguard of the subsequent high numbers we’ve seen this autumn? The girls loved the place splashing about, climbing the rocks and dipping their toes into the icy cold water.

As is typical it started to brighten up as we headed homewards. We could see further and further on either sides of the hedges and walls and eventually right across the moor. After another brief pit stop for the Pixie Museum we got back home. By now the weather had turned for the better, we could see all of the surrounding hills and the sky was blue with only slight cloud mottling. I headed straight out into garden this time walking up to the top of hill/garden. The large bramble bush housed a Common Carpet and a Red Admiral basked in the sun in quite a precarious place – under the swing in the scuff marks. There was also another moth but this one was really worn so any ID was difficult to make (Common Rustic/Lesser Common Rustic).

The weather didn’t hold for long and so we headed in, lit the wood burner and started to get cosy.

Steam Trains, Otters and a few butterflies…23-08-2017

So after a poor day on the Moor it was decided that today we would do more children orientated activities. So we set off back towards Buckfast Abbey but turned left instead of right to take the steam train to Totnes and back. The girls loved it and I enjoyed the gentle rocking which you don’t get on todays diesel locomotives. My first shots of the day were of an Otter, unfortunately not a real one but a golden statuette. Two years back Salisbury was decked out with ‘Barons’ to celebrate Magna Carta. If seems that this area was doing something similar but with Otters instead…

Activity 1 done we found a quiet spot for lunch so the girls, particularly my niece, could run about. As usual between munching I wandered here and there with my camera hoping that the more obvious foliage would offer up some butterflies. There were a few Whites about but the first butterfly that stopped long enough for a few shots was a Red Admiral. It landed on the flagstones to soak up some warmth. It must have wondered what was happening, here it was at the height of summer feeling the cold! After this a Peacock dropped in and between pointing out various of its features to my niece I snapped away as it fed away. I then tried for some of the more active Whites. It proved to be difficult but despite my dearth of opportunities for photography I was able to watch some interesting behaviours. Both Small and Large Whites flew strongly with the Large flying across the middle of the clear area before working its way along the margins quite high up dipping down to feed. The Small would work its way here and there in an apparent random fashion and the Green-veined fluttered weakly from flower to flower. Hence it was no surprise that the only White I managed to get any shots of was the Green-veined. While I was photographing it my niece joined me and together we took it all in, a special memory shared. With lunch over we moved onto the next activity – the Otter Sanctuary and Butterfly Farm. I’m so far behind that I’ll have to leave the Exotics for another time…

Once back at home the girls called me away from the dinner prep as they’d found a caterpillar (Vapourer?) and while I was there a Specklie was feeding on some Blackberries so I got a few rushed shots that weren’t up to much before heading back in to continue chopping veggies...

Blackpool Sands 24-08-2017

Today was apparently going to be the best day of the week weather wise; at least that’s what three Weather Apps and the BBC reckoned. So we loaded the cars and drove through the mist, cloud and eventually rain, to head to the beach. After a few stops on the way and a ferry trip across the River Dart we were rolling along narrow country lanes closed in by tall hedges very reminiscent of those in Dorset (though not quite a good). After sweeping down the hill there was an Agatha Christie scene laid out before us. Tall dark cliffs, bedecked with a thatch of green, the occasional Pine sticking out like an errant tousled hair, at their feet golden sediments rhythmically washed by the Azure sea. The sun came out at this exact moment lighting it to perfection.

We parked up, gathered our things and then made our way across the fine shingle with a Red Admiral bombing by to set up camp. Because of the action of the tide the beach ran in a series to steps and lining each were silver strands. As we walked down the he first ‘step’ the silver strand went from beautiful to grim as it was composed of masses of washed up Whitebait.

After a paddle and some time spent looking for sea glass and having a kick about we wandered back to the beachside restaurant for lunch (Vegan burgers – I couldn’t believe it!). While we waited I noticed that there were some moths clinging to the walls of the building. Two really stood out - black and white against the yellow paintwork, a possible pair of Black Arches. Next to one was a Crambus moth looking much bigger than I remember and I was also struck by the fantastic patterning.

The third species was much less noticeable and I missed it the first time that I scanned the walls. When I did clock it I put it down as a ‘Wave’ but now go for Mullein due to the coastal habitat. The final one should have been the most obvious against another background but here was quite cryptically patterned. Only when it moved onto the green shrubbery did it finally stick out like a sore thumb. What a cracking looking species – a Canary Shouldered Thorn, looking more like a Muppet than a Moth.

After this we spent some more time rock-pooling, paddling etc. and so ended out final day out. When we got back the rain had closed in and so we stayed in and enjoyed a cracking curry. Home tomorrow…

Packing the Car – Barrington Court – Homewards

25-08-2017

Our Devon sojourn had come to an end and the time had come to pack our things into the car for the return trip. I out my camera round my neck and started carrying bags and boots and boxes. True, lugging my camera about meant I’d have to make more trips but at least I wouldn’t have to worry about missing out on any butterflies. And it paid off despite the Red Admiral, Specklie and numerous Whites not landing. Instead I was treated to an assortment of Hedgies (the usual crowd?). There were at least 5 present but in between packing the next section of the car I’d focus on one individual so in the end I don’t think that I captured all on camera. All the ones I did manage shots of were excessa with one showing an extra ‘eye’ on the fore wing underside. Once packed we said our goodbyes and set off.

The journey to Exeter was really quick and we also made good time over the Blackdown Hills. Despite this there were some hangry rumblings from the back of the car so we went of piste to find somewhere for lunch. My wife flicked through the National Trust guide, we entered the appropriate postcode and there we were soon enough sitting under an Apple Tree and munching away at Barrington Court.

After lunch we took the tour, the house was really interesting but the gardens were stunning. On one Buddleia outside the formal gardens I counted 16 Small Tortoiseshells, 3 Red Admirals and a Peacock. We wandered through garden type after garden type; wildflower, nursery, veggie, formal, Rose etc. It was a joy to behold with each new section offering new scents and sights, structure and colour suddenly changing and so too the butterflies. At least that’s the way it seemed…The wildflower section held Red Admirals, the Lavender the Whites, in the veggie garden Large Whites and Brimstones and a Comma whilst the formal garden borders housed Small Tortoiseshells a plenty. It was a fantastic break from sitting and watching the white lines blur and the tarmac ahead…

So finally ended our Devon holiday. Looking back the only real surprises were that I saw the Silver-washed but didn’t see a Painted Lady. I was a funny time to visit really and the place we visited weren’t your typical butterfly haunts yet despite that they held typical butterflies.

Martin Down 17-08-2917

Both the girls were at their Nanny’s spending time with their Australian cousin, my work was up to date, the house was painted to within an inch of its life and all the chores had been done…what else was there to do but grab my camera and head over to Martin Down. On the way I planned ahead – I was going to go to the main car park off the Blandford Road and then walk Bokerley to the hotspot and back. But somehow I found myself at the Sillen’s Lane car park? Autopilot had taken over. Oh well I set out towards the hotspot regardless.

The stroll there was pretty uneventful in the most part with only the odd Common Blue or White bombing by. At the first fork in the track I headed right looking to make my way round the earth work rings and to come to the hotspot from the other side. I bore left and made my way along one side of the earthworks and the butterflies started appearing. Small Heaths, a Small Tort, Common Blues and Brown Argus. But unfortunately this area was really exposed to the strong breeze and all my shots were wind blurred.

A real jewel of butterfly struggled into view and plopped down practically in front of me. It was as if the butterflying Gods had just granted me a favour because at that precise moment the wind dropped to barely a breath and the sun caught the electric blue of the wings to perfection.

I carried on round to the hotspot the wind bending my soft brimmed hat which is always a bad sign so I was hoping the Dyke would offer some protection from the strong breeze. As I ambled into the middle of the hotspot it certainly seemed to as there were butterflies everywhere. Amongst the odd Meadow Brown and Small Heath the odd Brimstone did a fly by. The Blues in particular were very well represented with 5 Lycaenids. So I settled down and just enjoyed them and every now and then I remembered to take a few photos as well. I was particularly pleased to see some Chalkhills here and though some were looking past their best others were in fine fettle.

I followed the Dyke on up the hill for a bit and this produced a bit more variety with 4 species of whites, an unusually marked Meadow Brown and a fly-by Small Tort but the Blues soon muscled back into prominence with Brown Argus looking like a good call for an aberrant (though I can’t remember the name – Snelleni?) as well as some more Chalkhills, Adonis looking resplendent and a pair of Common Blue in cop.

Time was running by and despite not locating the species I was hoping for, a Clouded Yellow, I made my way homewards. Off to Devon in a day or two I wonder what that will hold in store?

Shipton Bellinger...Again 15-08-2017

After the previous day at the park the girls had sweet talked their Nanny into letting them stay over with their Auntie, Uncle and cousin so I had the day to myself. As the weather was set to be a mixture of sunshine and cloud I risked another trip out to Shipton. Like last time I left in good time and like last time the road works which were everywhere held me up but despite this this I was still at the ‘Hotspot Hedge’ ready for the golden hours between 11 and 3 as I’d parked on the other side again. Yet things were very quiet and it felt like I was running the previous trip in reverse as along the hedge there were no Brostreaks and only a few Whites a couple of Holly Blues and the usual smattering of Browns and the odd Blue. It was strangely quiet and after a couple of circuits forward and back along the hedge I decided to change tack. And so I headed across through the scrub and uphill towards a new part of the site which I’d not visited before. The Hawthorn scrub opens out into a large swathe of grassland that I’d never realised was there and so I took to mooching around here enjoying the prolific Browns and Blues that seemed to buzz around everywhere. Amongst the Whites were a few Brimstones but alas still no Clouded Yellow despite the area having the appearance of suitable habitat.

After some time here, enough to consume my extra hot Lime Pickle sandwiches, I followed a different path back down the slope which came out by the Master Tree and so I made my way along the main track but downhill towards the bit of Hedge that I usually start out at; again a bit topsy-turvy. Where the track branches into two I went down the more lush and verdant track and bumped into a couple staring high into the treetops. There, just about visible was a male Brostreak, so I took a record shot just in case and walked to the end of the path and back with no other Brostreak sightings but a few Meadow Browns, Specklies, Whites, Hedge Brown and a Comma to go onto the Tally. The couple and the Brostreak were still there but I was hoping for a closer encounter and so back to the Hotspot Hedge I headed.

Having walked back to the Master Tree I cut across the springy turf rather than use the hard track. The last time I was in this area I was dealt a Skipper surprise with a second brood Dingy and today also. A tiny blur of a butterfly caught my attention as if took off having been hassled by a silvery Brown Argus. Somehow I manged to follow it and as I approached I could see whiteish spots on the wings which at first made me think of a Large Skipper but it was too small so here was my second surprise Skipper, a Silver-spotted. I knew that they were in the surrounding areas but not that they were to be found at this site so another species to look out for here next season.

Back at the Hedge I adopted the usual Brostreak search pattern. The first walk along carefully scanning each Bramble top and examining every Brown, Hedge Brown, Comma or remotely orange coloured leaf. The second run scanning again but this time watching carefully for anything taking off that might have been unsettled by or unsettle a Brostreak. Neither of these techniques came to fruition which was a shame as they produced the goods in terms of either species and they have come up trumps in the past. True there were all the usual species but a Small Copper was an nice addition as was a fresher Holly Blue but still no Brostreak. Hence I tried technique number three; nonchalantly strolling along the hedge whistling a jaunty and carefree tune and then stop and turn suddenly and without warning so as to catch a Brostreak out. Bugger me if on the second such random and rapid spin and stare it didn’t work! Where there was nothing before now there was a male Brown Hairstreak practically right in front of me!

“Where there’s one there must be more” I thought…

Shipton Bellinger...Again 15-08-2017 Part 2

Having found my own Brostreak and my second of the day I headed back to the start of the hedge to start looking in earnest again. The next thing to catch my eye wasn’t another Brostreak although that would have fitted the narrative better it was actually a pair of Small Whites. They were busy making sure there were some future Small Whites and as they haven’t had a brilliant year more power to their elbow. I mooched along the Hedge some more and reverted to the ‘rapid spin’ technique and again it came up trumps as there was another Brostreak, another male which was even more tired and battle scarred than the first. It was also having some difficulty in coiling up its proboscis. Nice though these males were what I was really hoping for was female as she’d probably be in finer fettle plus I was starting to cut it fine for time as the golden hours between 11 and 3 were slipping away.

A few moments later it happened. There slightly further into the Brambles was a small, orangey leaf looking thing that wasn’t actually an orangey leaf. As the sun came out from behind a cloud the butterfly opened her wings and there was the gorgeous orange flash against the chocolate background, she was almost good enough to eat. I spent a little while with her as she pootled about taking nectar here and there, attempting the briefest of basks and generally teasing me by never fully opening up. I didn’t mind though to be honest as watching her go about her business was just as rewarding as seeing her wings akimbo posed ‘a la field guide’.

Not wanting to hassle her to her detriment I made my way back along the Hedge to the starting point to see if I could relocate any of the males and also to see if the Small Whites were still at it? I could see that they were but I was momentarily distracted as a female Brostreak appeared to take off from the grass. “Was this a new ploy to catch out the humble butterflier?” I wondered to myself but then a Meadow Brown dove in and started harassing her. She retreated into the Hedge into a space too small for the slightly larger Meadow Brown and I watched bemused – what had caused such an interaction between species? I knelt down and the Brostreak made her way back out and flew to a spindly looking whipping of Blackthorn and made an attempt to lay before flying further into the hedge and beyond the reach of my lens.

I caught up again with the Small White couple and then made one final pass along the Hedge and back towards the car. I managed to relocate my male number 1 on the way and then the Brostreak action ceased. All this happened over a thirty minute time frame and then there were none again, they melted away into the Hedge like little hedge nymphs. I was aware, and have mentioned the golden hours but today it seemed like there was the platinum half hour. And so it was back to the more usual ‘after Brostreak’ fare and my topsy-turvy trip was reverting to normal. The Browns and Brimstones amongst the odd white were nice but eh real highlight were the Holly Blues which were busy putting on a show. One landed near to me and I thought “well why not?” and started whispering “Open up, open up, come on my lovely open up” And she did!

I made my way back to the car mightily chuffed with the haul from the day…

Sixpenny Handley 14-08-2017

To make the most of my sister’s visit we headed back out to Sixpenny Handley the very next day. As always I took my camera but I almost needn’t have bothered as the weather was decided inclement. Here we were in August and it was cool enough that a jumper was comfortable and the sun was veiled by grey cloud; the type of cloud that only weakly threatens rain but still manages to sap all the light out of everything. We risked the gloom and headed up the hill, through the Churchyard to the park. I took my camera as before there have been Spotted Flycatchers perching on the tombstones and Painted Ladies in the Vicar’s flowerbed but not today.

As the girls played I took a few minutes break from pushing swings, catching flying children at the bottom of slides and working out how the hell one of the rides worked to check out the banks that surround the football pitch on two sides. The last time I was here was back in May/June at the end of our camping trip and the only real difference between then and now was that then the weather was slightly worse! Where it was similar was that the only butterfly present was a member of the Blue family, either a female Common or Brown Argus. As I knelt down amongst the damp grass I could make out the ‘badly drawn arc’ of spots which made it a Brown Argus.

It served as some form of reward for making the effort to carry my camera, nowhere near a Gold Medal and still not enough for a Bronze maybe, possibly a recycled Tin can medal? And to think that I had such high hopes after such a cracking trip the day before…

Kingston Lacey Part 1 13-08-2017

Over the next couple of weeks I spent almost every waking hour (well maybe not quite that much but it certainly felt that way) finishing up the paint work on the house and getting various bits and pieces sorted out ready for the arrival of my sister, brother in-law and my niece who were back from Oz for a month. Luckily the weather wasn’t the best although there were times when I would catch myself gazing out of the window during a few moments of respite for my knees – its hard work painting skirting boards and now I reckon that my knees are 30 years older than the rest of my body!
After the usual doings and meet ups with various relations come Sunday we all headed over to Kingston Lacey for a picnic and then a mooch around the grounds and gardens. Once on site we set up on the lawn and ate heartily, it was nice to see colours and not just ‘Farrow and Ball - All White’ and I managed to make a couple of sojourns out from the picnic rug and check out some of the flower laden borders. I was accompanied by my niece and what she lacked in subtlety she made up for in sheer enthusiasm and she happily pointed out butterfly after butterfly; each one would receive and appreciative “Wow” before she would bustle off to find the next one. In this way I notched up a couple a piece of Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma and Green-veined White as well as both Small and Large Whites and a female Common Blue and all within a couple of steps. The thing I was most pleased about was watching a Hornet take a bee and then dispatch it, all whilst hanging upside down from two of its tarsi. My niece wasn’t that impressed though and we had to head back to the others.

We made our way across the lawn, through the Fernery and along the large border. Here I saw a few more Whites none of which were stopping. A Peacock stood out and even though it kept its distance it was much better behaved than the accompanying Red Admiral. An orangey butterfly landed quite a way back and at first I thought it was a faded Comma but when I checked through the viewfinder it resolved into a Silver-washed. I don’t know why but I was surprised to see it here amongst the herbaceous borders. Further along the Woodland drive another one teased me by feeding in such a place high on a Buddleia that made even getting a semi decent image impossible. But now I know they’re here so maybe next season a slightly earlier visit would see me finding more and racking up a few extra Brownie points?

Down through the Woodland walk we stopped to see the pigs that are being used for clearing the woodland floor and there were only a few Brimstones (in the sunnier more glade like areas) and Specklies (on the edge of the shady spots) about but I was saving space on my memory card for the allotments as I reckoned that’s where most of the butterflies would be. So instead I focused, along with my sister, on taking the mickey out of my mum. It is one of our favourite past times and while we were rocking with laughter about using Beech Mast and Pine Cones as Christmas decorations (you’ve got to spray them silver first though) the journey to the allotments passed by in a jiffy. Once here there was almost an explosion of butterfly activity. There were Cabbage White caterpillars all over the Cabbage, a Specklie that had been in the wars outside the Orchid House and the flower garden beyond was a riot of colour butterflies. I’m used to having the problem of approaching a butterfly to get a shot off but here the problem was twofold. First working out which butterfly to photograph; I counted two Commas, four Red Admirals, two Peacocks, at least five Brimstones and various other Whites of three different species that were too numerous and too mobile to count at all! The second problem was getting the shot before another butterfly bundled in and bundled your subject out of the way! In the end I just set myself to mooch mode and pointed and shot at anything that was in the same place for long enough.

After I’d caught up with the conversation and whilst the adults tea and the girls ran riot on the mini tractors I nipped off to the allotments and the drainage pond just beyond it. There were even more whites fluttering around here and there must have been a fecund female as 6 or 7 other butterflies were very intent on following one other butterfly. I got talking to one of the local allotmenteers as she’d planted a Buddleia in one corner of her plot and was growing lots of other insect friendly species. It seemed to be working because feeding on it were Red Admirals, Peacocks, four species of White and a Small Tort! Unfortunately I didn’t get many decent shots as the breeze had picked up and I also missed out on the Painted Lady that, as usual, had “been here yesterday”. There were a few Darters round the pond which I think were Ruddy (tapered waist?) but I had to get back to the group.

When I rejoined the others the adults were still drinking tea and the girls were still running amok so I nipped back over to the floral garden and tried my hardest to accurately count the butterflies. My efforts again proved frustrating. This time I found a couple of likely looking spots and hovered between them waiting for the butterflies to come to me. It paid off and before I knew it I was up to my knees in Red Admirals, the odd Peacock and Whites all over the place. They’ve been really flighty this year but they seemed to be starting to settle down this afternoon and I was finally able to get a semi-decent open wing shot of a Large White male. To top it off I think I might even of had an aberrant Red Admiral?

By now the girls were all tuckered out and we slowly and wearily made out way back through the Pacific Gardens to carry on back across the Lawn and homewards. The only thing of real note on the way back that was different from all else I’d seen was the Dragonfly which I think is a Migrant Hawker, I need to look into the ID of this group a little more.

All in all a surprisingly productive day- especially as much of it wasn’t actually spent looking for butterflies. It may read like I spent the whole time away from the family but most of my little trips off lasted about 10 minutes and the majority of the time was spent just being a complete family again for the first time in two years – can’t put how much that meant into words so I’ll leave it there.

Shipton Bellinger 05-08-2017

So having to sit out the Brostreak fest that had been ensuing on UKButterflies I was finally back with time to spend at Shipton and wouldn’t you know it the weather which had been terrible in Wales was now not particularly crash hot round home. So I found myself playing the usual demoralising game of ‘race the clouds’. To make matters worse it seems that while I’d been away in Wales Wiltshire Council had decided to improve the highway at some point on every road that I needed to take. When we pulled in at the back entrance to Shipton the girls were straight out of the car and we practically ran round the corner and along the hotspot hedge in an effort to catch the final rays of sun that were fast disappearing behind the cloud.
As I looked ahead to check the terrain I spied a small cluster of people circling a small area of bush. As we drew up I swung my camera around and fired off a few record shots – Brown Hairstreak on the yearly tally. I then did something very strange, I joined a queue to get some decent close-ups! It was a strange affair; you’d queue, then take your shots and then join the back of the queue so you could check what you’d gotten and try for a different angle when it was your next turn.

After a couple of turns at the Brostreak I shook myself out of it and setting the girls with their lunch and books in the edge of the wood I set about to have a closer and independent look at the hedge. Don’t get me wrong the female I’d seen was nice but it felt like a bit of a cheat to have it handed over on a plate on arrival. My own spade work paid dividends almost immediately. At the corner of the hedge is a large clump of Bramble which rises at the front edge to between chest and waist height. A few centimetres in it drops down to just below waist height forming a bowl of bramble. Right in the middle of this was a strangely triangular dead leaf. I slipped one leg down between the brambles, feeling my way through and articulating my foot this way and that so as not to crush the stems and once my boot reached the ground I repeated a similar action with my other leg and what had been a distant butterfly was now almost right in front of me. It was a male Brostreak and although worn and tired still maintaining his wing margins and tails and the more honey like colour. After a few shots I reversed my initial procedure and felt very satisfied when looking at the bush you wouldn’t have known that I’d been standing in it a few minutes previously.

I carried on along the hedge but got waylaid again by the showy female who was still in the same place. Luckily by now most of the crowd had dispersed so I stood back and waited for only one or two people to get their shots. I noticed that it seemed slightly brighter and checking the clouds was surprised to see the clouds parting and the twinkling of some blue sky; “hhmmm this might be good”. As I thought this the Brostreak started to twitch her wings and ever so slowly she started to open up. I took a few shots and got in a little closer as she opened up some more to almost wide apart. She was finally totally open, wings a kimbo and then someone got a bit over eager and pushing front of me from below spooked the butterfly, she started closing up again and the overeager butterflier spooked her again and she was gone!

Slightly irked I cheered myself up by finding another male a few steps away. He was right at the top of a Bramble right on the edge of the hedge for all to see but strangely on-one seemed interested in him? Bemused by this lack of excitement (every Brown Hairstreak is special to me) I went and picked the girls up. At least they were chuffed to see the two tired looking males as I pointed them out as we went past.

The cloud was really starting to thicken and it seemed like the threatened shower was definitely in the offing so my plan of attack was get back to the car, sit it out and then have a proper look round on my own as by now the masses were dissolving. On the way I bumped into a couple that had missed all the commotion earlier. They were certainly putting in the work checking the bushes thoroughly so I said if I found anything further along I’d give them a holler. Which I did a few moments later. As I’d rounded the far end of the hedge to walk back along the road/track to the car I’d again spotted an orange leaf that looked out of place. This time it was a lovely fresh female but she was playing hard to get being perched quite high up and set back a little from the edge of hedge. She also liked to hide behind Bramble buds so most of my shots she looks like a disembodied pair of wings. I was just saying that I was going to head off and wishing them luck when the heavens opened and the girls screeching legged it back to the car to escape the downpour.

After the downpour had passed we explored the area noting a few blues and a Comma round the back area as well as fly-by whites and plenty of Meadow Browns and hedge Browns. It was still a bit early it seemed for the Holly Blues as we didn’t see a single one. I was just thinking of calling it a day when I got a real surprise. There was a little brown blur. The flight looked a little like a Skipper; veering off in one direction before jinking back to another, but it was the wrong colour for Smessex? Cautiously I approached and I could see it was a Dingy, in August, my first ever second brood Dingy. I knew that it happened but seeing something for the first time always makes it more special. This seemed like as good a time as any to make the move home, leave on a high.

Welsh Trip 30-07-2107 Part 1

It seemed that the precedent had been set for his holiday; it was going to be one ‘of those’. Last year was stunning with plenty of trips out here and there wrapping things up nicely at Shipton before jetting off to Lisbon then popping out to Martin Down for a Clouded Yellow upon my return. This year it seems that whenever the weather was good I’d either be somewhere else where the weather wasn’t great or travelling through the good weather to bad. And so as we set off towards Aberaeron it was no surprise that the forecast was great at Shipton, in fact it was going to be great the whole way only it would get worse over the course of the week once in Wales and where I’d come from was going to stay pretty good.
On the journey up there were plenty of Whites on the verges which once past Swansea were awash with colour but try as I might even squinting as hard as I could I couldn’t magic any of the Brimstones into a Cloudy. When we arrived a Red Admiral flew across the garden to greet us and then we had to set to unpacking.

31-07 Monday
When we awoke on Monday the weather had started to roll in but it seemed to not be able to make up its mind and so there were glorious periods of sun intermingled with noticeably cooler greyer weather. After the girls had been swimming at the local pool, lunch had been obliterated and cleared away I nipped out for a short while to investigate the Lane and Rhu Goch. First round the corner and across the road to work my way along the flat top stretch of Rhu Goch. The tall Buddleia bush on a neighbours drive was packed with Red Admirals and I counted 5 and Green-veined White thought there could have been more on the garden side hidden from view. The clouded rolled in and it all went grey and the butterflies disappeared. I carried along checking the hedge hopefully and munching on Blackberries until the road started to drop and then I turned to make my way back. Then the sun came out and with it the butterflies. At first I noticed the buzzing of the bees and then as the temperature crept back up, the breeze slowed and the sun shone more strongly the butterflies started to join them. Whites at first and then what I’d been hoping for a lovely fresh Hedge Brown. She was resplendent with extra spots on her forewing, even with a tiny spot above each of the ‘eyes’ and a band of colour – mid way between the orange and brown colours of her livery – which ran along the length of the body to the tip of the hind wing.

After a brief sojourn (minus kids) with my wife into town I was back out in another of the brighter spells. This time I headed up the Lane only as far as the first farm entrance. A different neighbours Buddleia had another couple of Red Admirals and Large White that just refused to settle. The steep banks of the Hedge housed several Hedge Browns but only a few were well behaved enough to stop for a photo or two. I wasn’t that worried as I was able to give each a quick check and nothing stood out apart from a ‘normal’ female with a sizeable chunk missing from her hind wings- possible bird strike?

01-08 Tuesday
I had high hopes for today as we were off to Aberystwyth to walk Constitution Hill. This would mean the walk along the riverside path into town and then up the gorse and heather laden hillside with hopefully a Wall or maybe even a Grayling gracing the slate paths. However it wasn’t to be as it was cool enough for a fleece and the likelihood of rain was high enough for a raincoat as well. There were a couple of Specklies and a single Holly Blue on the walk in but nothing stopped. Then by the time we were in the foothills of Constitution Hill the cloud had covered the sun and the only Lepidoptera I saw was a Burnett Moth at the top. As we were coming down the heavens opened and there was a deluge for half an hour so we took refuge in the Vernacular railway station. Not great.

Once back and with the raincoats drying the sun poked his head out for a bit so I headed back to Rhu Goch. The Red Admirals were on the tall Buddleia, only four this time and all up high though ‘number 98’ did stray a little bit lower. There was also a Small White which had been something of a rarity this year, true they’ve been about but they’ve certainly been difficult to photograph. Further along the hedge is prime Hedgie habitat and set about looking for interesting variations. I relocated the female excessa from the day before but also found a slightly battered male which was very busy holding a territory from another male that wasn’t allowed to land. Further along was a Green-veined White and one of the Red Admirals had decided to leave the Buddleia for a bit.

On the return journey I found a cracking looking male which looked a little odd. It was only when I focused in that I realised that the ‘eye’ only had one and not two pupils. I don’t know what it is about this little area but it is really good for throwing up variants. The other Buddleia only two Red Admirals on it today but at least they were low down. It’s been a good year for this species.

Welsh Trip 30-07-2107 Part 2

02-08 Wednesday

The weather forecast said it was going to be terrible so we spent the day inside pottering about and getting various things done. It was only after lunch that we ‘risked’ going outside for some fresh air and a trip en masse up the Lane to the Dog Cottage. True is was cooler than it had been and it was a little grey but again the forecast was wildly inaccurate, I think I might bin off the weather apps. There were some Hedge Browns as we made our way along the Lane and round the corner. A Red Admiral was basking on a slate driveway in the weak sun and Swallows chittered from the overhead cables. About half way along the walk one of the Hedge Browns really caught my eye as it was so unusually marked. The usual white spots were elongated into streaks and there were accentuated by being surrounded by the usual orange background colour in rings against a much paler hind wing. Unfortunately it decided to sit at a difficult angle which meant that I couldn’t get the whole butterfly in focus in one shot. Still it’s pretty impressive looking.

03-08 Thursday

Having been incorrect all week the weather app was even worse as today was supposed to be the best day of the week, at least that’s what it was saying right up until the previous evening. Now in the morning it was looking distinctly wet and wild. There was a break in the weather in the morning so we quickly made our way over to Llanachaeron but it was still pretty dire. A bedraggled Meadow Brown and a fly by Peacock in the walled garden were the only butterflies and there was a nice moth sheltering in the kitchen courtyard but that was about it and as the mizzle became drizzle which became proper rain we headed back home. So the holiday ended in a whimper in scenes reminiscent of the very end of the season.

Oxford 25-07-2017

Having bagged some more Chalkhills and Grayling and Silver-spots for the season next on the list was a Brostreak. The weather looked great and today looked like being the only decent day of the week but instead of heading to Shipton to reach my target I was driving into the cloud and mist heading Northwards towards Oxford to visit friends. The butterfly prospects didn’t seem that great but I had a mooch around the garden in between cups of tea etc. The flower beds in the back held a couple of Hedge Browns, I’d watch as various Whites would enter over the ancient forge’s roof and work their way along the border before disappearing up and over the other end of the house and a Red Admiral stopped in very briefly, very high up on the tall wispy Buddleia. There were also a couple of Meadow Browns round the garden one of which landed and took nectar posing like a tired and worn Hedge Brown. In the front garden the Whites stopped fractionally longer but still not long enough for a decent shot. There was also a Hedge Brown here close to the dried up pond.

After lunch we took a walk there and back which provided me with the opportunity to see a greater range of species. There was quite a mixed bag with and despite the fact that the sun had come out and it was now nice and warm there was a strange almost autumnal feel to arts of the walk due to the butterflies seen, yet at other times it felt obvious that it was mid-summer. First we found a Red Admiral and a Comma, so far a bit autumnal. Then further along a tired looking Ringlet and Large Skipper dragged us back to mid-summer. On the return leg another worn Comma and a Peacock lent itself to the autumnal feel; strange as we were still in July and in previous years I’ve encountered Purple Emperors around now and fresh SWFs. Mind you it has been funny old year…

PS When I got back I happened to see that it had indeed been a fantastic day at Shipton – oh well some you win, some you lose…

Broughton Down 24-07-2017

With my success at ‘mopping up’ species the day previously I managed to wangle a few more hours out over at Broughton Down. It was still early for Silver-spots here as we’re normally a week or two behind areas further East from this site but then most things seem to have been early this year and with my holiday calendar getting rapidly filled by Mrs Wurzel it had to be now or never. So I was soon making my way up the steep hill and then down through the tree tunnel to the gate. One of the best things about this site is the way that you enter. From the shade under the canopy of large Beeches where you can only see a metre or so in front of you then you step out into the sun with the world dropping away beneath your feet. After a few minutes on site I’d seen numerous Meadow Browns, a few faded DGFs and a small female Common Blue. So small I had to check cell spot and look for the ‘arch’ on the underwing to confirm. Then something buzzed by me, my first Silver-spot of the year.

After this early success I made my way around the site. I started by walking back along the path and then started down the Down. A Painted Lady played hard to get for a while and while I was following Her I’d ended up at the bottom of the Down. I’d not been here before and so it made a change to visit Broughton and actually walk on level ground! All along the bottom the foliage was fresh and filled with a lovely selection of Blues and Brown Argus. There were also a nice selection of Vanessids with a single Red Admiral and two a piece of Comma and Peacock. All the butterflies were taking advantage of the slight brightening of the sun and so they were very difficult to approach.

My mooching took me right the way along the bottom of the site and back up the other side putting up many Meadow Browns and the occasional ripped or tired looking DGF. A couple more Silver-spots were about but slight temperature rise brought about by the sun peaking out from behind the clouds meant that they too were very flighty. I’d forgotten how difficult they are to follow in flight as they zip in one direction, pull a 120 and zip off in another before veering right round and behind you. Then they’re gone, often landing quite close to where you initially saw them but in the all the confusion you are totally oblivious to the fact that they’re right there in front of you. This happened numerous times on a short turfed area at the top of the down. I reckon there were at least 3 different males here as but that can only be an estimate. I decided to try my luck back off the path and so I was back where I’d started having completed a circular walk. I carried on as this little area with its path, small tracks and criss-crossing rabbit runs as well as plenty of nectar sources seems to be a haven for the Silver-spots but they little blighters were even harder to follow here as now they could weave in and out of the foliage. So again I carried on this time working about half way down the Down where the turf became more closely cropped and straight away I saw and managed to follow a Silver-spot. It landed and so elbow crawled across the turf so I could get close enough for a few photos and then a bit of video on my iPod. It was joined by a second which was more intent on nectering than basking but when the former caught sight of the latter there was a short scuffle and both slowly vanished from few in an ever decreasing golden blur.

I made my way up hill a little more and re-joined the main path heading towards the Mound and beyond. Along the way there were more of the usual suspects joined by a few Hedge Browns and a single Holly Blue. Down a steep sided ditch path up again and the field opened up. It was like I was at Martin Down. Even more so when a couple of male Chalkhills flew into view.

Time was running away from me and the sun was spending more and more time behind the clouds so I slowly started to wend my way homewards stopping on the way for another cracking little Silver-spot. After this I bumped into a couple who were looking for Silver-spots and so I said I’d follow the usual protocol of giving a holler should I see one. A few minutes later I was hollering as I almost stumbled onto one sitting backing on the edge of one of runs. He very nicely remained in position so both I and they were able to get some nice close up shots.

I made my way down the hill and homewards ruminating to myself about what I’d seen. Not one female but several males and this early in the season that boded well so I started humming an Ian Dury song…“Reasons to be cheerful”…

Godshill 23-07-2017

So the holiday had begun and with it some time to try and catch up with a few species that I hadn’t had the time to make trips for in this fast moving season. Seriously normally this time of year is quite relaxing but his year everything has come thick and fast that I’m behind not just with my PD but also with the butterflies. Hence today I took a mid-morning stroll to the triangle hot-spot at Godshill to try and find some Grayling. As I crossed the Cricket pitch and started down the stony hill tracks the sun was shining and Meadow Browns and Hedge browns did their best to distract me. A single Red Admiral buzzed be a few time as I continued on my way downhill hemmed in on other side by Bracken.

From here I forded the stream and started to walk along the hypotenuse of the triangle of paths here. Just to my left I spotted something which seemed too large to be a Meadow Brown. Also the flight was wrong, it was less flappy than a Meadow Brown as it threw in the occasional glide as well. I slowly moved across the through the heather and got into position. The clicking of my knees must have spooked the butterfly as it flashed the orange underwing at me as a warning. So I moved backwards and watched as a second flew into view and landed nearby. Again I managed to get in for a few shots. This seemed to be a productive area with a third and fourth all in this one little area. I was able to accurately count as two landed quite close to each other while another pair flew around behind me. I could have stayed here for the rest of the day but felt the need to check out the other areas to see if they held more Graylings.

The Adjacent of the triangle didn’t actually hold much a fact which wasn’t helped by the decreasing drop in sunny weather. Instead of blue skies and sun it was grey cloud and the odd drop of rain in the air. All I could muster was a purple bar moth and a few Hedge Browns and Meadow Browns, even the Dragonflies were keeping a low profile. At one point I even had to sit out a small sharp shower by rolling under a Gorse bush. My trekking round brought me to a wide cleared area with the occasional patch of Cotton Grass, an area which looks good for Silver-studs next season, though none were seen today. After this I found myself back within view of the Hypotenuse and so started back across the brush towards the main path. I was about a hundred yards away when butterfly went up from under my feet. I stalked it and there was another Grayling. Whilst watching this one take off and fly free I spotted a different one, really contrastingly marked. After this I decided to call it a day as I had to race back to pick my daughter up from a sleep over. As the law of sod decreed as I reached the car the sun had come back out…oh well Grayling down, Silver-spots next…

PS There are a few ‘Where’s the Grayling’ shots at the end of the slideshow…

The Devenish 16-07-2017

Having spent time the day before out at the Lavender Farm I felt the need to get out once again and see what was out there. So I packed the girls into the car (one Padawan and one Oracle) and we headed out to the Devenish. As I pulled into the car park The Oracle gave a positive for Chalkhill but not for Clouded yellow, hopefully not a forebear of things to come and with her prediction cast she led the way up through the wood and over the gates. My young Padawan demonstrated her gate traversing skills which she had learnt here on a previous visit and once we were in the Orchid Meadow they set up camp by the stile; one reading some Teen-Vampire- Roman God- Monster story and the other the Beano. Instead I set about mooching and scanning across the flower tops for butterflies teetering on the top. The first I encountered was a Small Copper which turned out ot be the first of many. A tired looking Brown Argus fluttered past and put up a Common Blue. The odd Hedge Brown and Meadow Brown flew by and there was also a roving Brimstone and Small White. So far pretty much the usual with perhaps the exception of the Copper. As I carried on scanning a white flag caught my attention and as I approached it became apparent that it wasn’t one but two butterflies; a pair of Common Blues in cop.

I started to make my way back to the girls when a ghostly blue drifted across the meadow, appearing from higher up on the side of the Down. It was my first Chalkhill but as luck would have it as I moved in to take some shots the cloud covered the sun and I didn’t really get to capture the true colours and the shots felt a bit washed out.

After a quick check in with the girls I headed up the track and the steep path right up the side of the Down. I must be getting older as my knees sounded like Castanets as I took the ‘stairs’ cut into the chalk. Once at the top I then took a left turn and followed the track that cut diagonally across the side of the down. Another Chalkhill flew by, male again and then I found another Copper, slightly tired looking but still holding on. A Brown Argus caught my eye and when I turned back to the Copper it had moved slightly and rejuvenated in the interim.

As I started back up on the far side of the Down and then worked my way along the top the precious little else about and I didn’t see anything other than Meadow Browns right up to the pint when I started my descent back down towards the Orchid Meadow when I was joined by several Whites, a male Chalkhill and yet another Small Copper.

As I been gone for a bit I checked in once again and my Padawan had finished the Beano and so joined me in exploring the far end of the Meadow. She spent a lot of the time collecting burrs and then calling me back to ‘point something out’ to me. This apparent interest was all a ploy and I found myself covered in little prickly/sticky green cones with little L in stitches. Mind you on the plus side her eye sight is sharper than mine now and she quickly pointed out one of the smallest Brown Argus that I’ve ever seen. It was more akin to the smallest of Small Blues in size.

As we headed back guess what we saw? Yep another Small Copper. There must have been an emergence of them here as this was number 5 for the day. After years of struggling to see the odd one at a site to come to this small reserve and find 5 really easily was a pleasure.

As we were leaving another or the first Chalkhilll put in an appearance amongst the ubiquitous Meadow Browns but again the light was weird and it always looked washed out again. I’ll have to have another try for this species. Once we broke from the tree tunnel into the field on the other side the sun ahd come back out and I was tempted to head back but there were two tired ladies that decided that they were going home and so I was outvoted. They did let me have five minutes in the final field though where the Ragwort(?) proved to be very popular. There was a lovely Brown Argus but unfortunately I couldn’t quite get it into the shot with the the other selection of species and so I settled for an individual shot of it and then a four species shot to account for the others.

It really was time to go and so we bundled back in the car. The Oracle was correct again and the Padawan had learnt how to spot a Brown Argus as well as how to infuriate dad…I’m still finding burrs now!

Lavender Farm 15-07-2017

Having discovered the Lavendar Farm at Landford earlier in the year I awaited the warmer weather that would bring on the Lavender so that I could; a. see the fields in all their glory and b. have another gurt lush Cream Tea. So it was great that the time had arrived and my mum and dad came with us to sample the delights as well. This meant that first we dealt with activity ‘b’ and it was as good as the last time with lashings of clotted cream and fragrant tea and a welcome escape from the drizzle that had set in. With the weather becoming drier and warmer we then took to wandering the paths taking in the heady air and using up some of the excess calories from the tea.

Through the Lavender a Red Admiral flew and a few whites fluttered by. At the top end there was a small patch that had been planted up with garden flowers, arranged in rows it looked like a floral version of an allotment with rows of Dahlias and the like instead of rows of carrots and potatoes. The only problem here was that there were no paths offering access to the butterflies that seemed to have a penchant for this little space. I watched as a couple of whites flew up the field making a bee-line for the flower patch only to disappear once they reached it somewhere in amongst the multitude of blooms. In the end I took to walking round the margins and trying to spot the butterflies on the edges a trick which seemed to work as I soon found a Hedge Brown, Comma and ripped and torn Meadow Brown.

We then made our way back towards the bottom on the Lavender field and while my mum and wife sat and chatted, my dad had a nap the girls set out to explore and play in and around the wild flower garden. This left me free to have a bit of a nurdle by myself. Apart from a territorial Hedge Brown that I could keep going back to the only other butterflies were a few whites a few of which eventually landed. There were also some interesting bees that that had burrowed into the stone centre piece in one of the small areas of garden. They had three white markings on their heads which gave them the look of a Marvel character. Despite there being only a few butterflies about it didn’t really matter as it was such a peaceful and meditative place to be that I could feel myself unwinding which each step and as we left I gave a huge contented sigh.

Before we left we had quick look in the greenhouses at the plants for sale and I came across a tiny little fly – at least I think it’s a fly and not a micro moth as it only has one pair of wings?

Search for Lulworths 08-07-2017

It had been a while since our last meet-up and things had really moved on a pace so when Philzoid and I started hatching a plan for another Big Trip there were only a few options that would offer either of us new species for the year. We went for the most obvious – down to the Isle of Purbeck for Lulworths.
Before we knew it we were bombing along hoping to miss the Grockles, literally flying over my favourite hill and taking in the heathland views. We stopped off at the Corfe Castle car park for possibly the easiest year tick ever. Nine steps from the car and on the steep bank there was an undeniable Lulworth, the crescent moon markings looking a little like a welcoming smile. Job done again and now to relax and enjoy. We ascended the steep bank/cliff and strolled about the top area finding Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Hedge Browns, Meadow Browns as well as the occasional Smessex and the odd Lulworth. The Steam engine puffed by adding to the nostalgic and vintage feel that came from being surrounded by a plethora of butterflies.

We carried on chuffed by our early success and made our way through Corfe towards Swanage and arrived in the car park at Durslton without a Grockle slowing us down once. We had to go to the Castle to get the ticket but on the way we got lost. One of the little tracks enticed us with a Red Admiral so we mooched down and followed it through a tunnel of trees adding Holly Blue and a Specklie before the tunnel opened up into a small field hemmed in by Brambles and cliff face. Here there was a Peacock, a Silver-washed bombed around along with a H.Comma. In a low patch of Bramble a Small Copper put in an appearance and in the grasses a Smessex, Large Skipper and a Lulworth were all present. We could have stayed here much longer but I remembered that we still hadn’t gotten a ticket for the car.

Coming out from the Castle there was a Large White and another Red Admiral which did their best to keep us from our main quarry but we overcame these distractions and cut up the top fields. As we were heading into the main field our way was blocked by a Wall. It was acting in the usual fashion but it kept coming back to the same spot between the gate posts. We guessed that it was holding a territory and so we waited a while to see if we were correct and also to try for a few shots. He did keep returning but always that little bit too far away for a decent shot.

This creep and wait, creep and wait had led to us reaching the top field where we spent a good while wandering and wondering. There was a profusion wild flowers and though we were sticking to the tracks butterflies would erupt from every footfall, the browns and Skippers were everywhere. The warm sun was making identification difficult as they’d be off in the blink of an eye in a dizzying, zig-zagging blur. We settled into the ‘grab shot’ mentality finding an egg laying Small, a mating pair of Small Skippers and an Essex via this method. There were Lulworths around but they were much harder to pick out in the dense sward.

We ended up in a small patch sheltered form the onshore breeze by a low drystone wall and a ring of Brambles. As I started to pour a coffee I took in my surroundings, the odd Brown and then an almost mustard yellow Skipper. A very fresh male Lulworth. When Smessex are fresh they look almost metallic orange, gloss coated whereas this Lulworth looked like it had been thickly covered in powder paint. He was cracking. Another male was more the traditional olive colour and kept hanging around and there was also an attempted ‘menage a trois’ of Small Skippers.

After lunch we headed down the hill to the coastal path. On the way Common Blues, more Lulworths and a Small Blue and Small Heath were added to the tally as well as a couple of DGFs. Along the path some we found both Spider Wasps and Bee Wolves and the ‘gully’, which I have fond memories of form my youthful birding days also turned out to be pretty good for butterflies. Although it didn’t produce the hoped for Cloudy or Painted Lady there was another Small Blue and a striking Small Copper. We completed the walk up the slope with Lulworths and Large Skipper on one side and Guillemots and Razorbills on the other.

We could have given up there but we headed back to the small field we’d started at taking in a glorious Peacock and relocating the Silver-washed. In the end we drove home with a dally tally of 24 species, and this was without Grayling, Clouded Yellow or Painted Lady all of which were possibilities. What a day – again!

What a Day! Bentley Wood 02-07-2017

What with one thing or another; work, weather, the burning desire of Mrs Wurzel for a white, minimalist house, I’d become aware that I was missing out on a lot of species. The weekend wasn’t looking great either with family business and painting all day Saturday and more painting and seeing friends on Sunday. Luckily I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours break. Thinking about the five species that I wanted to see (Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary) Bentley Wood seemed like the best bet to pick up two maybe three of my targets and maybe even my first Hedge Brown of 2017? So I rounded up the girls, packed some snacks and we set off. On the journey over I spied a Red Admiral and a Comma and there were numerous Whites as well which boded well I thought…

At the car park a few Large Skippers messed around about on the Brambles, a H.Comma flew across and a Specklie went and hid in the in the shade. As we set off down the main track Ringlets and Meadow Browns arose like smoke out of the verges and the occasional golden blur of a Larsmessex added a bit of colour, like flickering flames. In amongst this a ghostly figure appeared, my first Silver-washed of the year and a Valesina to boot! She didn’t hang around long though and so was soon drifting back into the shadows. I was still reeling from this piece of luck when a small grey butterfly flew in a U-Shape pattern, from high down low and back up again to perch on a trailing branch of an Oak. As I focused my bins it resolved to become my first Purple Hairstreak OF 2017. I turned to pint it out to the girls only to spy another flutter down and land within striking distance. A few shots later it flew off in the same direction as its predecessor. I could have packed up then and there, job done, two of my targets seen, photographed and in the bag but my Spidey senses were tingling. I reckoned this could become one of those epic days…

We carried on down towards the Cross-roads, scanning both high and the deck. Silver-washed Frits joined the Ringlets and Meadow Browns and occasional golden blur of a Smessex. Something cut across the path and landed on the deck – but it was a Red Admiral. As I cautiously approached to try for a few shots it shuffled away crabwise rather than flying away. I stopped and it stopped, I approached and it shuffled off sideways. Little L found this most amusing and she kept looking back longingly after we’d overtaken it with a wide berth. At the Cross-roads we had a decision to make. Left or right? We went left down towards Donkey Copse. We’d only taken a few steps down our new path when a Fritillary did a few circuits. It was slightly smaller and more rounded than a Silver-Washed and appeared darker orange too. It landed and instead of a painting that had run the undersides had clearly marked spots. I managed only a couple of shots before it flew and they were enough to make me want more so a trip to Martin Down might be needed to catch up with some more DGFs.

On down the path we went, the odd White and Brimstone standing out amongst the orangey blurs of Ringlets, Smessex and Meadow Browns. An Emperor…dragonfly buzzed us for a bit and a White Admiral out in an appearance, scything through the air, gliding and turning through 180 with the tiniest flick of its wings. I’m always struck by how long its wingspan seems and also by how dominant the white markings appear when its’ in flight. At the corner the girls set up camp in the shade and we had lunch. While they enjoyed a leisurely lunch I would take a few mouthfuls, nip off along the tracks still chewing, looking for butterflies before returning to repeat. This worked well and I managed to find my first Hedgie and then photograph my second of the year as well as picking up a few more Silver-washed and seeing the odd silvery grey Purple Hairstreak up in the canopy.

Lunch munched we made our way back to the Crossroads. A H.Comma came down and stayed on the deck, the DGF was in a similar spot but we moved on quickly as a Deerfly kept landing slightly ahead of us and eying us for it’s lunch! We carried on over the Crossroads making our way to the memorial. A new Peacock was a lovely colourful addition to the growing day tally even if it did hang around in the shade. As I turned from this K pointed out another butterfly. This was large, with contrasting stripes and was flying more slowly and determinedly than a White Admiral it also had a more ‘batlike’ shape. It was investigating a Sallow flying slowly up the tree. Unfortunately it mustn’t have liked what it saw as it kept on rising and disappeared over the surrounding Oaks. So no photo again (this is the last of the three year cycle so next year one on the deck is a definite) but an audience with His Nibbs none the less, although judging by the behvaiour perhaps an audience with Her Nibbs would be more appropriate? That made it 5 ticks for the year and 4 /5 of my targets…Chuffed I rallied the girls to make the final push towards the ‘memorial’. There was the slightest of slim chances that I could get my final target but what the hell, even a glimpse of a dark, square cut butterfly high above in a Wycth Elm would do. On the way a Red Admiral did a lovely impersonation of an Emperor, buzzing and circling us a few times before coming down on the deck and walking proboscis quivering towards a large pile of dog poo.

Almost immediately on reaching the stand of Elm Suckers there was indeed a dark, square cut butterfly high up in the canopy. Job done! I couldn’t believe it all of my targets found. I poured myself a celebratory coffee and enjoyed the butterflies passing by; Red Admiral, Comma, SWF, Ringlets, Smessex, Large Skipper, Meadow Browns and a White Admiral, as well as catching up with another enthusiast. He headed off five minutes or so previously and I was just heading offski myself so I did one last scan. There on a low Bramble was a grey ‘shark fin’. As the butterfly pirouetted the white ‘W’ and tails hove into view. My first ever photos of a Bentley Whitter. I called the girls and little L had a new favourite butterfly. After a bit it started feeding too far in the shadows and then fluttered up towards the tallest sucker. An ‘arete’ Ringlet popped in and then out as a distraction and when I looked up from getting a few shots there was the same/another Whitter back.

The journey back from here passed in a bit of blur with more of the same species but to be honest I was a bit dazzled and so didn’t notice much. The fresh Peacock managed to briefly lure me out of my daze but I quickly reverted to allowing all the images to pass through my minds’ eye again. Six year ticks, photos of 5 including of two Hairsteak species including a Bentley Whitter and all in a few hours - what a day!

The Little and Large Show…or Daneway Banks 18-06-2017

Once I got back from the epic day with the Heath Frits I poured myself a glass of medicinal, settled down on the sofa with Mrs Wurzel and took in some Netflix. I didn’t really watch the show (Anne with an E?) instead I rewound the memories of the day and relived the glories. I then started musing about what to do next…I realised that what with one thing and another I wouldn’t be able to make any big trips for at least the next two weeks, I may be able to fit in a quick trip to Bentley but that would be about it. Hence come Sunday morning I was making my way to Daneway Banks with the bank of Brownie Points seriously depleted (two trips in a weekend SHOCK). I was trying to make it before the temperature got too high and the butterflies gave it up for the day. Almost as soon as I got on site I spotted the slatey grey-blue of arion; it put up a second and they momentarily went into a pitched battle. When they broke apart I followed one which flew up the bank to the more level ground beyond where it perched just long enough to get a record shot. Job done I could relax and enjoy the butterflies more as now the trip wouldn’t be a write-off in terms of mileage/petrol.

I followed the path along the top towards the diagonal path that bisects the reserve and rises, breaking through the trees to the top meadow and the Dew Pond. On the way there were Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites and occasionally a darker Ringlet fluttering around busily. As I crossed from my path to another I spied a grey silver blob, far too large too to be a grass head, it was a mating pair. I managed just a couple of shots before they broke and they were swiftly followed by a second pair. Or it could have been the same pair reconnecting. Another patrolling male dropped in occasionally to chance his arm at spoiling the party without any success.

A fourth Large Blue visited the area, missing out the mating pair and flying differently. It flew with more of a search pattern, seeming to seek out purple flowers and ignoring all the others. It settled and started thrusting it’s abdomen around and into the Thyme it had alighted on. It was interesting to witness the different flight patterns of the genders. On one stop it was just taking nectar and so I held my head over it casting it into shadow. This trick worked as she opened up so I was able to get an open wing shot to add to the days’ collection. From here I made my way back to where the mating pair had been and followed the diagonal track up and through the trees to the top meadow. The temperature had crept up a few more degrees and a lot of the butterflies were flying more frantically. I tried the shade technique once more but it didn’t yield such good results and so instead I focused on closed wing shots instead.

I worked my way back to the little copse near the entrance and paused here a while amidst the Large Skippers and a territorial Specklie to have a coffee and get out of the heat. Feeling cooler I set out for my final once over as the butterflies were getting silly frantic as the mercury continued to rise. I followed a female and tried some in flight shots, flicking between Sport and Macro as she’d fly then settled and feed/egg lay. A tiny darker butterfly crossed paths with the Large Blue and so I followed it. As it settled I realised I was experiencing my very own Little and Large show. I’d spent time with Eddie and now here was Syd. Feeling chuffed at seeing the smallest and largest of the British Blues I headed home. As I enjoyed the shade of the canopy on the walk back down the hill to my car I realised that I’d seen a reasonable range of butterflies butterflies including; Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Specklie and an unidentified Smessex but I’d only photographed two species all day! Here’s to Little and Large.

Big Trip Number 3 East Blean 17-06-2017

So where to head next – that was the question? There were several options but these had been whittled down to two options – Large Blues or Heaths. As the temperatures looked like being in the mid to high twenties with strong sun Large Blues would be bombing around and we wouldn’t be guaranteed a mating pair so we plumbed for Heath Fritillaries (and having read David M’s PD since this actually turned out to be the best decision). So nice and early I set off to Philzoids’ and on arrival he presented me with several nice Moth ticks, so a great starter. We then changed to his car an using a mixture of Philzoids' recall of traffic reports and Googlemaps and Dr Nightmares dulcet tones form my Satnav we made it to East Blean in surprisingly good time. As we pulled into the car park I spied two small brownish butterflies. Hopping out of the car I confirmed them as Heath Fritillaries – job done, time to go home! In amongst getting cameras ready and boots on we racked up at least 3 different Heaths, a Meadow Brown and a brilliantly orange and massive Comma. We could have stayed here all day but instead we set off to explore the reserve itself.

We started off in the small section where we found our first Frits two years ago and here there were plenty fluttering around more weakly than their larger cousins but making up for speed in stamina. They could fly and fly. Also they had an annoying habit of looking like they were about to land but then not doing so, a bit like Orange-tips. Also around in this section were Meadow Browns, a Large White and Ringlets. A real bonus was my first White Admiral of 2017. Although it was very flighty it was still a joy to behold as it would pick up speed, slicing through the air and then glide. Just before turning sharply it would seem to hang in the air from a price of string like an Airfix model. Due to the sun and the heat all the butterflies were very flighty so we moved on through the wood, the Bracken along the side of the track wold occasionally hold a Heath or Meadow Brown or Ringlet. We also managed a record shot of a White Admiral which chose to take nectar from a Bramble in the shade of a small tree.

The next section we came across had been coppiced even more recently and there were only a couple of Heaths here. The White Admiral reappeared and seemed to be using a certain tree as a sentry post. It would fly off and quarter the clearing or maybe challenge a second White Admiral before landing back on an adjacent branch on the same tree. I was chuffed to witness this behaviour but even more chuffed as now I had two sets of White Admiral shots – two more than last year!

We then slowly headed back to the car after a nurdle through various section of the wood, some of which looked pretty overgrown and in need of a coppice. Whilst in the first section we’d checked out the mercury climbed even higher, so high that the butterflies only started landing for the briefest of refuelling stops. In fact apart from a courting couple most shots were a bit smash and grab. In fact some butterflies seemed to be actively seeking shad, landing on the lower leaves of the Hornbeam and so sheltered by the leaves above like a sun parasol. Just as we were tearing ourselves away we encountered a White Admiral (the first we’d seen?) which again seemed to be holding territory.

We retired for lunch but the butterflies were never far away in fact we were both able to take shots while munching as the butterflies would take nectar in the Brambles behind the car and there were also visits from Large Skippers as well as a White Admiral and H.Comma. We then checked out the little section by the entrance to the reserve where there was a profusion of Common Cow-wheat. As the area was more shaded with shivelight the butterflies were less flighty and we also had a few fleeting clouds which further helped to settle the butterflies. We also found another White Admiral holding territory and I was able to get a little bit closer than the last time; ‘if it continues like this then I’ll eventually end up right in one’s grill’ I thought to myself.

We then headed back into the wood via a different path from the car park which eventually ended up back at the second coppiced area we’d visited earlier where the White Admiral was still holding court. As second flew in and it seemed to be duelling before they broke and our one returned to its’ tree. Another White Admiral or the same one came in again and ‘our’ WA took off and approached like a Spitfire, all guns blazing heading into the melee but when it reached the ‘invader’ it’s behaviour was different. It followed behind flew higher and overtook and then dropped lower and hung back, circling the ‘invader’ repeatedly a bit like a Silver Washed courtship. We stayed in the same place upwards of quarter of an hour and the White Admiral would fly out and come back again and again. It enabled me to get some of the best and closest underside shots, capturing the orangey-red along with the bluish tinge of the abdomen.

Somehow we tore ourselves away and set off for Wrecclesham with the vague hope of picking up a faded Glannie. The field area of the site is still in good nick but the pond has gone and the track and surrounding verges are ruined, tarmacked over and ripped to shreds. We saw numerous Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns and Large Skippers and I also saw my first Small Skipper of the year along with other highlights like a fresh looking Common Blue and 8 Small Tortoiseshells – a supposed Surrey rarity! Unfortunately we sought in vain for the Glannies and headed for home hot, tired and thirsty. After a stop-off in the clubhouse where the barman broke the world record for slowest pulled pint of Shandy we continued homeward, still tired but thirst slaked and now cooler. The final part of the trip was bombing back West down the M3 and A303 which was spent remembering the cracking butterflies we’d seen – what a fantastic day…Large Blues next?

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