WALES 2019
14th August - Getting there...
The first day of the trip and low and behold the family Wurzel are going to Wales so it rains. The first day was spent driving and then unpacking and then making the evening meal so no butterflies. Still if the weather report is supposed to be true tomorrow looks good…
15th August - Llanachaeron
This time the site was actually open which was a bonus! While we waited for the Outlaws to arrive we watched the birds on the feeder – all three tits were present and a very tame juvenile Robin hung around the car. When the others arrived we set off on the woodland walk which runs over the bridge, hugs its way along the river and then doubles back up slightly higher up the hillside before dropping back down to the bridge. Along the way we were followed by a Dipper which at one pint became a pair. It was great to see it bobbing on the stones and watch as it swam through the shallows between some rocks. Once in the wood a Raven ‘Gronked’ overhead a few times and Nuthatches made at least 3 of their calls.
We then continued the walk on and into the gardens a Painted Lady flew across the tops of the pigsties and Swallows zoomed about overhead but I wanted to get into the Walled Garden as this is usually where most of the butterflies are to be found. As my daughter pushed open the gate/door there was a Painted Lady to greet us. This side often has few butterflies but is still worth checking out and indeed there were a few other bits and pieces. There were two Whites, a fly away Peacock and an unusual Hedgie – only my second of the year! On the other side with the glasshouses I spied at least 2 Painted Ladies and 2 Peacocks at least at the top of a large yellow flowered shrub and as usual the Lavender was really productive. There were 2 whites and 4 Painted Ladies a bush approx. 80cm in diameter. Brilliant but also a bit of a pain – which one to focus on first?
During lunch I watched a GVW and SW fly around the bushes as I munched away. I noticed what I thought was a leaf detach itself from a tree and glide down coming to rest in among some Bracken. I carried on eating and replaying the falling leaf and it didn’t seem quite right. As soon as I’d finished and out things away I strolled over and had a look at the Bracken where I thought it would be. I didn’t see any likely looking leaves and then as I turned round what had been a shadow became a side on view of a Painted Lady.
After lunch we toured the house and while the girls beat the carpets in the courtyard (if only they completed chores at home with such enthusiasm) I walked round the four walls. There were a couple of moths that will need identification later, a green Cricket and also a Meadow Brown down on the cobbles. As we leave a Holly Blue and Specklie each put in a brief appearance so as not to feel left out I suppose.
Because of the unpredictable weather in Wales when visiting my Outlaws I’ve learnt to make hay while the sun shines and so once back and unpacked and with the girls happily playing in the garden I set off up The Lane. I stopped on the end house and checked out the Buddleia first off but there was only a single Peacock and it was on the far side, too far away for any shots. Resolving to check this out again later I carried on up the Lane but my progress was slowed multiple times as it seems that the Lane is back to Hedge Brown Heaven. I’d end up stopping every 10 paces or so for another one or two Hedgies – meticulously checking and counting the number of spots if possible. It was a joy to see so many of this species, they’re having a cracking year. The Hedge Brown fest was interrupted occasionally first by a Painted Lady at the Corner Cottage and then by a further 3 Painted Ladies that were hanging around on the corner of the track down to Middle Farm. On the return back to the house the same species were seen and back at the Buddleia a Red Admiral had joined the Peacock.
However I didn’t stop there. When I got back rather than heading in for a coffee I stayed out and checked out the Verbena at the side of the house. I was astounded to see a Red Admiral a Painted Lady and 5 Small Torts, brilliant! Now I could retire for the day…
We then continued the walk on and into the gardens a Painted Lady flew across the tops of the pigsties and Swallows zoomed about overhead but I wanted to get into the Walled Garden as this is usually where most of the butterflies are to be found. As my daughter pushed open the gate/door there was a Painted Lady to greet us. This side often has few butterflies but is still worth checking out and indeed there were a few other bits and pieces. There were two Whites, a fly away Peacock and an unusual Hedgie – only my second of the year! On the other side with the glasshouses I spied at least 2 Painted Ladies and 2 Peacocks at least at the top of a large yellow flowered shrub and as usual the Lavender was really productive. There were 2 whites and 4 Painted Ladies a bush approx. 80cm in diameter. Brilliant but also a bit of a pain – which one to focus on first?
During lunch I watched a GVW and SW fly around the bushes as I munched away. I noticed what I thought was a leaf detach itself from a tree and glide down coming to rest in among some Bracken. I carried on eating and replaying the falling leaf and it didn’t seem quite right. As soon as I’d finished and out things away I strolled over and had a look at the Bracken where I thought it would be. I didn’t see any likely looking leaves and then as I turned round what had been a shadow became a side on view of a Painted Lady.
After lunch we toured the house and while the girls beat the carpets in the courtyard (if only they completed chores at home with such enthusiasm) I walked round the four walls. There were a couple of moths that will need identification later, a green Cricket and also a Meadow Brown down on the cobbles. As we leave a Holly Blue and Specklie each put in a brief appearance so as not to feel left out I suppose.
Because of the unpredictable weather in Wales when visiting my Outlaws I’ve learnt to make hay while the sun shines and so once back and unpacked and with the girls happily playing in the garden I set off up The Lane. I stopped on the end house and checked out the Buddleia first off but there was only a single Peacock and it was on the far side, too far away for any shots. Resolving to check this out again later I carried on up the Lane but my progress was slowed multiple times as it seems that the Lane is back to Hedge Brown Heaven. I’d end up stopping every 10 paces or so for another one or two Hedgies – meticulously checking and counting the number of spots if possible. It was a joy to see so many of this species, they’re having a cracking year. The Hedge Brown fest was interrupted occasionally first by a Painted Lady at the Corner Cottage and then by a further 3 Painted Ladies that were hanging around on the corner of the track down to Middle Farm. On the return back to the house the same species were seen and back at the Buddleia a Red Admiral had joined the Peacock.
However I didn’t stop there. When I got back rather than heading in for a coffee I stayed out and checked out the Verbena at the side of the house. I was astounded to see a Red Admiral a Painted Lady and 5 Small Torts, brilliant! Now I could retire for the day…
17th August – Aberystwyth
So the 16th came and went and it was wet and blustery all day, steadily getting wetter as the day wore on, in fact the complete opposite of the forecast. Still the girls enjoyed a swim and I was able to catch up on some bits and bobs. This morning the weather was looking much better – still blustery but warmer and brighter so we risked a trip to Aberystwyth. After braving Morrison’s we headed off towards the town taking the River Path.
Before we were on the path proper we walked alongside a soak away field and in the corner nearest the path a huge Buddleia (or several) towered. It looked just like a high rise made for butterflies so I let the others walk on and spent a few minutes seeing what I could see. A Red Admiral caught my eye as it was so contrasting with the lilac of the florets. And then my eye was in and I started counting. At least I tried to as I walked round the base of the bush Painted Ladies would erupt, like tangerine Meadow Browns, from beneath my feet. A few Peacocks were interspersed with the PLs and Red Admirals on the bush itself. As I got to the far end of the bush a butterfly erupted Meadow Brown style from the grass and it was actually a Meadow Brown. There was also a White which on closer inspection became a Small one. So in about three minutes I’d seen singletons of Small White and Meadow Browns, three Peacocks, three Red Admirals and at least 9 Painted Ladies.
As I ran to catch up with the rest of the family another couple of Painted Ladies flew from the Blackberries that lined the path and down by the skate park a Green-veined White caught my eye in amid the Willow Herb as well as a secret Peacock too far back for my cameras reach. After this I put my camera away as the nectar sources available would soon be next to none as we entered into Aber town proper. As usual when I’ve done this the butterflies pop up in unusual places. This time it was a brace of Painted Ladies on the smallest of Buddleia. It was just two sticks, two florets and delusions of grandeur but it held two butterflies somehow.
On Saturday in Aberystwyth the buses are free – a brilliant idea to try and boost trade and get cars off the road and also because it meant that while the others waited the 20 minutes for the bus I could walk swiftly back to the Buddleia to see what else had turned up. I didn’t see anything until after the Skate Park when a Comma landed just long enough for me to only contemplate a few shots. There was also a Painted Lady which was feasting on Blackberries. I pressed on as I the 6 kg of muesli in my rucksack was slowing me down a bit more than I thought it would.
When I got to the Buddleia the Painted Ladies were again taking off from the ground which made counting difficult. The wind added to the complication of the counting procedure as well as the photography as almost as soon as a butterfly would land it would pick up and knock them off of their perch! Still I carried on seeing Red Admiral, Peacocks, another Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell. IN fact the whole bush was seemingly alive with butterflies. The Red Admirals had taken Obi Wan’s advice and occupied the high ground whilst the Peacocks straddled the middle to lower stretches, the Small Tort never ventured above chest height and the Painted Ladies acted like the jezebels they could be named after taking nectar wherever they chose.
I was almost all the way back to Morrison’s where I was meeting the others and contemplating whether I’d managed any decent shots of the Small Tort when I spied a second sitting perfectly posed for me.
When we got back the sun was still shining and so I after getting the things in and put away I checked the Verbena round the corner – today only 4 Small Torts and 2 Painted Ladies.
Before we were on the path proper we walked alongside a soak away field and in the corner nearest the path a huge Buddleia (or several) towered. It looked just like a high rise made for butterflies so I let the others walk on and spent a few minutes seeing what I could see. A Red Admiral caught my eye as it was so contrasting with the lilac of the florets. And then my eye was in and I started counting. At least I tried to as I walked round the base of the bush Painted Ladies would erupt, like tangerine Meadow Browns, from beneath my feet. A few Peacocks were interspersed with the PLs and Red Admirals on the bush itself. As I got to the far end of the bush a butterfly erupted Meadow Brown style from the grass and it was actually a Meadow Brown. There was also a White which on closer inspection became a Small one. So in about three minutes I’d seen singletons of Small White and Meadow Browns, three Peacocks, three Red Admirals and at least 9 Painted Ladies.
As I ran to catch up with the rest of the family another couple of Painted Ladies flew from the Blackberries that lined the path and down by the skate park a Green-veined White caught my eye in amid the Willow Herb as well as a secret Peacock too far back for my cameras reach. After this I put my camera away as the nectar sources available would soon be next to none as we entered into Aber town proper. As usual when I’ve done this the butterflies pop up in unusual places. This time it was a brace of Painted Ladies on the smallest of Buddleia. It was just two sticks, two florets and delusions of grandeur but it held two butterflies somehow.
On Saturday in Aberystwyth the buses are free – a brilliant idea to try and boost trade and get cars off the road and also because it meant that while the others waited the 20 minutes for the bus I could walk swiftly back to the Buddleia to see what else had turned up. I didn’t see anything until after the Skate Park when a Comma landed just long enough for me to only contemplate a few shots. There was also a Painted Lady which was feasting on Blackberries. I pressed on as I the 6 kg of muesli in my rucksack was slowing me down a bit more than I thought it would.
When I got to the Buddleia the Painted Ladies were again taking off from the ground which made counting difficult. The wind added to the complication of the counting procedure as well as the photography as almost as soon as a butterfly would land it would pick up and knock them off of their perch! Still I carried on seeing Red Admiral, Peacocks, another Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell. IN fact the whole bush was seemingly alive with butterflies. The Red Admirals had taken Obi Wan’s advice and occupied the high ground whilst the Peacocks straddled the middle to lower stretches, the Small Tort never ventured above chest height and the Painted Ladies acted like the jezebels they could be named after taking nectar wherever they chose.
I was almost all the way back to Morrison’s where I was meeting the others and contemplating whether I’d managed any decent shots of the Small Tort when I spied a second sitting perfectly posed for me.
When we got back the sun was still shining and so I after getting the things in and put away I checked the Verbena round the corner – today only 4 Small Torts and 2 Painted Ladies.
18th Dolaucothi
Not an awful lot of butterflies today. The morning was spent panning for gold and then getting kitted out with hard hats and head lamps for visiting the mines. This is a brilliant National Trust site although not really great for butterflying. Still I took my camera on the circular walk that takes in the old Roman Fort and Gold mine. There were a couple of really nice looking Specklies but they just wouldn’t sit still. As we worked down the far side of the hill spied some movement on the thistles that grew through the foundations for the old workings. When I got nearer I could see that it was a Painted Lady and on the next patch there were another 3 one of which was the newest looking that I’d seen this season.
Apart from a Small White as we got back into the mine that was it butterfly wise but still a cracking day.
Apart from a Small White as we got back into the mine that was it butterfly wise but still a cracking day.
19th The Lane
The weather report suggested that there would be full sun later in the afternoon and so during the morning I just mooched about and the girls went swimming. After lunch the sun was out more than it was in and so I headed out and up the Lane with the intention of counting the Hedgies. I checked out the Buddleia on the end house first and it again seemed to be a little oasis for butterflies. I spotted a Panted Lady first, then a Small Tort followed by two Red Admirals all in a line at roughly the same height up in the shrub. However try as I might I couldn’t get a landscape shot that featured all four butterflies in it. As I was trying for one something small and blue caught my eye as it hove into view. At first I thought it was a Holly Blue but when it eventually landed in an accessible place (i.e. not round the corner and actually in the garden) I could see that it was actually a Common Blue. As a car went by all the butterflies were spooked and took off en masse. Luckily the Painted Lady landed down low, flattening itself on the boundary pillar and trying its best to look like a funny coloured piece of Lichen. The Small Tort however realising that wherever it landed it would stick out like a sore thumb plumped for just sitting on the wall.
I set off taking the usual route up the Lane stopping every now and again to the Hedgies. On the corner of the bend a Painted Lady stayed still for a few shots and then I was back on the Hedgie hunt. I was going well with well into the late 20’s by the time I’d reached the cottages on the corner. On the way the sun nipped behind a cloud a couple of times and the hedge dimmed shifting down several shades of green. There was also a strong breeze gusting now and again; inevitably just as I’d find a Hedgie in prime position for a photo, and it’d for this reason that my gut was telling me that whilst the count was good it was probably less than on the previous visit.
At the corner of the turning down to Middle Farm three Painted Ladies fed on some sort of Knapweed looking plant and slightly firther down where the hedge was highest a Specklie looked resplendent. I was still counting the Hedgies almost getting to 40 when I turned around and walked back up the track checking the other side of the road. A Green-veined White broke any Hedgie monotony and on the corner as I started back the three Painted Ladies were still hanging about. At this juncture I stopped the count having reached a respectable 47 in a 10 minute walk.
On the way back I took one of the farming tracks off to the left and there were a few more Hedgies which I didn’t count (as I don’t usually come down this bit) as well as a lovely dark Specklie and a hide away Painted Lady. Other than that there was a Red Admiral further along the road on the return journey and I was also able to pick up an Organic Cucumber from one of the cottages; it’s always a good idea to turn up with something edible after butterflying as it helps boost the Brownie Points. At the Buddliea the Painted Lady and Small Tort were still messing about but the Red Admirals had moved on. A Peacock was basking on one of the neighbours lawns as I walked down Pen-Y-Bryn and then I was back ‘home’. Well almost a quick check of the Verbena showed that it held a Painted Lady and a Peacock.
I set off taking the usual route up the Lane stopping every now and again to the Hedgies. On the corner of the bend a Painted Lady stayed still for a few shots and then I was back on the Hedgie hunt. I was going well with well into the late 20’s by the time I’d reached the cottages on the corner. On the way the sun nipped behind a cloud a couple of times and the hedge dimmed shifting down several shades of green. There was also a strong breeze gusting now and again; inevitably just as I’d find a Hedgie in prime position for a photo, and it’d for this reason that my gut was telling me that whilst the count was good it was probably less than on the previous visit.
At the corner of the turning down to Middle Farm three Painted Ladies fed on some sort of Knapweed looking plant and slightly firther down where the hedge was highest a Specklie looked resplendent. I was still counting the Hedgies almost getting to 40 when I turned around and walked back up the track checking the other side of the road. A Green-veined White broke any Hedgie monotony and on the corner as I started back the three Painted Ladies were still hanging about. At this juncture I stopped the count having reached a respectable 47 in a 10 minute walk.
On the way back I took one of the farming tracks off to the left and there were a few more Hedgies which I didn’t count (as I don’t usually come down this bit) as well as a lovely dark Specklie and a hide away Painted Lady. Other than that there was a Red Admiral further along the road on the return journey and I was also able to pick up an Organic Cucumber from one of the cottages; it’s always a good idea to turn up with something edible after butterflying as it helps boost the Brownie Points. At the Buddliea the Painted Lady and Small Tort were still messing about but the Red Admirals had moved on. A Peacock was basking on one of the neighbours lawns as I walked down Pen-Y-Bryn and then I was back ‘home’. Well almost a quick check of the Verbena showed that it held a Painted Lady and a Peacock.
20th To the post box…
During the morning we took the ‘circular’ walk from the school in Aberaeron, down through the town to the sea front and back. A Sparrowhawk passed overhead as we walked to Costcutter, a few Painted Ladies played in the flowers in some front gardens and the Dipper put in a very brief appearance.
Apart from this sojourn I didn’t see myself getting out again so when my wife remembered that the girls needed to post some postcards I offered my services willingly. First stop was the Verbena in the garden which today held 2 Small Torts bustling around in the middle of the bush and a third sharing a floret with a Peacock.
As I approached the Buddleia two Peacocks were in the air. One flew up from the grass on my left and headed away from me landing somewhere on the wall whilst the other flew from the Buddleia towards me and landed on the grass. The latter was easiest to see so I tried for a few shots whilst the former had somehow blended in perfectly with the light grey top of the wall – still don’t know how that was possible? As I walked towards the wall staring intently at it trying to work out where the butterfly actually was it flew. This meant that the Buddleia itself was pretty bereft apart from a singleton Small Tort.
Once I’d walked to the end of the road and duly mailed the post I turned right and started the walk along Rhu Goch. Alas the verge has been decimated, ripped up and replaced with nice tidy, neat, shiny, black Tarmac! There is still a slither of verge remaining but it’s been given a grade one haircut. To make matters worse the hedge has been trimmed and pinned back with wire fencing and so I wasn’t surprised when I only saw three Hedgies. Even the wider lawn like bit of verge hadn’t escaped the attentions of the path makers but it seems like the wildflowers have made the most of the limited space they’ve got and it was a lovely tangled mess of clover, trefoil and other floral goodies. As I made to have a proper look at it two blues took off; the male started to fly towards me and then pulled a loop the loop behind me whilst the female stayed low to the ground weakly fluttering in a rough zig-zag pattern. I chose to follow the female and I’m really glad I did as she perched tip tarsi on a Dandelion Clock – a lovely addition to another one of my collections.
There was more than a bit of moisture in the air now and so I made my way back to the Buddleia where 2 Peacocks fed whilst I had a chat with the owner of the cottage. On the stroll back there were a further 2 Small Torts – one on the grass where the Peacocks like to sit and the other getting warm from the slates shards on the drive way.
So that was Wales all very autumnal to be honest but made memorable for the plethora of Painted Ladies…
Apart from this sojourn I didn’t see myself getting out again so when my wife remembered that the girls needed to post some postcards I offered my services willingly. First stop was the Verbena in the garden which today held 2 Small Torts bustling around in the middle of the bush and a third sharing a floret with a Peacock.
As I approached the Buddleia two Peacocks were in the air. One flew up from the grass on my left and headed away from me landing somewhere on the wall whilst the other flew from the Buddleia towards me and landed on the grass. The latter was easiest to see so I tried for a few shots whilst the former had somehow blended in perfectly with the light grey top of the wall – still don’t know how that was possible? As I walked towards the wall staring intently at it trying to work out where the butterfly actually was it flew. This meant that the Buddleia itself was pretty bereft apart from a singleton Small Tort.
Once I’d walked to the end of the road and duly mailed the post I turned right and started the walk along Rhu Goch. Alas the verge has been decimated, ripped up and replaced with nice tidy, neat, shiny, black Tarmac! There is still a slither of verge remaining but it’s been given a grade one haircut. To make matters worse the hedge has been trimmed and pinned back with wire fencing and so I wasn’t surprised when I only saw three Hedgies. Even the wider lawn like bit of verge hadn’t escaped the attentions of the path makers but it seems like the wildflowers have made the most of the limited space they’ve got and it was a lovely tangled mess of clover, trefoil and other floral goodies. As I made to have a proper look at it two blues took off; the male started to fly towards me and then pulled a loop the loop behind me whilst the female stayed low to the ground weakly fluttering in a rough zig-zag pattern. I chose to follow the female and I’m really glad I did as she perched tip tarsi on a Dandelion Clock – a lovely addition to another one of my collections.
There was more than a bit of moisture in the air now and so I made my way back to the Buddleia where 2 Peacocks fed whilst I had a chat with the owner of the cottage. On the stroll back there were a further 2 Small Torts – one on the grass where the Peacocks like to sit and the other getting warm from the slates shards on the drive way.
So that was Wales all very autumnal to be honest but made memorable for the plethora of Painted Ladies…