Wales 21-08-2023
The final full day…and as the weather forecast looked dire from about 11am I packed my camera when we headed down to the town to pick up the paper and some things for tea. On the walk in we crossed the park and walked in along the near side of the river and a Dipper shot by up the middle of the river. In the town all was quiet but a Small Tort flew over the roof of the ‘Famous £1.20 Shop’ when we came out of Costcutter with our victuals. After popping into another shop we crossed over the river and took the path down the far side. A, or possibly the original Small Tort, flew at me from the other side of the river and landed against the white wall for just long enough for me to contemplate approaching it.
After lunch the threatened thunder showers hadn’t arrived so I took a quick trip up the Lane, risking a deluge at any second. Nothing showed itself until I reached the cottages round the first corner when a female Gatekeeper sat among the flowers on the newly planted bank. After this I walked more carefully, scanning the hedges on both sides between the powerful gusts of wind and just past the turning for Mwdwl farm I started zig-zagging across the road so as not to miss out anything. All of my efforts produced only a couple of Hedgies and Specklies and not the hoped for Wall Browns, although one of the Hedgies looked very interesting, lacking most of the orange on the hind wings.
On the return trip the forecast rain arrived, about 8 drops in total, and then the sun came back out and with it more butterflies. Just below where I’d seen the male Wall the day before but on the opposite side of the road I watched largish orange brown butterfly flying along the hedge. A Specklie detached itself from its perch and had a go at it but the Wall kept on going. I kept up with it and it flew into a gated area of the Corn field and I thought “brilliant I might get some shots”. But alas waiting for it was a second Wall and they set about either courting or fighting each other with the new arrival flying in circles around the other as they disappeared deeper into the Corn field. I carried on back down the hill consoling myself with a lovely marked Green-veined White and then another less fresh one further on. As I strode along the final stretch I spotted that the usual Buddleia had gone over but the small white one in the neighbouring garden held a Large White and a Small Tort. Not bad for a bush which was composed of only 8 florets! The wind did its best to spoil my shots.
I got back and was in the house just long enough to drain a coffee before heading back out this time with the wheelchair. As per yesterday K was on camera carrying duty. Unfortunately we only got as far as the corner before it started spitting. However there were a few Hedgies along the way and on the return journey a Red Admiral flew up to us, circled and plopped down on the road. After a few shots, a little video and making sure that my Mother In-law ad seen it, it shook itself off and made off down the Lane. As we passed the Buddleia I could make out a dark blob sitting on the white florets and so I sent K over to grab a few more shots of the Small Tort. Finally wheeling down Pen-Y-Bryn a few faded Common Blues flitted about on the front gardens, refuges from the gardening going on behind the houses no doubt.
So our quick check-up trip came to an end – home on the morrow and I’m left wondering whether the weather will stay good upon my return?
Wales 20-08-2023
The weather was actually better than forecast and so we took a little trip down the town to pick up some cooking apples for a crumble. All the way through the park and then the winding backstreets the sun shone down and away in the distance various Whites flew. Once in town we had to scout around for a paper shop as the Cost cutter was closed and not due to open until kick-off of the World Cup final but alas the old Newsagents had sold out and the newer one was now an ice cream parlour. So we were forced to retreat to the car and drive up to the new ‘local shop for local people’ in Ffos-y-ffin itself. I didn’t mind as we got to walk along the river and back across the park. The first part White central, with several all flying in a bunch, then further on a Large White was floating about up one of the woodland paths and when we cut across the park I managed to spot a Small Copper.
Once we’d returned and the purchases were dutifully stowed away I took a few turns around the garden. The odd little patch of purple flowers had pushed their way up through the closely mown turf and they seemed to be a magnet for some female Common Blues. I reckoned that there were probably about three different ones fluttering about for nectar or looking for somewhere to lay. They were joined by a few other butterflies. A Small White (at least I think it was the same one) kept passing across the lawn, first to one neighbours garden and then back and into the other neighbours. There was also a Red Admiral that made a fleeting visit and a brace of Hedgies, one, a male paused on the austere white of the UPVC French doors and the other, a female, hung about on one of the bushes at the edge of the garden.
The females were soon joined by a couple (maybe three as well) of males. These were in various stages of disrepair and unfortunately I don’t think that I got anything of the freshest of the bunch. No surprise really as he was also the fastest and most flighty of the party of lads. I noticed that the males preferred the yellow flowers over the purple and as these stood taller and higher above the grass heads and as they were more widely distributed it made the lads easier to track and photograph.
After lunch we took the in-laws for a walk/wheel up the Lane. For fear of smashing my Mother Outlaws head with the end of my lens I handed my camera over to K and as I pushed the wheelchair I would direct her towards the better or more interesting looking butterflies. There were more Hedgies out and about on this trip – brought out by the stronger, warmer sun. In the field near the first set of cottages just round the first bend I watched a Small Tort fly out from the garden, investigate some likely looking nectar sources on the edge of the field before nipping back into the garden from whence it came leaving me with fleeting glimpses and a Hedgie which was little consolation.
Further up the hill we encountered a male Wall and so with handbrakes firmly applied and K guarding the Wheelchair I grabbed a few shots before resuming pushing duties. He would fly in, take nectar and then fly up along the hedge to a certain point before crossing the road and flying down the opposite hedge and then crossing back over one more ending up at the same stalks of Knapweed. This was great as not only could I and K grab a few shots but I could also point it out to my Mother in-law. Just up from this a Specklie busied itself in the bushes and then we turned about and took in the view from the telecom tower. The walk back should have been easier as it was downhill but in actual fact it was harder as I had to pull rather than push in order to prevent the chair running away from me. The Wall was in the same place and lower down the road we encountered another as well as a Red Admiral and the usual assortment of Hedgies.
Once we’d returned and the purchases were dutifully stowed away I took a few turns around the garden. The odd little patch of purple flowers had pushed their way up through the closely mown turf and they seemed to be a magnet for some female Common Blues. I reckoned that there were probably about three different ones fluttering about for nectar or looking for somewhere to lay. They were joined by a few other butterflies. A Small White (at least I think it was the same one) kept passing across the lawn, first to one neighbours garden and then back and into the other neighbours. There was also a Red Admiral that made a fleeting visit and a brace of Hedgies, one, a male paused on the austere white of the UPVC French doors and the other, a female, hung about on one of the bushes at the edge of the garden.
The females were soon joined by a couple (maybe three as well) of males. These were in various stages of disrepair and unfortunately I don’t think that I got anything of the freshest of the bunch. No surprise really as he was also the fastest and most flighty of the party of lads. I noticed that the males preferred the yellow flowers over the purple and as these stood taller and higher above the grass heads and as they were more widely distributed it made the lads easier to track and photograph.
After lunch we took the in-laws for a walk/wheel up the Lane. For fear of smashing my Mother Outlaws head with the end of my lens I handed my camera over to K and as I pushed the wheelchair I would direct her towards the better or more interesting looking butterflies. There were more Hedgies out and about on this trip – brought out by the stronger, warmer sun. In the field near the first set of cottages just round the first bend I watched a Small Tort fly out from the garden, investigate some likely looking nectar sources on the edge of the field before nipping back into the garden from whence it came leaving me with fleeting glimpses and a Hedgie which was little consolation.
Further up the hill we encountered a male Wall and so with handbrakes firmly applied and K guarding the Wheelchair I grabbed a few shots before resuming pushing duties. He would fly in, take nectar and then fly up along the hedge to a certain point before crossing the road and flying down the opposite hedge and then crossing back over one more ending up at the same stalks of Knapweed. This was great as not only could I and K grab a few shots but I could also point it out to my Mother in-law. Just up from this a Specklie busied itself in the bushes and then we turned about and took in the view from the telecom tower. The walk back should have been easier as it was downhill but in actual fact it was harder as I had to pull rather than push in order to prevent the chair running away from me. The Wall was in the same place and lower down the road we encountered another as well as a Red Admiral and the usual assortment of Hedgies.
Wales 19-08-2023
Having visited Aberaeron in the drear when we arrived back the sun made as if to come out. When in Wales you have to make the most of the ‘decent’ spells of weather and so I grabbed my camera and made my way up the Lane. The weather was changeable in terms of sun or cloud but pretty persistent in terms of the wind which was gusting strongly as I walked down the cul-de-sac towards the road. Luckily the hedges were really tall and so on one side there was barely a whisper and the exposed side it was more like a gentle breeze. Despite this the walk up to the corner only held a single Hedgie and it refused to open up so I had to settle for a few under side shots which revealed that one of the spots was more of a streak.
After this little interlude it all went quiet until I reached the farm buildings up the rise from the corner. Normally the left hand hedge is the main place to check but what with the wind direction the right hand side, with its barely a whisper, was the place to check. So it proved as I started seeing a few butterflies. The first was a Specklie which had a dark ground colour and very small/sparse markings with just the hint of an extra ‘eye’ along the hind wing margin. Slightly further along was a Hedgie, a six spotter, and then another Specklie and another before the butterfly run was busted by a Magpie Moth. By this time I’d covered over three quarters of the distance to the Telegraph tower and the butterflies had been fairly evenly distributed along the length of the hedge, almost as if they’d established their territories and were sitting out the cooling cloud and awaiting the arrival of the sun.
The Brown fest continued as the next territory I entered was another Specklie but this one was seeing off something larger and orangey. I stopped and watched were it landed and it tried to hide up in the hedge. So I got in as close as I could and fired of a quick record which confirmed my initial suspicions that it was a female Wall. She closed up shop, as the sun dipped behind the cloud, so I got in even closer and even dared to risk holding some of the vegetation out of the way for a clearer shot. She was a (not quite so) little beauty and when the sun came back out she was off. However she didn’t go too far and I was able to grab a few more shots as she refuelled before a Specklie escorted her forcibly from his territory.
I carried on up to the next break in the hedge adding a further two Specklies to the list before turning round and started back down the other side. This was where things became a little tricky in terms of recording as I couldn’t be sure that any of the Specklies that I was seeing hadn’t just nipped across the road from the other side and so not wishing to double count I didn’t add them to the tally. Also the sun was losing its battle with the cloud and there were an increasing number of water droplets being blown on the breeze so I made my way back down more promptly. I refound the Wall but she kept flying into various Specklie territories and so was given short shrift. There were again numerous Specklies, evenly distributed along the hedge including one which looked almost black and white as well a few more Hedgies.
I got back just in time for lunch and then took the Outlaws out for a walk up the Lane. By now the sun had wrestled its way back to prominence but I couldn’t take my camera as I was in charge of my Mother Outlaws’ wheelchair and I didn’t want to keep smashing the lens into the back of her head. I kept my eyes on the road but up at the cottages a Meadow Brown sipped some nectar and a few Hedgies caught my eye. After this we started on preparing dinner and I watched as a Green-veined Whites and then a very blue female Common Blue both landed on the lawn, the latter for some time. Of course when I was able to nip out all that there was left was a Hedgie clinging to a bush near the side return. Hopefully there would be a few more ‘breaks’ in the weather that I could take advantage of on the morrow.
After this little interlude it all went quiet until I reached the farm buildings up the rise from the corner. Normally the left hand hedge is the main place to check but what with the wind direction the right hand side, with its barely a whisper, was the place to check. So it proved as I started seeing a few butterflies. The first was a Specklie which had a dark ground colour and very small/sparse markings with just the hint of an extra ‘eye’ along the hind wing margin. Slightly further along was a Hedgie, a six spotter, and then another Specklie and another before the butterfly run was busted by a Magpie Moth. By this time I’d covered over three quarters of the distance to the Telegraph tower and the butterflies had been fairly evenly distributed along the length of the hedge, almost as if they’d established their territories and were sitting out the cooling cloud and awaiting the arrival of the sun.
The Brown fest continued as the next territory I entered was another Specklie but this one was seeing off something larger and orangey. I stopped and watched were it landed and it tried to hide up in the hedge. So I got in as close as I could and fired of a quick record which confirmed my initial suspicions that it was a female Wall. She closed up shop, as the sun dipped behind the cloud, so I got in even closer and even dared to risk holding some of the vegetation out of the way for a clearer shot. She was a (not quite so) little beauty and when the sun came back out she was off. However she didn’t go too far and I was able to grab a few more shots as she refuelled before a Specklie escorted her forcibly from his territory.
I carried on up to the next break in the hedge adding a further two Specklies to the list before turning round and started back down the other side. This was where things became a little tricky in terms of recording as I couldn’t be sure that any of the Specklies that I was seeing hadn’t just nipped across the road from the other side and so not wishing to double count I didn’t add them to the tally. Also the sun was losing its battle with the cloud and there were an increasing number of water droplets being blown on the breeze so I made my way back down more promptly. I refound the Wall but she kept flying into various Specklie territories and so was given short shrift. There were again numerous Specklies, evenly distributed along the hedge including one which looked almost black and white as well a few more Hedgies.
I got back just in time for lunch and then took the Outlaws out for a walk up the Lane. By now the sun had wrestled its way back to prominence but I couldn’t take my camera as I was in charge of my Mother Outlaws’ wheelchair and I didn’t want to keep smashing the lens into the back of her head. I kept my eyes on the road but up at the cottages a Meadow Brown sipped some nectar and a few Hedgies caught my eye. After this we started on preparing dinner and I watched as a Green-veined Whites and then a very blue female Common Blue both landed on the lawn, the latter for some time. Of course when I was able to nip out all that there was left was a Hedgie clinging to a bush near the side return. Hopefully there would be a few more ‘breaks’ in the weather that I could take advantage of on the morrow.
