MikeOxon

[Wurzel]

Great reports recently Mike, especially good seeing the Red-backed Shrike - they're so common on the continent I don't know what they don't like about it over here

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[MikeOxon]

Thank you Wurzel. I've been fascinated by the RB Shrike since reading about the 'butcher bird' as a child. I gather there are signs that it may be re-establishing itself in the south-west, possibly as a result of climate warming.

[MikeOxon]

Today (4th August) was cloudy, cool, and with a strong wind blowing - clearly not butterflying weather. I remembered that, at around this time last year, I found several Frog Orchids at the western end of the Aston Rowant NNR, on Bald Hill, so decided to brave the weather conditions and look for some flowers.

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/1000s@f/5.6 ISO400

Well, things don't always turn out as expected and, despite a thorough combing of the slope, I only managed to find a single Frog Orchid flower-spike, which was not a very photogenic specimen. Other chalk-downland plants were plentiful, with this Vipers Bugloss adding welcome colour on such a dull, grey day:

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/640s@f/5.6 ISO400

On the other hand, it wasn't long before something small and brown zipped past me, hugging the hillside as it flew. Then I saw another and managed to keep my eyes on it until it settled - a Silver-spotted Skipper, also braving the conditions!

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/500s@f/8 ISO400

I was pleased to get a record as it rested for a while before rapidly skimming further up the slope. In these conditions, I was not trying to get nice clean backgrounds, etc. but was just happy to record their presence!

I found it was remarkable how difficult these little butterflies were to follow by eye - sometimes one seemed to disappear in mid-air, right in front of me. Even if I did manage to follow one until it landed, it was then very difficult to find on the ground, with almost perfect camouflage blending into the mixed colours on the slope. My wife spotted the next one and, even with her pointing to the spot, it took a while to see it for myself!

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/500s@f/8 ISO400

Her sharp eyes also spotted a Field Grasshopper, settled well down below a cluster of low shrubs:

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/400s@f/5.6 ISO1250

With the wind gusting quite strongly, landings were clearly rather difficult for the Skippers and this one looks far from composed - I suspect it was simply glad to be down!

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/320s@f/6.3 ISO400

I watched another individual attempting to nectar from Scabious flowers but, although it flew to several plants in succession, it never succeeded in making a successful touch-down. Success could only be achieved by finding a well-sheltered spot, down in the undergrowth:

Bald Hill, Oxon - 4th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 lens - 1/320s@f/7.1 ISO400

A few other butterflies were also seen, including Meadow Brown and Small Heath but, surprisingly, no Small Skippers although these had been fairly abundant on the other side of the M40, a few days earlier.

Overall, I enjoyed a surprisingly successful visit, under rather extreme butterflying conditions

Mike

[Pauline]

Great shots of the SSS Mike in challenging weather conditions. I know just how hard it is!

[MikeOxon]

Thank you Pauline. I'm intrigued by the little 'devil's horns' on the heads of these Skippers - I wonder what sensors they carry?

[bugboy]

I had a similar day yesterday Mike, chasing SSS in rather windy and challenging conditions, good fun though. I've always assumed those 'devil horns' are the tips of the palpi poking up through their fuzzy faces.

[MikeOxon]

Good fun indeed, Bugboy! I have rarely returned from a butterflying trip feeling in need of warming up. I'm sure you are right about the horns - they seemed particularly prominent in some of my pics.

[Wurzel]

Great Silver-spots Mike I've seen them twice so far this year and the first time the weather was pretty grim yet there they were despite all the books saying how they'll only come out in warm conditions (normally above 20), just goes to show that if you get out the butterflies will be there waiting

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[MikeOxon]

Thank you Wurzel. It's always tempting to think the butterflies 'de-materialise' in bad weather but, of course, they are lurking somewhere I found the first one by accidentally disturbing it, while hunting for orchids, but there were possibly hundreds hidden on the slope.

I continue to be very pleased with my Olympus E-M5, which did a good job in the trying conditions. The magnifying viewfinder was very useful for ensuring accurate focus when the butterfly was deep in the undergrowth.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Mike, great shots of the SSS, I'm trying to catch up on Posts, our holiday as been very active so far

I've been to Temple Ewell near Dover about three times now, twice the weather has been very windy although sunny and no sign yet of them are the Adonis I'll give it another try tomorrow and then I'm afraid it will be home on Sunday so I'm hoping they'll be out.Goldie

[MikeOxon]

Good luck, Goldie - weather is supposed to be improving.

[MikeOxon]

At last, some really hot sunshine for a visit to the Roman road leading onto Otmoor from the village of Beckley, north of Oxford.

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 12-50 mm lens - 1/500s@f/9 ISO500

This track is always a sheltered sun-trap, which attracts a wide range of butterflies and dragonflies, as well as birds in the surrounding hedgerows that provide a local name of 'warbler alley'. There's plenty of Blackthorn, which also makes this an excellent place to find Brown Hairstreak, although its always a matter of luck as to whether they'll stay high in the Ash trees or nectar on the Knapweed. On this occasion, I was lucky and soon spotted this individual avidly feeding at the edge of the ride:

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/400s@f/11 ISO800

There was plenty of evidence, from the beaten down vegetation in several locations, that many other people had been searching for these butterflies but, on a mid-week afternoon I was fortunate to have the place almost to myself. Just one other couple were enjoying the wildlife on such a pleasant afternoon, so I took the opportunity to mention this website to them.

Whenever I'm hunting for Brown Hairstreaks, there always seem to be plenty of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns to act as decoys. I sometimes wonder if these should be renamed as False BH. I simply search all the flower heads until one of the many browns turns out to be the one I want! I felt like calling to this Brown Hairstreak "Look behind you..."

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/500s@f/8 ISO400

But, in fact, there were plenty of flowers to go around and the Meadow Browns were peacefully co-existing:

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/320s@f/10 ISO800

There were many other butterflies to be seen, including Brimstones, Large and Small Whites, and Green-veined Whites:

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/400s@f/6.3 ISO400

I saw very few skippers but contorting myself into the positions needed to see the underside of the antennae confirmed that this was an Essex Skipper:

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/800s@f/10 ISO800

Vanessids included Peacocks and Commas, while a smaller bright flash of orange turned out to be a Small Copper:

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/320s@f/11 ISO500

Several Common Blues were flying and, as I have found at several locations this year, there seemed to be plenty of very blue females:

Roman Road, Otmoor - 6th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/640s@f/11 ISO500

As well as the butterflies, there were plenty of small birds, mainly keeping well hidden, while the Dragonflies included Ruddy and Common Darters, Southern Hawker, and Brown Hawker.

It looks as though there might now be a few days of good butterflying weather.

Mike

[Goldie M]

No luck today at Temple Ewell with the SSS or Adonis, still i can't Grumble seen loads of butterflies whilst in Kent.
Lots of Common Blues here Mike , love your photo of the CB lets hope the weather keeps up .Goldie

[MikeOxon]

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015

Yesterday (8th August) was not supposed to be a butterflying trip, as my wife wanted to visit the 'Hampshire Carnivorous Plants' nursery in Lower Upham. Following the visit, I realised that Old Winchester Hill was nearby, so we decided to take a walk around the old hill fort, after a very enjoyable lunch in the garden of 'The Shoe' pub in Exton.

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens - 1/640s@f/11 ISO500

Chalk-hill Blues were abundant on the flower-filled slopes, although the two I photographed were indulging in their passion for less 'agreeable' sources of nourishment:

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens - 1/1600s@f/11 ISO500

I was especially pleased to find Painted Ladies skimming across the top of the hill and one paused for a few photographs This broke a photographic 'drought' of two years for me with this species.

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens - 1/1000s@f/10 ISO500

I always think that the underside is especially attractive but, on this occasion, I was only allowed brief glimpses, since the wings were spread flat for most of the time, while the insect was feeding:

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens - 1/800s@f/9 ISO500

I have remarked before on the amazing agility with which butterflies can direct their probosces into the nectar-bearing florets, illustrated by the following photo:

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens (cropped) - 1/800s@f/9 ISO500

There were also the usual hordes of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers while, at the start of the steep steps down from the summit, there were many Small Skippers alongside the path.

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens - 1/640s@f/8 ISO500

My last photo from a brilliantly sunny afternoon is of a Red Admiral by the path just before we reached the car-park:

Old Winchester Hill - 8th August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150mm lens - 1/640s@f/8 ISO500

I have become rather 'attached' to my Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera, especially with its very versatile 40-150 mm lens, and I find the viewfinder display of under/over exposure very useful, as an aid to accurate exposure of the subject. Unfortunately, despite having been repaired by Olympus once, I am still having problems with the 12-50 mm lens. Does any one else here have any experience of this lens?

Mike

Mike

[Pauline]

You chose well for lunch Mike - last time I was there the food was delicious, much to the disappointment of the ducks Some nice shots too especially the Painted Lady

[MikeOxon]

Thank you Pauline - and thanks to the 'Good Pub Guide' too I was pleased to get good views of the Painted Lady, since I didn't see any at all, last year. We used to visit Old Winchester Hill quite often, when we lived on the South coast, but I don't recall Chalkhill Blues being as abundant, back then (1970s). Other things have changed as well - the pub we used to visit is now an Indian Take-away.

[Paul Harfield]

Hi Mike

Just catching up with your Diary. Very envious of your lovely Brown Hairstreaks I spent several hours looking for them today with very little to show for it photographically

Lower Upham is just around the corner from me, but I have never heard of the Carnivorous Plants Nursery. Just goes to show how easy it is to miss what is on your own doorstep

[MikeOxon]

...I have never heard of the Carnivorous Plants Nursery...

The nursery is not generally open, except by appointment. The owner, Matthew, has 17 Chelsea Gold medals to his name! see http://www.hantsflytrap.com/

The Brown Hairstreaks are always 'will it / won't it'. A couple of years ago, I went with a non-butterflying friend and there seemed to be a BH sitting on almost every flower head - I was trying to convey how extraordinary that was. Last year, they stayed high in an Ash tree and, this year, I only saw a couple low down. But then, another day might be quite different.

[MikeOxon]

After the heat of mid-day yesterday (22nd August), we decided to re-visit Bald Hill, at the SW end of the Aston Rowant NNR, when the afternoon started to cool a little. When we arrived, there was quite a cold Easterly wind blowing across the slope and, as on my previous visit, few butterflies were to be seen flying openly across the slope. It was quite late in the afternoon, when the wind dropped and the sun was still shining, that I began to realise, however, that Silver-spotted Skippers were still abundant. They were keeping close to the ground and especially enjoying the Dwarf Thistles that dot the slope. My photo illustrates the very prickly nature of the vegetation, which makes getting down low to take photos a rather painful experience!

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/500@f/7.1 ISO400

The most abundant butterfly species, by far, both on the open slope and the hedgerow that runs along the top, was the Meadow Brown and I had plenty of opportunities to observe the variability of this species. The mating pair shown below, were still very flighty, despite being coupled together, and I had to stalk them very carefully to avoid alarming them. I've never noticed before that rather elegant 'deckled edge' to the trailing edge of the hindwings

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/500@f/8 ISO400

The next example has rich colouring, with prominent eye-spots and a hint of a double pupil:

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/500@f/7.1 ISO400

Whereas this one was much paler, with almost vestigial eye-spots:

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/250@f/5.6 ISO400

I often notice how an area that seems rather barren at first, begins to reveal far more species, as one 'gets one's eye in'. In this case, I was soon seeing Chalkhill Blues, although most were in very worn condition, and Common Blues. One very small example (more like a Small Blue in size), turned out to be a very blue female Common Blue and, when she was pursued by a normal-sized male, she seemed only about half his size in linear dimensions. Unfortunately, I was unable to get photos of the pursuit but have attempted to illustrate their relative appearance with the aid of the Dynamic Auto Painter software and some separate images.

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
DAP image from photographs

and a 'straight' photo of the very small female Common Blue on her own:

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/640@f/8 ISO400

Another Common Blue chose a particularly spiky perch on which to pose (can anyone identify the plant for me, please):

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/500@f/8 ISO400

A few years ago, Pauline noticed that the antennae of Large Skippers are differently coloured between the two sexes. Several of my photos (including the one above) show a bright yellow/orange underside to the antenna tips of Silver-spotted Skippers, whereas the female shown below appeared to have completely dark antennae tips

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 40-150 mm lens - 1/800@f/10 ISO400

I haven't yet examined enough photos to know whether this distinction holds for most SSS but this is the time of year to start checking.

I mentioned before the spiky nature of the vegetation on chalk downland, which makes getting down for photos distinctly uncomfortable. I came across this rather attractive group of Carline Thistles, which looks particularly dry and spiny, even though the flowers are actually quite fresh:

Bald Hill, Aston Rowant NNR - 22nd August 2015
Olympus E-M5 with 12-50 mm lens - 1/160@f/7.1 ISO400

Mike

ps I mentioned in earlier posts that I was having difficult with my Olympus 12-50 mm lens. WEX Photographic have now replaced this lens under warranty

[bugboy]

I know what you mean about the spikey nature of downland, if it's not a Carline Thistle I'm sitting on it's a Stemless Thistle or a stunted, heavily grazed Hawthorn!