essex buzzard

[essexbuzzard]

When I got back from Cornwall, my first port of call was to a bluebell wood which is only a short walk from where I lived as a kid. A glorious carpet was there then,and remains today.

Although it was cloudy, a few breaks tempted the Orange Tips, first was a female,

This male settled when the sun went in, showing it's beautiful mossy underside,

[essexbuzzard]

I also saw this country fox, unusually,it stopped and stared just long enough for a couple of photos.

[Pauline]

Cracking shot of the fox Mark. By the time I've taken off the close-up lens they've always disappeared.

[essexbuzzard]

I thought of you when I took that picture, Pauline! I wasn't using a close lens that day. Just as well, because as you say, it would have been long gone by time I finished fiddling around.

I found a new Orange Tip site recently,a patch of sheltered ground neat a canal, which was full of garlic mustard. Unlike cuckoo flowers, the amount of garlic mustard varies a great deal from year to year, as it is biennial, that is, the amount of flowering plants depends on a fresh crop of new seedlings each year. The Orangetips found it much quicker than me, and adults, eggs and caterpillars were plentiful. One morning last week, I went to see them waking up. An Orange Tip paradise, which gave pleasure like no other! . Here are some glorious males,

And some females,

I can't get enough of them! But soon they will be gone for another year. Here is a Green-veined White.

[David M]

I can't get to grips with Green Veined Whites so far this year, Mark, so that last image of yours has made me very envious!

[essexbuzzard]

Apart from PBF in Cornwall, I've been a bit short on the scarcer spring species so far. So recently I decided to put that right with an outing to Bison Hill, Whipsnade Downs. A visit straight out of the top drawer, with most of the classic spring downland species seen. On the hawthorns were Green Hairstreaks,

While in the sheltered areas, Duke of Burgundies were in reasonable numbers

At the bottom of the slope in particular, were the two spring Skippers, Grizzed and Dingy.

A super day. For a change, the weather was good,too!

[Wurzel]

Great shots and a great return for your visit Essex Love the one-spot Greenstreak

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

ADONIS BLUES

Although less abundant, the late-spring generation of Adonis Blues is perhaps my favourite, where these sparkling adults fly over the glorious yellow horseshoe vetch. And nowhere is this displayed better than at Mill Hill in Sussex. Good numbers are currently present,and I saw several mating pairs on my visit last week. I also saw a Neil Hulme, who was showing the North Yorkshire Dukes man around the site. There is something almost magical about the combination of brilliant blue butterflies, and the brilliant carpet of yellow vetch here.

A cluster of Adonis Blues sups at some delicious dog dirt,

Then, along the dreaded coast road, onto Park Gate Down in Kent, where the monkey orchids are nearing their peak, with fly orchids present too.

[millerd]

Lovely Adonis from Mill Hill, Essex. The horseshoe vetch there is more spectacular than anywhere, I think. And I share your view of that coast road, too - I once spent well over an hour getting from one side of Hastings to the other...

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

It's awful. Very frustrating. Next time, I will drive up the M23, around the M25 and down the M20. A long way round, but probably quicker than driving through Hastings!

One of the reasons I choose Mill Hill over other Adonis Blue sites, in spring, is the vetch, which is equally pretty as the butterflies. I would be interested to hear of a more splendid carpet.

[essexbuzzard]

It's been several years since I visited Martin Down. This is not the best site for Marsh Fritillary- I see much higher numbers in Cornwall, and also at Cerne Abbas Giants hill, in Dorset. But it is certainly much easier to get to from the east of England, and is a great site for a wide range of wildlife. We saw several Fritillaries, especially near the Bockerly Dyke. Most were males.

The only female we saw was so heavy, she seemed unable to fly.

Reasonable numbers of Small Blues were nice to see, my first of the year,

Some really nice fresh Common Blues were seen, again, mostly near the dyke,

This Green had a nice streak,

Full list included, Grizzed Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green veined White, Small Blues, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Small Copper, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Essex, some lovely Marshies there Did you see the Burnt-tip Orchids about half way along the Dyke?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Some nice flowers were present. The blue, sometimes white, chalk milkwort, and more popular with the photographer, some nice burnt orchids.

Yellowhammers were common here, with a few corn bunting singing too. The cuckoo was heard and, perhaps even better, we heard the wonderful purring turtle dove.

Hi Wurzel, the answer is. Yes!

[essexbuzzard]

Welcome to early summer. After weeks of south, east and north winds, we can expect the westerlies to return during June, with all that implies in terms of weather. Bands of wind and rain will sweep across the country, and nowhere will that be felt more than western Scotland.

We now loose the freshness of spring. Gone are the bluebells,the May blossom and the Orange Tips, and the leaves are taking on a darker hue. As the first Large Skippers and Meadow Browns emerge, exciting thing are still to come, of course. But a tinge of regret remains, it's hard not to look back at the innocence of spring.

[millerd]

Just caught up with your Martin Down trip, Essex. Those are lovely photos, especially the Marsh Fritillaries. The female is exceptionally full of eggs and may well have been unable to fly easily except in bright sunshine - you just hope she makes it to a scabious before she bursts!

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

I wholeheartedly agree, Dave. She was the only female we saw, so had all the males to herself!

A couple of years ago,I mentioned that I hoped Ravens would follow Buzzards, and breed in Essex for the first time. Well I'm pleased to say, this has now happened. From their strongholds on western coasts and hills, they have been spreading east, into the lowlands. A very different habitat for them, but no one, myself included, could ever have imagined how successfully Buzzards would colonise the county, so hopefully Ravens will also become a firmly established breeder.

One of the sounds of lazy summer days, in eastern lowland arable farms, is the wonderful purring Turtle Dove. This lovely bird has greatly declined, even in Essex, which has one of the best populations. In the 80's they were common in the general countryside, but now you need to go to a nature reserve to see them. They need less a intensive arable system, where arable weeds such as chickweed, trefoils and clovers grow on field edges and tracks, to breed successfully. A couple of weeks ago, I went to see some.

[Neil Freeman]

We now loose the freshness of spring. Gone are the bluebells,the May blossom and the Orange Tips, and the leaves are taking on a darker hue. As the first Large Skippers and Meadow Browns emerge, exciting thing are still to come, of course. But a tinge of regret remains, it's hard not to look back at the innocence of spring.

Very poetic Mark...well put and although it instills a touch of sadness there is still much to look forward to

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Great view of the Turtle Doves Essex, they're still a welcome sound on a days butterflying at Martin Down, long may they continue to grace our shores

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks everyone, for your comments.

At the Essex Heath Fritillary sites, the adults have now emerged, slightly earlier than usual. Much work is being done for their conservation,and I was most impressed with the site I visited last Wednesday. More cow-wheat, more coppice habitat- and more adults! I am far more optimistic for their future here than I was when I visited a couple of years ago.

[Wurzel]

Fantastic stuff Essex - I was just thinking about what to do next week Such variation - one of the Heaths in the final shot is very dark indeed Do you know if they have they started emerging in Kent?

Have a goodun

Wurzel