Welsh Trip 30-07-2107
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 isn’t great or travelling. And so as we set off towards Aberaeron it was no surprise that the forecast was great at Shipton, in fact ii 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.
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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 fund 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.
Have a goodun
Wurzel