Martin Down 17-08-2917
Both the girls were at their Nanny’s spending time with their Australian cousin, my work was up to date, the house was painted to within an inch of its life and all the chores had been done…what else was there to do but grab my camera and head over to Martin Down. On the way I planned ahead – I was going to go to the main car park off the Blandford Road and then walk Bokerley to the hotspot and back. But somehow I found myself at the Sillen’s Lane car park? Autopilot had taken over. Oh well I set out towards the hotspot regardless.
The stroll there was pretty uneventful in the most part with only the odd Common Blue or White bombing by. At the first fork in the track I headed right looking to make my way round the earth work rings and to come to the hotspot from the other side. I bore left and made my way along one side of the earthworks and the butterflies started appearing. Small Heaths, a Small Tort, Common Blues and Brown Argus. But unfortunately this area was really exposed to the strong breeze and all my shots were wind blurred. A real jewel of butterfly struggled into view and plopped down practically in front of me. It was as if the butterflying Gods had just granted me a favour because at that precise moment the wind dropped to barely a breath and the sun caught the electric blue of the wings to perfection.
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I carried on round to the hotspot the wind bending my soft brimmed hat which is always a bad sign so I was hoping the Dyke would offer some protection from the strong breeze. As I ambled into the middle of the hotspot it certainly seemed to as there were butterflies everywhere. Amongst the odd Meadow Brown and Small Heath the odd Brimstone did a fly by. The Blues in particular were very well represented with 5 Lycaenids. So I settled down and just enjoyed them and every now and then I remembered to take a few photos as well. I was particularly pleased to see some Chalkhills here and though some were looking past their best others were in fine fettle.
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I followed the Dyke on up the hill for a bit and this produced a bit more variety with 4 species of whites, an unusually marked Meadow Brown and a fly-by Small Tort but the Blues soon muscled back into prominence with Brown Argus looking like a good call for an aberrant (though I can’t remember the name – Snelleri?) as well as some more Chalkhills, Adonis looking resplendent and a pair of Common Blue in cop.
Time was running by and despite not locating the species I was hoping for, a Clouded Yellow, I made my way homewards. Off to Devon in a day or two I wonder what that will hold in store?
Have a goodun
Wurzel