essex buzzard

[ernie f]

How close exactly were you to that very horned cow? And did you remember to bring your red-lined cape for defence?

Ole!

[essexbuzzard]

Don’t worry, this is an English Longhorn. On the face of it, they could do you some damage with those impressive horns, but in fact the are quite placid!

Back to Bison Hill, and I was most pleased to see so many Greens. I normally see a few, but this was my best showing here. Perhaps they were concentrated in sheltered areas on this breezy day, or perhaps they are simply having a good spring!

This little chap was holding territory on the edge of a hawthorn bush. I had the pleasure watching him for a good half hour. He was flying out at any other hairstreak, Duke or other insect that came close. He, and his friends, made a great day even better!

[kevling]

Essex,

I enjoyed your photos of the mating Dukes, a nice find. I must visit that area and get my fix, it's such a lovely butterfly.

Kind Regards
Kev

[trevor]

Your first Green Hairstreak image is a cracker.
An almost perfectly marked specimen too.

Great stuff, Mark,
Trevor.

[essexbuzzard]

Our spring Skippers were also in evidence at Bison Hill. I normally see them here, and it was great to do so again. Add a few Orange Tips and Brimstones, and turned out to be a super May day!

[Wurzel]

That is a great example of a punctata Essex Now I've made my peace with the Green one I love the behaviour that you describe, it's great just watching them fly out to intercept any invaders on their patch

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Agreed, Wurzel. Sometimes it’s nice to put the camera down, and just watch the butterflies, and witness their behaviour.

On Wednesday, we headed down to Canterbury, and to Denge Wood. This is home to the largest population of Duke of Burgundy in Kent. Unfortunately, it rather dull and cold when we arrived, but it was expected to brighten up during the afternoon. It didn’t. In the four hours we were there, it failed to brighten at all, and remained dull, cold and windy from the moment were arrived to when we left. The accuracy of the forecast has improved when predicting rain, but they still have a long way to go when it comes to predicting sunshine.

Thankfully, there is more to Denge Wood than the Duke of Burgundy. For this is home to many orchids, including one of the best-perhaps the best- colonies of lady orchids in the country. An they are having a good year, with lots of flower spikes. These are variable in size and colour, but make a great display.

In the evening, we headed for Samphire Hoe, beneath Shakespeare’s cliff, Dover. When the spoil from the Channel Tunnel was dumped here, it was soon colonised bu, among other things, early spider orchids. While these are past their best by mid May, there were still some good ones around. Unfortunately, it was unexpectedly cold here, which we weren’t prepared for, so we didn’t stay for long!

[David M]

Those are stunning orchids, Mark, and go some way to compensating you for the lack of accuracy from those who get paid to predict the weather!

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks David, to be honest I had ny doubts, which is why I went for a site that had other interest as well.

Last Sunday, I went to Mill Hill. With no rush hour I’m Sunday, I arrived early,hoping to catch the Adonis Blues waking up. However, I arrived to unexpected sea mist and, although temperatures rose, I gave up at lunchtime, and headed inland. Having said that, I did find some butterflies there, including Walls, which were easier to approach than usual. And one Adonis was beautifully posed on a carpet of horseshoe vetch, which I love to see.

[essexbuzzard]

So I headed to Chantry Hill, Storrington, where glorious sunshine greeted me on arrival. Never been here at this time of year before, but it was excellent. I was amazed at the number of Dingy Skippers, there were hundreds of them! Dukes were also spread around the si, I was hoping, rather than expecting, to see some.

I also saw my first Brown Argus of the year. Lots of them!

Small Coppers were also present, as well as many other species. This is a great place!

[Goldie M]

Lovely shots essex, No sight of the Dukes for me this week-End so I've enjoyed your shots Goldie

[David M]

Your first Brown Argus is an interesting one, Mark, very akin to the Mountain Argus seen in the Alps (as you know).

[Pauline]

So many lovely images there Mark it's hard to pick out a favourite but I do like the mating Dingy Skippers and that Adonis on the yellow carpet is a gem Many, including myself, might have been tempted to zoom in on that one but that composition is so much more effective!

[essexbuzzard]

Yes David, he does, doesn’t he?

Pauline, I did take close-ups as well, but I prefer that picture!

After Chantry, I headed back to Mill Hill for the evening. Trevor had arrived, as had the sun, and we had a great couple of hours watching the butterflies going to roost. These are Adonis Blues, here in impressive numbers, as they were last summer,

Common Blues were, indeed, common. Here is a brown female, and a male,

Small Heaths had emerged,

And lastly another picture of the glorious horseshoe vetch.

A great evening!

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Essex The upside blue from Mill Hill is a beaut, lovely contrast with the blue and the dark margins And that Adonis - woah!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

We have no early summer trip to Cornwall this year, so for Marsh Fritillaries, we decided to go to Wurzel’s “the Hill”. Traffic was kind, and we arrived in good time. We soon saw a familiar shape. Trevor, who I had seen at Mill Hill a couple of days earlier! Soon our first Marsh Fritillaries were seen, and we went on to see good numbers on the slope.

Although these were our priority, I was pleased to find Grizzled Skippers, which I love to see.

A couple of Orange Tips were, of course, a pleasure. At the bottom of the slope, we found a couple of Small Blues.

Here, the butterflies were feasting on some delicious dog dirt!

All to a backdrop of singing yellow hammers and corn buntings, we had another terrific morning! .

[Andrew555]

Some really nice shots there Essex, great stuff.

[Wurzel]

Great that the Hill is working out again this year, I was slightly worried when I visited as there weren't that many Marshies around though it seems that they were a little late in emerging

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Some great reports and photos there, Essex, from both Mill Hill and then over at Wurzel's Hill in Wiltshire. Both are amazing sites with the possibility of 20 species at either of them.

Dave

[David M]

That's an interesting Small Heath in your last but one report, Mark. Do my eyes deceive me or are there really silvery spots on the hindwing underside?