essex buzzard

[Neil Freeman]

Great reports from Cornwall Mark ...I'm already thinking about returning again next year

Cheers,

Neil.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks, yes, can’t wait to get back down there!

On Sunday, I headed up to Martins Meadows, a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve. In the late-spring and summer, many exciting flowers bloom there, including Fritillaries and Orchids. But in September, the meadows bloom again, as the Meadow Saffron flowers. This is a Scarce, crocus-like flower of damp fields and pasture. The rather ugly, poisonous leaves emerge in April, but have withered away by high summer, and the flowers grow naked from the bulb, hence their other name, naked ladies.

Small Coppers are common here, and find the flowers attractive.

Small White, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small Heath were seen, as well as this Large White.

[David M]

Those naked ladies are very attractive, Mark.

There are quite a few in the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, although they have been cultivated and are not growing wild. I've never seen a butterfly on one so it's interesting to know Small Coppers have a weakness for them.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks David. They can apparently be found at some damp meadows in the Welsh borders and south-west Midlands, though I haven’t seen them there myself.

[essexbuzzard]

Walls can be found at several sites in south Essex, but perhaps the most reliable are on Canvey Island. On Monday I headed there, as the third generation is now flying. The first one I saw, was this lovely female.

After a couple of fly-by’s, I found this female laying eggs, a bit darker in colour than the first one. Another nice fresh adult.

Nearby, a lovely fresh male briefly landed, but was too quick for a photo. I only saw about five Walls, but I suspect there are more to come. Several Speckled Woods were found.

Broad leaf everlasting pea grow in abundance on this site, but, despite much checking, I failed to find any evidence of LTB. So it looks like a trip south will be necessary. Small White, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Walls, Speckled Wood and Small Heath completes the butterfly sightings. Meanwhile, a pair of ravens were a nice sight. Although becoming more common in the county, these were my first Canvey Island sightings.

[essexbuzzard]

After, ahead of the incoming rain, there was just time for a visit to Bedfords Park. This is where Essex meets London and, being on high ground, many of the city landmarks can be seen. It is also home to good numbers of Small Coppers. The foodplants were looking a little shrivelled, this weeks deluge will have helped the sorrels regenerate.

A fresh Painted Lady put in an appearance.

Commas are very common here, and feed on both blackberries and devils bit scabious.

[essexbuzzard]

Opps, pressed the wrong button ! Here they are,

And lastly, here is another Speckled Wood.

[trevor]

Congrats for that lovely 3rd brood female Wall Brown, Mark.
Really enjoyed the Meadow Saffron too, never seen them in the wild.

Trevor.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Trevor, when I see Walls, I often think of you as I know you like them!

Keep those LTB reports coming in!

[Wurzel]

Lovely set of posts recently Essex - especially like the Walls - that first female shot if gurt lush

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel. Yes, she was a belter. I hope she hasn’t been washed away by all the rain!

[David M]

Great that you've got reliable late season Wall Browns, Mark. I'd love to take a look round my way this weekend to see if there are any here on the south Wales coast. Sadly, the weather forecast for both Saturday & Sunday is yet more storms.

[Neil Freeman]

I love the Wall Browns Mark We just don't get them in Warwickshire these days, and to think that when I was growing up they were more common than Speckled Woods around here. Mind you Specklies were a rarity here in those days, we lost one species and gained another.

Cheers,

Neil.

[essexbuzzard]

Hi David, yes, the weekend is not looking favourable. Saturday might be your best chance.

Hi Neil, Walls, even in Essex, are now restricted to the coast, having gone from inland sites. But at least we still have them. You’re right about Speckled Woods, too. They were scarce in East Anglia until the 1990’s, and even Commas weren’t that common. Now both species are everywhere, a positive change for sure.

[David M]

Hi David, yes, the weekend is not looking favourable. Saturday might be your best chance.

Afraid it was a washout, Mark. Things don't look good for the foreseeable future either. Such a shame after the earlier, settled spell during September.

[essexbuzzard]

Wednesday 2 October. At last the sun had returned, so I was Sussex bound today. It was too cold for butterflies when I arrived, so I took a walk on Shoreham beach to see the lizards, which were basking on the walls here.

A short walk at nearby Mill Hill produced not a single butterfly, so it was now time to head for now famous Whitehawk mast. Here, after getting to know the site, I came across a good gathering of people, including some familiar faces! So I knew I was in the right spot. Neil had already seen a Long-tailed Blue, and eventually we re-found it, a cracking fresh male. It didn’t hang about long, but I think everyone got some shots.

It was discouragingly cold on the windy hill top, so, after an hour with no sightings, apart from a Speckled Wood, we gradually departed, and I headed back to Mill Hill, choosing the more sheltered lower slope this time. This was more productive, and much warmer too! Two, possibly three Walls were present.

Several other species were seen, including a Clouded Yellow, but they were mostly showing their age. Here is one of several Meadow Browns.

Day list includes, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Red Admiral,Speckled Wood, Wall and Meadow Brown.

[trevor]

Well done, Mark. I would say that your journey was worthwhile!.
A glorious male LTB, and a bonus female Wall Brown.

Trevor.

[essexbuzzard]

Definitely well worthwhile, Trevor! It was great to get about again, after all the recent rain.

Hoped I might see you yesterday, oh well, another time.

[Wurzel]

That's a cracking LTB Essex, mint condish What your day list lacks in quantity it certainly makes up for in quality - Walls, Cloudies and LTB

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Good for you, Mark. So pleased you got a result.