essex buzzard

[David M]

Wonderful stuff, Mark. This species is simply gorgeous when fresh (the horseshoe vetch is eye-catching too).

With the weather set fair for the next week at least, it could be a very productive early summer.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks everyone. They positively glow, don’t they?

Next up, east Kent. My main reason for visiting is to see the wonderful variety of late-spring orchids here. But if I could get a few butterflies in as well, so much the better!

First up, Denge Wood, south of Canterbury. This is a great site for Lady Orchids, with the added bonus of Duke of Burgundy too! I also found my first ever fly orchids at this site.

I couldn’t resist dropping into Lydden Hill, to see this Adonis Blues there. Good numbers seen. Plenty of horseshoe vetch here, too.

Western Heights is just 10 minutes away, so it would have been rude not to pop in, and see the Small Blues there. In such hot weather, there’s no way they were going to open their wings, though!

It was now early afternoon. Part two to follow.

[Wurzel]

Looking forward to part two Essex - that is a fantastic Small Blue shot

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Then onto a site for late-spider orchids. I won’t broadcast exactly where the site is, for the orchids are very rare, and found only in east Kent. They are also a target for vandals! It would be touch and go if they were out anyway, but this is a very early season. I was lucky, for I found this very first few in flower, with several more in bud.

Nearby, the first man orchids were flowering. Although unspectacular, a close inspection of these brilliant orchids reveals how they got their name.

Finally, to finish off the day, I headed to Park Gate Down. The monkey orchids is found at only three known sites. At two of these, it is scarce and declining, but here it is doing very well. Numbers of flowering monkeys varies each year, though, in fact they tend to do better in wet springs. But the overall number of plants is more stable.

Thanks Wurzel, part two coming right up!

[Wurzel]

Cracking Orchids Essex That Spider Orchid reminds me of a chubby, jovial Spiderman

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Well, I hope we all enjoy the sunniest spring on record. It certainly helped that most of the lock-down period was blessed with warm, sunny weather. A total, for England,of nearly 700 hours of bright sunshine this Spring, would put most summers to shame!

We now arrive at the June gap. Fortunately, in Essex, we have a perfect gap filler. Heath Fritillaries. At HW, they started emerging last week, and are now attracting plenty of interest. One chap had come all the way down from Derbyshire. Admittedly, these Fritillaries probably appeal more to the anoraks among us than the general visitor. I have also found it to be common in most places in Europe that I have visited. But seeing them on home soil is a little bit special.

It’s hard to imagine anything more natural than a butterfly. But in fact,this fussy species depends entirely on man-made habitat. Without human intervention, Heath Fritillaries would be extinct within five years. Fortunately, more habitat maintenance has been done, and I’m confident of it’s future here.

[millerd]

Lovely to see them over there in Essex again, Mark. I always find it fascinating that they are a commonplace landscape butterfly in Europe, but have to be meticulously managed in the UK. They do at least seem to make an effort to do so in that piece of woodland.

They get earlier and earlier too - I think the first time I saw them around ten years ago was in July!

Cheers,

Dave

[Goldie M]

Great to see your Heath shots essex, I'll miss them again this year, their a lovely little Butterfly, when I'm in Kent I make a bee line for East Blean Woods just in case some are still a round. Goldie

[Wurzel]

Brilliant shots Essex - a lovely gap filler indeed I've only ever seen them abroad once (in S.France) but to my mind they seemed lighter, much more orange with dark markings rather than ours which seem dark with orange markings (if that makes sense) - fingers crossed they 'split' them for an armchair 'tick'

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Chris L]

That Adonis Blue photo is an absolute work of art EB. I would have that photo converted in to a canvass and have it on the wall of my house if I had taken that. Excellent.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks everybody.

Earlier this week, good numbers of Small Tortoiseshell males had emerged on the footpaths near Ongar. The days are now as long as they ever get in the northern hemisphere, and it was still very warm then. This means the adults didn’t open their wings until 7.30 PM. Small Tortoiseshells are very common where I live, but never again will I take them for granted. Most were on the path itself, but this one was on the hedge.

This one was richly marked.

Here is a more typical male.

[Neil Freeman]

Nice Heath Fritillaries Mark I had planned a stop off at Greenscombe Woods on our way back from our Cornwall trip which got cancelled. Probably re-arranging this one for the same time next year now.

Good to see Small Tortoiseshells doing well down your way too. They are having a good year around here as well with lots of reports of fresh summer brood from around the midlands.

Cheers,

Neil.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Neil, we also had a trip planned at around the same time, which obviously got cancelled too. So no Marsh of Small PB Fritillaries for me this year either. But I’m grateful to have seen Heath Fritillaries here.

[David M]

...Earlier this week, good numbers of Small Tortoiseshell males had emerged on the footpaths near Ongar...

Same round my way, Mark. There have been heaps of Small Tortoiseshells lately. Looks like it could be the best summer for a few years for them.

[essexbuzzard]

Yes, it will be interesting to see what happens when the weather improves, and we get a few bright evenings. Round here, last year was very good for them too.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks Neil, we also had a trip planned at around the same time, which obviously got cancelled too. So no Marsh of Small PB Fritillaries for me this year either. But I’m grateful to have seen Heath Fritillaries here.

I've one more possible iron in the fire for Small Pearls, a family holiday in Cornwall in the first week of August which has still not been cancelled. The latest info I have is they are looking to open the site again after July 5th so my fingers are crossed.

Cheers,

Neil.

[essexbuzzard]

Good luck with that,Neil we were going down there in August too, for exactly that reason. But it might be heaving down there by then, which has put us off, and we haven’t booked anything. So it will be good to see how you get on.

My time there is greatly missed this year.

[Pauline]

You seem to be having more luck with the WLH than me Mark. Lovely image - looking forward to seeing it in here

[millerd]

Were you in Hadleigh CP on 16th, Mark? If you were I missed you somehow as I spent about three hours down there scrutinising bramble bushes all along the path at the bottom - with some success as it happens! The WLH are only just starting I'd say. Pound Wood was good for Heath Frits afterwards too.

Shame to have missed you.

Cheers,

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks, Pauline. Pictures, hopefully tomorrow night, on here as requested!

Hi Dave, I was there on Monday, the 15 th. That’s why I missed you!

I did meet several other people there, but no-one I recognised. Was happy to show a couple of gentlemen the best spots.