Wurzel

[trevor]

A full 10 points for the Green Hairstreak on Blackthorn blossom shots .
So much better that the usual posed on a green leaf shots.

Not too long now!.
Trevor.

[Katrina]

Loving the GHs on gorse and blossom - what a combination !

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor It is good when they find somewhere different to perch My Brownie Points are building - now I need the cost of petrol to stay stable or even better drop a little and the weather to play nicely
Cheers Katrina I could fill all my memory cards with shots of Greenstreaks

Martin Down 21-04-2022

I was experiencing a feeling of De-ja vu; I was sure that I’d driven along this road with the same music blaring before? In fact I had, twice before and as I cruised I wondered if today would be a case of ‘trying for more of the same’ or if something new would present itself? Either way things should be good – what with the weather finally playing ball (if a little cool still) and the Greenstreaks out and raring to go. I parked at the Sillen’s Lane end and with the car almost buried in the hedge I set off along the flat and dusty main track making for the Tunnel Track. As I walked a few things popped up to keep me occupied – first a Peacock which tried to embroil me in a game of ‘chase’. Next up was a Holly Blue that went up from the path and flew along side the hedge before settling in a position that I could just about reach into. Finally, there was a Brimstone doing the usual thing of bombing along like Alice in Wonderland’s White Rabbit. I followed another Holly Blue from the edge of the Tunnel track back the way I’d come before it nipped off over the back of the hedge but even so things were still quite quiet. The coolness of the morning wasn’t helping…

As I returned to the Tunnel Track and started down things did indeed pick up slightly, the shelter offered by the tall hedges on either side of the track allowed the temperature to creep up slightly and as I walked it continued to rise up though the double digits; the butterflies responded by waking up and flying about. First came a male Brimstone and then another both managing to pace themselves and maintain a respectful distance from each other so that they’d not have to interrupt their patrolling to deal with the other. Further on I spied an Orange-tip deeply intent on seeking out females. Added to this were several more Brimstones and a brace of reasonably well-behaved Holly Blues and the Tunnel Track looked a bit more like it had been in previous seasons. The Greenstreak was a very welcome sight as that was one of the main reasons for visiting a third time. Near the end a Specklie waited for me and escorted me along the final footsteps almost as if it was making sure that I left all those in the Tunnel Track in peace and bu££ered off pronto.

I now had a choice to make; either take the diagonal track that cuts across the grasslands to the Half-way Point or take the track to the left that skirted the Hill Fort and dropped down at the Hollow? I plumbed for the former and Skylarks rang out and ascended like parachutes in reverse prompting me to most definitely stick to the path lest I disturb them or damage a nest. I was just complaining to myself that I’d made the wrong choice when I spotted a grey blob that looked out of place on a Dandelion. As I got nearer it was a Grizzlie, holding on grimly in the fresh breeze that whipped across the exposed fields.

At the Half-way Point all was quiet and so I continued on, hoping that the cloud cover would break and constantly scanning down in the Dyke and I spotted a Peacock down by the dead Rabbit on my way to check out the Butts and then a Dingy that nipped off pretty sharpish. Closer to the Butts were another brace of Peacocks; first one went up from some unseen hiding place which then set off a second slightly further ahead. I kept looking in case anything else would be spooked by the clattering, panicked take off of the Peacocks but that was it. After a brief and empty stroll around the thinly turfed field I started back along the Dyke making ultimately for the Holllow. Between the Butts and the Half-way Point I picked up a couple of Dingies and at least 4 Peacocks and as I drew near to the bushes at the Half-way Point a Grizzlie led me along the narrow track, a Peacock erupted and an Orange-tip and Brimstone both patrolled the length and back of the small section of sheltered path. As I was turning to leave another Grizzlie zipped by and made me tarry for a short while before I once more made off along the Dyke.

As I progressed along the going was relatively slow. I love it when this happens because it means that I’m seeing loads of stuff so I have to pause to either try for a few shots or make notes in my notebook (a necessary task now as I’m constantly behind with my PD!). A Peacock started the ball rolling, actually flying away behind me to ‘safety’ rather than flying ahead of me, going down onto the deck and then being spooked etc. etc. An Orange-tip bombed by on it’s quest to complete its biological imperative. I assume that the two male Brimstones were also on a similar mission as they flapped purposefully past me completely missing a female which was hiding in amongst the thickest vegetation. There were more encounters with Brimstones, Peacocks and the Skippers before I reached the Hollow as well as an aged Small Tort – I only ever see the odd one here so this was a welcome addition to the days tally.

Once at the Hollow I cut across the miniature terraces and made my way into Greenstreak Field past lightly coloured Early Purple Orchid. Once properly ensconced I started looking about but didn’t need to look any further than the same stand of Gorse right at the end of the small path into the field for there was a Greenstreak. An Orange-tip drifted by but even with this unusual gait it wasn’t enough to distract me from my main reason for visiting and I happily clicked away at the Green One. A little further along the field I found two more as well as an errant Comma and again I stood back and clicked away. I find this species fascinating – the way that once you’ve found a popular perch the butterflies over successive generations consistently visit it, the way that if they disappear for a while you can just sit tight and wait for them to come back and the way the tilt towards the sun altering the hues and tones of their green wings. Awesome.

With my memory card looking nicely sated I started back and as there was a bit of space still on said memory card and also as, unusually, I still had some time I decided to walk back along the Tunnel Track. I followed a brace of Orange-tips up the first part of the track until the one closest to me had caught up with the one further ahead. They locked into gladiatorial combat and tumbled together through the hedge, disappearing from view. The Specklie was still holding the line and as I passed gave me a disapproving look; “just watch it you” it seemed to be intimating. Then near the break in one of the hedges I found two Greenstreaks. One was quite flighty and I wondered if this the same one as earlier? The other was much more co-operative even coming down to the ground so that, lying flat on my belly I could get level with it and capture the brilliant shimmering green as it turned into the sun. I haven’t got the perfect mirror like metallic sheen yet but some of the shots were getting close! Again; awesome!

Exceeding happy I made the walk back to the car in near record time due to the spring in my step. It was very pleasing to finish up exactly as I started, like I was rewinding the tape. First there was a Holly Blue, then a Brimstone and finally a Peacock. A great trip out and maybe next time the Marshies will be flying?

Metallic lustre
Of emerald crossed with Jade
Ever changing hues

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[kevling]

Bumper day at Martin Down for you Wurzel. Those Grizzlies and Greenstreaks are fantastic.

Kind Regards
Kev Ling

[Wurzel]

Cheers Kev Martin Down is a cracking site and there seem to be more Greenstreaks there each year

Middle Street 22-04-2022

The weather wasn’t great but I went out after lunch anyway so that I could seek out roosting Orange-tips. I must have looked a ‘right one’ as I fastidiously checked every Garlic Mustard, Cuckoo Flower and Cow Parsley as I walked the Town path like some weird fetishist of white flowers; a flore alophile. If anyone had of stopped me the lack of roosting Orange-tips would have made them even more concerned – “Right so you’re checking the flowers for a non-existent butterfly on a cool and cloudy day…” cue Obelix-esque head tapping. However over the years I’ve become impervious to the stares and odd looks that nature lovers receive and I continued my search in vain all the way to Middle Street.

It was the same at Middle Street. I checked along the back path, down at the hotspot and into the dried up pond (where a Specklie startled me), round the river path and through all three Dips (where a Grass Snake basked for all it was worth in Dip 1) and to the end and back. No Orange-tips, in fact only the one fleeting butterfly but on the plus side now knew where every single stand of Garlic Mustard was. Finally I was set to leave and then surprise, surprise the butterflies started appearing as I had reached the Hotspot on my final pass. First up and out of their snuggly bed was a Small White and then the butterfly I was hoping for; an Orange-tip. I followed it round to the pond and up and down the track for a bit before it flew then all the way to the edge of and then down into Dip1. All around Dip 1 it went displaying the most annoying behaviour of slowing slightly and fluttering around a flower head before zipping off in a totally different direction than before. It must have worked out that whatever it was seeking wasn’t in Dip 1 and so and it shot back out it before finally stopping. I grabbed some photos while the cloud held the sun back but today the cloud seemed to be having an off day and the sun reappeared so the Orange-tip was off again. So I followed it again, reasoning that this was the best form of cardio that I’d do this year (or maybe that’ll be Wall Browns?). It looked like it was going to lead me all around the houses again but the cloud gave itself a shake, pulled itself together and literally swallowed the sun whole. The Orange-tip stopped again boom I was there.

The final time I watched it tear off with the coming of the sun I considered following it once more as I still had one more try according the unofficial ‘rule of three’ but it made for the fence by the old Woodpile and then dove over and was gone. Fleeting but worth it and as a Brucie bonus it spooked a Small White as it made its flouncy exit. When the White took off I tried to follow it but it was intercepted by a Green-veined White; the smokiest GVW I’ve ever encountered so I went for that instead. It was much slower and easier to follow; more of a Sunday afternoon jogger than the Marathon sprinter that is an Orange-tip; so I was able to get a few shots relatively easily and without getting out of breath. Back by the wood pile there was another Small White settling down once more as the cloud came over so it would have been rude not to have tried for a few shots.

Mission completed
Found my ‘roosting’ Orange-tip
Cardio done too!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Lovely fresh Green Hairstreaks from Martin Down, Wurzel. Definitely a butterfly that ought to be around for more than just a few spring weeks. Cloudy and otherwise disappointing days at the same time of year are great for roosting Orange Tips. There's always one out there somewhere...

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Cheers Dave I'm in full agreement with you about the Greenstreaks - in fact I'd add Orange-tips and Marshies to the list of species that should be around longer

Garston Wood 23-04-2022

All was cloudy as we walked through the wood but despite that the scene was bright, lit by the numerous woodland flowers – Celandines, Anemones and the occasional Primrose all reflected the little sun there was three fold. As we continued along the paths conversing and serenaded by a cacophony of bird song from above we started noticing small patches, ‘ponds’, of Bluebells compared to the sea of blue we were hoping to witness. The ponds started becoming larger and denser and then when we turned right towards the Lunch Log we spied the sea. Every year it seems to get brighter, denser and bluer. Fantastic. There were also a few Purple Orchids poking out in the sea of blue as if adrift in the ocean which added to the spectacular.

However as we continued on along the paths following the tried and test rout we didn’t see a single butterfly. This continued all thought the wood and then out across the fields, through the village and along the hedges of Deanland. I didn’t find my first butterfly until we sat down for lunch opposite the entrance of Shooters Wood. As I was laying out the picnic blanket and pouring my coffee I spotted a Holly Blue as it flew/dropped with style from the wood into the clearing. It must have been a little too chilly still as it sat on a leaf and awaited the sun. I knew this as I’d left the coffee to cool and nipped up the hill with my camera whilst the others arrived. After a few shots I was worried that the girls, ravenous after the hike, would nab my lunch as well as their own and so marking the spot with a few sticks I nipped back to the picnic and enjoyed my repast.

During lunch I kept watch around me and a few White floated by including a Small White and a Green-veined White that flew in from opposite directions, spiralled together for about 15 seconds and then, realising that they were a different species form each other carried on along their original path. With lunch eaten and the detritus packed away to be dealt with at home we set off up the hill. Everyone else stuck to the path but I carefully picked my way through the brush up the hill and relocated the Holly Blue. As I approached the sun peeked out, the wind dropped and the butterfly took off. I thought that I’d left it too late (I knew I shouldn’t have had that extra sandwich!) but luckily the clouds ‘did me a solid’ and covered the sun momentarily. It was just long enough to encourage the Holly Blue to plop down once more and I was able to get in for some shots as it sat nicely atop a Bluebell.

After that didn’t really get the opportunity for any shots although I did see some more butterflies…On the start of the ascent for the next hill along I watched 2 male Orange-tips fighting it out before both turned their attentions to a hapless Brimstone that was minding its own business and just wanted to get down the hill. Once at the top of the same hill the Bramble only reached about knee height but what they lacked in height they made up for in girth, covering the side of the down and leaving only narrow tracks between them like miniature canyons. Flying around here I counted 3 Holly Blues, 2 Green-veined Whites, a smattering of Brimstones and a couple or three Orange-tips. However all of my observations were made from the wrong side of the barbed wire fence so I didn’t get a single shot off. I was starting to wonder whether my Holly Blue shots would see the light of day as ‘one butterfly does not a post maketh’. However I resolved to take a more Zen like approach and rather than getting frustrated, cursing and swearing or nipping over the fence and chasing after I took a deep breath and just enjoyed the scene. The Brimstones stayed up high like Noddy Terns flying from island to island. The Holly Blue acted a little like Greenstreaks in that when another butterfly approached they’d fly out from a perch to intercept it before returning to a perch near to the first. The Green-veined Whites and Orange-tips favoured the little track way; flying along the bottom of the canyons. Brilliant. I ran for a bit to catch up with others and we continued. As we came out of the wood and walked along the edge of the field that lies behind Garston I spotted Peacock and a Specklie. Again both were camera shy but I just enjoyed their presence. Which I also did when we came back into the reserve. Down the track I watched an Orange-tip, a Small White and a distant Holly Blue as well as a couple of Brimstones. Finally I got a couple of shots of one of the Brimstones – also on the flower of the day – a Bluebell.

Back in the car park we loaded things into the cars and crossed the road and up the Down to look for Hares. It seemed like my earlier restraint and general appreciation was being repaid as a gorgeous looking Green-veined White plopped down on the verge as we made our way to the Downside track. On the walk up we followed a male Orange-tip which was patrolling the verge on the side of the path. It put up a Brimstone, Green-veined White, a Peacock and a Holly Blue before disappearing into the distance and scarping with an Orange-tip that was coming the other way. Again my standing back was rewarded as this male stopped long enough for a few shots; I sat and waited and he came to me. We scanned across the stony field but there were no Hares today and so we started back down. In between chatting on the descent of the Down I wondered where the female Orange-tips were as I’d not seen one? No sooner had this though popped into my head when I spied a smaller, more rounded White making their way labouriously up the hill with a loosely flapping flight. It was a Mrs OT and I was ecstatic when she dropped down almost at my feet. She went up a few more times until finally finding her perfect comfy spot and then she settled down and as the sun nipped behind a cloud she closed up. I called the girls round to show them and they loved the fact that they couldn’t see her at first as she was so well camouflaged, her outline broken up. I started to tell them that ‘when the sun came out she’d slowly open up’ when it did just that and so did she, right on cue! Even more brilliant!

The next day we took another family trip – this time to Bolderwood. As my nephew and his girlfriend were late arriving due to trouble on the M3 I took a quick stroll and went down the other side of the hill but only a single Specklie showed briefly and none of the Gorse held any Greenstreaks – I don’t even know if they’re found here to be honest? Coming back across the closely cropped grass I spotted a Brimstone on the other side of the road and not expecting it to go down I settled for just watching it. So of course it did go down and I was lucky enough to pick up a few shots. The walk itself threw up only a few Whites and Brimstones and another singleton Specklie and that was it…hopefully Dukes and Pearls soon!

Garston for the show
Everything loves a Bluebell
So it seems today

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Lovely female OT. Only saw one female this year and she was otherwise engaged.
Some great shots recently, especially of the Green one.

As you say, not long now!.
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor Fingers crossed now that the weather plays ball and we don't enter into the usual cycle of great weather midweek deteriorating for the weekend

Bentley Wood 30-04-2022

I would have said that Bentley was quiet but the birds made sure this wasn’t the case and as I strolled past the new sign (looks good but doesn’t fulfil the same role as the old one with the ever useful sightings book) I was greeted by a raucous cacophony. I was able to pick out the jarring and not quite repetitive call of a Chiff-chaff and the double phrase song of a Song Thrush in particular and then came the Blackcap, Garden Warbler and once in the clearing Tree Pipits. As I shuffled along the narrow tracks too the end of the clearing and back a few moths went up but butterfly wise all was quiet. Hoping that the rising temperatures wouldn’t mean that the butterflies would rouse themselves too quickly and go from slumbering to whizzing about at 70 mph in the flash of an eye I made for the path at the back of the reserve with it annoying fence on one side and the cracking Bracken scallops on the other. In the past this has been the most productive area and it seems like this is where the butterflies emerge and then move they make their way to the EC proper. At the top of the path there was my quarry but my earlier fear was realised as the butterfly was haring across the tops of last years’ Bracken fronds.

I kept an eye on it and it flew over the annoying barbed wire fence and into the recently cleared field. I’m not really sure why this is fenced off as there are gates into it at either end so I found a sturdy looking post and used it to hop over. I managed to find the Pearl and it went down to the ground a couple of times so I got a few shots of it and then a second appeared. Both Pearls now flew for what seemed an age and then both would go down at roughly the same time but there was a limited window for photography a suddenly the butterfly would take to the air and head off on another dizzying run across the field. I was fairly confident that their sudden departure had little to do with me as several times each I’d either be standing still watching them from afar or I’d have gotten in and sat still prior to their sudden retreat. They also liked to fly over the fence and tease me and tempt me to hop back over but I stayed where I was and let them come to me. After a short while another viewer turned up in the field and with them a third Pearl so I spent some time trying to capture all three Pearls on film.

Eventually I’d naturally made my way over to the gate and so made to head back to the EC. The other enthusiast had met another (the same lady as from Greenstreak hunting at Martin Down) and they were onto another Pearl. This one was really fresh and was a bit of a poser, sitting here and there for longer periods of time than the others. Enough time in fact that you could actually approach it and get your shots lined up. Eventually the others move on and wishing them good luck I stay with the poser until it’s moved and settled twice more. Even though it’s never sat exactly spot on for the perfect underside shot, I leave it alone after the third time of moving and move myself back to check out the EC now that the butterflies are awake.

A few Brimstones were delighting in flying fast from one end of the clearing to the other and in the end section a Green-veined White made it onto the days tally as did a Large White and I even got my first, albeit distant, shots of a Red Admiral. It’s strange to think that this was my first butterfly sighting over two months before and yet this was the first images that I’d gotten of the species. There didn’t seem to be much more flying and any freshly emerged Pearls would soon be racing about like a bunch of hoons so taking the long way, back through the recently cleared field, I made for the car park and home. As I walked I kept my eyes peeled just in case and it paid off for there was my first Small Heath of 2022.

Bentley Wood for Pearls
Lashings of gorgeous ginger
My first Small Heath too!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[dilettante]

Lovely pics. I must make the effort to see Pearls sometime. Sadly they're not found anywhere near me in Cambs.

[trevor]

All that Pearl chasing and fence hopping must have been good for your figure!.
Your penultimate shot was worth all that effort. A great saga too.

Trevor.

[Neil Freeman]

...Fingers crossed now that the weather plays ball and we don't enter into the usual cycle of great weather midweek deteriorating for the weekend

You shouldn't have said that Wurzel...I hate to say this but have you seen the forecast?

Nice Pearls

cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Lovely shots of the Peal Wurzel, I'll miss them, but I've got shots of them to keep, so I'll have to be satisfied

Incidentally I've sent you a reply about the gadget, Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Dilettante I hope that we can keep them going at Bentley - we've lost the Small Pearls
Cheers Trevor I am looking a little more svelte
Cheers Neil I know - I was planning on a trip for Large Blues but now it looks like I'll have to fly up after work
Cheers Goldie I saw and commented on the gadget You may have lost the Pearls but you gained the Heaths

Bentley Wood and on... 30-04-2022

On the way home I picked up several OTs and while waiting for the train at the level crossing I spotted a Holly Blur, Green-veined White and another Orange-tip as I waited for the cumbersome locomotive to pass. As I reached the Down I pulled into a lay-by and gave my wife a call. I would be arriving back much earlier than expected and so in a bid to try and maintain my reserve of Brownie points I suggested a quick trip over to Fovant so that they could sit in the sun while it lasted and I could have a quick check for Dukes? As I was on the call I watched a Peacock and a Brimstone flutter about near the gate and once my wife agreed I grabbed a few shots of both and continued on driving to Fovant via home.

Once at Fovant we all climbed over the stile to the Down on the badges side and I had a quick check in the Quarry but I couldn’t see any Dukes and so we carried on up the slope to find the girls a nice place to sit. There were Dingies all over the place, whizzing about in brown blurs and with the girls set up I retreated back down the hill this time in the ditch. I counted four Dingies all in view at the same time but they were all about, so much so that it didn’t seem as if anything else was going to get a look in.

A proper check of the Quarry didn’t reveal any Dukes so I climbed back over the stile, crossed the road, over the next gate and I set off for the bowl and diagonal, terraced path which the Dukes like to frequent. As I walked the short stretch of dirt track I was accompanied by various whites; Brimstone Orange-tip and a Green-veined White all put on a show. I cut up onto the side of the Down which was covered in Cowslips giving the hill the appearance of green and yellow polka dot but despite this abundance of larval food plant I didn’t see hide nor hair of a Duke. In fact it was all pretty quiet. There was a single Dingy at Terrace 1 (perhaps they were all on the other side of the road?) and a Peacock at Terrace 3. I followed the path all the way up and then all the way back down and still there was nowt and so I made back to the Bowl where I was greeted by a meeting of singletons – one apiece of Dingy, Peacock, Brimstone and Orange-tip. A miniscule butterfly which wouldn’t have looked out of place in a collection of micro micro-moths caught my eye somehow. As I got nearer I could see that it was my first Small Blue of 2022 and despite this fact it was already pretty battered, it’s white fringes all torn and shredded. A short way away a Small Heath popped up, but too slow for it was now my second and not first of the year, it had missed its chance at glory.

With time running short I took to running back along the level-ish tractor track to the bottom of the Down but pulled up short when I spotted a Holly Blue ahead. In the sun with was blinding white, like the flame of Magnesium, yet when it sat it was the finest power blue. Gorgeous and well worth a telling off if I hadn’t have made it back in record time. As we strolled back down the hill that I’d just raced up I again took the low road down in the ditch and again marvelled at the number of Dingies including an abortive attempt at mating. And then we were away home, Brownie Points intact and with three new species for the year – not too bad a day really.

Onwards to Fovant
A double header no less
Brownie points intact!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Bentley Wood 07-05-2022

As my recce the week before had shown the Pearls were out and so it was time for the first meet up of 2022 for Philzoid and myself. Expectations were high but the weather was playing silly bu££ers with only intermittent breaks in the cloud cover but we pressed on anyway…
Once we’d done the meet and greet and caught up in the car park we set off down to the Eastern Clearing. It was chilly under the cloud and it felt odd to be out looking for butterflies in May whilst wearing my thick jumper but at least the shower was over and there was some blue-sky lurking on the edge of the horizon which would hopefully make its way towards us. We forewent the main Clearing and made directly for the Back Track where the Pearls had been the week before. After much staring at the ground as we shambled along a Pearl flew up from the grass but proved difficult to follow. At the end another brace of Pearls flew amid the stooks of dead Bracken. They also pulled the annoying trick of bombing past and getting you to follow only to then nip over the fence at the very last moment. Still they were enjoyable to watch even if photography was tricky. A Brimstone joined at one point but it was upstaged by the most nondescript bird of all time, ultimate L.B.J, the Garden Warbler. Instead of skulking around and pronouncing its love from deep within cover it sat there out in the open positively encouraging us to take its photo. It was so extrovert for a moment I doubted that it even was a Garden Warbler!

After this we wandered back down the track and made our way to the bottom corner of the Eastern Clearing and as we walked the sun crept out finally emerging proper as we rounded the final corner. With the sun came the butterflies and we enjoyed a little Purple Patch with the usual Spring Suspects all putting in an appearance. A Large White flew past at about head height whereas the Green-veined White and aged Peacock hugged the ground as they flew looking for nectar. A Specklie had taken up territory in the bottom most corner where it sat in the shade and an orange-tip patrolled past. A Pearl was also hanging around in this section which reminded us what were really here for and so we retraced our footsteps to check out the main section of the Clearing more thoroughly. A further 2 Pearls were darting about along the narrow paths and another Brimstone sailed by and we arrested our progress for a little something Anuran – a medium sized Common Toad which was no doubt wondering where all the damp places had gone?

We carried on our progress up though the Marshie field with only a Peacock showing and then up around the top to the back track where we’d initially seen the Pearls earlier that morning. There were at least three Pearls flying about here now (probably the same three from earlier) as well as a few other enthusiasts. I stop and chatted to one (Jeremy) and get the gen on the Dukes at Battlesbury as that species was still on my hitlist and then catch up with Philzoid further on along the track where there are three more Pearls again flying in and amongst the stacks of old Bracken. After a few photos I follow one in particular – a female – as they’re often more likely to settle for reasonable periods of time. She duly did and I got ready so that I was side on, kneeling down with lens level to the butterfly and she was starting to close up. I waited as the seconds ticked by and her wings got ever closer to each other. I was just about to start clicking away when a male dropped in next to her and in her anxiety to drive him off she moved and opened up again. So now I was not only at the wrong angle but she wasn’t going to close up again either!

We carried on checking the small pathways photographing this and that and eventually our wanderings took us back to the car park. So what to do next was the question at the fore front of our minds? Philzoid had already seen Dukes so wanted to try for Marshies and Walls at Sidbury whereas I was all for Fovant as the Dukes would surely be flying by now? In the end we decided to split up and go to our respective sites. So wishing each other well he turned left and I turned right and away we went…
Meet up with Philzoid
Garden Warbler and some Pearls
Then we separate
Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Bentley Wood and on... 07-05-2022

When I arrived I headed straight to the Bowl and as I climbed up the rise and over the lip I spotted a small dark brown and orange butterfly – job done I’d got my Duke. I walked around the edge of the bowl counter clockwise and a Dingy went up which spooked the Duke I was aiming for. However I didn’t mind as just ahead of where the first Duke had been was a second and this one was a corker. The ground colour was a slightly mellower ash brown and the orange markings ranged from a creamy white to light lemon depending on the light. I’ve seen worn and tired Dukes before that lighten as they age but this one still had all of the chequered fringes intact and the cream scales along the costa which are often the first scales that wear so I was fairly confident that this was a named variation (now confirmed as ab.leucodes). I was so chuffed with it that I almost forgot to get some shots…almost.

Still chuffed I started scanning about and I didn’t mind the cloud which had swept over the sun inducing a slight chill in the air as I spotted a Wall Brown clinging to the near vertical side of the old quarry/bowl. I climbed up carefully using the thin terraces of ‘creep’ a bit like a ladder until I was able to get some shots as the coolness had grounded it. So two firsts for the year and I carefully climbed back down into the bottom of the bowl and managed to relocate the ab.Duke.

Finally sated I left it in peace and made my way back to the car and crossed the road to check out the terraces and the other ‘Bowl’. As I hopped over the gate and landed with a crunch on the dry soil an Orange-tip chose the exact moment to land on a Dandelion almost right next to me so I was able to land and slides straight into a few shots of it. There was an annoying blade of grass across the wings and not for the first time I wondered about constructed a pair of scissors with small sharp blades and extremely long handles – a bit like nail scissors with knitting needles for handles, but alas as these haven’t been invented yet (patent pending) I settled for trying for some real close up shots. As I left the OT still slurping away a Peacock flew head of me almost the whole way along the track to the Bowl and the series of ‘steps’ up the side of the hill.

At the Bowl had a look about and as I watched a Brimstone and Dingy interact I spotted the third Duke of the day. This one displayed the habit of choosing wildly inappropriate perches so it would be flailed around madly even if the breeze was barely a whisper. As I watched it the sun goes in and it seemed to ‘bed down’ among the long grass to sit out the cool spell so I was able to get a couple of closed wing shots of a more ‘normal’ looking Duke for comparison with the ab.leucodes. I carried on climbing up all the terrace steps with only the odd Dingy to show for my efforts on the way up and so I worked back down adding Small Heath to the Tally. Back at the Bowl I couldn’t relocate the Duke but I did find a Small Blue sitting in the gloom. This could have been the exact one that I’d seen the week before as it was displaying even more signs of wear and so must have been out for quite some time.

Time was starting to slip away and so I made my way back along the cattle track at the base of the hill noting a Specklie and a Peacock along the way. Having gotten back to the car I couldn’t resist another look at the Duke ab. and so once more I climbed the stile, climbed into the old quarry and scanned around. I don’t know whether colour helped make it more obvious than usual but I didn’t take long to find it again. It was a case of “where is it then?” Look right, look left, look rig…there it is! Just as the Duke was still hanging around so to was the Wall. Quite literally in fact as she was still clinging to the steep wall of the old quarry workings but this time sticking out like a sore thumb as the orange ground colour practically shone out against the white bare chalk patch. The hard part was getting close enough for shots at the same time as not slipping/sliding/falling down the wall and breaking a limb or even worse my camera. In the end I used one hand for my camera and the other to find purchase as I climbed up and then to hold on while I clicked away one-handed. As I slid back down to the bottom and made for home I hoped that Philzoid’s trip to Sidbury had been equally as productive?

Breathe in and relax
The Dukes are out at Fovant
A surprise Wall too!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Wurzel
You've got two very nice ab. leucodes there. First male, second female. Nice work!
BWs, Neil

[Neil Freeman]

Well done with the DoB abs. wurzel. Very nice, a for each one

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Great shots Wurzel, love your Wall Brown Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Neil I did wonder about the second one but it didn't seem light enough to my eyes so I was happy with one but two is awesome
Cheers Neil It was a great way to get the species on the 'yearly tally'
Cheers Goldie She sat so nicely I did wonder if she was an imposter and wasn't actually a Wall at all!

I'll leave it there for now as I promised Bugboy and definitely not because I'm behind on the writing/photo sorting of my PD

Have a goodun

Wurzel