essex buzzard

[Wurzel]

Love the final shot in particular Essex It always brings home to me how small they are which I always find surprising as I get so used to seeing them filling the viewfinder

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

That last image is a real gem, Mark.

[millerd]

Great selection, Mark, especially that last Dingy clearly following the manual to the letter. Terrific shot.

Cheers,

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks everyone. The Dingy roosts like no other butterfly, and I always look for them when I get the chance.

The Essex bluebells have now finished for another year. About a week later than 2022, but what a sight, and scent, to behold. We are lucky to have so many in Britain, and Essex has plenty of excellent populations. The cool, wet spring this year should have been good for them.

[Katrina]

Beautiful bluebell photos and I liked your Grizzly too

[trevor]

Brilliant capture of the carpeting Bluebells, one of my favourite sights.
I am fortunate to have English Bluebells and native Primroses in my wilding back garden.
They are also seeding themselves around.

How were the Oxlips this year?

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Katrina. Bluebells are one of my favourite sights in all the world. And right here on our doorstep!

Thanks Trevor. Yes, I have bluebells in my garden, too, as well as lots of wild garlic.

Sadly, weather and other constraints prevented me from visiting this oxlips this year. But they like damp ground, so they should have done rather well this year!

We were Dorset bound over the late-spring bank holiday. So it would be rude not to make the diversion to Cotely Hill. Small
Heath and Brown Argus were the most abundant butterflies, but we found plenty of Marsh Fritillaries. Our first for two years!

After lunch in Salisbury, we headed to Martin Down. Plenty of Dingy and Grizzled Skippers here, and we found our first Adonis Blues and Small Blues of the year, but only one Marsh Fritillary.

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of Marshies Essex - the Hill was a bit quiet this year although there were still Marshis to be found. Martin Down was even quieter but then they do go through a boom and bust cycle so perhaps this year was the 'bust' there?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You're seeing quite a range of butterflies lately, Mark. Those Marsh Fritillaries are stunning, as are the carpets of bluebells which make May such a colourful month.

[Goldie M]

Hi! essex, I'm wondering if the Grizzled Skippers are still flying, my Grandson as offered to take me to Blue Bell Hill on Tuesday, if they are, we'll go there if not I'll go to Temple Ewell, Thanks Goldie

[essexbuzzard]

The next day, we spent time with my sister, walking the Kimmeridge Bay Area, and spending time at Lulworth Cove. By the time we got to Durdle Door, it was early evening, and I was delighted to find about half a dozen Lulworth Skippers settling to roost in a clump of grass over looking the door.. doubtless there were many more in the area, my first ever May sighting s of this species. I was hoping, rather than expecting to see them, given the date.

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Goldie, it’s getting late for Grizzled Skippers now but, given the often cloudy and chilly weather recently, I think there’s every chance. Look like the afternoons are looking best in our part of the country next week.

There were certainly still plenty in Dorset last week. Good luck.

Thanks David. Yes, May was an excellent month, so much to see and do!

Thanks Wurzel, yes I reckon you’re right. It’s was also very warm at Martin Down, something neither I, or the butterflies, were used to. Perhaps they had retreated into the shade...

[trevor]

That's a stunning Small Blue, presumably from Cotley Hill, fresh and in perfect condition.
Your image of the view from the hill was taken in my favourite area.

Late Spring at it's best!

[Goldie M]

Thanks essex, my grandson took me by surprise , I for got to say what fantastic shots you took of the Marsh Frits and the Small Blue

Goldie

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Trevor, actually the Small Blue was at Martin Down, where it abounds.

Thanks Goldie. Good luck at Blue Bell Hill, if you go. If you’re unsuccessful there, try Trosley in mid May next year.

[essexbuzzard]

The next day was bank holiday Monday. We headed off to the Cerne Abbas Giant. We had my sister with us, and I was hoping to show her her first Marsh Fritillaries. However, judging by the excellent condition of most of the Grizzled Skippers, things were running late, despite the many sunny days down here in recent weeks. However, it was great to see lots of these Skippers, the most I’ve seen at a site for many years.

It took some time, but eventually I found a Marsh Fritillary, a nice male, followed by another older one. A few Adonis Blues were seen, too.

I call that success!

Lunch was taken in the lovely village of Abbotsbury, then we spent the rest of the afternoon at the picturesque resort of West Bay. With its lovely sandstone cliffs, West Bay has all facilities.

Yes, this really was a bank holiday in England!

[essexbuzzard]

What a fabulous spring it’s been for the Holly Blue, and they are still going into early summer. The best numbers for years! In truth, I only started to see them in numbers from mid May in this area. Even non-butterfly people have been commenting on them to me. Holly Blues are well known for being a boom-or-bust species but, in reality, I always see many more in spring than in summer.

[Neil Freeman]

I enjoyed your recent reports from Dorset Mark. We have not been down there for a couple years now, since our daughter moved to Emsworth we have headed that way instead.

Cheers,

Neil.

[essexbuzzard]

Well Neil, judging from your recent reports, Emsworth doesn’t sound like too bad a place to visit...

[Wurzel]

Brilliant view of Durdle Door Essex, my favourite ever place Lovely to see teh golden (Lulworth) Skippers in the golden evening light Looks like the Giant could do with a bit of a scouring, he seems to be suffering from an infestation of some sort

Have a goodun

Wurzel