Meeting at Denbies Hillside, Surrey, 02/08/2009

[Susie]

To make the best use of the day, particularly in view of the fact that people may be travelling a long way, it may be worth starting off at Steyning Rifle Range, West Sussex, for Brown Hairstreaks in the morning and then moving on to Denbies Hillside, Surrey, in the afternoon. This is someone else's idea so I reckon it has to be a good one.

I'll post more closer to the date and after I have seen what the weather is likely to be like too.

[Gruditch]

How far apart are Steyning and Denbies.

Gruditch

[Rogerdodge]

Hi
Can someone confirm that this is Saturday 1st August ot Sunday 2nd August?
I can probably make the Sunday, but not the Saturday.

Roger

[Susie]

If it is going to be this year then I guess it had better be Sunday 2nd August.

It's about a 40 minute drive between the two sites I would guess (I say guess because I haven't been to Steyning Rifle Range before). It is easy to move between the two sites though as both are a short drive off of the A24.

[Susie]

I had a word with a national trust warden today and there are brown hairstreaks on site. Whether we see them or not is another matter but he has given me some idea where to look for them.

I am going to stick to the original plan and meet at Denbies at 11am.


I went for a walk around there today and there was plenty flying. There were good numbers of chalkhill blue, some common blue, small skipper, marbled white, ringlet, meadow brown, comma, peacock painted ladies, small copper, speckled wood and various whites.


Hopefully there will still be plenty around on the 2nd and also second brood Adonis blues.

[Polly]

Sounds good Susie!!

[Susie]

I'm praying for good weather on the 2nd.

[Denise]

I'm waiting to see what the weather will be doing then, before I fork out for travel fares and B&B.
Fingers crossed.

Denise

[Susie]

I'm keeping an eye on the weather too, Denise, obviously there is no point in going if it is going to be wet and/or windy.

[Susie]

Unfortunately the forecast at the moment is for showers and very windy and I can't see there being a major improvement in this forecast so I am afraid that I am going to cancel this.

Sorry.

[Denise]

I also saw this forcast.
If I lived closer, I would risk a last minute decision, but as I would have to travel up by train/coach and stay overnight to make the 11am start, I'm afraid that I won't be there.

Denise

[Gruditch]

Oh well, if it's nice and stormy, I think I'll head down the coast

Gruditch

[Polly]

That's a shame - might have to spend time with the family then

Thanks for trying to arrange it Susie (we can always try again next year).

Polly

[eccles]

Oh well, if it's nice and stormy, I think I'll head down the coast

Gruditch

That's a good point; storms can make spectacular pictures, but how do you keep the salt out of your gear?

[Susie]

I am gutted to have to cancel as I was so looking forward to this but my hopes of a scorching summer have been washed away.

I am looking forward to seeing you all next year at the photographic forum and hopefully will arrange this again for next year (I will remember to book the sunshine).

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks for organising this anyway, Susie. I know how disappointed you must be - but we're all appreciative of your efforts here (even though I couldn't have made it myself).

Cheers,

- Pete

[Gruditch]

That's a good point; storms can make spectacular pictures, but how do you keep the salt out of your gear?

Not easy, even if you can't feel, or see, the sea spray, on a windy day, it's there. I use a waterproof lens/camera cover, from wildlife watching supplies. I keep the lens cap on between shots, and clean the lens, before refitting the lens cap.

Gruditch