Saturday 21st May 2011
The weather forecast for South Wales wasn’t good, so we decided to head East and visited Bernwood Meadows and Bernwood Forest near Horton-Cum-Studley (Oxfordshire): with so many species flying unusually early, maybe I would get lucky with Hairstreaks? Well, to cut a long story short - no, I wouldn’t get lucky
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
. However Oxfordshire was sunny
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
(albeit a bit windy) and there were plenty of Common Blues and some Brown Argus in the meadows. The Orchids aren’t out in the meadow yet (apart from a few) so there are only buttercups and some Yellow-Rattle flowers out so far. Walking into Bernwood Forest we again saw Common Blues, many Speckled Woods and a few whites and a few Cinnabar Moths. Walking back to the car via Bernwood Meadows I also saw my first Large Skipper of the year, and there were also several Yellow-Tail moth caterpillars amongst the Blackthorn.
We then went to Whitecross Green Wood. This reserve grows on me more every time I visit it! The wild flowers have been let grow in the reserve with just a one two-track mower through the reserve making a path for walkers – some excellent management (in my mind). There was a good selection of wild flowers there (still plenty of Bugle, Yellow Rattle, Buttercups, Cinquefoil, Red Clover, Dog Rose etc). There were a few more species here, including a couple of Brimstones, plenty of Common Blues, Brown Argus, some Large Whites and quite a few Grizzled Skippers - in nice condition, that I wasn’t expecting to see
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
. I didn’t see any early Hairstreaks but I did find a Figure-of-Eight moth caterpillar on the Blackthorn and also there were quite a few Lackey Moth Caterpillars wandering along the main paths. The good news was that the weather held up very nicely for the afternoon, whereas Wales was under a cloud when we got home. And it looks like the weather in Wales is going to be wet & grey tomorrow. Roll on summer!
Michael
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/IMG_9684editp.jpg)
Yellow-Tail moth caterpillars were quite common in Bernwood Meadows on the Blackthorn
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/IMG_9639editp.jpg)
Back into Bernwood Forest there were a few Cinnabar Moths flying along with the Common Blues.
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/IMG_9661editp.jpg)
There were quite a few Speckled Woods. Yes, I know they're common but they're still welcome!
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/IMG_9700editp.jpg)
Walking through Bernwood Meadows to the Car I saw my first Large Skipper of the year.
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/IMG_9043editp.jpg)
Whitecross Green Wood - nicely looked after, with plenty of wild-flowers. And sunshine!
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/IMG_9736editp.jpg)
Quite a few Grizzled Skippers in Whitecross Green Wood that I wasn't expecting.
![Image](http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Oxfordshire%20Saturday%2021st%20May/9714editp.jpg)
No sign of Hairstreaks - but there was a quite fat, Figure-of-Eight Moth Caterpillar feeding off the Blackthorn....