Denbies Hillside 10am 4th August 2012

[Susie]

I will be taking a walk over Denbies Hillside on the first Saturday in August. If any UK Butts members would like to join me I'll be in the carpark at 10am. Details the same as last year.

This walk will be subject to favourable weather conditions!

[P.J.Underwood]

Thanks,Susie,we shall be there.
P.J.U.

[ChrisC]

count me in.

[Susie]

Great! I'm looking forward to seeing you there, PJ, Mrs PJ (plus friends?) and Chrisc .

[P.J.Underwood]

Susie,
I assume you mean Sat.4th Aug.!
Philip

[Susie]

Susie,
I assume you mean Sat.4th Aug.!
Philip

Yes, well spotted, Saturday 4th August.

[htcdude]

I've only just seen this! Hopefully I will come, but will confirm later as I think we have relatives down that weekend.

Nige

[Susie]

It would be great to see you again, Nige

[Philzoid]

Would love to come .... bring the kids along too if i can getthem out of bed early enough

Phil

[htcdude]

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it due to visiting family, though I will keep an eye on your reports as I hope to go the following weekend

Nige

[Susie]

That's a shame, Nige. I hope you enjoy your visit the following weekend.

It will be good to see you and your girls, Phil.

I'm keeping an eye on the weather forecast.

[Lee Hurrell]

I'll be there, Susie

Lee

[Susie]

That's great, Lee. See you there.

[millerd]

I won't be there this year unfortunately - staying with family in York. I hope you have a good day and the sun shines upon a hillful of butterflies!

Dave

[Susie]

Thanks for letting me know. Have a good time in York, Dave. Hope to see you at the Christmas social instead.

[Susie]

I just want to warn people that at the moment the weather forecast is pretty dire. I am hoping it will change.

[Susie]

The forecast has improved slightly for mainly rain with the odd chance of sunshine so I'm still going to be there but if anyone wants to drop out I will understand.

[NickMorgan]

I'll be there in spirit! I hope you have great weather and I look forward to seeing pictures of all the species you get down there.

[Susie]

Thanks, Nick, I'm hoping for some good butterflies.

[Susie]

A huge thank you to the brave souls who ventured out on today's walk with me.

As I drove to the site the hills were shrouded in cloud and the sudden down pour of rain at 10 o'clock wasn't promising at all but I was joined by Lee Hurrell, ChrisC, Philzoid, PJ Underwood, his friend Bill and their wives, Mischa the dog, and then later Hideandseek joined our group and I think I can safely say that everyone enjoyed themselves. I certainly enjoyed the lovely company they provided and it was wonderful to be able to share the pleasure of viewing the butterflies with people who shared my enthusiasm.

Despite the showers when the sun came out the butterflies were quite amazing. I have never such so many chalkhill blues and we also saw a good number of Silver Spotted Skippers.

The hillside has really benefited from all the rain we have had this year and the plants were lush and flowering in profusion. I have not seen so many flowers nor such long grass and other vegetation as is there at the moment.

We also saw a wasp spider tackle and subdue a cricket far bigger than itself and a good number of Roman snails.

Butterflies seen today (and if I have missed any then please correct me).

Gatekeeper
Chalkhill blue (1,000s? - 10,000s?)
Marbled White
Large White
Meadow Brown
Ringlet
Small Heath
Small Skipper
Essex Skipper
Silver Spotted Skipper
Small Copper