Saturday 11/8/2012 Butser Hill (Oxenbourne Down)
Sorry About The Poor Photos In This Report
After my unsuccessful but very enjoyable visit to Beacon Hill at Warnford last weekend, looking for Silver Spotted Skipper, I thought I would try again this weekend. My only window of opportunity this weekend was a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon, not the time I would choose, but at least the weather was ok. I had decided to try Oxenbourne Down, a site close to Butser Hill, on the advice and reports of 'Pauline' and Alan Thornburys excellent website. After lunch I quickly checked Alan Thornburys website and I thought I need not print off a map as I could remember directions pretty well, or so I thought
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
So I set off, without map or satnav, on the pleasant drive through Bishops Waltham, Corhampton and West Meon. I parked up in the Queen Elizabeth Country Park main car park, which was pretty much full up, and headed off, on foot, under the A3 towards the Butser direction. I spotted a few Chalkhill Blues on the banks of the road immediately outside the carpark. As I approached the foot of the hill I checked my mental map and remembered that Oxenbourne was one, or was it two valleys south of Butser Hill. I was now not so sure exactly where I should be going
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
so I headed off up the main hill to have a look anyway. The main mown path up Butser hill was busy with foot traffic. Although it was hot with bright if hazy sunshine, there was quite a stiff breeze blowing.
As I walked up the steep lower slopes of Butser There were lots of Meadow Browns and Burnet Moths in the longish grass. Through the gate about two thirds the way up, the areas either side of the main path became more flowery with less long grass Common Blues seen here. This area seemed more suitable for Silver Spotted Skipper (from what I have read) than that at Beacon Hill where the growth is much longer. It was gradually dawning on me that Oxenbourne Down was not what I could see to my left, so Oxenbourne would have to wait for another day
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Further up towards the summit of Butser the wild flower areas were much wider. A very worn Dark Green Fritillary flew past me together with a couple of what could possibly have been Painted Lady.
![DSCN5959 - Copy.JPG (254.95 KiB) Viewed 2276 times Lots of Small Heath seen here](./files/thumb_11661_ab9e1e0661b999850c6eb721c631e081)
- Lots of Small Heath seen here
I found a very sheltered area where there were good numbers of Small Heath. With only limited time I decided that enough was enough and that I should start to head back. I had missed Oxenbourne completely
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
and probably my chance to see Silver Spotted Skipper as well
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
In fact I had seen no skippers at all up until that point. As I decended the hill I spotted a couple of guys with proper cameras and lenses photographing something low in the grass. I thought they looked like they knew what they were doing, perhaps they can point me in the direction of Silver Spotted Skipper. I went and spoke to them but they admitted to me that the cameras were brand new and they did not really know what they were doing
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Then something caught my eye. What looked like a skipper flying low over the turf, doing its best not to get blown away, paler in appearance than a Small or Large skipper, could it be
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Then to my amazement it settled right at the edge of the mown path, almost at my feet
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
I think I may have let out an audible expression of my excitment, no doubt amusing to passers by of which there were many
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
Yes, I had found my first Silver Spotted Skipper
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
It stayed long enough for me to get close enough for two photos.
![DSCN5961 - Copy.JPG (225.24 KiB) Viewed 2276 times There is a Silver Spotted Skipper there somewhere](./files/thumb_11661_d1d5fbf9312f88cfe3e15b5667a829a0)
- There is a Silver Spotted Skipper there somewhere
It then flew off in the wind and I lost sight. I searched the area thoroughly but did not see another.
![DSCN5963 - Copy.JPG (274.2 KiB) Viewed 2276 times Out of focus Small Copper Butser 11/8/2012](./files/thumb_11661_2a4f9069464da80888adf9403383ab07)
- Out of focus Small Copper Butser 11/8/2012
However, I did find numerous Small Copper (my first of the year) and some Small Skippers in the same area which I had missed on the way up. Unfortunately all my photos were out of focus again, maybe this was my over excitment
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
All in all I was pretty chuffed when I had all but given up. I continued on my way down at the bottom of the hill in the car park/camping/barbecue area I found a quite few Chalkhill Blues but none were seen on the hill itself. Hopefully I will have time to return next weekend, WITH A MAP.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)