Cheers Debbie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I'm looking forward to your next installment.
It's surprising how behind you can get after just one night away so again (as so often this year) I'm playing catch up...
Martin Down
Earlier in the week my younger daughter asked to go to Martin Down so how could I refuse? When I suggested that we should go on Friday morning she was packed and ready and waiting by the front door before I’d even had a chance to have my first sip of coffee. In fact she was so keen that we arrived at Sillens Lane before 9am. We had a quick look around the car park area before setting off towards Hanham Hill.
On the way there was the odd Meadow Brown and Smessex, a few whites skipped by while Hedge Browns defended their territories from anything that moved. We stopped briefly at the top of the low rise to have a chat with another butterflier who was also out and about and then continued on. As we cut across the meadow to Hanham more and more butterflies were appearing almost as of they were awakening for another busy day.
Once at the foot of Hanham Hill we set up camp on the spongy turf. While I strolled about my little girl ate her sweets and chatted to the fairies that she’d met. Along the edge I checked for Silver Spotted Skippers just in case but I wasn’t too concerned at not seeing this early as although it was warm I didn’t think it was warm enough for them yet, also I was heading over to Stockbridge that afternoon so I should catch up with them there.
About half way along the foot of the hill there is a small area of scrub with taller vegetation; an oasis almost amongst the close cropped turf and bare chalk. This was the main hotspot and we visited it a couple of times whilst we remained here.
The first time there was a Hedge Brown, 3 Meadow Browns, a Smessex and 2 Small Copper all nectaring in an area that couldn’t have taken up more than a metre and a half square. The Coppers were really fresh and their wings flashed golden in the sun. At one point they seemed to share a tender moment, perched on the same leaf with for wingtips touching before the male buggered off. Perhaps his intended wasn’t a pure as he’d thought or perhaps he was just a cad!
During a patrol along the base of the hill I also found a few Chalkhills (2 males and a female)which were being hassled by a male Common Blue. My daughter then moved camp to the scrub oasis and we sat and wait for the butterflies to visit us. As well as the usual browns, a Peacock, 2 DGFs (well worn), a couple of fly-by Chalkhills we also found 2 female Common Blues - neither of which could have been mistaken for Brown Argus, in fact one was almost as blue as a male.
But the real stars of the show where the pair of Small Coppers who were absolutely stunning. I was rather worried back along having only seen 2 (on the same day) over the whole spring but now I’ve encountered 7 or 8 in 4 different locations I’m a lot happier now about this species prospects. Just as we were setting off back a Brown Argus did a quick fly-by, stopping for a brief altercation with a Smessex.
So we headed homewards stopping every now and then so my little girl could have a breather. When we did we would be surrounded by Meadow Browns, Chalkhills and the odd Common Blue.
![124 - Copy-001.JPG (467.5 KiB) Viewed 762 times Slightly tired looking?](./files/thumb_9821_62d69458fd85bca586cfddcae473260c)
- Slightly tired looking?
Almost back at the car the blues were replaced by whites and a stunning male Brimstone. So after a glorious morning we trundled out of the car park and I was most chuffed with what a little trooper my little girl had been.
Have a goodun
Wurzel