Saturday July 27th 2013
I had the luxury of a day to myself. Having seen the forecast calling for rain all afternoon, I figured I had time to go to
Fermyn Woods for a late season hunt for Purple Emperors if I left early. I arrived at 8:30, as butterflies were beginning to stir. This Large White (with a dodgy leg) wasn't quite awake yet
Large White roosting
I didn't see any PEs in Fermyn Wood so carried on through to Lady Wood. A couple of tantalising glimpses of gliding PEs, but nothing at ground level. Similarly a White Admiral or two, mostly out of range. There were loads of beautifully fresh Peacocks, so I decided to focus on them for a bit:
Peacock
Peacock and friends
Returning the way I'd come, I encountered this PE on the ground. There wasn't much to keep him there so I only managed a grab shot before he lost interest and retired to a bush top:
Purple Emperor
I hung around for some time, with a few low passes and occasional landings by PEs, but nothing I managed to photograph satisfactorily. It's always an honour being in their company anyway, so it was very enjoyable morning. This White Admiral came down to take some minerals too:
White Admiral
A large group of puddling whites was quite impressive:
Small and Green-veined Whites puddling
Species seen at Fermyn:
- Meadow Brown
- Ringlet
- Speckled Wood
- Gatekeeper
- Small Skipper
- Large Skipper
- Small White
- Large White
- Green-veined White
- Brimstone
- Purple Emperor
- Comma
- White Admiral
- Red Admiral
- Peacock
- Purple Hairstreak
The promised bad weather didn't look like showing up, so I decided to head to
Bedford Purlieus hoping for White-letter Hairstreaks. I stopped briefly at Glapthorn Cow Pastures en route as I'd never been there before. I didn't see much there, but it looked like a great site.
At Bedford Purlieus, there were some other butterfliers who said there had been several WLH earlier, but I failed to see any. The Silver-washed Fritillaries were impressive in their numbers and activity though:
Silver-washed Fritillaries in flight
Silver-washed Fritillary female
Silver-washed Fritillary
Gatekeeper male
Species seen at Bedford Purlieus:
- Meadow Brown
- Ringlet
- Gatekeeper
- Small Skipper
- Large Skipper
- Small White
- Large White
- Green-veined White
- Brimstone
- Comma
- Red Admiral
- Peacock
- Silver-washed Fritillary
- Brown Argus
While there, I was told that nearby
Barnack Hills and Holes was alive with Chalk-hill Blues, so I decided to head there. This is a great site which reminds me of Noar Hill - undulating grassy banks on chalk soil, covered in wildflowers and consequently butterflies. CHBs were in good numbers, although not 'swarming':
Chalk-hill Blue female
Chalk-hill Blue male
Also this nice fresh Brown Argus:
Brown Argus
I also saw a couple of Small Coppers - my first of the year - and Common Blues.
Species and Barnack:
- Meadow Brown
- Ringlet
- Gatekeeper
- Marbled White
- Small Skipper
- Large Skipper
- Small White
- Large White
- Brimstone
- Peacock
- Brown Argus
- Common Blue
- Chalk-hill Blue
- Small Copper
Total species count for the day: 20 - not bad. I was butterflied out by the end of the day though!