Sunday 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
In Search Of Brown Hairstreak And Clouded Yellow
With all the talk and sightings reports of migrants of late my first thoughts were to try and put myself in a good coastal location on Sunday. However, I could not get Brown Hairstreaks out of my mind, after my unsuccessful visit to Steyning Rifle Range last week. I had also had a tip off that there had been some Clouded Yellows at Noar Hill during the week (thanks Nick) so I decided to head there with the combined possibility of Brown Hairstreak and Clouded Yellow. Although I have seen Clouded Yellow before, a few years ago at Highcliffe, that was before I was actively seeking butterflies. I certainly have not seen one close up and I have yet to see any Brown Hairstreak.
I woke to unexpected rain which persisted until late morning
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
so I decided to delay my normal early morning start and try an afternoon visit, as the weather looked much better PM. I left home at 1pm only to immediately get stuck in traffic
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
One of the perils of living near the Rosebowl Cricket Ground
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
I then managed to get stuck at the petrol station for a while after a camper van managed to collide with another vehicle at the pumps
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
, causing chaos and panic amongst the Sainsburys staff. I eventually got on my way rather later than intended, I was beginning to wish I had gone out in the rain
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
All I could think of whilst driving up to Noar Hill was Sussex Kippers instructions 'you MUST be there between 11am and 2pm for Brown Hairstreak' , it was almost 2pm as I arrived.
![DSCN8298 - Copy.JPG (263.52 KiB) Viewed 745 times Common Blue 11.8.2013 Noar Hill](./files/thumb_11661_93faf5c0a70e381a856695a6e2f2cdb1)
- Common Blue 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
![DSCN8289 - Copy.JPG (248.3 KiB) Viewed 745 times Green Veined White 11.8.2013 Noar Hill](./files/thumb_11661_1ee3db1a8ea76e48860b156729ae9e7d)
- Green Veined White 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
This is only my second visit to this site, having visited almost exactly a year ago. I can remember being very disappointed this time last year having seen very few butterflies, only 5 species in fact. What a difference a year makes, this time I saw 5 species walking up the track before even entering the site
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Once I got into the site proper there seemed to be butterflies everywhere and within a few minutes I also had spotted a Clouded Yellow
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
An unsuccessful attempt at a photo told me I would have to learn this species pretty quick if I was to be successful. It was Peacocks and aged Silver Washed Fritillaries which seemed to be the most numerous species as well as the whites of course. Every head of Hemp Agrimony seemed to be adorned with several of these two species. These were closely followed in numbers by Common Blues, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Brimstones. Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Heath and Small Skipper also made an appearance. The latter being very faded now.
![DSCN8255 - Copy.JPG (288.68 KiB) Viewed 745 times Painted Lady 11.8.2013 Noar Hill](./files/thumb_11661_17a06691ccb82ea42dd9bac496cf13a2)
- Painted Lady 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
![DSCN8304 - Copy.JPG (268.76 KiB) Viewed 745 times Ragged Female Silver Washed Fritillary 11.8.2013 Noar Hill](./files/thumb_11661_445d253199d0dd84a97b3feab4d69289)
- Ragged Female Silver Washed Fritillary 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
At my first of several visits to the so called 'triangle' I spotted a nice Painted Lady as well as several Silver Washed Fritillaries. I also bumped into several other UKbers at the same spot looking for that elusive Brown Hairstreak. Hello to Jim, Nick and Mark 'tuts' Tutton. The hollow at the back of the reserve was filled with Brimstones, Whites, Common Blues, Peacocks, Silver Washed Fritillaries and one Marbled White, but I then spotted another Clouded Yellow on the far side so I descended the bank to try and get a photo. I witnessed several moments when this Clouded Yellow would muscle in on a Brimstones nectaring position, the Clouded Yellow always the victor. The Clouded Yellow seemed a little more determined than the Brimstone which were rather laid back, having plenty of time on their hands I imagine. I managed to get several pictures of this Clouded Yellow once I had got used to its distinctive feeding pattern. It then proceeded to fly into a spiders web
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
at which point I was in two minds as to what to do. Should I let nature take its course or should I intervene
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Thankfully, after a few seconds frantic flapping of wings, it managed to free itself apparently unscathed. I also managed to get some of the best Brimstone photos I have managed to date. Snapshots to most I imagine, but with my basic camera I am easily pleased
![DSCN8278 - Copy.JPG (243.17 KiB) Viewed 745 times Brimstone 11.8.2013 Noar Hill](./files/thumb_11661_abed43a81502f9be0440bcd7963b6215)
- Brimstone 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
![DSCN8268 - Copy.JPG (258.98 KiB) Viewed 745 times Clouded Yellow 11.8.2013 Noar Hill](./files/thumb_11661_7df7b293956a48cf173a9b1d4d9ea7e4)
- Clouded Yellow 11.8.2013 Noar Hill
Feeling quite pleased with my Clouded Yellow
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
giving me 50% success on my days targets, I decided to have another look at the triangle, just in case. It was well outside of the 11am-2pm window now, infact nearly 4pm. Again no success, so I wandered through a wooded area and found a clearing behind the Triangle where a large Ash Tree had fallen. At the other side of the clearing was another large Ash tree, the side of which was catching the late sunshine. As I looked up a small brown butterfly caught my eye, gradually working its way up the tree, settling momentarily every now and again, until it disappeared into the foliage near the top. Brown Hairstreak.........
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
well who knows, it was too far away to get a good view and of course I had no binoculars
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
It could have been a speckled Wood of course, but in my mind it was a Brown Hairstreak
Clouded Yellow brings my species tally for the year up to 33.
Total count for the day (approximate):-
Red Admiral 5
Peacock 30
Painted Lady 1
Comma 5
Small Tortoiseshell 5
Silver Washed Fritillary 25
Common Blue 25
Large White 20
Small White 10
Green Veined White 10
Brimstone 20
Clouded Yellow 3
Small Skipper 20
Gatekeeper 25
Meadow Brown 20
Marbled White 1
Small Heath 5
Ringlet 3
Speckled Wood 5