Cheers Mike
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Those abs were the icing on a fantastic cake
Cheers Willrow
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Just following your advice/maxim
Cheers Philzoid
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
They like a big girl in Wiltshire
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
I reckon we have a look at that Blue again later in the year when we have more time there was something different about it for sure
Cheers Nick
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I was really lucky latching onto the existence of this site last year, it's brill
Cheers Dave
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
There are a few more still to come, as for the Wall I've described where abouts they are below so if you visit again hopefully you'll find them
Cheer David
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
This was only from two visits to the same site, it's just such a great site
Marshie Site Part 3 (the last part) 25-05-2014
After our lunch we tried to avoid the hollow for a third time – cutting up across the down proper with all manner of things to keep us interested and Marshies everywhere. If one flew off that didn’t matter as four more would be around to take it’s place! Also around in good numbers were 5 Spot Burnett Moths including an aberrant with all of the spots linked together into single large blobs on each wing. After enjoying this we both remarked on how many Green Hairstreaks were about and also how they were keeping low to the ground. As if to prove the point a couple of Greenstreaks did a few fly-bys and one landed and started rotating around the foliage. I’ve seen this behaviour before and so we watched it intently and once it was finished and had flown away there, left behind was a tiny green blob which I think is an egg?
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We headed across and down the side of the Down to the lower slopes and eventually the path which runs parallel to the farmers’ field. Here the side of the down has slipped and exposed bare soil and chalk which has made a prime habitat for Walls it would seem – I say this as on my previous two visits and also on this one Wall Browns were found here. They seem to like hanging on to the side of the slips or basking on the exposed chalk and flint. There were at least three here and I followed one as it zipped along the bottom of the Down every now and again veering of sharply at right angles and cutting through the hedge or up the side of the Down. Eventually it settled and I was able to make a very cautious approach, but not very close at they are probably one of the most skittish species in the UK. An inconsiderate Mashie floated by and it was gone, a Tangerine blur!
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As well as Walls and the ubiquitous Marshies there was also the odd Dingy and Grizzlie as well as Common Blue floating about and then a sudden golden blur caught my eye – the third Large Skipper of the day. We hung around here for a while walking forward and backward along the bottom of the Down and it paid off with at least a couple more Wall Brown sightings and eventually one landed and started basking allowing us to get close enough for some proper shots.
Alas time was up so we made our way back to the car, doing our best to not get too distracted on the walk back. But this is a site which mesmerizes you, it’s the site that just keeps on giving and so almost back at the car something caught my attention and there was my third Holly Blue of the year. Even better we managed to grab a few shots – they’re having such bad fortunes that this probably has greater value than the Marshie aberrant!
What a site!
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
This is now a confirmed annual visit in my book and combined with Bentley the day total for me was 19 – bettered by Philzoid who stopped in at Bentley again on the way back and added a ‘Woodland Duke’ to the day list!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
BA 5, HB 1, RA 1, SmW 1, GVW 1, GS 4,DS 11, MF 50+, CB 3, AB 1, SB 6, 12 GH, SH 4, LS 3, WB 4, B 4