Hoggers

[Hoggers]

When I finished work this morning there was only one place I wanted to go: East Blean Wood. I'd seen Marc's posting in Sightings that the Heath Fritillaries were out, the sun was shining and the wood is only 15 minutes away from where I work: perfect!

But when I got to the car park I was rather disappointed because after a good search around the car park area I only saw two Heath Fritillaries

The place seemed empty without them. In past years I've stepped out of my car and been surrounded by the butterflies but that certainly wasn't the case today. So I was feeling rather downcast at the near absence of fritillaries when I had the good fortune to bump into the Kent Wildlife Trust Warden who was there to walk his butterfly transect.

He said that numbers of Heaths at East Blean have fallen and that the best population is now to be found in West Blean Wood (accessed via Braggs Lane I think he said) where they've been on the wing since 20th May.

I asked if there are any good spots for them at East Blean as the car park area was,today at least, all but bereft of butterflies. He kindly showed me to a clearing a little way into the wood where I saw Heath Fritillaries but not in any great numbers ( I'd say around 12-14 of them)

It may be that East Blean is a late site for this butterfly and that many more are on their way but just in case anyone-else finds the car park area as quiet as I did today here's some directions on how to find the clearing:

Take the path from the car park that is accessed by stepping over a tree trunk. This path then leads to another where you turn right and walk along a short distance until you see on your left that trees have been cleared. This is the clearing where the butterflies are

It's not much of a clearing though! The large trees are gone but since then a good deal of Sweet Chestnut bushes and brambles have appeared

But you can move about in there easily enough

I enjoyed watching the fritillaries. It was hot and they were active. I especially like to watch them glide, they look so dainty.

Fortunately now and again one would take a break and let me get close enough to take a photograph

I'll have to go back in a few weeks' time to see how they're getting on.

[nomad]

Hi Hodggers

I went to East Blean last year without prior knowledge where to look, I believe I found your second site first, the newly cleared clearing where there was a mass of cowwheat, I only saw one Heath Fritillary. later, I came to the car park area and saw many heath fritillaries towards the End of June. Many were still fresh. Surely, one of the more easy butterflies to see if you do not mind travelling far, for those that do not not live in Kent. You step from your car and there they are. I went by train and bus.

Regards Peter.

[Hoggers]

Hi Peter, yes it's very nice to park up, open the door and see the butterflies!

There's a large patch of Cow Wheat close to the car park but when I arrived yesterday it was in heavy shade. I did find a Heath caterpillar there last week though.

The "clearing" I was shown to by the KWT Warden and where I found a dozen Heaths yesterday had very little in the way of Cow Wheat. The Warden said that the area had been cleared two years ago and both Cow Wheat and Heath Fritillaries thrived there but now unfortunately the "clearing" is rather overgrown with a consequent loss of Cow Wheat.

I had a pleasant surprise when walking the dogs this morning. In amongst the Common Blues and Brown Argus I not only saw my first Meadow Brown of the year but came across this Small Blue

I've walked this area for 30 years or so and never before have I seen a Small Blue!

I don't know of any Small Blue colony near by

Interestingly it was only a few weeks ago that I came across the first Green Hairstreak that I have ever seen on my Patch.

Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll see a Swallowtail!

[Willrow]

It must be great to just park up and see Heath Fritillary, where I venture out for the species on Exmoor its been described as 'extreme butterflying' owing to the rough terrain but I guess that's butterflying...taking the rough with the smooth and these days I like smooth

Great report and photo's Hoggers

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots of a butterfly I would love to see Hoggers I have had Heath Frits as a Target for the last three years but I just can't bring myself to make the long journey to get them...I might have to bite the bullet this year.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Lovely Heath Fritillaries! The first time I saw them at East Blean, in one of my photos you can make out my car in the background - they were that close to the car park.

Dave

[Hoggers]

Thanks for the comments,guys. I'm very lucky to work so close to where the Heaths live. The car park at East Blean is always the place to see them and I hope numbers pick up there soon, but the "clearing" where I found a dozen or so is quite close to the car park in any event.

Today I went down to Dungeness. Lots of Small Tortoiseshells

And Small Heaths

Also saw a Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Large White, a Meadow Brown and Common Blues.

The biggest surprise came with this splendid female Clouded Yellow that was busily taking on nectar

It was the only one that I saw and I was delighted to see it

As always, I had fun trying to get a "Fly By" shot!

But it was nice just to sit back and enjoy being with such a beautiful butterfly

[David M]

Majestic open-winged shot, Hoggers.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Clouded Yellow Hoggers I love the backlit shots, they always look great when in that pose

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

I paid my annual visit to the Doctor yesterday

What a generous man/woman the Doctor is to welcome Swallowtails AND their admirers!

My Dad, brother and I watched two Swallowtails in the garden, chasing each other and then visiting the flowers

How wonderful it must be to have Swallowtails just outside your front door!

We spent most of our time here

but did venture onto the reserve where we saw 3 Swallowtails flying over the reeds

On our way home we stopped off at Westleton Common where the Silver Studded Blues were out and about

And doing what they do best

We visited only a small part of the Common and our time there was limited but we managed to see about 8 of them

Another memorable trip!

[David M]

Wow! You've really put some effort in lately, Hoggers.

Nice to see these species in image form. Excellent stuff.

[Wurzel]

Swallowtails Silver Studs I need to get out more

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

Hi David, I've put in some effort but my mileage must pale into insignificance compared with your epic journey in search of Chequered Skippers! A Butterfly Too Far for me, I fear!

Hi Wurzel, I'm sure you've got some exciting butterfly trips planned and I look forward to reading about them!

My day got off to a good start with a Clouded Yellow on my morning walk with the hounds

I also saw 14 Small Tortoiseshells!

With the sun still shining I decided to take a stroll around Orlestone Forest on the look out for White Admirals. Well, after about an hour I finally came across one

I was over the moon to see it

There was a ditch between us so I couldn't get close but nonetheless had the opportunity to take a few photos and to watch it flying in its green and leafy world

[Wurzel]

I just can't keep up with this Hoggers White Admirals - I'm still waiting for my local Silver Studs to emerge! Still no Large Blues though, at least there's that.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Mike Robinson]

Some stunning pictures.
I think these Diaries are very good; I'm gonna learn a lot about Butterflies &c. And enjoy doing it!

[Pauline]

Lovely White Admiral Hoggers, both the butterfly and your photos. Oh, and I mustn't forget your Swallowtails which I gazed at longingly and with envy

[Paul Harfield]

Hi Hoggers

Great to see you have found some Clouded Yellows on your patch Hopefully there will be plenty more around again this year and maybe some more Long Tailed Blues as well Your Swallowtails are also lovely, that is one I have not seen. If things keep going the way they seem to be maybe we wont have to travel very far to see those either

[Hoggers]

Thanks for your comments,guys. Much appreciated.

I needed a blood transfusion after my visit to Orlestone in search of White Admirals. The Mozzies had at least an arm-full off me.

Note to Self : Buy some "Jungle Formula"!!

Seeing Swallowtails in the Doctor's garden is a wonderful experience. They fly in from the RSPB Reserve to nectar and you can get up close to them, they know no fear of us and it's just a magical thing to have them around you. When we visited there was only one other observer present so it was quiet and peaceful.

This weekend has been pretty grotty down here in Kent, very cloudy during the day (the cloud maddeningly disappears early evening!) and cool. Not much chance of seeing any Clouded Yellows on my Patch today. I took this photo of Monty on our mid-morning stroll and you can see the sky

Notwithstanding the weather, I did come across a few Meadow Browns, a Common Blue and four Small Tortoiseshells

I flushed a Red Admiral which quickly settled down out of the wind

Then came across two Brown Argus in a more sheltered spot (where I glimpsed a Large Skipper before it vanished)

A bit further on I found a few Bee Orchids

And a beautiful cluster of Pyramidal Orchids which glowed in the dull conditions

I hope the weather brightens up soon : after the last couple of weeks of lovely sunshine I'm not used to such cool conditions!

[Wurzel]

Lovely Brown Argus Hoggers I know what you mean about the weather - as soon as the news channels or papers report "a heatwave fortnight" you know it's time to dig out the Wellies and the brolley

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

On my morning walk with the dogs I was delighted to come across a Marbled White

It's the first I've seen this year

And a good two weeks earlier than I'd expect at this location

I'd just got over my surprise at seeing the Marbled White when a busy little streak in the grass revealed itself to be a Small Skipper

Another first for me

And again at least two or three weeks earlier than I would expect here

By 11am I was walking around Orlestone Forest. It was very warm indeed by now and the Mozzies (together with some very formidable looking Biting Flies) were having a field day with me. I really must get some "Jungle Formula"!! I keep forgetting..!

Anyway, I saw 12 White Admirals, all highly active

Five Brimstones, many Meadow Browns, and a few Large Skippers

I then came upon the butterfly I'd hoped to see. It was hunkering low down in the cool grass

A Ringlet

Of the five Ringlets I saw, most were bobbing up and down the rides but I managed to get a few photographs of a resting individual

Loss of blood aside, it was a very rewarding visit.