Cheers Dave
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
It was swiftly liberated, somewhat reluctantly on it's part, it kept flying back in
Cheers Mike
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Yeah it was giving me the run around and then the cold shoulder as well
Cheers Kev
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I reckon you're right there as it kept coming back in once I'd set it free
Stockbridge 25-07-2014
As it was the first day of the holiday I couldn’t really face marking the two sets of Assessed practical work, or re-writing the Biology KS3 Schemes, or preparing all my assessment folders and set lists, making the 6 sets of Exam Based Assessment booklets, planning my lessons for the KS3 changes and neither could I start the GCSE analysis as the results weren’t published. All of that work could wait for the other five weeks of the summer break and so instead I took the girls for a bit of a run out at Stockbridge.
As we walked across the reserve following the diagonal path the bisects the site there were Meadow Browns and Chalk Hills flying everywhere but no Silver Spots flew up to greet me along the path as they have done on my previous visits. We reached about half way in and set up camp in the shade of a stand of Hawthorns and so while the girls read and played I strolled up and down the hill within earshot of their cries of “Wurzel” should any unleashed dogs appear. I scanned the bare patches amongst the turf and the scabious plants along the main path and quickly found my first Silver Spot of the year but it did that annoying thing that they do and zipped off diagonally and then jinked here and there before flying off in a wide arc so I kept losing sight of it.
I settled for Chalk Hills in place of the Silver Spots as I had managed to grab a quick “proof of sighting shot” and I got an added bonus at the top of the hill amongst the trees. A “tuurrr, tuurr” put me onto a Turtle Dove and a careful approach led to me getting some great views of this cracking little bird. Coming back down there were plenty of Chalk Hills including the “suave” aberrant that I first found out about from Dave/millerd’s posts. The shot is slightly out of focus but the orange shots are there to be seen.
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So after a good thirty minutes or so we moved on to the other side of the Hawthorns. As we followed the bare chalk path down towards the road and there was another Silver Spot. It seemed quite intent on taking nectar and so just to make sure I reeled off a few shots just to make sure and then gradually inched around on my knees until I was side one. It looked lovely and fresh as it still had that lime green colouring and the hairs would glitter like gold when they caught the light. The girls loved it but soon wanted to try and find another one.
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We carried on around down the diagonal path towards the main car park and then started our way back when the Hawthorns on either side started to enclose us. A good job really as the numbers of butterflies were starting to dwindle as the shade increased and also time was ticking by. It’s also a good idea not to walk too far when with the girls as they like to set up camp and potter about around this area (they probably walk three times as far doing this than walking the reserve but they can’t be told!). We settled once again and this little patch was pretty good – with a Smessex, Hedge Browns, Peacock, Chalk Hills, Common Blues and Brown Argus all about as well as a couple more Silver Spots. One landed on a large piece of flint which was a blessing as normally grounded ones are surrounded by blades of grass.
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Also keeping to this little area was a Clouded Yellow but it was nigh on impossible to approach and I couldn’t get any closer than five or more metres as it would soon be off. I wasn’t spooking it just didn’t nectar for more than a second or two and was really flighty. Still the girls appreciated it almost as much as the Silver Spots.
I managed a few more Silver Spots as my younger daughter attempted to catch some butterflies in her hat! I know that this was a futile task but it kept her happy and amused for a while so I could focus on the butterflies. After I’d encountered another Silver Spot looking slightly darker than the others I’d seen so far we realised that time was running out. I always try to get back a bit earlier than expected which puts me firmly in the ‘good books’ with my wife and so we packed up and headed for home with my little girls regaling me with tales of the ones that got away.
The walk back threw up two Small Coppers – one with blue spots that I couldn’t get any decent shots of as the wind was tearing through the low turf. The other was trying to egg lay; turning around and around in circles and placing her abdomen round and touching the leaves of the vegetation she was on. I didn’t see any eggs but that cold of been because I didn’t want to get too close so as not to disturb her.
Happy all three of us carried on back to the car park with Chalk Hills erupting beneath our feet. A great start to the holiday and another species on the tally – which just leaves Brostreaks form the regular crew.
Have a goodun
Wurzel