essex buzzard

[essexbuzzard]

WELCOME TO NORTHERN IRELAND.

After an early,short (30min) flight from Glasgow,we arrived in Belfast to pouring rain. But the cold front responsible was due to clear late morning. So we had an early lunch and,sure enough,by 11am the rain had eased and the first patches of blue sky were visible.

It was always a mystery why the Wood White was a fairly common,widespread species in Ireland,but a declining rarity in England and Wales. And why was the Wood white in England and Wales restricted to well-managed,sheltered woodland rides yes in Ireland they were common in a wide variety of habitats,including open grassland,railway and road verges? Then,in 2001 came the answer. They were two different species! The now named Cryptic Wood White is a slightly stronger,tougher insect than our delicate Wood White.

Soon we headed off to Craigavon Lakes and Railway,where Pete Eeles has visited in recent years (thanks Pete!). Soon we found birds foot trefoil near the railway,one of the Cryptic Wood Whites main food plants in one of it's main habitats. As the first sun of the day began to get through,a distant white butterfly began fluttering among the bushes,and there it was. My first ever Cryptic Wood White,and the last of the British and Irish species for me to see! Thats 60 species,including the Long-tailed Blue. As the sun appeared for langer periods,several more were seen along a long stretch of railway and nearby. One was behaving different,frequently settling low on vegetaion.A female,laying eggs on meadow vetchling.

We enjoyed these for some time,as well as Common Blues,Small Heaths,Orange Tips and several other whites,before going off to have a wider look at our surroundings. To my surprise,more Cryptics were found,right around the lake,and even from the car! We found a courting pair of Cryptics. It is said the male Cryptic never claps his wings at the female,and this was our experiance.

So that was the Cryptic Wood White. Seen and photographed-on the first day! And all the British species in the last 14 months!
Elsewhere,graylag geese were guarding their goslings against the hooded crows-and people with dogs!

[bugboy]

Congrats on getting all the British species

[Pete Eeles]

Glad you found your targets, Mark! I thought I was doing too much travelling until I read your report

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

Excellent stuff, Buzzard.

You are now a fully paid up member of a rather exclusive club!!

[essexbuzzard]

Thaks Pete! Couldn't have done it without you...

Thanks David. Feels great! I'm sorry you are not able to get out as much as you would like at the mo. Hope we are keeping you spirits up with our reports and pictures!

[David M]

You sure are, Buzzard! Reading reports such as these gives me a great lift.

My annus horriblis cannot continue forever!

[Wurzel]

Congrat Essex, great shots too especially the pair

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Very pleased to hear that,David!

The main target in Northern Ireland was the Cryptic Wood White. With the early success,we could now relax a little,without worrying about the weather. So the next day was windy and showery,so we took the chance to visit Belfast Not much wildlife today but,having never been there,it was an interesting and enjoyable thing to do. By the river,black guillemots were nesting in the square holes in the concrete riverbank.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel,i have witnessed this behavior with Wood Whites,so it was a pleasure to see it with Cryptic WW.

The next day,Sunday 7th,dawned fine,so we decided to visit the spectacular Giant's Causeway and Antrim Coast. We arrived early for,being a Sunday,it was bound to get busy. A very nice couple of hours here,then off,further up the coast to Glenluce Castle. Next,we headed down the coast a little. A rope bridge over the sea was good,and lots of seabirds were nesting on the cliffs here,including razorbills,guillemots and kittiwakes. Inland,several buzzards were seen.

We then went back to the Causeway for mid-afternoon refreshments,and for a few more pictures. Then made our way down the lovely Antrim coast and hills,stopping for fish and chips in one of the coastal towns.

[essexbuzzard]

MONDAY 8 JUNE

This was our last day in NI,so we headed south,to the Mourne mountains in Ulster-home to Sleive Donard,the highest mountain in NI. On the way,we visited Lough Neagh,the largest fresh water lake in the British Isles i believe. Then south again,we had most of the rest of the day in the mountains,before making our way back to the airport,for our delayed flight home,arriving back 1.30am!

[David M]

Some truly beautiful scenery (and wildlife) on show there. Thanks for sharing.

[Willrow]

That really is some holiday Mark, your photo on the summit of Ben Nevis in snow is tremendous, matches your efforts to attain the summit fantastic range of images and such interesting reportage!

Oh! I nearly forgot to mention how much I liked your Chequered Skipper and Irish whites pics too super stuff my friend!

Regards,

Bill

"when in doubt - venture out"

[Neil Freeman]

Looks like a great holiday Mark, fantastic scenery and butterflies as well Strangely enough I have just commented in my own diary that Scotland and Ireland will probably be on my must visit list in the next year or two. Chequered Skipper is now the only UK mainland species I have not yet seen and then of course to complete the full list it means a trip across the water at some point.

Cheers,

Neil

[essexbuzzard]

Hi David, you are welcome. It's a pleasure. Hope you get your High Browns soon...

So are you,Bill. Cracking shots of your Dark Greens! Glad you are enjoying...

Cheers Neil,looks like you may have to head in the other direction next June. Actually,been thinking of you a lot recently because...

Last week,several family members,including my Father,were in Cornwall, visiting those that live there. So when an opportunity suddenly presented itself for me to join then,just a day after i returned from NI,it was no contest. The only question was,would i able to get any nature walks in? The answer was-yes!

WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE

Arriving in Cornwall,my first stop was an early lunch-a pasty from Hayle. Then took it to last years' Marsh Fritillary site on the Lizard, and ate it while watching the wildlife! Fritillary numbers were lower than last year,and i noticed most of the scabious leaves had been eaten. So i wonder if the Marsh Frit caterpillars had eaten all their food,and some hadn't made it? This is entirely natural,of course. Also several Small Pearl-bordered Frits were in these fields,plus Common Blue and Speckled Wood. A hobby was hawking dragonflies. Buzzards and,more surprisingly,two kites flew over. Never seen kites in Cornwall until today. Couple of hours here,then off to Kynance Cove...

[Wurzel]

Great Marshies - surely the second one is an aberrant - it reminds me of a Cynthia/Marsh cross?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Cynthia's Fritillary. Now you're talking. I would love to see one of those!

So onto Kynance Cove. Couple of hours walking between the car park and Lizard point. A backdrop of the rocky coast and azure blue seas-it doesn't get much better than this! Amongst the many flowers were the lovely white burnet rose. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries were common,as were Common Blues and several other species. A rich sulphur Clouded Yellow shot past,a fresh male with glossy black wingtips.

Lots of thrift,or sea pinks, were around,and i found a clump with white flowers. A Marsh Fritillary was here too-my first at Kynance for several years. House martins were nesting on the cliffs,instead of the usural houses. All too soon it was time to head elsewhere...

[essexbuzzard]

The sun shines longer and brighter in Cornwall than in any other county in Britain,and today was no exception. So there was just time to fit in a late afternoon visit to Upton and Gwithian Towans, near Hayle.

Here flies a colony of Silver-studded Blue. They breed on the abundant birds-foot trefoil that grows in the sand dunes. The flight season here was just starting,and it took a while to get my eye in. Suddenly,out of the corner of my eye,was a blue. False alarm. It was a Common Blue. However,after a bit more searching,i found what i was looking for. A little group of Silver-studded males. One was already a bit ragged. The others were excellent. Took some pictures here,then found a few more further on. Also saw several Large Skippers,my first on 2015. A short but great visit. Now it was time to meet up with my father,for dinner. It had been a truely super day! pics coming up

[essexbuzzard]

Pictures from Gwithian Towans;

[essexbuzzard]

After a delicious Cornish meal,it was time for a pint of fine Cornish ale,as we watched the sun set over the ocean. A great end to a truely splendid day.

[Willrow]

A great end to a truely splendid day.

Surely was Mark...very enjoyable report (as is usually the case) and great images

Bill

"When in doubt -venture out"