Friday 14.6.2013 Wootton Coppice
I intended to go to Martin Down today looking for Adonis Blue, Marsh Fritillary and Small Blue, but heavy morning cloud cover, wind and cool temps put me off
I did not want to waste a 2 hour round trip and find not much flying. So I elected for somewhere closer to home. I have not seen either of the Pearls before so I headed off for Wootton Coppice in the New Forest.
I thought this would also be a good opportunity to try out my new insect repellent, as I have heard ticks are quite numerous here. It seems to me quite an amusing contradiction to wear 'Insect Repellent' whilst going in search of butterflies
Maybe there is a gap in the market for 'Insect Attractant' for those difficult to find species
So I set off smelling like a newly prepared fence panel
- Keeled Skimmer
- Broad Bodied Chaser
I arrived at around 11.30 the cloud cover was still total and there was a breeze, just occasionally the sun would appear for a second or two before disappearing again. Not really knowing the best places, I walked the main track from near to the carpark for an hour and a half investigating a couple of clearings off the track. In that hour and a half I saw no butterflies at all
just a few fresh Keeled Skimmers and a couple of small moths. I was feeling a little disappointed at this time so I headed back toward the car checking a few of the clearings as I went. At the last clearing near to the car park amongst the now abundant dragonflies I spotted an orangey brown butterfly fluttering along at about waist height. I was pretty sure this was my first 'Pearl'
but which one
It did not settle and I found it quite difficult to keep track of it and eventually lost sight without getting a close view. I went over to the area where it was when I lost sight and had a look to see if perhaps it had settled in the grass, but I found nothing. As I stood up I saw flying straight for me, what I thought at first was a Painted Lady. As it flew purposefully passed me just above head height no more than a couple of feet away, I could see it was a very fresh Dark Green Fritillary
This was a total, but very welcome surprise and something I had not expected to see at all. It flew toward a group of Birch trees which I immediately went over to in case it had settled, but I saw no more of this handsome butterfly. My initial disappointment had now turned to renewed optimism and with this the sun appeared to be showing for longer periods
- Common Blue Wootton Coppice 14.6.2013
- Common Blue Wootton Coppice 14.6.2013
- Small Boggy Clearing Wootton Coppice
I decided to investigate the smaller clearings on the other side of the track. These were much wetter than where I had got my initial glimpse. As I jumped the ditch at the side of the track, I could see a couple of these orangey/brown butterflies fluttering around within this very small boggy clearing. I approached and waited for one to settle which seemed to take ages but eventually it settled on some Bugle flowers this was my first confirmed 'Pearl' but I was still not sure which one. I managed some photos of this and another individual, both seemed quite worn specimens. One then flew out of site leaving just one, happy to stay within this small area. It was then joined by a male Common Blue, this was another surprise. This habitat did not seem to me to be Common Blue territory but there it was so I got some photos of that as well.
- Pearl Bordered Fritillary Wootton Coppice 14.6.2013
- Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Wootton Coppice 14.6.2013
By now it was quite warm and the sun was out for long spells, but I did not have long before I had to go. I thought I would have another walk down the track. There now seemed to be hundreds of Keeled Skimmers around (mostly immature males) I have never seen so many, as well as a few Broad Bodied Chasers. A Speckled Wood put in an appearance along the track and then a female Large White closely followed by a very fresh Red Admiral all managing to avoid the my camera. It was now time for me to head back to the car.
As I walked back along the track a couple of female Brimstone flew by and then a male. I thought I would have one last look at the area where I got my first glimpse of a 'pearl'. At first I could not see much but as I got further into the clearing I could see several 'Pearls' most did not look like they had any intention of stopping but one looked a little different/fresher and thankfully it settled momentarily not far away. I managed one pretty poor photo. A female Brimstone then flew into view and fluttered low along the ground and settled on a small knee high Buckthorn sapling, where it kindly deposited an egg in front of me to round off my visit
- Brimstone Ova
I returned to the car as the butterflies seemed to be at their most active and, of course, there was now hardly a cloud in the sky. I ended my visit feeling quite satisfied that I had at least met one type of 'Pearl' for the first time and although I had not seen great numbers of butterflies, I had seen several species including a couple of surprises. It was not until I looked through my photos later on that I realised, after studying the identification guides, I had in fact seen both Small Pearl Bordered and Pearl Bordered Fritillary
Maybe somebody could confirm that my id is correct
Total count for the day:-
Speckled Wood 1
Large White 1
Red Admiral 1
Common Blue 1 male
Dark Green Fritillary 1
Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary 1+
Pearl Bordered Fritillary 3+
Brimstone 5 female & 1 male
Ticks 0
This brings my total species count for the year to 22
, rounded off a disappointing day.
