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Noar Hill, 30th March 2021
12.30-1.30pm, Full Sun, 21 degrees

A fine summers day in March. Apparently it almost reached 25 degrees in Kew Gardens, the hottest British March day since 1968. So I came out of hibernation and visited Noar Hill, just on the off-chance that a Duke might have been enticed out by the warmth too. Nope.

Did see 5 Brimstone (3m and 2f), 2 Peacock and 1 Small Tort, as well as 2 Brimstone (1m and 1f) and an Orange Tip in my back garden on my return.

But I did come across a fine mammal at Noar Hill. I have seen Stoat before a few times but never before did I have my camera in my hand at the time. I saw this one the first time scoot across the path in front of me. I froze. I really didn’t expect to see him again but he popped his head above the grass and then proceeded to hunt right in front of me, darting and leaping this way and that. He had no idea I was there. Luckily what slight breeze there was blew in my face as I watched so he could not smell me, and my lack of movement made me merge into the background from his viewpoint. Great.

He rooted around in holes and crannies but found no prey. I raised by camera very, very slowly and pressed it against my nose. I had him in my sights but he was so fast he was difficult to track that way. Nevertheless I snapped away, praying that his speed did not make him blur too much on the images I was taking. I did not have the camera set for fast-moving objects and had no time to do anything about it.

Normally they don’t hang around but this one seemed to like this spot and stayed. Click, click, click…

Then he turned toward me. Oh, no I thought - he is bound to spot me now. Click, click, click...

But no, in fact he approached me. Closer and closer. Click, click, click...

He got to within about 4 yards of me, in plain view on the path before he looked up, right at me. I stopped breathing. Click, click…

Then he realised I was there and made a dash for it, but he didn’t go far. He hid beneath a pile of twigs along the path verge and effectively disappeared from view.

I left him to it, not wanting to scare him too much. I walked slowly on, glancing behind me from time to time just in case – but no, that was the end of my encounter.

But what luck.

When I got home, I had to do a bit of post-processing of some of my pics to get what I wanted. Many of them were too blurred to be of any use and I had managed to get plenty of shots of his tail and no body as he zoomed across my field of view, or pics of him with his head facing away from me, etc – but hooray, a handful were pretty acceptable.

Great to see you out of hibernation Ernie and with a cracking set of shots 8)Good to see you remembered the method for telling Weasels and Stoats apart; a Weasel is weasily recognisable and a Stoat is stotally different...

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

... but with the Pine Marten, I am a little uncert-en.

Fantastic Ernie. I really enjoyed looking at the stoat photos and the accompanying narrative. Thank you for sharing. Having these fortunate nature experiences is such a joy and gives such an adrenaline buzz - both during and in the aftermath of the experience.

Love the report and photos of the Stoat Ernie, great stuff

Cheers,

Neil.

Well, that's an animal seldom seen on these forums, ernie. Well done; you got a darned good view of it too by the looks of things.

For once, the butterflies are an afterthought, although I'm glad to see you've notched up a few!

Thanks, all. I was very lucky with the Stoat. Don't suppose that will ever happen again for me.

Magdalen Hill, 4th April 2021, 3-4 pm
Full Sun, 14 degrees

Today, a walk with wifey up on the hill near Winchester. Didn't expect much but it was a glorious day - hardly any breeze. I went in my winter overcoat and within minutes wish I hadn't - it was far too hot but the padded coat was too bulky to remove and carry, what with the camera and it's bag and all so I was stuck with it!

Firstly there was a whole bunch of Peacock butterflies (at least eight). Two males (I guess) were having an airborne battle for the attentions of a female who was close by. She was quite amused by it all but flew off while they were engrossed. Also at least 4 Brimstone.

I took an actual picture of a butterfly today. Yes - a bona fide butterfly. Not a moth, nor a Stoat, nor a neon lit Marmot Xmas decoration. I have not posted a picture of a butterfly since the 2nd November 2020, and that was a picture of a Peacock Butterfly. Guess what my first butterfly picture of 2021 was?...
But Mag Hill is also a nesting location for Skylark and they were already at it. One was singing it's head off while perched - not something you see every day.
And it let us get amazingly close before it decided to push off. I performed that old trick of taking a couple of steps forward and taking a pic, then another couple of steps forward and taking another pic, and so on. This was my closest shot...
A Red Kite wheeling about in the sky as we drove home rounded the day off nicely.

Good to see you 'officially' off the mark Ernie - lovely shot too You did well with that Skylark as well - normally when they're singing they're a tiny dot up in the wide blue

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Lovely Skylark shots Ernie. Whenever I hear them singing very high up
I am always reminded of Summer hols with my Grand parents in Bedfordshire.
Their cottage was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by corn fields,
the only sound was the distant song of the Skylark.

Stay well,
Trevor.

ernie f wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 6:43 pm...I took an actual picture of a butterfly today. Yes - a bona fide butterfly. Not a moth, nor a Stoat, nor a neon lit Marmot Xmas decoration. I have not posted a picture of a butterfly since the 2nd November 2020, and that was a picture of a Peacock Butterfly..

Good to see you finally get an image, ernie. I like the skylark picture too - not often you get to see them perched favourably like that.

Thanks, guys.

Yes, I was lucky with my Skylark. It is always good to watch their airborne antics up on Magdalene Hill and when they swoop down to their nests, but this was my first shot of one actually singing and my closest ever shot too so I was well pleased.

Yesterday afternoon was very fine with a sunny, 17 degrees. It was a bit blowy over at Noar Hill but sheltered in the pits - it was relatively still and calm. And that is where I saw my first Duke of the year and also "The Green One".

I thought that was you I bumped into yesterday, Ernie! I saw several Dukes but missed out on the Green Hairstreaks, so a definite for that one. A particularly nice example it is too.

Cheers,

Dave

Great stuff Ernie Things are moving along nicely now - I've not caught up with a Duke yet so here's a

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Sorry Dave, I didn't put the name to the face - but very nice to meet you again. I think we should all wear UK Butterfly badges so we can spot one another in the wild!

The Greenstreak was very fresh and sat still for ages so I was able to get in close for a pic.

Wurzel

I know others have seen Dukes already this year but it's always nice to get your first. I am going to check out a number of spots for them this year. They have been re-introduced at Magdalen Hill and there is a new Nature Reserve that has them nearby. Lets hope it is a good year for them this year.

I'm keeping my eye out for them at a local site that I was put onto last year - they are a bit later over this side of the country

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

ernie f wrote: ↑Sat Apr 24, 2021 7:16 am...that is where I saw my first Duke of the year and also "The Green One".

Great combo of first sightings, ernie. This cool spell seems to have affected emergences of these two species in particular this year.

Wurzel - Good luck with your Dukes

David - We get the odd day which is warm like today but mostly it's still a bit too cool so I don't bother. Looking forward to warmer weather.

Noar Hill again, 11am-1pm, mostly sunny, some light cloud, 12-16 degrees

Back here for the Dukes. I did the same route as I did on the 24th when I only saw one Duke. What a difference 3 days make. Today I counted 13 individuals.
And amazingly one was already showing signs of wear.
Also two Dingies.
Plus Brimstones, Peacocks and Holly Blue but no more Greenstreaks.