Re: Bugboys mission
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 9:04 pm
28th July Brown Hairstreak 0 – Bugboy 2 (agg 1-4)
Despite the best efforts of the weather, the lure of the Brown Hairstreak was just too much. The forecast of a merest hint of sun in the morning was enough to take me back to Bookham for another attempted dose of them. It was actually quite close to an ‘own goal’ since the merest hint of sunshine was just what it said on the tin, several merest hints followed by big fat grey clouds which, added to the near gale force wind at times, proved rather challenging. Despite this, in the more sheltered nooks it was plenty mild enough for activity, the Gatekeepers remaining the most numerous species by a significant margin, as expected. As usual during Brown Hairstreak season everyone got a second or third glance and several got the picture taken. As well as the target species, I was also on the lookout for some Gatekeeper abs. after my success last time. I found a few pathological/mechanical, a worn male with reduced forewing eyespots, and another female with enlarged eyespots. I thought perhaps it was the same one as last time but comparing underwing shots shows it is clearly a separate animal. Today though I got an upperside view! Not everyone was in good health though. This looks at first glance like an innocent image until you notice the sinister 'claw' clutching at the deceased male
.
Amongst them were a few Meadow browns and some very ancient Ringlets, but I was very surprised to find this remarkably fresh one!
I made several rounds of the area of Tuesdays sightings, Small Coppers and Common Blues becoming active whenever the sun peeked out and regularly flying up from my feet during the extended cloudy spells, but after a few hours I was starting to think I was going to draw a blank on the Hairstreak front.
In desperation, I switched tactics and looked for any potential master trees. It was actually glaringly obvious: a youngish Ash, isolated from other trees in the hedgerow, overlooking the spot where I photographed the two on Tuesday and I only had to glance up to see two or three Hairstreaks dancing around the middle of the tree. In the interests of not wanting to go home empty handed I ended up taking a run of shots as they fluttered about, coping surprisingly well in the gusty grey conditions, it would seem temperature is the primary governing factor for activity.
The forecast was for things to descend into thick cloud and rain for the afternoon so having bagged a few pictures of Hairstreaks (not exactly what I was after but better than nothing), I proceeding to do just one final circuit before heading off. and there he was, getting absolutely battered in the wind. Somehow, he was managing to cling on and feed but getting pictures was close to impossible since he’d decided to feed in the most ridiculously windy spot he could find. It was just a case of point and shoot and hope for the best. Out of about 30 I managed 1 in focus before he attempted to fly off and got unceremoniously slammed into the undergrowth. This happened a few times until a lull in the wind enabled him to flutter off in the direction of the master tree.
Pleased with myself at getting something I’d all but given up hope in obtaining, I took one step and my eyes were drawn to a bright orange sail swaying on a Hogweed. There was no mistaking the intense orange colour of a female. Again, capturing the moment was very hit and miss but I managed a few
.
She had the same issues when she too tried to return to the tree tops, one attempt causing her to fly into my head!
Now it really was time to leave but as I was leaving a white moth fluttered past my head and landed in the lower part of an overhanging Sallow and proceeded to lay a couple of eggs (the first one can be seen in the picture). I’m really not sure what species she was, she was very pale with very little in the way of markings but I think that was largly down to wear and tear. If anyone has any ideas as to what she is…
A final surprise before hopping on my train was a late Large Skipper. Moral of the day: like me, they only need the merest hint of sun to get out and about
.
Despite the best efforts of the weather, the lure of the Brown Hairstreak was just too much. The forecast of a merest hint of sun in the morning was enough to take me back to Bookham for another attempted dose of them. It was actually quite close to an ‘own goal’ since the merest hint of sunshine was just what it said on the tin, several merest hints followed by big fat grey clouds which, added to the near gale force wind at times, proved rather challenging. Despite this, in the more sheltered nooks it was plenty mild enough for activity, the Gatekeepers remaining the most numerous species by a significant margin, as expected. As usual during Brown Hairstreak season everyone got a second or third glance and several got the picture taken. As well as the target species, I was also on the lookout for some Gatekeeper abs. after my success last time. I found a few pathological/mechanical, a worn male with reduced forewing eyespots, and another female with enlarged eyespots. I thought perhaps it was the same one as last time but comparing underwing shots shows it is clearly a separate animal. Today though I got an upperside view! Not everyone was in good health though. This looks at first glance like an innocent image until you notice the sinister 'claw' clutching at the deceased male
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Now it really was time to leave but as I was leaving a white moth fluttered past my head and landed in the lower part of an overhanging Sallow and proceeded to lay a couple of eggs (the first one can be seen in the picture). I’m really not sure what species she was, she was very pale with very little in the way of markings but I think that was largly down to wear and tear. If anyone has any ideas as to what she is…
A final surprise before hopping on my train was a late Large Skipper. Moral of the day: like me, they only need the merest hint of sun to get out and about
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)