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Buchan Boy wrote:Thanks Goldie

Wednesday 13th May 2015

Abbots Wood

I drove along the A27 to the Abbots Wood spot to see how the Pearl-bordered's were faring this year, reports have been good.

It was now a cloudless sky and sun beaming down, the show should be full-on,and I was not disappointed.

I have no idea how many were flittering around but its the best showing I've seen in my neck of the woods for a long while and a true pleasure.Sat and watched them for a couple of hours before some cloud slowed them up and photos

were achieved.

Some days are just magic.

Excellent work to all concerned for keeping this a viable colony.

I was there that day, getting my first ever audience with PBF. Totally agree about it being a magical experience

PBFs are great aren't they - a species which rarely lets you down The first one you featured looks good for an ab as the wing mRgins look almost chequered

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Friday 15th May 2015

Heyshott

I'd noted some reports of Dukes on the wing at Heyshott but the weather was looking gloomy,the "if in doubt go out" mantra kicked in,so off I went.

Arrived at Heyshott,had quite a good look around but way too gloomy,luckily at about 9.30 a shaft of golden sunlight appeared and I had about 30 minutes before the gloom resumed,5 Dukes were noted.

Got some shots. The sun then went and grey heaviness resumed,just managed one Dingy Then I figured a quick study on the Early Purple Orchids and Twayblades,I find Twayblades quite lovely. Just as I was calling it a day and just about to leave the escarpment one of the biggest Early Purples,on the site,deserved some attention. A closer check noted the Dingy cowering down for the day! It was worth it after all!

Slightly behind.........

Sunday 17th May 2015

Kilnwood Landfill

A quick scout round my local patch on a lovely Sunday morning,first male Common Blues waking up.
Worth noting very close to new neighbourhood being built was a young Broad-bodied Chaser Also on some of the spoil heaps,where chalk had been dumped in vast quanties(not sure where that came from!)the first small coppers.These have only been established in the last two years.
Record shot noted, NB as of 20th June 2015 colony now probably lost due to development encroachment,access becoming difficult.Although its been utterly inevitable,I'm still somewhat gutted!
Quite a tatty Small Tortoiseshell noted and the first Green-veined whites Did photograph Gannets in Scotland earlier in the month though. Cheered me up!

Species Count for Kilnwood Landfill 2015
(3) Common Blue
(4) Small Copper
(5) green-veined White

Whitsuntide in Dorset

I've been trying to catch Marsh Fritillary's in their glorious splendour,ie.within two days of emergence for a few years now.Since an upgrade in camera gear they've been very high on the "must do agenda".The last couple of years

have been all wrong for timing but this year opportunity was within sight.Being a Sussex person nearest colonies are either Wiltshire or Dorset and having been to one of the Dorset colonies a few years ago,I figured a return in order.

Grabbed all my camping gear and left on the Friday afternoon before the bank holiday weekend,made good time and tent was all set by mid afternoon,I could make an evening effort at one of the two target colonies down this way.

Friday 22nd May 2015

Cerne Abbas

The giant on the hill.......did some research into the Marshy colony here but its always difficult to gauge until actually there,"get to the sign and turn left",seemed to be the general idea. It was fairly warm but overcast when I arrived about 4.30pm,not entirely sure whether anything was going to be about,parked in the car park opposite the village hall,and walked up towards the giant,saw the sign....left...awesome.
Nobody here,cool,5 yards along the path at the bottom of the fence that encloses the giant,Marshy,awesome....quick check and whoopee,pretty fresh. They had just enough energy for a few yards of flight so keeping up with them was rather easy,lucky boy The site here is pretty steep but eases a tad as it gets to the treeline at the bottom,its also more sheltered and warmer in the lea of the trees,I figured the butterflies would congregate here when windy, actually not necessarily true! Only been here 10 minutes and was already cock a hoot,of course you are allowed to do a wee jig in celebration when on your own.
Also,another target was a taras aberration of a Grizzled Skipper,and I vowed I would photograph(or try to)every Grizzled that came my way. A Marshy on an Early Purple......love it Its weird but almost in shadow,towards evening,the Small Coppers were still darting around,good sugar down here! Next surprise took to flight as I was tracking a Marshy and immediately was taking 20 metre flights up the hill,took it to be a moth at first,struggled to get close enough to identify but once tired a female Adonis came into focus.This was the only Adonis I saw over the next 5 days. I pondered that one for a while,then I pondered a beer at the pub by the campsite.......not before a few more photographs,when theres no wind,its all too beautiful.(A nod to Mr Marriot!) That beer went down nice.......
Tomorrow was set fair,think I'll come back.

Hi Buchan Boy
Love your Marsh Fritillary underside on the orchid And your Small Copper is a stunner. I have not seen any of either species this year

I have to agree, the Marsh Fritillary on the orchid is a really lovely photo.

Dave

Lovely images Dave, it appears your Dorset break was highly productive and much enjoyed

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Anyways.........

Saturday 23rd May 2015

Cerne Abbas

I'd done very little research on the site before arriving so was quite unsure where the Marsh Fritillary colonies were,having found the colony under the Giant yesterday,and figuring this was the "popular" one where butterfliiers would congregate,decided to have a scout round and try and locate anymore.

Arrived on a gorgeous morning at about 7.30,decided to turn right at the gate and have a look at the scarp that faces South East from the giant.It gets the sun first so hopefully some Fritillaries here first then as the sun moves round go to spot under the giant for a second go. At first as I wandered along a few Grizzleds were waking up Then just as I though I was missing something a patch of longer grass with a sort of small hawthorn bush in the middle came into view.Closer inspection revealed the Fritillaries getting ready for the day and drying out.Took my opportunity. Well chuffed to catch them this fresh and it wasn't much longer before the temperature rose and off they went skimming over the grass,diving into the grass,off again ......repeat to fade for 9 hours!
The colony this side is rather small and I reckon only around 20 individuals were present,although I'm sure I was well before peak given that these were mightily fresh looking.
Plenty of Grizzleds now showing as the morning warmed up. It was now time for the part of the morning to move over the top of the hill and drop down to the North West facing bit just under the tree line,where hopefully the butterflies were a couple of hours behind,spot on.
Worth noting that in the breezy conditions there were Fritillaries all over the hill but two distinct congregations were noted. I hadn't realised that there was also a rather large Duke Of Burgundy colony here as well,darting up all over the place from their bramble perches and warming on the grass stems. By now there were quite a few enthusiasts wandering around getting their shots so I retreated up the hill to admire the view and catch a midday napp seems to happen a lot more the older I get!
Scoffed my sandwiches and wandered back down the hill to spend more time with the glorious Dukes and Marshys of Cerne Abbas. So chuffed getting exactly what I came for and still a couple more days to go.
I'd also targeted the Marsh Fritillary colony on Hod Hill,near Blandford,and a Small Blue colony on Portland I wanted catch up with.
Nice.

Lovely report - all of the photos are superb!

Cracking shots Buchan Boy it's great to see such great butterflies from the best county

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thankyou and Wurzel on par with Sussex methinks!

Sunday 24th May 2015

Broadcroft Quarry,Portland

One purpose,to find the Small Blue colony before my ageing eyesight fails to keep up these tricky small things.Also the cloud was closing for a damp day from late morning,didnt have long.

Walked into the entrance by the football pitches,scouring bramble and young buddleia,but first thing of note was good early showing of Common Blues with one gorgeous female catching my cameras attention. I came back a couple of evenings later to find the common blue roost in the grass,quite remarkable,I was so enamoured forgot to take any shots!
Upto this day I hadn't many shots of Speckled Woods in 2015 so it was lovely to one in some soft light. Also making an appearance, when I'd worked my way round to the old overgrown workings,were some Wall Browns,3 in all,this was the tidiest of the bunch. My quarry in the quarry finally made an appearance and although I only noted 5 individuals it was enough for now,I'd noted them here about 15 years ago so it was good to see them still around. I'd hoped to have had a go at the Silver-studded's here later this year but so far opportunity has alluded me
Onwards to the Marsh Fritillaries at Hod tomorrow.......hopefully.
It rained all afternoon and I went for a soggy walk on the hills behind Portesham.
All good.

Lovely Small Blues Buchan Boy It'll be interesting to hear how teh Marsh Frits are doing at Hod Hill, I saw my first ones there a few years back and then tehsite seemed to go downhill...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Some cracking sharp images BB, especialy from Cerne Abbas, I was very impressed on a visit there last year too

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Great reports from Dorset BB, one of my favourite counties although I have never yet been to Cerne Abbas, something I must rectify one of these years.

Cheers,

Neil

Monday 25th May 2015

Hod Hill nr Blandford

Not as warm today but the sun was shining nice and early as I trekked across Dorset to try and locate my second Marsh Fritillary colony of the trip.

It had been a while since I'd been to this most impressive of hill forts,and last time the Marsh Fritillaries were in the North East corner,inside ditch.

I'd also forgotton how steep the climb was from the car park........ A quick look in the last place I found them here, to find large banks of nettles now overtaking the bottom of the ditch.I pondered only if on really hot days that the fritillaries would venture here as its the last place the sun arrives at.So next stop was the place the sun first arrives at,the Eastern flank. It was really well sheltered at the bottom of the huge ditch and scouting along the bank it was relatively easy to spot any butterflies warming up for the day.But it wasn't until I arrived at the far South East corner,where what would have been an entrance,did I come across my first Marsh Fritillary on the site. Makes sense really being the place where the first daily warmth occurs,a little micro climate going on probably a couple of degrees warmer most of the time. I quickly then scouted the whole of the Southern ditch but no Fritillaries down here yet,however the Grizzleds and Dingys were starting to play, Back to South Eastern corner and all were beginning to wake up,think I had the whole colony here.They started the day in the deep inner ditch and when energy levels were adequate they would then move out for the day,probably only 30 individuals in all and I reckon they were a couple of days earlier,in emergence,to the Cerne ones.Beautiful nonetheless. It was a rather easy process of walking along the bank and spotting them at the bottom of the ditch sunning themselves,but by mid morning all were off and as the day progressed were noted all across the site,but not in any numbers.
A really good showing of Brown Argus's as well One Green Hairstreak,Peacocks and Common Blues also noted.But another day-flying visitor grabbed my attention.A large ginger coloured moth diving into the grass and doing a rather skittish, pheromone induced jig!
A quick check to note a Fox Moth courtship was in action!I had to break it up for photos. I'm not entirely sure this large female could actually fly at all! In summary,I guess I'm glad the Marsh Fritillaries are still at this site,all be it in small numbers.It is a wonderful island of Dorset Downland, privileged again! Cloud arrived later and it cooled down a treat,it can also feel quite exposed up here,even in late May.
Nice.

Beautiful images Buchan Boy and great to see that Marshies are still at found at Hod Hill I'm dead impressed with the shots of the Fox Moths as ussually thery're just a ginger blur bombing past you

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Terrific photos, Buchan Boy. Hod Hill can be a cracking site, and I'm really pleased the Marsh Fritillaries are still there - this is where I saw my first one ever. Those moths are something else, especially that colossal female - I can't see how that could take off, either!

Dave

Thanks chaps,I'm still astonished by the size of the Female Fox Moth........

Tuesday 26th May 2015

Broadcroft Quarry,Portland

Wandered around Weymouth for the day,one of my favourite seaside towns,before catching a lovely evening back on Portland.

Just seeing if I could gauge any further numbers on the Small Blues,but before that I came across a rather fresh Dingy Skipper,which the low light gave me some lovely tones. A quick scout and I could only locate a couple more Small Blues,I need more time down here And then just enough time to capture that thing the Dingy's do when settling down,I only thought they cowered like this when rain was imminent,evidently wrong,as it was quite a lovely evening. And that was Portland for a little while.

Wednesday 27th May 2015

Cerne Abbas

Having achieved my two goals for this trip,lifetime shots of Marsh Fritillaries and locating the Small Blues on Portland,a quick return to Cerne was called for.

Actually goals and targets make it sound like a work thing nooooooooooooooooooooooooo........!!!

So to enjoy the surroundings and photograph whatever bopped along on another glorious day in Dorset.

I stayed the whole day on the Eastern flank,and once again in 5 hours,no other butterfly persons were seen. Just me and some of these. I got extremely lucky with and Orange Tip that went for a rest just as it was passing me,I'd been watching them motor past all week. I even managed one of the Marsh Frillaries nectaring on the Hawthorn at the bottom of the slope,this took much patience as they would only land on it fleetingly. And to end as it begun,Euphydryas aurinia,cheers.(Raises glass) Almost as much as Sussex!
Awesome.