Re: David M
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:05 pm
Saturday 13th August – Excellent numbers….
Another roaster today, so I thought I’d visit a relatively damp site to reassure myself that the colour green still existed!
Kenfig dunes is only about a 50 minute drive from my home and is unusual in that it is a dune site that regularly gets waterlogged given the clay sub-stratum.
The ground had hardened up everywhere, although around the bird hide near the lake, the water table is quite high, meaning that it was still quite lush:
There were plenty of butterflies in this area, with several Wall Browns catching my eye:
Then, as I was walking down the track I suddenly disturbed a Clouded Yellow, which promptly flew some distance over the vegetation meaning I lost sight of it behind the scrub. I walked round to where I’d last seen it and then waited for 15 minutes but was unable to relocate it.
I felt confident I might see more as I went onto the drier part of the dune system:
In the lower parts of the site, there were copious amounts of wild mint in flower, and these were literally thronged with butterflies, mainly Meadow Browns and Common Blues which, together, must have numbered into four figures:
The only times I’ve seen these numbers have been on occasions when I’ve visited sites in England such as Aston Rowant, Daneway Banks & Bernwood Forest. It really was a pleasure to see so many.
Amongst the commoner species were a handful of Graylings indulging themselves:
There were Small Whites, Painted Ladies, Small Heaths & Hedge Browns flying in this cauldron, to the point where I was glad to reach the seashore for a 10 minute break!!
I kept my eyes out for anything yellow amongst these huge numbers, but unfortunately was not able to track down another crocea. There have been quite a few reported in south Wales this last couple of weeks so hopefully there will be other opportunities.
Another roaster today, so I thought I’d visit a relatively damp site to reassure myself that the colour green still existed!
Kenfig dunes is only about a 50 minute drive from my home and is unusual in that it is a dune site that regularly gets waterlogged given the clay sub-stratum.
The ground had hardened up everywhere, although around the bird hide near the lake, the water table is quite high, meaning that it was still quite lush:
There were plenty of butterflies in this area, with several Wall Browns catching my eye:
Then, as I was walking down the track I suddenly disturbed a Clouded Yellow, which promptly flew some distance over the vegetation meaning I lost sight of it behind the scrub. I walked round to where I’d last seen it and then waited for 15 minutes but was unable to relocate it.
I felt confident I might see more as I went onto the drier part of the dune system:
In the lower parts of the site, there were copious amounts of wild mint in flower, and these were literally thronged with butterflies, mainly Meadow Browns and Common Blues which, together, must have numbered into four figures:
The only times I’ve seen these numbers have been on occasions when I’ve visited sites in England such as Aston Rowant, Daneway Banks & Bernwood Forest. It really was a pleasure to see so many.
Amongst the commoner species were a handful of Graylings indulging themselves:
There were Small Whites, Painted Ladies, Small Heaths & Hedge Browns flying in this cauldron, to the point where I was glad to reach the seashore for a 10 minute break!!
I kept my eyes out for anything yellow amongst these huge numbers, but unfortunately was not able to track down another crocea. There have been quite a few reported in south Wales this last couple of weeks so hopefully there will be other opportunities.