17th to 21st May
I had been given a “leave pass” by my wife Suzie and had a superb week away. Maybe I should re-phrase that. It was a superb week doing my own thing and not being tied down. Try again; I was away on my own all week...... I give up, I can’t find the right form of words. Anyway, five days of non-stop butterflying.
Monday
The M25/M23 via Dartford/Gatwick was less of a hassle than usual and I arrived at Botany Bay Chiddingfold at about 1015 hrs. In company with two others who had also just arrived, Roger and Matthew, we wandered south toward Tugley Wood. We were soon seeing numerous
Wood Whites.
Matthew made a count on the way out (21) and notched up 25 on the return. It is difficult to know how many were repeat sightings but I suspect not many; it wouldn't surprise me if we hadn’t see 50 individuals over a two hour period. With strong sun but occasional cloud, they were relatively easy to photograph when the sun went in. It was interesting to observe – as has been noted by others – that they often rest close to one another.
(Picture taken with flash)
I then moved to Magdalen Hill, Winchester. It’s a wonderful cowslip meadow but I saw few butterflies although I didn’t venture to the bottom of the slope, apparently the best spot. But I did tick off my first
Red Admiral and
Painted Lady of the year. A single
Green Hairstreak eluded the camera.
I stayed the night at possibly the worst hotel in Wiltshire. At least, the beer was good.
Tuesday
I had arranged to meet Gary Richardson (Gruditch) at Stockbridge Down. Nothing special seen although this Small Copper had the right idea on the National Trust property.
![Image](http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/Jack_Harrison/PB-10-05-18-089-SmallCopper-1.jpg?t=1274518035)
Firsts for 2010 were Common Blue and Brown Argus.
We then moved on the Bentley Wood. Excellent numbers of
Pearl Bordered Fritillaries, including some observed egg-laying. I spotted a
very dark individual and both of us
assumed it was a
Small Pearl Bordered, one of about four that we thought we saw in what is quite clearly the very start of their season. (wrong)
Guy correctly pointed out that this is a PB Frit and not a Small PB. See comments further along this thread. The photos we took of the "Small PB were clearly of PB Frit, a fact that we didn't appreciate until looking at the photos later. Embarrassment all round. So Small PB is still NOT on my year list
Gary had a hunch about
Duke of Burgundies at a nearby location and after some ten minutes or so in a very hot and humid clearing, he spotted one and then a second; the two males clashed repeatedly.
![Image](http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/Jack_Harrison/PB-10-05-18-199-DukeofB.jpg?t=1274518151)
Dukes had not been seen here before, the nearest previously known site being some 6 or 7 kilometres away. This discovery hints at better dispersal capabilities than many had thought – unless the Duke had lurked nearby undetected for decades.
This was the first time I had met Gary in person. His intuition is incredible and he has the knack of knowing exactly where to look and what he is seeing – like spotting that 2010 rarity, a Large White, which initially I had missed.
I stayed the night at one of the better hotels in Wiltshire. It didn’t do evening meals but the nearby pub was excellent, again with quality real ale.
Wednesday was the one unsuccessful day. I went to look for
Glanville Fritillaries in their only natural mainland colony. The weather was perfectly adequate, warm and bright albeit with thin high cloud. Not only were there no Frits but didn’t see any butterflies of any description.
I then did a sea wall walk for
Wall Browns in one of its few reliable sites in Hampshire. By this time it had clouded over significantly and a chilly sea breeze had set in. Unsurprisingly, again I saw no butterflies. But hovering and plunge-diving Little Terns were impressive. The ubiquitous (who would have used that word 20 years ago?) Little Egrets were taking short flights.
I returned to my hotel and enjoyed a superb ham and eggs at the Landford Poacher (with of course the Ringwood real ale)
Thursday started off very cloudy. I drove to locality at the western edge of Salisbury Plain where Marsh Fritillaries are well established. It was still cloudy when I arrived and the prospect of climbing up
the Matterhorn didn’t appeal to this 71 year old. I moved on in my 60 mpg Peugeot to Somerford Common northwest of Wootton Bassett, a locality I knew well in the 1970s when based at nearby RAF Lyneham. Somerford used to have PB, Small PB and Marsh Fritillaries and a small colony of the Duke. The habitat at Somerford still looks very good with plenty of wide rides; but no rarities were seen on this visit.
So to the “guaranteed”
Marsh Fritillary site at Seven Barrows near Lambourn. Well it wasn’t guaranteed on Thursday 20th May 2010. By now it was overcast and a wander round the site produced nothing better than the inevitable Dingy Skipper (they really are having a good season). I was due to stay with Chris (a former airline colleague) and meet his brother Peter Marren (“Twitcher in the Swamp”) and had aimed to arrive at around 1600 hours. I had a doze in the car and awoke at just the right time to drive the ten miles to the Marrens. It was now brilliantly sunny; I was prepared to arrive at my host late. It was worth the delay. A pristine Marsh Fritillary.
We had an excellent evening in the Crown and Anchor, Ramsbury. The steak pie was magnificent.
Friday saw me leaving Ramsbury at around 0830. I had to go to Bookham in Surrey to collect my daughter and bring her home, but there was time for a couple of hours on Denbies Hillside. In the hot sun, the
Adonis Blues were very lively and only occasionally settled.
Then “Tiger Woods” appeared. He found a virgin female and within less than 20 seconds of fluttering, they were paired.
A surprising find at Denbies was a
Holly Blue. The Common Blues were less unexpected and again, Dingy Skippers were numerous. A couple of
Green Hairstreaks added to the colour.
I collected Felicity, had an agonising trip round the M25, and then had to divert to avoid a complete standstill on the M11. I was greeted back home by a Holly Blue – but the camera was still in the car at this point.
The only failure was Glanvilles but I suspect I was a few days too early at this very exposed site. On the Isle of Wight undercliff, the warm microclimate is clearly far more to their liking. But all in all, a truly excellent week.
PS. That last paragraph was written before the PB/Small PB Frit fiasco became apparent.