Re: millerd
Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 8:23 am
Hmmm - I'll set the alarm clock now, Wurzel!
Tuesday 15th May: Down to Mill Hill again to meet up with Bugboy and see things in full sunshine this time. What a splendid place - 17 species seen on the day, and that didn't even have Comma, Speckled Wood or Orange Tip on the list...
The first butterfly seen was an Adonis Blue, and over the course of the morning fresh ones were emerging so that they were everywhere by lunchtime... ...along with lesser numbers of their Common cousins. Dingy Skippers abounded, and there were also good numbers of Grizzled as well. I spotted a two of the latter together on a hawthorn with the male making advances on the female, but nothing seemed to come of it. A Small Copper (my first this year) set up a territory in the most sheltered part of the slope and set about anything else that moved, notably the Green Hairstreaks sharing this corner. Somewhat inconveniently, one prominent perch for both species was one of the large Deadly Nightshade bushes - though not this time: As things warmed up (despite the sun it was quite chilly and windy early on), I headed for the more wooded bits towards the top of the hill, where it was sheltered in the lee of the hedgerows. There is masses of Dogwood up here, and both Holly Blues and Green Hairstreaks were on and around it, doubtless laying eggs. I had a chat to one of the local Holly Blues, which took an interest in something tasty on my hand. However, the real object of looking around up here then appeared - the Wall Brown. In various spots, patrolling in regular set routes, were perhaps half a dozen fresh males. In the strong sun, not one fully opened up to bask, and they were characteristically very hard to approach. Once or twice they would stop and nectar on the hawthorns or buttercups in attractive poses, but only for the briefest of moments. Underside shots on the ground were occasionally just about possible, despite their ploy of angling their closed wings at 90 degrees to the sun in order to keep cool. After returning to the main slopes (and just after Bugboy left to investigate the harbour area), I found the Small Copper had encountered a new protagonist - a lovely fresh male Brown Argus (another first for the year for me). The two insects really did not get on and their tussles were quite intense and prolonged.
The species seen here today were:
Small White
Large White
GVW
Brimstone
Dingy Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
Red Admiral
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Small Heath
Wall
Holly Blue
Common Blue
Adonis Blue
Brown Argus
Small Copper
Green Hairstreak
A very worthwhile trip indeed.
Dave
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Tuesday 15th May: Down to Mill Hill again to meet up with Bugboy and see things in full sunshine this time. What a splendid place - 17 species seen on the day, and that didn't even have Comma, Speckled Wood or Orange Tip on the list...
The first butterfly seen was an Adonis Blue, and over the course of the morning fresh ones were emerging so that they were everywhere by lunchtime... ...along with lesser numbers of their Common cousins. Dingy Skippers abounded, and there were also good numbers of Grizzled as well. I spotted a two of the latter together on a hawthorn with the male making advances on the female, but nothing seemed to come of it. A Small Copper (my first this year) set up a territory in the most sheltered part of the slope and set about anything else that moved, notably the Green Hairstreaks sharing this corner. Somewhat inconveniently, one prominent perch for both species was one of the large Deadly Nightshade bushes - though not this time: As things warmed up (despite the sun it was quite chilly and windy early on), I headed for the more wooded bits towards the top of the hill, where it was sheltered in the lee of the hedgerows. There is masses of Dogwood up here, and both Holly Blues and Green Hairstreaks were on and around it, doubtless laying eggs. I had a chat to one of the local Holly Blues, which took an interest in something tasty on my hand. However, the real object of looking around up here then appeared - the Wall Brown. In various spots, patrolling in regular set routes, were perhaps half a dozen fresh males. In the strong sun, not one fully opened up to bask, and they were characteristically very hard to approach. Once or twice they would stop and nectar on the hawthorns or buttercups in attractive poses, but only for the briefest of moments. Underside shots on the ground were occasionally just about possible, despite their ploy of angling their closed wings at 90 degrees to the sun in order to keep cool. After returning to the main slopes (and just after Bugboy left to investigate the harbour area), I found the Small Copper had encountered a new protagonist - a lovely fresh male Brown Argus (another first for the year for me). The two insects really did not get on and their tussles were quite intense and prolonged.
The species seen here today were:
Small White
Large White
GVW
Brimstone
Dingy Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
Red Admiral
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Small Heath
Wall
Holly Blue
Common Blue
Adonis Blue
Brown Argus
Small Copper
Green Hairstreak
A very worthwhile trip indeed.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Dave