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Cheer Goldie You might be slightly too late for the MW but hopefully the Brostreaks and Chalkhills will make up for it

Large Blue 26-06-2016

So the question was Daneway or Collard? Philzoid and I had been wondering which site for about a fortnight previously and this morning it was decision time. The weather, lack of Glastonbury traffic and a very favourable report from Essex Buzzard swayed it in favour of Daneways. So I tapped the postcode into Satnav (cheers Tuts!), checked the parking directions (cheers CJB!) and we set off.

I was a surprisingly straight forward route and before I knew it the car was ensconced in the in lay-by and we were on the road heading for the Pub with what we thought was the site peeping out behind the trees. By the pub there were so many likely looking fields it was lucky that a local lad pointed us in the right direction. On the steep incline we met another group of three so we arrived at the site en mass as it were but Philzoid and I tried to slope off. We’d only just been on site for about 3 minutes when a slatey blue butterfly, a good size too, flew towards me, veered left and disappeared down the bank. Both Philzoid and I had seen it so another one for both out tallies. We’d gotten what we’d come for so now it was time to relax and enjoy!
The same butterfly or a different one was located on the banks and all five of us edged in hoping for some shots. I manged a few before one of the others spooked it and then we all watched it until it landed, This time it shut its wings tight and the sun had nipped behind a cloud so it wasn’t going anywhere fast. Despite this one of the three felt that she should make the decisions regarding the butterfly. If felt a bit like being corralled by a sheepdog – ‘come by, wait, wait, away, come by etc’. All her concerns about spooking it came to nothing and I was even able to fold down and hold back some of the grasses for a totally unobscured shot. I was even happier with these shots as I was holding the grass with my right hand and the shots were taking with my left, so I had to overcome the ‘handed’ bias of cameras. After Philzoid and I had had our fill of shots (and possibly commands?) we again tried to slope off and explore the rest of the site. The only problem was that the butterflies kept drawing us back in. There were beautiful fresh Ringlets, their delicate white margins brilliant and contrasting with the velvety uppers. Marbled Whites abounded and the odd Meadow Brown and Large Skipper put in an appearance too to keep us busy. We’d worked our way ever so slowly to the ‘end’ of the first bank where the track was through a few trees when we spotted another Large Blue. This one held its wings open and both Philzoid and I were able to get in really close and enjoy it to ourselves. It really is a cracking butterfly. Happily we backed away and carried on into the reserve. It was fantastically lush and there were Orchids everywhere but we did have to sit out a short shower and wait for the sun to reappear. When it did again there were Ringlets and Marbled Whites as well as a faded Common blue but no more Large ones. We’d reached the final third of the Banks by now and stopped to chat with a local butterflier. As it was a cloudy period we caught up and he regaled us with tales of his mate who it seems was forever getting in the way of shots or spooking the butterfly much to his chargin! When the sun reappeared out came the butterflies but as Philzoid predicted it was a couple more minutes before the Large Blues joined them.

When they did it all got a bit confusing and it’s hard to remember the exact order of the sightings. Our new found friend put us onto one which was on an Orchid and very graciously let us both get in close with our Macro lenses. Then there were two Large Blues that went up from either side of the path, met in the middle and then flew off in totally opposite directions. Another moment to savour was when there were two Large Blues within 3 paces of each other and finally there was the possible aberrant which seemed to be ovipositing. It was a breathtaking 30 minutes or so and somehow we tore ourselves away to make it to the end of the reserve which seemed to terminate in an old quarried area and then a wood. On the return journey Small Heaths appeared and a Small Tort ventured out at the start of the walk. This time we took the top path as we headed back towards the entrance. As we reached the far side and were just discussing making a move another Large Blue turned up and then another when we were 12 steps away from the entrance. It flew back into the reserve so we recovered old ground and ended up criss-crossing the initial bank once more. This time a female Common Blue and aged Dingy added themselves to the days tally. We decided we really should make a move as the weather clouded over and we walked along the main track towards the entrance. It seemed like the Large Blues didn’t want us to leave and so we were forced to stop as another perfectly posed open winged for us before we finally escaped and retired to the Daneway Arms for refreshment and a quick check of what we’d got. On the drive home, with some of the afternoon ahead of us still, we planned to go to Martin Down for DGFs. However that would mean driving through Salisbury and would add 50 minutes more driving time. So instead we pulled off the A345 and nipped over to my Duke Site.
Buy now the sun had hidden itself and the wind had picked up so the butterflies present were all holding onto flowers like Rocking Horses…that is the ones which were visible as it felt strangely quiet. I was only just commenting on ‘where are the DGFs?’ when I turned around and there was one of the pristine ginger beauties. A little further on a second flew by and then it went quiet again. We entered into one of the ‘fields’ where the grasses were shorter and almost immediately a DGF went up, and then a second but both were caught by the wind. A little further in and Philzoid found three all roosting together. I manged to get a shot of two together and then the final remaining one once the other two had flown. They’d take off, fly a short way and then if the wind didn’t catch them would drop back down to the deck – possibly because it was too cool? The penultimate leg of our massive trek was down the rocky path, my Duke hotspot of two years ago. Strangely there were no butterflies here, not even a Small Copper but a couple of micro moths kept our interest before we finally made the last leg of our trip – the home stretch! Have a goodun (we certainly did)
Wurzel

You do seem to have made the most of Daneway Banks, in spite of mixed weather conditions! It's easy to get a misleading impression from photos, so I was interested to see your shot that includes another camera (DSC_0749). This brings out how small even a 'large' blue really is. There are some butterflies (Marsh Fritillary is one) that, I feel, can only be appreciated fully when seen in the magnified view offered by a photograph.

Wurzel,

As ever, some good reports and photos to accompany. I love the DGF pairing.

Regards Kev

Lovely shots of the Large Blue, Wurzel - brings back my trip to Collard Hill a couple of days earlier, though your butterflies seem a bit fresher than the Somerset ones. The second photo (underside) is a stonker!

Dave

Cheers Mike The hand belongs to Philzoid and like you say was used to show the real scale. I know what you mean about the Marsh Frit - when you see them flying or from a distance they juts look like a brownish blob and then through the lens - woah!
Cheers Kev When Philzoid found them it was a bit of a manage a trois
Cheers Dave That was a hard one to get as I was using only my left hand at the same time as having orders barked at me

After a week in Lisbon I'm even more behind so my aim is to have gotten into August by September, if that makes sense, so better get cracking...

Larkhill Week beginning 27-06-2016

27-06
No stops today as despite the weather looking good I was in a rush to get to and from work, typical tomorrow when I have more time I bet the weather will suck!

28-06
AM Westbound

Luckily the sun held out for the morning so when I stopped at 8 it still felt warm and there was a slight haze while the dew evaporated. I didn’t venture too far down the Westbound as after initially surprising a very faded Common Blue and a few each of the three Brown species something much smaller and golden caught my eye. At first I thought that it would be just a Large Skipper but it was much too small. As I crept round in a wide circle to get in close I could see that the wings were a uniform gold with the kinky streak of the male Small Skipper – my first of the year. I looked up momentarily and saw a second that I’d walked straight past as it was so small, I was expecting to see it and also because it was totally concealed from view from my previous angle of approach. Also here was a lovely female Large Skipper offering a clear comparison with the smaller cousin. Slightly further along I was in proper Brown territory with representatives of all three species flying weakly amongst the grass tops and always looking like they are about to land but never committing themselves to it. Eventually a pair of Marbled Whites landed momentarily next to each other and the odd Ringlet would play ball but the Meadow Browns were always out of reach and the first to take to the wing. As I headed back to the car a Ringlet posed wings open wide and I managed to first creep round it, then lower myself into a reasonable position before and then even managed to brush the grasses aside so that I could get my shots. I was chuffed with the outcome as usually just getting close is tricky let alone holding the grass aside. 30-06
AM

I could only make the briefest of stops this morning as I really needed to get to work. Today is the Bristol Zoo trip and so I had the coaches and whole of year 8 waiting for me to organise them. So to work and I quickly had a look in at the Northbound path. Amongst the early morning drear I counted only a single Marbled White and a pair of Ringlets.
Leaving this poor showing I made my way about half way along the Westbound path and it really turned up the goods with a Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and reasonable numbers of Marbled Whites and Ringlets. The Marbled Whites seems to be fading fast this year or have that not really started yet as today they were outnumbered by the Ringlets? My final Ringlets on this stretch were busy ensuring that there are at least some more Ringlets here next year. All too soon I had to head on with the joys of Gorillas and the Butterfly house awaiting me!

01-07
AM
Well what a surprise Sports Day and it’s drizzling already! I stopped anyway but things were pretty dire. The odd Ringlet would erupt from the grass but due to the dull and damp weather I set my eyes to scan for little flags amongst the grass stems. It paid off not once but twice with an eventual Common Blue but even better was my first Larkhill Brown Argus before that.

PM
Sport days over for another year – somehow we managed to cram it in before the rain threatened didn’t arrive – I was on the way home and made a very quick stop-off. The weather hadn’t improved noticeably since the morning but at least it was warmer. It seemed to favour the butterflies as now the Marbled Whites and meadow Browns were flying amongst the Ringlets and I also managed to add a Large Skipper to the tally for the day. Have a goodun

Wurzel

I know you like 'stained glass window' effects but that Ringlet (DSC_0899) is simply amazing The most remarkable photo of a Ringlet I've ever seen! Stunning!!

Welcome back, Wurzel! That is indeed a very unusual shot of a Ringlet. A transformation of the ordinary into something quite the opposite.

Dave

Cheers Mike You're too kind
Cheers Dave Likewise , and it's good to be back too.

Bentley Wood 02-07-2016

A couple of spare hours was all I would get all weekend so tried for the Saturday as that looked to have the better weather. They said it would be sunny – they lied! I can’t recall a time in three years when they got it so wrong in fact. Still I was on site with some free time between painting walls and oiling floors so I was determined to make the most of it.

As I set off the sun was hiding behind the clouds and it felt warm and moist so I took my rain coat and made my way up the main track towards the crossroads. It was really quiet with only a few Large Skipper, Ringlets were more numerous and Meadow Brown the most common species seen. I was half way along the main track where it dips down and the sides open out. In a few weeks time this is prime Emperor habitat but try as I might I couldn’t successfully turn the Meadow Browns into His Nibbs. I did pause at the large Oak here and just like last year it provided me with my first Purple Hairstreak. Two tiny grey/silver blobs detatched themselves from the tree top, circled and then fluttered high over the path to another tree where they promptly disappeared. So a first for the year but no photo.

At the crossroads I turned right and made my way to the deeper wood and the butterflies seemed scarcer here as I wound round with the path until I reached the Memorial. A few steps along a so two Whitters assuming the fiscanning with my bins both the top of the diseased/dying Elm and the new Suckers that clump here until the crick in my neck was so severe that my vertebrae had fused or I saw a Whitter. However my plan came to nothing as a heavy shower occurred lasting 25 minutes during a time when the Met said there was a less than 5% chance of a shower (the never have anything lower than this value) . I hid my camera in my jacket, pulled my hood up and buried my chin into my chest ending up with the opposite type of crick in the neck that I’d expected.

Once the shower passed I resumed my vigil being distracted by the occasional Large Skippers playing on the Bramble flowers, a few Ringlets and my first White Admiral – which again avoided my lens, two new species a not a shot of either. Eventually my (im)patience paid off and a darker butterfly crossed the, now, blue gap between one Elm and another. Through my bins I could see what it was, darker and square cut – a Whitter. A few moments later a second made the same journey – so two Whitters assuming the first hadn’t doubled back on itself. So three news species and not a shot of any!
I headed back hoping for a SWF or a DGF or something, anything in fact, anything to land long enough for a shot. Unfortunately nothing did and so in desperation I took a few shots of a Meadow Brown and a Ringlet. I then walked despondently back towards the car park in a split mood; cheered by the three additions to the yearly tally but at the same time annoyed that I didn’t have the shots. Oh well. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Larkhill WB 04-07-2016

04-07 AM
A five minute stop as I’d heard the occasional clunk from under the bonnet – nothing serious I hope and I couldn’t see any damage when I checked under the wheel arches. Still as I was in the pull in a I set off down the Westbound path to see what I could find. No Smessex to greet me today just a solitary Common Blue hanging on in there. I’m used to relying on the long suffering and surviving Common Blues to keep me going much later in the season. So for them to be such a prominent feature this early is a worrying trend.
Mind you a few more steps in and things were almost back to normal with a few Ringlet and the odd Meadow Brown erupting from the grasses just in front of me. Grasses which I would have sworn blind didn’t contain any butterflies up until 3 seconds before my foot hit the ground. A case of Spontaneous Creation? I carried on along the path and it was very quiet with only a total of 7 Ringlets and two Meadow Browns. I didn’t see a Marbled White until I was almost back at the car and there one was amongst the long grass in the middle of the path, holding its wings in tribute to Batman! 05-07
AM
The morning had that feel that it was going to get a lot better but just not for a while so I strolled disappointedly down the Westbound path to the half way point. There were only a few Ringlet fluttering about on the way down and before I knew it it was time to turn round and head back. Last year and this year this has been the literally the turning point of the stop-off and so it turned out today. After a few steps back a couple of Meadow Brown had been added to the list, then a Marbled White and a second and then looking back something didn’t seem right about the grass head that had caught my eye. It seemed too big and the wrong colour. As I approached it resolved before me into a Skipper. The more subtle hues, sandy margins suggesting it was my first Essex of 2016. Standing directly over it and staring down the antennae I could clearly see the ink pads so indeed it was.
After a few shots I carried on back to the car but had to stop briefly for my second Essex. Chuffed I went on my way to work. PM
The afternoon as I’d predicted (who needs the bloody weathermen – just look out the window – that’s my new method of meteorological prediction) turned out great if a bit windy. I’d been trying recently to work out where all the butterflies were and so I guessed that they might be further along the path so this afternoon I stopped at the pull in even further along the Westbound path. As soon as I ‘d crossed the rad it seemed that I’d been correct in my supposition. Playing at my feet were three Small Heaths, Ringlets, Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns fluttered by slowly or nipped here and there once caught by the breeze. There seemed to be endless little golden blurs (Smessex) and the occasional frantic fly-by of my first Larkhill DGF of 2016. The whole, 5 minutes I was here I saw this same individual (if it was) on 5 occasions but it didn’t stop once. Perhaps a stop off here in the morning might yield better results? I got back onto the Westbound path and a Common Blue had set up territory mid-way along it although he backed off when I appeared. Up the hill I went and there was a Small Tortoiseshell on the deck and slightly further on a second. I know they were two different individuals because the first only had half a wing! The stroll back to the car saw the same set of species, including passes 4 and 5 by the DGF and the count of Common Blues rose to two. It was just great to finally be surrounded by so many different species of butterflies – long may it continue! 06-07
AM
I took a chance this morning and pulled in further along the road and where I normally turn around on the Westbound path and start making my way back. The parking space barely fits my Nissan so I was slightly apprehensive about leaving my car but hey-ho. The very first bush was alive with Ringlets and they appeared to have just awoken from their roost as I counted 14 on one bush but I could only squeeze in four in one shot. Slightly further in a couple of Small Heaths made themselves a pain constantly landing and then flying away once I’d focused on tem. In the end as I was short of time I gave up on them and took a quick stroll even further West down the Westbound path. There were Meadow Brown, Ringlets and Marbled Whites a plenty – with the blonde females much more noticeable now. Also around were singles of Small Tort, Common Blue and a Small Skipper amongst the mainly Smessex. PM
On the afternoon stop-off the weather was brilliant and hot! I didn’t think that I would see much because of this bit I was proved wrong. I again stopped at the same place but on the other side of the road and so having crossed I carried on Westbound. The Small Heath were again present but I decided to ignore then and spent some time instead with a fresher and darker Small Tort. Continuing on I spied a ginger beastie in the distance amongst the grasses and so I took a distant shot – my first ever DGF photo form this site. Luckily it came in closer and so I broke my golden rule and risked the unexploded ordinance so I could get a little closer, in fact I ended up almost on top of it.
Chuffed I headed back to the car stopping on the way for some Small, Essex and Smessex as well as a Common Blue. Unfortunately I’d been rendered colour blind as all I could see was a ginger hue. 07-07
AM.
The very briefest of stop offs this morning working my way down the Northbound track this time. I stopped for an Essex and another slightly further on. A Ringlet caught my eye, one among the many, as it had two spots on it’s left wing and three on it’s right. Another had a couple of tiny extra pupils on the hind wing underside. But all too soon it was time to head onto work… Have a goodun

Wurzel

I don't know how it could have happened, I offer no excuses, but I have only just seen your
Large Blues . As they are a species I have yet to see even more mrgreens are appropriate .
Lovely stuff.

Trevor.

I too have only today come across your Large Blues. What an impressive butterfly when wings open. I have seen the uppersides a few times (Collard) but never managed photos anywhere remotely as good as yours.

Jack

While not wishing to downplay your splendid photos, Wurzel, I found, during my own visit to Daneway Banks this year, that the Large Blues were unusually willing to pose with open wings! The weather did not seem particularly unusual - fairly warm with sunny intervals, as far as I remember, so I wonder why they were so obliging?

Hi Wurzel

Just catching up with things in 'Wurzeldom' . Lots of great stuff in your recent posts. Your Large Blues are great , that is one species I have yet to see. Your Dark Green Fritillaries are always fantastic , I have only seen one of those this year .

I was working at Larkhill a week or so ago, I wondered where abouts your Larkhill site is in relation to the army camp Great backlit Ringlet and head on shot of the Essex Skipper .

Hi! Wurzel just catching up at last on the post's, your Butterfly shot's of the LB and that gorgeous Ringlet are really out standing ,
I should put the Large Blue on my list for next year together with the BHS Goldie

Cheers Trevor No worries I myself 'discovered' a few posts of Dave's that I'd missed There are a lot of people posting on UKB now
Cheers Jack I'd quite happily swap you a few Large Blues for some of the cracking Scotch Argus shots you've gotten
Cheers Mike I went to Collard the last two years and this year went to Daneways and I definitely agree - they are much better behaved at Daneways!
Cheers Paul Everything seems to have had a bad year in 2016 My site is the Shrewton side of the camp, just up from Stonehenge. Once I've got my shots I have to drive through the camp on my way to work.
Cheers Goldie Go for it - if you go at the right time you'll get them

Bentley Wood 17-07-2016

Having missed a week and seen reports of Purple Emperor coming in whilst in Iceland I decided to chance it and try for His Nibbs at Bentley. So I set off on a bright Sunday morning with fingers crossed that I’d broken the ‘three year’ cycle last year. Once in the car park I didn’t hang around before starting off down the main track hoping that I could develop Archer fish eyes to enable me to scan both the path and up at the tree tops at the same time. In the end I progressed along a path a bit like a head-banging Metallica fan.

I was seeing butterflies but not the correct species unfortunately. It was only when I got BOUT half way along the track to the dip and the cleared area that I saw my first SWF. Also here around the usual Oak were a fluttering of Purple Hairstreaks. At the crossroads I paused and scanned around and decided to head left. I bumped into another enthusiast and we chatted of this and that as we made our way towards Donkey Copse. At ‘Baitman’ Corner I opened up the tin of Sardines that I’d brought and we stood back and waited. Meadow Browns, Hedge Browns (my first of 2016) and Ringlets were all about along with the occasional Silver-washed and a scything White Admiral. Again some Purple Hairstreaks put on a display of jinking high jinks and then I went on to check out further into the wood. Along the way Silver-washed were being particularly active seemingly to make up for their low numbers by being in three place at once! Again a few PHs flew by up high and there was another scything White Admiral. Unfortunately though every shark fin on the path was actually a Red Admiral which did become an H Comma on my return. As I approached the corner a large butterfly, bat like in appearance flew fast towards me and disappeared over the tree tops - a PE as verified by my fellow enthusiast who was watching it from the other direction. It didn’t come back though and the bait didn’t draw it back either so after a fair amount of waiting around we both decided to head back to the car park. On the way we bumped into a few others and one pair of gents had been lucky enough to have one down on the deck for about 5 minutes back on the main path. Once along the main stretch we did our best to avoid being caught out by the Red Admirals that appeared to be settled all over the path and settled down to wait out of sight in the shade. Suddenly a PE flew past us and landed on the desk. As we waited for it to settle a jogger appeared and put it up. It flew a little way on and landed again and was put up by the same jogger and again and again before it finally gave up and disappeared. Why do butterflies do this? Surely it would make more sense to fly and land behind the object approaching them? And also why do joggers do this? Oh well there was some consolation for the three year cycle staring again in the form of a Valezina – which might come in handy as a tie breaker in my annual competition for Philzoid. As everything seemed to be starting to go turbo charged I cut my losses, scored Brownie points and headed home early. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, what do know a positive ID for GB of the Brown Hairstreak being there. I wonder what else will move North !! Goldie

Cheers Goldie Great news for you about the Brostreak - you ask what else will move up North - well at this rate me

Burcombe 17-07-2016

After a getting back home and getting my breath back I was off out again. My younger daughter on a play date and my wife and I dropped my older daughter round to one of her friends’ house to ‘hang out’. So we were sans kids in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside and so went for a walk round Burcombe. It was an area I’d not visited before so I didn’t know what to expect and I really enjoyed the wandering and wondering.

Once on the path and out of the village the path ran up hill bordered on one side by a hedge and beyond a golden field. On the other side was another, lower thinner hedge and downland grassland. The walk was circular and this part formed a horseshoe round the punchbowl down. There were some fresh looking Small Torts as well as all the usual suspects – Smessex Skippers, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns and Ringlets. A Peacock, Red Admiral and a Painted Lady all did fly-bys and a DGF popped in and I was able to get a few shots by poking the lens through the fence. Also here was a stunning view across the hills, snaking through the villages and there standing imperious in the distance Salisbury Cathedral. At the top of the hill we turned right and started a much slower descent and the path broke free from the agricultural fields and came out onto the top of the Punchbowl. We stopped for a cuppa and a sit down amongst the bird songs to enjoy the sun and I had a little mooch. There were more of the same species around and a couple of Common Blues to add to the tally but no Chalkhills which I was surprised by but it may have been still too early? The Marbled Whites and Ringlets were looking tired and worn – they’d entered the grey phase whereas the Meadow Browns were still looking fresh. Cuppa drunk and rest over we carried on down and around the other side of the Punchbowl. Amongst the smaller butterflies something dusky ginger and much bigger flew – another DGF and this one landed just long enough for a few shots. After this the path became stone and gravel based and enclosed on one side by trees but there were still butterflies about and a set of Small Torts seemed to follow us down the path amongst a Red Admiral and various whites. A great little walk that produced some real gems – it’s nice to visit somewhere new. Have a goodun

Wurzel
PS Chalkhills were reported a day

Hi Wurzel, I have been a bit slack at keeping up with everyone else's diaries lately and missed your Large Blues, great photos and Daneway Banks certainly sounds like a site I must pay a visit to...maybe next year.

That backlit Ringlet underside is a cracker too...lovely shot

Cheers,

Neil.

MikeOxon wrote:I know you like 'stained glass window' effects but that Ringlet (DSC_0899) is simply amazing The most remarkable photo of a Ringlet I've ever seen! Stunning!!

Wow - how did I miss that! Very nice, and very different!

Cheers,

- Pete

That female DGF you chanced upon is a lovely butterfly. I've rarely seen a fresh-looking female - usually they are well down in the grass seeking/avoiding/putting up with the intentions of a male! They are much more subtly marked than the males, and much more attractive.

Dave