Thanks
Wurzel, I have colonies of both Martins on my patch but the Housey version nest within the water treatment works. They are visible but through two sets of security fences and its probably not the best idea in the world to be stood somewhere pointing a big lens on a secured site that feels the need to have two security fences complete with razor wire
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
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May 2020
Monday 18th. This was going to be a long day, the plan was to do Walthamstow Marshes in the morning then walk along the canal to Tottenham Marshes. First of all though my six day old Peacock larvae were getting quite fat, their 1st instar skins must be getting a little tight
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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Being an early start I managed to find a Holly Blue who was willing to pose for me, something of a rare thing so far this year.
Also a rare thing in general for my site was my next sighting. I chased this little chap for a while to pin it down for the record. Unlikely to be the first record for the marshes but a first for me here.
After that little bit of excitement it was all quiet on the butterfly front. A quick check on the Sand Martins found that they seemed to have sorted out who owns what hole and photo opportunities were at a premium so next stop was the Brimstone larvae. Numbers are dwindling as you would expect but what is left are getting quite fat, at least 4th instar, possibly some 5th.
Next stop was the waterworks nature reserve where I had a welcome distraction from a Small White and a blue fluttering low over the same grassy bank. Having yet to tick off Common Blue for the year my initial excitement was quickly quelled when I got the target on my big lens. Still it made for a pleasing image
A bit of birding at the reserve was done, nothing new but the Coot chicks, still looking very cute and utterly ridiculous in equal measures, came close whilst the parents went off to pick a fight with another pair who had crossed the invisible line.
I deviated slightly on the return route coming across a batch of first instar nettle feeders, probably Peacock, and then a couple of small butterflies quarreling and bickering in a flowery corner of a patch of waste ground which used to be a golf course. One was blue and one silvery and noticeably smaller. No mistaking the ID’s this time. I found myself getting as excited about seeing my first Common Blue as I would normally do when I find my first Large Blue in any other year
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
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Midday was fast approaching so I made a move to head off to Tottenham Marshes stopping off just long enough to grab a few Sedge Warbler Pictures, posing in a more normal place that my last encounter with one.
An hour later I was at Tottenham Marshes, watching a handful of Whites flitting around the vast swathes of Rape that seems to be freely seeding here. Both Small and Green-veined were present but no Large. Being warm and early afternoon, nothing was going to sit still for more than 5 seconds, until that is an Orange-tip fluttered past and did exactly that. I had assumed I’d already seen my last Orange-tip for the year (which is crazy being mid-May) so that was a welcome encounter.
More wandering only gave me a handful of White flybys plus another Orange-tip (maybe the same one but I was a fair distance from the first one). It was a while before I found another target which turned out to be another Common Blue. 10 Minutes after this one, across the other side of the field I found a third who was far to flighty to sit for me. Sporadic sightings like this are pretty much what I would expect for my local patches.
Nothing else looked to be about and it had been a long day so I made my way back along the canal to find a nice trio awaiting me back at Walthamstow Marshes. A Small Copper (my first of the season) attracted my attention and closer inspection of the area threw up a fourth Common Blue and a couple of Brown Argus.
A good finish to a long day, both sites making me work hard to find something.