25/05/19
Dunstable Downs and Totternhoe Knolls.
Sorry for the lack of updates but computer problems have prevented me from posting. Hopefully I will be back up and running properly soon.
I was lucky enough to receive a zoom lens for my birthday and it arrived the day before the outing which meant I had no time to practice with the unwieldy 70-300 which was a mighty jump from the 18-55 which I had been using. I quickly found out about the minimum focus distance of 1.5m which was a whole different approach to what I had been used to.
I was to attend a Butterfly Conservation walk at Dunstable Downs and Totternhoe Knolls where I was hoping to add the Duke of Burgundy, Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper to my list of first time ever sightings in 2019.
The weather when we set off did not look promising at all as the grey clouds scudded overhead and spits of rain hit the windscreen on the way. I don’t mind admitting that I was seriously considering aborting mission as there was grey clouds as far as I could see and I feared a wasted journey.
We arrived and I set up the family with a basecamp as the wind began to really pick up and more spots of rain began to fall. I really did think that I would have to pack up at any moment and head back before we got really soaked but with basecamp set up, they insisted I head off with the group that had gathered at the visitor centre ‘because you never know’.
The group were still optimistic as we headed down into Bison Hill which they described as a microclimate and the Butterfly Gods were with us because the clouds began to break and blue holes were soon appearing as the clouds thinned.
The track we were taking was a chalky path that cut diagonally down the hill where the odd Brimstone flitted about and soon into the descent the call went up ‘Duke!’ and there it was that I saw my first ever Duke of Burgundy. As I have mentioned many times, I was surprised at how small it was and as the sun decided to start putting in an appearance, Bison Hill came alive. There were Dukes, Dinghy Skippers, Brown Argus and my First Grizzled Skipper soon appeared making it two firsts.
I must mention before you look at the pics (if you are even reading this) that I was really struggling with the new lens and I am far from happy with the results. I even considering making this a text only entry but at the last minute I decided to include them so that hopefully I notice some improvement as the year goes on.
After a while the track levels and then begins a winding climb where the grasses give way to larger bushes and small trees that we were told the be Green Hairstreak were likely to be and as I had only a fleeting glimpse of one before, I was desperate to get a closer look.
It wasn’t long before one was spotted and he landed at the top of one of the taller bushes and as we all waited, it was clear it did not want to come down. This picture shows how the sky had cleared by this point and it was turning into a beautifully sunny day.
As we all searched a few more GHS were seen and this time lower and easier to photograph. I managed to snag the only picture I was happy with in over 500 taken of the GHS on the white flowers.
As we reached the top it was time to turn around and head back the way we had come and we all meandered back stopping for anything of interest along the way, of which there were plenty.
As we neared the entrance someone called out ‘Small Blue’ and there was the third first ever sighting for my trip. I was really chuffed that I had got to see all three new species that were possible and managed to get a proper look at some GHS.
The plan was to take a lunch break at the visitor centre and head off to Totternhoe Knolls for the afternoon to go in search of more Small Blue and Dukes so I headed back to basecamp for lunch with the family.
After lunch most of the group headed to the Knolls and I was greeted in the carpark by a beautiful fresh male that I tried in vain to photograph but all of the pictures turned out really bad. We continued and were greeted by the twisted wreck of a car that was rusting away which I find fascinating for some reason. Although it angers me that it has not been cleared away it also fascinates me to see the way in which these things deteriorate until only engine parts and bare frame frames are left behind as nature slowly grows around them.
Totternhoe Knolls is a disused quarry that has chalk cliffs and as we headed down to the path that runs along the bottom of this cliff there were Small Blue absolutely everywhere. I saw over a hundred as we walked along with the odd Small Heath and a solitary Small Copper thrown in.
We headed through the quarry to a spot where the Dukes were likely to be, taking in a few more GHs on the way but had no luck at this site. There were more Grizzlies and Dinghys but not a single Duke was seen and it was decided to head back.
As we headed back in the bright afternoon sunshine, I was incredibly happy that I had not decided to abort the mission as I thought I might have to, as I had seen everything that it was possible to see and the day that I thought would end in rain ended up with me having sunburned arms, forehead and ears
It wasn't until I got home I found out that I have taken over 500 terrible photos and one which I was happy with. Oh well, there is always next year