Sunday 24th July - Bernwood Forest, Meadows and Field(s)
I'd arranged to meet up with Michael and Karen Field at Bernwood today. On arrival, I walked along the main ride from the forest car park and saw my first UK (half of a) Painted Lady, sharing a thistle with a Peacock.
I'm not quite sure how it was still flying...
There were quite a few fresh Peacocks, which was lovely to see. Sightings for the forest, between the car park and the meadows:
8 Silver Washed Fritillary
6 Peacock
1 Painted Lady
2 Red Admiral
5 Comma
6 Speckled Wood
5 Meadow Brown
2 Ringlet
5 Gatekeeper
4 Large White
2 Green Veined White
3 Small White
5 Large Skipper
I arrived at the meadows and headed for the long thin meadow near the car park, where I had seen Brown Hairstreak last year. Just along from the car park Common Blues, Small Coppers and a lovely fresh Brown Argus were zipping about.
Gatekeepers were frequent along the hedge.
On a thistle patch a fresh Brimstone was stocking up.
While the meadow was alive with whites and browns.
In what was one those unforgettable encounters, I then met my first ever Empress. She glided through the meadow, at head height, with wings held flat open. The occasional flick of the wings and then she went back to gliding. Stunning. I met Michael and Karen shortly after and we all hoped she would return.
We had a good natter as we walked up to the end of the thin meadow, spotting the odd Purple Hairstreak in the hedge. Right at the end a straggly Hawthorn tree played host to at least 10 Purple Hairstreaks, flitting about and occasionally coming down to play. This was lovely and we watched them for ages, also seeing the duelling male behaviour as photographed by Zonda.
The shoes in the background have been touched by Poplar Admirals....
Suddenly an Empress appeared and did the same as before, so we all did get to see Her in the end.
Walking back through the meadows toward the forest Michael spotted our only Brown Hairstreak of the day, a male looking very fresh. We managed a few shots each before he ascended to the canopy. Still, what a sight!
There were loads of dragonflies in the meadows, including some I'd never seen before; about half size of a larger one.
Sightings for Bernwood Meadows:
2 female Purple Emperor (could have been the same one to be fair)
5 Silver Washed Fritillary
2 Red Admiral
15+ Marbled White
50+ Meadow Brown
10+ Ringlet
25+ Gatekeeper
2 male Brimstone, 1 female
5 Large White
5 Green Veined White
3 Small White
5 Large Skipper
1 male Brown Hairstreak
15+ Purple Hairstreak
1 Brown Argus
10+ Common Blue
4 Small Copper
Walking back through the forest ride we came across several photogenic Brimstones who were much more interested in nectaring than in us!
Here's Michael in action!
Nearby were several Peacocks and a courting pair of Silver Washed flew past.
They really are a stunning butterfly up close when fresh - I think I could look at one all day...
We decided to go to Whitecross Green Wood, partly as I'd never been before. It is also a lovely place. Brimstones and Peacocks were stars here although we did see a couple of Purple Hairstreaks and a White Admiral. We had a good look but no more Brown Hairstreaks to be found.
The rides had been mown in places but I'd love to come back here another time.
Sightings for Whitecross Green Wood:
1 White Admiral
2 Red Admiral
10+ Peacock
3 Comma
6 Silver Washed Fritillary
6 Gatekeeper
15+ Meadow Brown
5+ Ringlet
5 Marbled White
6 Small Skipper
5 Large Skipper
3 Large White
5 Green Veined White
3 Small White
15+ Brimstone
2 Purple Hairstreak
10+ Common Blue
Here's Michael and Karen, as we were nearly back to the cars. It seemed like we'd walked for miles today.
It really was a lovely day spent in lovely company and I look forward to the next one
PS - thanks for the fig rolls - I love them...
To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.
We may have to go back next year to complete what I wanted to do 
