www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Lovely shots of the Tortoiseshells Wurzel, I'm glad I got some shots of them before I left home not seen one here, the Wall's have made up for that though Goldie

Cheers Kev It took over the 'most chilled' top spot from my trip to Poland years (drinking beer in the sun and watching Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles flying ). I've been lucky with OTs this year, your experiences sound just like mine in normal, less lucky, years
Cheers Goldie From what I've heard they are not as common in the part of the country. They might still be flying when you get back though as I saw 3 on Friday and two were in fine fettle. Mind you if you can pick up your Skippers then you probably won't give them a second thought

I meant to add this in on one of my previous Diary entries but somehow missed it off the 'cut and paste'...

"I don’t know if this has been seen by anyone else but all of the OTs that I watched patrolling today examined any Dandelion Clocks that were on their route? Come to think of it I’ve seen this now on the three occasions that I’ve seen OTs this year so far…When I eventually get more time one spring I think I might try setting my camera up in a OT patrol area so that it is focused on the Dandelion clock and then use a shutter release cable when the OT comes near."

Have a goodun

Wurzel

You've captured those Orange-tips really well Wurzel. My fave is the female from Middle Street, lovely.

Cheers Andrew It was one of the advantages of the cooler, cloudier weather we had for a bit. Now however we need some good sunny spells but it's not looking hopeful

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Middle Street 13-04-2019

Life after the App (the BBC Weather) continues unabated and so today despite it feeling cool to almost cold I took a lunch time constitutional via the Town Path across the Meadows to Harnham and onto Middle Street. As I walked with the Meadows on either side through my hoodie I could feel the temperature going up and down as the sun broke through the cloud and then was covered again. However I was hopeful that I might be able to find a roosting OT. I didn’t pick up any butterflies either on the way over nor during my first 30 minutes of wandering around the more sheltered areas of the site seeking every likely looking plant, seeking every bit of white peeking out from the greenery.

In the end I settled for looking at the birds (Blackcap, Cetti’s, Chiff-chaff, Reed Bunting) and bees. Whilst following a Tawny Mining bee a Specklie erupted from the edge of the smallest stand of trees on the site and flew across to a larger one where I lost sight of it. As I was making my way back towards where I’d left the Tawny I spotted something larger and more red than orange-red. I peered a little closer and it resolved into a pair of moths locked together in cop. I think that they’re Ruby Tigers which would be great as I’ve only had one shot in my collection and now I have a few more including definite male and female shots. After this I wanted to get a butterfly shot to put the icing on the cake and an OT would have been ideal. So I set out for the hotspot reasoning that I’d already seen OTs here on two occasions so this is obviously a patrolled area. Once there I set to waiting and cloud watching as I was convinced that I’d need only a few moments of sun for the temperature to be warm enough for any OT to get back ‘up and at em’. After what felt like and age but was actually only a couple of minutes the sun broke through the cloud, the icy breeze dropped and the temperature crept up. Sure enough I caught a pastel orange coloured object out of the corner of my eye and watched as it landed first on small sapling and then once disturbed by a passing Blackcap down lower on the ground. As the sun had again been swallowed by the cloud I slowly made my way over to the OT stumbling slightly on the way as I didn’t want to take my eyes off it. And then there it was. It wasn’t going anywhere and so I got my fill of shots and marvelled at how the cryptic markings changed appearance with distance. Far away is it a bird dropping/catkin, flower head? On no it’s a butterfly with green and white makings, closer still and the green and white actually becomes yellow and black on a white background – stunning! After a while I held my fingers out and it walked up them so I moved the butterfly to another Yarrow nearby and then stood guard over it. All the while I’d keep glancing upwards and on the final occasion I felt the sun start to peep out. Now I positioned myself directly over the OT and waited, willing the sun to shine. Sure enough it did and the butterfly opened up to reveal a massive pair of eyes and a stunning vibrant orange. After a few shots the butterfly took off, flew a short way and then went twice round the small hotspot area. I think it was trying to work out if it was actually warm enough for it to keep going but it didn’t spend too long deciding as the sun then ducked behind the clouds and the butterfly went back to roost very close to its original position. After a few final record shots I left it in peace and made for home still awestruck at the subtle beauty that I’d seen.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Ex-Duke Site 15-04-2019

The forecast said sunny but a strong breeze clawed the temperatures down so much that there wasn’t really a nip in the air but a full on bite! Still that’s the spring for you and butterflies can be hardy little beasties so I set off across the grasslands hopefully. I walked and walked checking all the usual areas; scanning less and less hopefully across the varied habitats and wishing the temperature to creep up just by a few degrees. My travels had taken me right across the site and up to the far-side of the Hill Fort and I now set off back downhill seeking any sheltered spots on the way. A large stand of Gorse seemed to offer respite and so I edged my way in t a little glade of calm. A Peacock spotted me and after only a record shot or two buggered off. It felt like it was going to be one of those days when you have to put the spadework in for little reward so as to get something great on a different visit.

As I followed the track back round and down having extricated myself from the Gorse my attentions were drawn to a Specklie that had landed in one of the ‘fields’ hemmed in by the trees. It was very flighty and was swiftly gone to be replaced with an OT which I spent some time with. I’m having a very good season with this species and the slightly cooler weather makes photographing them much easier. I then set course for an epic wander – back down to the little valley (Specklie), to the Cypresses (Peacock), down the back path (Peacock), back up to the little valley (Peacock, Brimstone, Comma) to the top of the hill and the far side of the rings (Small White and Peacock). The wind was quite frankly a pain in the arse and all the butterflies seen were during momentary lapses while the wind was getting its breath back. Having done so it set to whisking my quarry away. I reasoned that the best idea would be to get down into the rings where the wind would be less vile and the sun would be trapped. So I set off noting 2 Peacocks down in the rings. By the time I’d reached the near side of the Fort the trees had thickened and this meant that the wind was even less of a problem. So unsurprisingly I had a little purple patch of activity. It started with a Peacock again and then there was a Specklie followed by Green-veined White. While I watched it a tiny little blur shot past me. I only caught a glimpse but it was very suggestive of a Grizzle? I carried on down in the hollows climbing over a fallen tree and entering into another one of those purple patches. Yet again (seemed to be the theme for the day this) it started with a Peacock and a Specklie but this time a male OT thundering by broke the monopoly the former two species seemed to have on the day. The Whites were rallying it seemed as a male Brimstone and a Green-veined White then flew into view. I followed the later back the way that I’d come, having to once again clamber over the fallen tree whilst maintaining eye contact with the butterfly. This is another one of those species that seems to be playing hard to get this year. As I leant in the grey blur was back and this time I could clearly see it was a Grizzlie and a beautifully marked and fresh individual at that. My first Grizzlie of the year is one of my favourite moments of the spring so I sat and watched the little chap for a while with a celebratory coffee. Eventually I pulled myself away from the gravity of the Grizzlie and made back down the hills topping briefly in the little valley for yet another Peacock and my second Grizzlie. The final descent to the car saw another pair of Peacocks and as I drove back feeling the warmth that comes from just being out of the wind I contemplated the day. No Greenstreak!? Hard work? First Grizzlies? No the thing that struck me was the sheer number of Peacocks!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A nicely marked Grizzled Skipper indeed, Wurzel, and nice Orange-tips Why is your Duke site now an ex Duke site, apart from the obvious ? Sorry if you've already posted the answer eons ago, I've not always kept up

Mike.

Love the colours on the first Peacock, pity about the damage.
Very fine Grizzlies too. Might find some tomorrow. Plans have changed,
so I'm off to Tilshead early morning, from home, then onwards for some Marshies.
Staying at the Bell for one night, so should have time to check Church grounds.

It's going to be a bit hectic!
Trevor.

Cheers Mike The site was really good when I first discovered it with Dukes all over the fields and track ways and so it continued for a couple of years but then they seemed to move up the hill and their numbers dropped off. Then for two years I was only able to locate singletons and for the last two years nowt Really I should have called it a 'tentative Ex Duke Site' because I'm hoping that they're there somewhere and I just haven't seen them

Have a goodun

Wurzel

What a fantastic Orange-tip experience Wurzel! And you got a great set of shots too. The close-up of the scales is impressive, showing what's going on with the different colours. I like the moffs as well, great find.

Cheers Trevor I know bloomin birds taking a chunk out of a cracking looking butterfly I see that you struck lucky with the Marshies - was that at the Hill? I'm hoping to head there on Sunday. How was the Church Yard? I would ask about Tilshead but I reckon that must have been brill
Cheers Andrew It was brilliant and one of those whose memory will linger long It also served to remind me "if in doubt just go out"

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Sidbury 17-04-2019

After getting blown round the site (wind not MOD) on my last visit conditions today seemed much more conducive with higher temperatures, more consistent sunshine and a much lighter breeze. Plus I had the bonus of this not really ‘counting as a butterfly visit’ as I was merely calling in on the way home from a holiday revision class. I pulled up in the normal place and hopped put and almost rubbing my hands together in gleeful anticipation I set off down the path.

However my excitement started to diffuse as it was very quiet all the way along the old Duke track with only a single Peacock. Then at the Cypress trees I drew a blank on Greenstreak and after checking out the field, the Duke hotspot and the springy turf area I had only added a Brimstone and pair of Peacocks to the tally. Hmmmm…Slightly less buoyantly I started along the little valley and things suddenly took an upturn. It started slowly with a Brimstone heading down the valley hugging the side of the Spinney as it did so. A male Orange-tip cut past me and as I turned to follow it I spied a much smaller brown job. It wasn’t dark/silvery enough for a Brown Argus so I guessed that it was a Greenstreak. When it finally settled after a highly jinking dash here there and everywhere I could see that it was in fact so. I tried to edge closer in but it was extremely twitchy and it was off again doing it’s dizzying ‘escape’ run.

I’d been hoping for more so I quickly made my way up to the top of the hill and the Gorsefield. It was warmer and more sheltered here and smelt gorgeously of coconut so I was hoping that this might have a soporific effect on the butterflies. It possibly did as when I located a Greenstreak it sat and posed very nicely for me. I like finding them here because the Gorse isn’t too high, barely mid chest height at the tallest point and this one was on an evener lower bush so I could use my knees to make a nice steady tripod. After a while I felt like I’d hassled it enough and so I set off to see if I could relocate the Grizzlies in the innermost ring. I cut back through the wood on a different trajectory and climbed down into the ring. As I did I immediately felt the slight increase in temperature and with it I noticed a sudden increase in butterfly activity. Straight away I could see 4 Whites; 2 male Brimstones, a female Brimstone and an even larger and pure white butterfly, a definite Large White. They were intermingling and either trying to court, fend off or mob each other with the steep side of the bank forming a green background for them. Down in the bottom a Green-veined White cruised by and had a momentary tussle with a Small White that appeared in from the opposite direction. I carried on along the bottom when it was still and warm. A Peacock took off and flew away behind me. I noted several Orange-tips (3 males and a female) and another one a piece of Green-veined and Small White. There was something different that caught my attention. A much smaller, orangey brown butterfly. It wasn’t dark enough to be a Duke nor bright enough to be a Copper – it was a Small Heath! I managed a few shots and then it was offski. By now I’d reached the section of the rings where I’d found the Grizzlie. There was the tangle of a dead tree blocking the path but there wasn’t the Grizzlie. Perhaps they’d moved further down the hill in the good weather? I turned to head back when a saw a now familiar orangey blur. “The Small Heath” I thought but when I managed to get a few shots I could see that it was a different individual. Chuffed with this I climbed out of the rings and headed back down the hill to the little valley approaching this time form higher ground. A Comma bombed past and both a Brimstone and Orange-tip patrolled. The Greenstreak was back in the same place and was just as unaccommodating but it was joined by a Small Copper glittering in the grasses like a precious stone. It was immaculate and a very fitting brilliant end to brilliant visit. Three year firsts in the bag; two of which are (currently) county firsts.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

What a great contrast that Green Hairstreak is against the bright yellow of the gorse, Wurzel. I can almost smell the coconut from here... And that Small Copper is a jewel as you say.

Cheers,

Dave

Cheers Dave I was happy with that one (of only 2 on the day) and he was really well behaved for once It was a cracking day today and what with getting home early I bagged plenty of Brownie pints - bring on the Small Pearls

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Your Green Hairstreak certainly stands out against the yellow Gorse flowers.
I read somewhere that GH's have a liking for Gorse, but I've seen them on everything but!.

How do you plan to spend those extra brownie points you earned today?.
Trevor.

Cheers Trevor I'd read about them liking Gorse too and up until this year I'd not seen them on it I think I can use my Brownie points on either Wood Whites during half term or Small Pearls, maybe even both

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, great set of shots The Hair Streak on the Yellow Gorse looks fantastic but I also love the contrast of the Coppers on the White Daises Goldie

Cheers Goldie I was chuffed with those shots - the thing about the Small Copper was that it was immaculate so it still had the white fringes which contrasted nicely with the copper and chocolate brown

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote: ................ It was a cracking day today and what with getting home early I bagged plenty of Brownie pints - bring on the Small Pearls

I took your typo literally and imagined you musing over a successful day, with a couple of good pints of brown ale

Mike

I think it was a serendipitous typo as at the time I wrote the comment I was enjoying a bottle of McKewans Champion (7.3%) Brownie points of Pints of Brown either's good in my book

Hengistbury Head 19-04-2019

So for my wife’s birthday I was hoping, fingers crossed, to be heading to a National Trust site. But no joy, instead I was off to Hengistbury Head. Oh well I thought perhaps I could pop to Noar tomorrow? So loaded up with beach paraphernalia and Kelly Kettle we set off along the now familiar track. On the way a Peacock fluttered off across the bay and then a Brimstone and Small White battled it out in the field adjacent to the path.
Once we were settled and set up the girls disappeared along the strand line and I set to getting Kelly going. As I did I watched Sand Martins wheeling above and cutting through the air. Two stopped agonisingly close on part of the Groyne for just long enough to get my camera, focus…and they were gone. A pair of Peacocks fought their way along the top of the surf and after this, try as I might I couldn’t quite relax so I went for a pee break. I was joined by a long Peacock that looked a little battered – the same one from a few weeks back?

After lunch I took myself off for 15 minutes or so respite between various beach doings and walked up the hill in order to see if there were any Greenstreaks on the Gorse. On the way the obligatory Peacock and a Holly Blue joined me. The rather lovely Holly Blue danced around the top of the steps, zipping from one Holly Bush to another and back repeatedly. At the top heathland stretched away in front of me and a/nother Peacock flew by and disappeared down amid the Gorse. I settled myself on the cliff top and marvelled at the aeronautical acrobatics of the Sand Martins. It was quite surreal to watch them disappear from the horizon as they dove down the Cliffside. There would be a lull in their activities every now and again before a chorus of ‘chirppings’ indicated a mass emergence from the cliff nests. It was a sight to behold. As I turned to head back a Specklie flew towards me looking out of place amongst the treeless heathland. As it carried on over the cliff edge and out to sea it was an even more incongruous sight. After lunch and more beachside relaxing I went for another brief wander this time checking out the little triangle of Gorse behind the first of the Beach Huts. Guess which butterfly I saw first? Yep a Peacock. But like all the rest it was only a fleeting shot. After this I carried on mooching for a little bit when a Green-veined White hove into view. It landed several times but always took off even before I’d taken my first step towards it. Finally it landed on a Dandelion in a little nook of Bramble so I crept round the corner, pointed my camera, focused…just as a Small White turned up and started scrapping with it. It seems the larger small White won as it came back, circled and landed on its ‘throne’ amid the Gorse… After this I watched as an Orange-tip appeared along the path. It settled before me and I managed one shot before it realised what it was doing and shot off probably muttering to itself “stupid OT, landing in front of someone with a camera like that, remember they like to run around all over the place after us!” On the way back to ‘camp’, yep a/nother Peacock and then I set to more tea making and more beachside relaxing. I even did a bit of perilous ‘rock hopping’ on the Groyne which took me back to being 18 again though this time it wasn’t just for the fun of it but as I was stalking a Rock Pipit. It was behaving a lot like a Californian Surfbird landing on the top of a boulder and then hopping and fluttering down in between the crevices to get to the wet part before bolting back up as the waves crashed back in. A very pleasant day all in all.

Have a goodun

Wurzel