www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Cheers Dave I'm chuffed I got 'the nod' from the Holly Blue Maestro Martin Down does offer a cracking range of butterflies
Cheers Nick I think that about Scotch Argus, NBA, Large Heath, Chequered Skipper, Mountain Ringlet

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, I'm missing all the main Butterflies this year so it's great to see your shots, the Chequered Skipper was on the news this morning seems they're doing well for their first year in England Goldie

Cheers Goldie Fingers crossed they do well - Nottingham is a bit closer than Scotland

Martin Down 11-05-2019

I’d done all the jobs and the girls were taking themselves off swimming so I had a few hours free…
“So Oracle what do you reckon to Common Blue, Small Blue and Adonis Blue?”
“Definitely”

So with this prediction ringing in my ears (or was that Maiden - Killers full blast?) I set off Martin Down bound. Having found the Marshies or rather a single Marshie on the wing a week previously I thought that it would be a good idea to start at the main car park and work along the Dyke. However I was ruing the decision to come after lunch as all the butterflies that I saw over the first 20 minutes or so were extremely hyper in the sun and climbing temperatures. I’d worked my way round the massive island of scrub that almost entirely encircles the car park and I’d seen Greenstreak, a couple of Small Coppers, Dingies and Grizzlies as well as the odd Brimstone and a single Small Tort but only one of the Small Coppers had sat still long enough for a few shots, and even then it was constantly moving and pirouetting around on a flower head. In the little alcove on the other side of the main track there was also a Peacock and a Holly Blue as well as the Skippers buzzing around frenetically but still nothing would stop. I was extremely frustrating and so cursing under my breath I set off resolutely back the way I’d come and then dove down and back up the hollow to the start of the Dyke. On the way a butterfly or two started to play ball – perhaps the shelter from the breeze was calming them? It was the first of my targets – a male Common Blue. On the other side of the hollow a gluttonous Small Copper was so busy feeding that I was able to add a few shots of it as well. Now I calmed myself and climbed down into the Dyke feeling the temperature rise as the wind dropped with each step down. This first little section is blocked off at either end as a path crosses from one side of the Dyke to the other at the same height as the banks and so I dropped my bag in the centre and strolled up and down to see what was holding territory here. A Grizzlie popped up, then a Dingy became apparent when it went for the Grizzlie. This set off a Small Copper and a passing Common Blue got involved in the fray, dragged into it by the belligerent Small Copper which seemed to be holding a territory on a small patch of ground right in the centre of this little part. Then something bigger took off from amid the grasses and half flew and half glided to the end the depression. It was a Marshie and I soon encountered a second as I tried to follow and lost the first. At the other end I watched the second Marshie get hassled by a second Small Copper. It was turning into a marvellous afternoon and I spent some time here adding a Small Heath to the list and also watching a Red Admiral laying on the bankside. Eventually I climbed out of this microcosm; this Dyke in miniature and set off towards the Butts where the Dyke gets going properly again. On the way I saw a Peacock, more Marshies, another Common Blue, plenty of skippers but the thing that stood out here was another failed Brimstone courtship. This time the female was low in the longer grass so most of my shots have an errant stem featuring in them but I was still please with the results none the less because she was positioned vertically and an approach from the side meant that the length of her thorax and abdomen were exposed and in frame so I was able to get a totally different view from one that I’d had before. It made the butterfly look like a teddy bear with wings. At the Butts I got back down into the Dyke again and set off once again noting rally good numbers of both Dingy and Grizzlie Skippers. The Small Coppers seem to be having a great year and I saw a further couple in this part of the Dyke. I also found a Brown Argus that posed nicely on a solitary flower head giving it the look of floating in mid-air. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great to see the early Marsh Fritillaries from Martin Down, Wurzel a site I've yet to visit

Mike

Cheers Mike If you can get there you really need to as it always has something to offer

Martin Down 11-05-2019 Part 2

I spent a bit of time at the half way point when I got there as roosting, wings tightly shut was an Adonis Blue. At the other end there were the usual couple of Greenstreaks and Grizzlies and the odd Dingy flew by occasionally disturbing the Adonis although it would always land and quickly close its wings. Despite searching I couldn’t find any Small Blues here which was surprising as thy really like the little tussocky area on the corner where the Dyke crosses the path which leads up the hill and into Dorset. I had a little wander up this way today and encountered a Specklie and then a Small White which flew towards me and dislodged a hither too unseen male Orange-tip. As these two started zipping forward and backward I looked own to my right and there was a Green-veined White and it took off and joined the Fight Club. Chuckling at this misplaced display of machismo I worked back down the path into Hampshire and carried on checking out the Half-way point. Finally the Adonis opened up, not fully but enough to get a view of the stunning electric blue. Time was pressing and so I rejoined the Dyke but not before spending a few moments with a pair of Adonis in cop. Once in the Dyke I started to lose rack of the butterflies and so counting became almost impossible. There was definitely a Peacock down there with me but whether there were more I can’t be sure – it could well have been just one or two that kept flying ahead of me, landing and then going up when I next approached; a pattern that played out until I’d reached the ‘turn round ‘ point at the Hotspot! I also found plenty of Skipper of both early spring varieties far too numerous to count they were by far the most numerous species on the day. Marshies put in regular appearances, their size and colour making them stand out from the much smaller butterflies that I was getting accustomed to seeing. I saw the occasional Small Copper and a couple more Brown Argus as well but it was when I was about half way along this final stretch that I finally got my third Year Tick of the day - a Small Blue flew up before me, turned around and flew at me before landing just long enough for me to point my camera and click once before it was gone. Unfortunately it had landed on the flimsiest of platforms and the ever so slight breeze (more a breath of wind) meant that my one shot was nowhere near focused enough for my liking. Once at the Hotspot I checked the time and staying away from the distractions of the Dyke I took to my heels and walked extremely quickly back via the main path as I was seriously in danger of being late…It was a close call but I managed to get back with minutes to spare – phew! All hail the wonder prophetic skills of the Oracle!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great shots Wurzel, I love the Adonis shot, ages since I saw Marshie's , won't be long off your Hol's now, school should be breaking up soon. Hope fully I'll be off again soon to Kent Goldie

Wurzel,

Nice photos of the Brimstone courtship. It's always nice to see some different behaviour. Nice Marshies too, but the prize goes to the Brown Argus on the flower head, perfect shot.

Regards
Kev

It's your Green Hairstreak that stands out for me.
Very fresh and a lovely turquoise almost malachite shade of green.

Trevor.

Cheers Goldie Unfortunately most of the butterfly action has passed by the time the holidays start - but I'm off to Portugal so fingers crossed I find a few Portugese species
Cheers Kev I was pleased with capturing that - mind you it was a bit like buses - I'd never witnessed it before and then saw three couples in succession
Cheers Trevor They do show a fair amount of variation in their colour as well as their spots don't they Trevor?

July 2019

The silly season has started Happy July!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Bentley Wood 12-05-2019

As I drove down the track I turned Maiden down and peered through the window and the bushes and I was able to make out a small group of people already in the Eastern Clearing. So it seems that I wasn’t making an early a start as some, still they seemed to be peering intently at the ground so the Pearls were still flying. Once I’d parked, loaded up and made my way into the Clearing I found a svelte looking Dave in among the group and amid the chatting we set about looking or Pearls and seeing some that were so surprisingly fresh that they could have been mistaken at times for Small Pearls (which they weren’t). They were surprisingly hard work, rarely settling and also they seemed to have realised that the fencing across sections of the Clearing is obviously to contain butterfliers and so whenever possible they’d fly along the fence and then nip through it. This would mean anyone following had a choice to make; either walk all the way to the gap in the fence and then walk all the way back to where the butterfly was (by which time the butterfly would have dove back through to the original side) OR give it up and try their luck with the a different individual. As we continue with the mix of chat and photography another butterflier arrives who turned out to be Chris who I know from Instagram. We set too looking for Pearls – a Grizzlie turns up in the very centre of the clearing and then we work back towards the triangle near the notice boards. This is a good little spot as there seems to be plenty of Violet around here as well as some Bugle, the little trackways which run all over this area mean that trampling of habitat isn’t a concern and the Pearls are really starting to motor about now but the aforementioned distractions slow them down enough for some photos. This is good news and we get to see some females looking more straw coloured than the ginger males although the distractions aren’t enough to allow shots of a passing male Orange-tip. It’s soon gets warm enough for the Brimstones to fly and the odd Specklie appears to add a different tone to the butterflies. All too soon the morning has almost gone and Dave decided to head off for Martin Down. As we stroll back towards the car park (him to head off, me to top up on caffeine) we cut through the ‘new field’ at the top of the Clearing. The relatively recent clearing has left it covered in the tussocky grass and it looks like a good spot for Marshies which I know are about somewhere here. Half way across the field I spot a Marshie. I manage a couple of record shots before it’s gone not to be seen again despite quartering the entire field a couple of times. It just vanished! Still Dave has the prospect of filling his boots with Marshies at Martin Down and in a week or so the Hill will be up and running so with these consoling thoughts we carried on back to the car park. After I’d had my caffeine fix I strolled back down through the small field without re-finding the Marshie and find a couple of people starring at the bank of the ditch near the triangular spot instead. I cautiously approached and there was an Argent and Sable basking on the side of the bank as the sun had gone in. I waited until it was apparent that everyone had gotten their shots and then asked if it was oaky to try with my 105mm as I’d need to get in closer and I didn’t want to spook it. One gent (JP) told me to go on ahead and after several reassurances I stepped in and got my shots. The moth didn’t move and so I carried on down into the main middle section of the Clearing. A Marshie on a stick had been found by some others and they’d had their fill so I returned the earlier compliment and let JP in on it first. I got a few shots of it tightly closed up and I wondered if it was the same one that I’d seen momentarily earlier? The sun came out and it started opening up revealing that in fact it was a different individual. As it took off another two crawled out of the woodwork into the sun and there were three jostling around in this little area relishing the purple moor grass and rushes. I realise I need to head for home and as I leave a Holly Blue flies by and I find my first Bentley Wood Small Copper. I strolled back to the car park round the back paths taking the long way back but things are really warmed up by now and almost too flighty for photography. Still it was good to see so many Pearls – if the Small Pearls can hang on here as well then this bodes well. Fingers crossed…

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great Pearls and Marshies, Wurzel.
The Markings on the Marsh Fritillary are so varied that its a job to sort out normal from ab.
Off to Wilts. today after Chiddingfold. Imogen's birthday, she's taking my wallet for an airing.

Trevor.

Great bunch of photos as usual, Wurzel. Loving the Marshies and the Argent and Sable is one I have not yet managed to get.

Re Marsh Frits. I have just heard that their re-introduction to a site in East Hants near Farnborough has been successful. I may well pay it a visit next year. Its a bit closer to me than Bentley Wood (and Martin Down for that matter).

Lovely photos Wurzel, hope your lucky in Portugal, I'll look forward to seeing your shots Goldie

Cheers Trevor I think they mis-named the Marshie - it should have been the Variable Fritillary Stash some of your cash under the mattress and not in the wallet
Cheers I wish someone would -reintroduce Small Pearls near to me so I had a back up site Or failing that maybe some Black Hairstreaks
Cheers Only 23 days to go now Goldie Really looking forward to it but there's one or two things still to catch up on in the UK before I go

Have a goodun

Wurzel

The Devenish 18-05-2019

I’d taken a sneak peek at the weather for the weekend (I know that I shouldn’t have but I gave in) as I was planning to make the annual pilgrimage to the Hill. Due to this I chose to head there tomorrow as today was supposed to be dull, cloudy and wet. Imagine my surprise when the temperature rose, the wind dropped and the sun broke through the clouds. This set off the ‘itch’ that is a common affliction to most butterfliers and one which I surrender to from the months of April to August. I comes from having the mindset that: “right time of year + reasonable weather = butterflies, therefore get out there and find them”. Despite my best efforts at distracting myself with chores and errands by the early afternoon I couldn’t take it anymore and so instead of pacing the house like a caged animal I grabbed camera and kids and made for the Devenish.

We were the only people at the reserve and so were treated to a melodious cacophony of birdsong as we strolled up the little track from the car park. Little L was chuffed with her gate climbing prowess so at least she was enjoying the visit. Myself less so as we were through the Paddock, across the Orchid Meadow (very grazed) and half way up the steep side of the Down before we saw anything butterfly-wise; a fast moving Dingy shot across the path. It was briefly joined by a second flying in the opposite direction when we were slightly higher up the hill. The girls set up camp and I mooched along the little trails that criss-crossed the Down managing to pick up a second Grizzlie. It was hard going and three butterflies across the expanse of the reserve was very meagre pickings as normally I can notch up 3 or 4 just in the car park. So slightly dejectedly I carried on across the Down, up the little gully and around and back along the top of the Down. As I neared the girls something went up a few footsteps away. It was a lovely Small Copper. After a brief check-in with the girls – enraptured with a game of Irish Snap – I walked back across the Down finding a Brown Argus that looked fresh out of the box and either finding a new or relocating the original Dingy and Grizzlie. The sun was starting to feel much warmer now so we carefully picked out way back down the steep hill finishing in a run at the bottom as we’d gained momentum. The girls sat down by the stile-come-gate and I walked to the far end of the Orchid Meadow. The grasses had been well and truly chomped so much so that in haircut terms it was a grade 1 but hopefully this shouldn’t affect the Large Skippers? A Small White led me back to the girls and then they joined me to check out this part of the field. We managed to find another Brown Argus and three different Grizzlies which I named Past, Present and Future based upon the state of their livery. The girls wanted to get back so I only had a brief dalliance in the Paddocks but added Brimstone and a fresh Specklie to the tally as well as another fantastic looking Small Copper.
A lovely afternoon out despite the dire forecast. I drove us home itch well and truly scratched…well for today at least… Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lovely shots again Wurzel You just described the way I feel with this boot on, Caged Can't walk too far , raring to go, can't drive, patience I'm afraid not one of my virtues Any way this Summer won't be a right off if I can get to Kent again. Enjoy your holiday! Goldie

Cheers Goldie I was like it again this weekend as I believed a Beeb weather report and rearranged my plans only for them to totally change their reports round So instead of enjoying Bentley Wood I was stuck in Ikea

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great report Wurzel. That hill could do with a chair-lift mind. (bloody steep!)

There seems to be a lot of grade 1 haircut fields around these days. I cannot remember the last time I saw Stockbridge down as a meadow in full bloom with insects galore. Meanwhile in my area Dawneys heath is overgrown with Gorse. It could do with a grade 1, ideally by cutting it out and not just scraping over the topsoil which was done a couple of years ago and has contributed to the problem I think .

Love the face on Dingy shot with his droopy antennae

Cheers Philzoid It is a good gradient - L has asked about rolling down it before I asked her if she liked having limbs... I too like the Dingy face shot - it looks like he's a right miserable old codge, which is increasingly how I feel nowadays too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel, Loving those Pearls at Bentley Wood, they look amazing as do the Marshies. I like how your diary runs a few weeks behind. Whilst everyone is posting Emperors, Purple Hairstreaks and Admirals, it's nice to be taken back to spring.

Regards
Kev