Wurzel

[trevor]

Good to see those Small Torts in your earlier post.
I was guilty of taking them for granted, but now it is quite a thrill to see one around here.

Sorry to read about the family pet, hopefully all will be well.

Hope those Brownie points are stacking up, you'll be needing them in 2020 for Black Hairstreak,
Swallowtail and Surrey for His Majesty.

Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Lovely Painted lady that second shot Wurzel, it's been a great year for them, I certainly got my fill

I hope your Cat is doing okay, they do have nine lives I believe I've had loads of cats when I was young, my Dad wouldn't let me have a dog because it would have been stuck in the house all day, (made sense at the time) so I'd loads of cats But has soon as I got married, I got a dog Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor The Small Torts are still 'regulars' in Wiltshire Tahnk you for asking after Teddy - one leg is fine and we're just waiting to see now whether he'll remain a quadraped or become a tripod Fingers crossed
Cheers Goldie It was a good year for Painted Ladies - I don't know if it was the best year I've experienced but it's definitely been one of the better ones. Teddy s half way there as one of his legs is fine...the other one well I don't know Still at least we've still got him whether he's got three or four legs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Glad to hear Toby is recovering Wurzel, pets are still loved no matter what! Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Goldie I've still got my fingers crossed for Teddy

19th The Lane

The weather report suggested that there would be full sun later in the afternoon and so during the morning I just mooched about and the girls went swimming. After lunch the sun was out more than it was in and so I headed out and up the Lane with the intention of counting the Hedgies. I checked out the Buddleia on the end house first and it again seemed to be a little oasis for butterflies. I spotted a Panted Lady first, then a Small Tort followed by two Red Admirals all in a line at roughly the same height up in the shrub. However try as I might I couldn’t get a landscape shot that featured all four butterflies in it. As I was trying for one something small and blue caught my eye as it hove into view. At first I thought it was a Holly Blue but when it eventually landed in an accessible place (i.e. not round the corner and actually in the garden) I could see that it was actually a Common Blue. As a car went by all the butterflies were spooked and took off en masse. Luckily the Painted Lady landed down low, flattening itself on the boundary pillar and trying its best to look like a funny coloured piece of Lichen. The Small Tort however realising that wherever it landed it would stick out like a sore thumb plumped for just sitting on the wall.

I set off taking the usual route up the Lane stopping every now and again to the Hedgies. On the corner of the bend a Painted Lady stayed still for a few shots and then I was back on the Hedgie hunt. I was going well with well into the late 20’s by the time I’d reached the cottages on the corner. On the way the sun nipped behind a cloud a couple of times and the hedge dimmed shifting down several shades of green. There was also a strong breeze gusting now and again; inevitably just as I’d find a Hedgie in prime position for a photo, and it’d for this reason that my gut was telling me that whilst the count was good it was probably less than on the previous visit.

At the corner of the turning down to Middle Farm three Painted Ladies fed on some sort of Knapweed looking plant and slightly firther down where the hedge was highest a Specklie looked resplendent. I was still counting the Hedgies almost getting to 40 when I turned around and walked back up the track checking the other side of the road. A Green-veined White broke any Hedgie monotony and on the corner as I started back the three Painted Ladies were still hanging about. At this juncture I stopped the count having reached a respectable 47 in a 10 minute walk.

On the way back I took one of the farming tracks off to the left and there were a few more Hedgies which I didn’t count (as I don’t usually come down this bit) as well as a lovely dark Specklie and a hide away Painted Lady. Other than that there was a Red Admiral further along the road on the return journey and I was also able to pick up an Organic Cucumber from one of the cottages; it’s always a good idea to turn up with something edible after butterflying as it helps boost the Brownie Points. At the Buddliea the Painted Lady and Small Tort were still messing about but the Red Admirals had moved on. A Peacock was basking on one of the neighbours lawns as I walked down Pen-Y-Bryn and then I was back ‘home’. Well almost a quick check of the Verbena showed that it held a Painted Lady and a Peacock.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

20th August - To the post box…

During the morning we took the ‘circular’ walk from the school in Aberaeron, down through the town to the sea front and back. A Sparrowhawk passed overhead as we walked to Costcutter, a few Painted Ladies played in the flowers in some front gardens and the Dipper put in a very brief appearance.

Apart from this sojourn I didn’t see myself getting out again so when my wife remembered that the girls needed to post some postcards I offered my services willingly. First stop was the Verbena in the garden which today held 2 Small Torts bustling around in the middle of the bush and a third sharing a floret with a Peacock.

As I approached the Buddleia two Peacocks were in the air. One flew up from the grass on my left and headed away from me landing somewhere on the wall whilst the other flew from the Buddleia towards me and landed on the grass. The latter was easiest to see so I tried for a few shots whilst the former had somehow blended in perfectly with the light grey top of the wall – still don’t know how that was possible? As I walked towards the wall staring intently at it trying to work out where the butterfly actually was it flew. This meant that the Buddleia itself was pretty bereft apart from a singleton Small Tort.

Once I’d walked to the end of the road and duly mailed the post I turned right and started the walk along Rhu Goch. Alas the verge has been decimated, ripped up and replaced with nice tidy, neat, shiny, black Tarmac! There is still a slither of verge remaining but it’s been given a grade one haircut. To make matters worse the hedge has been trimmed and pinned back with wire fencing and so I wasn’t surprised when I only saw three Hedgies. Even the wider lawn like bit of verge hadn’t escaped the attentions of the path makers but it seems like the wildflowers have made the most of the limited space they’ve got and it was a lovely tangled mess of clover, trefoil and other floral goodies. As I made to have a proper look at it two blues took off; the male started to fly towards me and then pulled a loop the loop behind me whilst the female stayed low to the ground weakly fluttering in a rough zig-zag pattern. I chose to follow the female and I’m really glad I did as she perched tip tarsi on a Dandelion Clock – a lovely addition to another one of my collections.

There was more than a bit of moisture in the air now and so I made my way back to the Buddleia where 2 Peacocks fed whilst I had a chat with the owner of the cottage. On the stroll back there were a further 2 Small Torts – one on the grass where the Peacocks like to sit and the other getting warm from the slates shards on the drive way.

So that was Wales all very autumnal to be honest but made memorable for the plethora of Painted Ladies…

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Shipton Bellinger 22-08-2019

It was that time of year again – time for a meeting with Philzoid for a spot of Hedge Staring! After the briefest of catch-ups in the Central Car Park we were on our way and soon pulling up behind the Hedge. Gathering our gear together we were joined by Bugboy and, as seemed to be the way this year, as we rounded the corner there was a massive group. So we set off to check the length of the hedge sae in the knowledge that if anything turned up we’d be sure to know about it – this did mean though that I developed a crick in my neck by continually looking back over my shoulders. On the walk down the obligatory Painted Lady put in an appearance between the various Common Blues, numerous Brismtones, Hedgies, Whites and even more numerous Meadow Browns. The aforementioned Lady was also joined by an Admiral which added further interest. At the corner we waited a while before making the return walk and picking up more of the same.

The large group had vanished so reasoning that this meant that they’d drawn a blank we made our way up the hill to the scallops with fingers crossed that we weren’t treading in the massive groups footsteps. Only a short way into our journey the call of ‘Hairstreak’ went up from a lone observer and we caught a glimpse of a distant female Brostreak. After a bit of Hedge staring and a few more steps on our way another fluttering orange Brostreak appeared – a male this time and it plopped down just in front of me and started opening up. It seemed to realise what it was doing, checked itself and then promptly buggered off!

On the way to the first scallop Speckled Woods flew across the path and a pair of Walls played silly buggers with Phizloid, teasing him mercilessly! At the first scallop we drew a blank and we were soon back out in the open with a Wall or two and a surprising good nick Silver-washed dropping in. Then we were back into the cover again and on towards the second scallop when a female is visible up high. Too high unfortunately for my lens so when she takes flight I hope she comes down lower. She didn’t and when I duck round to the other side of the tree there she is again but still high up. As we enter the final scallop the sun disappeared and all that we could produce was a solitary Silver-washed for our troubles.

Slightly disheartened we start making our way back and on the way there’s another male up high but almost low enough that I can chance my arm, literally, and go for a few shots holding my camera out at full stretch. This still seems a poor return for all the trudging although the Walls teasing Philzoid again slightly cheered me up . They’d sit still good as gold right up until Philzoid was within range and then they’d fly a few metres away, flashing their wings invitingly as they landed.

By now we were back at the Hedge and a walk along the length to the corner didn’t produce anything. They seemed to be ignoring the ‘golden hours’ rules this year again. Plus this fact wasn’t helped by the sun disappearing behind the cloud. On the final dejected ‘stuff em’ walk back to the car things started to happen. In fact it all went a little manic…
Slowly enough it started with a female refusing to come down to a decent level for any shots. We waited for what felt like an age but she stubbornly stayed up high. Occasionally she was disturbed and for a few fleeting seconds there were three hearts in mouths but she always remained at altitude.

Wondering if that would be that we finally found one in a great position when we were half way back and then they seemed to suddenly crawl out of the woodwork. There were at least 2 females as well as a male in this little section and all three were within reach of our lenses. While we were watching one intently the second flew off in a massive hug disappearing out across the large central field. While we continued to watch the original female another did the same thing but I reckoned it must have pulled a ‘U-y’ as a female shortly appeared directly behind Bugboy – it was almost sitting on his shoulder. After this we settled in and started to rack up shots onto the memory card. I think Bugboy went from 80 or so to several hundred in the course of the next half hour that we spent with them as they proceeded to work through the ‘butterfly pose’ catalogue; closed wing, open wing, ¾ open, stained glass, close up, behaviour etc.

Eventually Bugboy made for Dorset and Philzoid and I took a wander down the old ‘dual carriageway’ hedge. Whilst there were still butterflies about with Brown Argus, Common Blues and Specklies it seemed that the Brostreaks had re-read the rule book and as it was now just past 3 pm we didn’t get any further sightings of them. Nevermind it had been successful in the end and now Philzoid and I concentrated on chewing the fat.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[bugboy]

Lots of very familiar looking butterflies there I'm secretly (well not anymore) glad no more were found after I left. A very frustrating yet very satisfying day at the same time!

[Wurzel]

Cheers Bugboy They certainly made us work us work for the shots but compared to most other sites at Shipton they were almost posing in the spotlights

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Nice selection of Brown Hairstreak shots Wurzel A species I really must try and catch up with.

Like the shot of the Apache too. Had a couple of these fly over our house a few days ago, apparently heading into Birmingham Airport. I wondered if they were there to escort Father Christmas over Birmingham

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Neil If you're down this way from mid August I could point you in the right direction - Shipton Bellinger can be a reliable site for them I reckon you're right about the Apache running escort for Santa! It's all those people on the Naughty List wanting to get some undeserved pressies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

COMING SOON...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Happy New Year!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Broughton Down 23-08-2019

With the children off to York with their Grandparents and the chores done I was left at home kicking my heels slightly. The weather was turning out to be better than expected, prefect in fact for Silver Spotted Skippers and the weather for the following day was looking like it was going to get too hot – the butterflies would be solar charged so after an early lunch I was off on the road to Broughton curing at the dithering dawdler going 35 in a National Speed limit area, scanning the sky for clouds as I still don’t have any faith in the forecasts and wondering if I would get lucky with the Skippers or had I left it too late at this early site?

I pulled up and then started up the never ending hill in the cool shade of the Beeches. It was unusually quiet and the Specklies that often play in the dappled sun from the small breaks in the tree cover were noticeable by their absence. After the torturous climb there were a few cars parked at the top (how the hell do they get there?) bit apart from this it seemed like I was the only person in the world it was so quiet. It didn’t get much better once I was out of the trees and starting to patrol the small trackways that criss-cross the top of the down with only a couple of Meadow Browns and a single Brimstone flying. I was starting to wonder what was going on when I saw a blur out of the corner of my eye. As it was so difficult to follow as it flew fast and erratically I knew that it was what I come for. I managed a couple of shots before it was gone again. Brilliant job done but would I be lucky enough to find anymore?

Then things changed as of someone had flipped a switch. I’ve experienced this before. When you’re anticipating seeing a particular species it can be really hard work to start with and then after a time period of seconds guesses and glimpses you finally find what you were looking for and then suddenly you can see everything else. It’s like the specific focusing mechanism has been lifted, the visual filtering system turned off and you open your eyes wider. So it was now with Meadow Browns, Blues and Brown Argus zipping around all over the place. I carried on along the top track heading towards the fence line and the Plum Pudding and a Painted Lady paused for a photo after I’d passed through the gate.

I carried on following the track and just before the cleave in the Down I spied a ghostly blue butterfly making its way towards me – a male Chalkhill and one not in bad nick for this time in the season. After catching up with this another smaller butterfly appeared another Silver Spot but an aged on. So I’d found more than one but my hopes of a lovely limey golden Silver Spot seemed to be fading and I started ruing leaving it so late to try for them.

Best leave it there util the website isn't being so tempremental...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

HI Wurzel,
It's not just me then having problems with this website.
I've noticed a few changes too. The images from earlier postings are no longer available.
and ' pictures ' on the headline has gone, so presumably the personal albums have gone.

Hope all the problems are temporary, as this is a great site to belong to.

Have great new season, and work on those brownie points !.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor The website seems to be back in business and I'm finding it really quick now I'm all about the Brownie points in 2020

Broughton Down cont'd...

With this in mind I thought it best to check out the triangular field before trying the slopes at the East of the reserve. As I went down and then back up the steep banks I saw the blinding blue of a male Adonis as well as a couple of lilac Common Blues. The smaller butterflies were invariably Brown Argus in varying shades of disrepair. And so it continued on the other side of the crevasse. More Chalkhills and Adonis, Brown Argus and fewer Common Blues, Meadow Browns and the odd Small Heath. There was also the now obligatory Painted Lady but no Small Blues and I only saw 3 female Adonis and one female Chalkhill. Perhaps the additional burden of producing larger sex cells, fending off the unwanted advances of males and laying takes its toll and they expire more quickly than the males?

On the way back I checked the patch of Hemp Agrimony on one side of the Plum Pudding but unlike last year it didn’t have anything much just a lonesome Meadow Brown but as I was about to walk through the gate a familiar brown blur announced the presence of another Silver Spot and this one was also a bit worse for wear. Dismayed I turned away and there was a much fresher specimen. Phew!

After this it seemed like yet another switch had been flipped or the Silver Spots had been released from their cages as they were now flying all over the place. As I walked back along the top path I saw a couple on my left hand side trying to oviposit and a further pair involved in courtship, though it wasn’t going well for the male. In all case they would fly from their original position across the path and then on to my right into the shade offered by the overhanging Beech and brush. I carried on now walking along the tiny trackways created by rabbits adding a few more Silver Spots to the total. There were other butterflies around, lots of Brown Argus for instance but I found myself mainly concentrating now on the Silver Spots. I continued along the little trackways until I came out onto the side of the Down where the turf is short and springy and various wild flowers are dispersed. And it felt like it was alive with Silver Spots so much so that I easily lost half an hour just strolling around stalking Silver Spots.

Somehow I ended up at the bottom of the hill and so checked out the little clumps of Hemp Agrimony. Among the Blues and Brown Argus there was a Silver Spot supping away from the Down almost. There was also a Small Heath which caught my eye as it was flashing its wings open. I did so several times, then it would settle down to feed before moving to the next flower head when it would wing flick again. I tried for a few shots but even with Sports Mode I couldn’t quite capture the slightly open wings. I lost sight of the butterfly and thought that I spotted it so moved slightly and it started wing flicking again, only it was a second Small Heath as I rediscovered the original Small Heath. Still not sure why they do this?

I worked back up for a final flurry with the Silver Spots and during my remaining time on site saw males, females, unsuccessful courtships, hi-jacked courtships and Silver Spots in all manner of wear. As is often the way the best was saved until last with the freshest Silver Spot of the day sitting nicely on a dwarf Hawthorn and showing off the extraordinarily long legs. At least I thought it was the last but on the final walk to the top of the down when I was only a few steps away from leaving the turf and entering into the thick scrub there were two Silver Spots in courtship.

Spot the Silver-spot

After this I made the long walk across the top of the Down and then down the seemingly never ending hill enjoying the shade and also a final Specklie near the bottom of the hill. So my worries were unfounded not only was I able to add Silver Spots to the yearly tally but there were great numbers. Next up a Clouded Yellow? I wonder…

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Lavender Farm 24-08-2019

Our continued existence as ‘just a couple’ continued with the girls now on the second day of their third holiday of the summer so my wife and I settled into an almost forgotten groove, the one we ran Before Kids. Hence after a morning of doing this and that and wandering here and there round town we drove out somewhere for a spot of lunch; in this case The Lavender Farm at Landford.

After the delicious lunch we took to wandering the private garden and followed the lanes between the rows of Lavender enjoying the calming effect of the heady scent. At one point I stopped midway along a row and tuned out the noises coming from the café by lowering my head close to the ground. Instead of a clamour of barely recognisable human sounds all I could hear was the roar of the bees – it was fantastic! Lifting myself up again I set to searching for butterflies. There were a few whites flying not taking any notice of the neat rows and instead jumping haphazardly where the mood took them; diagonally or three rows over, to the other side of the same bush or back to the one they’d visited previously. It was slightly tricky for me to get anything as I was constrained to a few gaps in the rows and generally by the time I’d got anywhere near the butterfly it had randomly moved on. There were also a few Painted Ladies skulking about, their cryptic under wing patterns hiding them in plain site until they decided to move when the garish topside announced their presence. By the time I’d walked up and down half of the field I only had a handful of shots but I didn’t mind especially as I turned and watched a mustard yellow butterfly moving at speed down the furthest row – my first Cloudy of 2019. I got to the end of the row turned left, flew the width of the field, turned around and half way back veered up and left over the boundary shrubs and disappeared from view. No shot but a cracking sighting none the less!

I was dead chuffed with my sightings and so now followed the example set by the Whites and moved haphazardly round various little bits of the garden. A Painted Lady there and another one here. A Peacock just to the right of a Painted Lady then a couple of male Brimstones. On the more formal floral arrangements a Red Admiral and then as we made to leave the main section and check the ‘themed’ garden a Comma which escaped my lens. All about were Whites – mainly Small, a few Large and Brimstones and I only saw 2 definite Green-veined but everywhere I went there were Painted Ladies – they’ll probably be thin on the ground next year and so I made the most of them.

Eventually our wanderings had brought us back to the gate and so we headed for home. In the end the species count didn’t get into double figures but for me that didn’t matter as I had that all important singleton – hopefully a taste of things to come!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Cracking shots Wurzel, I enjoyed the Painted Ladies too last year, I think Lavender certainly attracts the Butterflies I've two bushes in my Garden
Roll on Spring Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Goldie Lavender is great stuff - I always check out the bushes and strips when I visit any National Trust gardens. This one was great though as the were rows and rows of the stuff as well more formal flower gardens . There is also the bonus of a cream tea - one of very vegan treats I allow myself

Have a goodun

Wurzel