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Martin Down 26-08-2019

The girls were still in Yorkshire so chores and jobs around the house get done really quickly – less than half the washing up, beds to make etc. So my wife and I again were able to head out for a picnic and today we set off for Martin Down. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of butterflies as the recent reports seem to suggest that we’re entering into ‘The August’ gap and with temperatures set to high the very high twenties I reasoned that any butterflies left would be aestivating or bombing around at such a speed that following them would be nigh on impossible.

As we broke out from the confines of the tall hedges that line the path from the main car park an Adonis Blue fluttered into view as if to greet us. From there we carried onto the Butts with the sun bouncing off the shiny surfaces of the flints and cooking us from beneath as well as from above. The butterflies didn’t seem to mind much as there were plenty of Whites and Meadow Browns in view as well as the occasional swift gliding Painted Lady. However instead of sitting out the heat or flying too quickly they seemed to be flying at their usual speed just incessantly. Photography was proving very difficult so in the end I gave up and pressed onto the Half-way point along the Dyke noting plenty of Brimstone on the way and adding Small Heaths and a couple of Chalkhills to the tally. Slightly beyond Half-way we stopped for the picnic just off the path. As we ate all the species we had seen so far stopped by on a small patch of purple flowers in front of me – Painted Lady, Chalkhill, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Adonis as well as various whites and Meadow Browns passing overhead. After our repast we set out for the old Hotspot and a Peacock put in an appearance. Once there we set up camp again and while my wife read in the shade I had a general mooch about working my way round the Hotspot. The butterflies were still really hard to photograph as either they wouldn’t stop flying or if they did something else would come by during an incessant flight and put them up. I found myself hovering by a likely looking flower and snapping away as soon as a butterfly landed on it. In this way I saw a few more Adonis and Chalkhill including an attempted and failed courtship. I carried on down the slope on the smaller track that runs along the top of one of the Dykes banks and at the bottom were it rejoins the main track I sat and waited by a small clump of flowers (can’t remember what they’re called). A Brown Argus stopped to nectar, then an aged Small Copper and a slightly less aged Common Blue. Nearby was an Adonis and a couple of Chalkhills, one of which wasn’t in too bad a state, were slightly further on. Pleased with this five minute flurry of photography I worked back up along the main track intending to rejoin my wife. I turned once past the hedge and followed it along into a little scallop where a gorgeous female Adonis landed for just long enough for a Brown Argus to set her off. Gutted to have missed such a beauty I was just making my way back to my wife when a mustard yellow blur skimmed the top of the bank and carried on along the track. I ran back to the track and flying up and then landing was a Cloudy. After a few stalks I’d managed to grab a few pictures but always as I was about to take the final, killer image the Cloudy would take off. Still I was happy to have at least a few images on the memory card no matter how distant as my first of 2019 a few days previously was just an elongated fly-by. After a bit more of a brief mooch around we headed off homewards. As we walked back to the car we saw all the same species again including another couple of run-ins with the/a Cloudy. So a pretty good picnic and now I’ve got some shots of a Cloudy hopefully I’ll run into some more and get some even better shots. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lulworth Cove 28-08-2019

The final day of our ‘Empty Nest Trial Run’ holiday had arrived and the weather wasn’t looking good however determined to make the most of it we headed out for the day anyway. As we drove the straight stretch of road from Salisbury to Blandford the cloud thickened and the patches of blue became fewer and much shorter in duration. By the time we’d finished the more windy parts of the journey and were pulling into the car park at Lulworth the sun had all but gone. Whilst the weather was poor for butterflies it was ideal for the hill climb and subsequent cliff walk over to my favourite place in the whole world – Durdle Door. The last time I’d been here some 18 years ago; it was nearing midnight, there had been a smugglers moon and as we, the band, were on our way back to my folks house to crash after a successful gig in Weymouth I was fuelled by a mixture of lots of Cider and a crate of Red Bull. Needless to say I was glad today to have a chance of replacing my ‘last memory’ with something a lot more pleasant!

As we made our way down from the top of the hill to take the path leading to the little razor edged promontory a few whites started flying in the gloom and I could see the cloud was evaporating to be replaced with blue skies. The temperature started to rise and we made short work of the final part of the path. Down the narrow track and turning right we made for the Door side first. As we did so a Small Copper bombed by slowing down when it reached the safety of the crumbling cliff. A few steps down and there was a Rock Pipit. It was really close, only a metre or so away and as I focused a small kid ran up the steps and off it went. Luckily I had my camera set to Sport Mode and so managed to get a passable image. After experiencing the Door we climbed back up the steps and then climbed back down the other side to Man Of War Cove. On the way a saw a small clump of yellow flowers on which there were 5 Whites – one Large and 4 Small. There was also a Common Blue hiding away near the bottom of the clump. As we carried on down we met a Painted Lady coming up the other way. It stopped occasionally but only for long enough to wonder at the contrast between the light grey of the clay and the orange and black of the butterfly. After we’d eaten our picnic on the beach we made our way back up, stopping on the way as one of the various Cabbage Whites was laying on a Sea Cabbage. The clouds had started to converge and the gloom was restarting almost to provide a sombre background for the much slower and harder walk back. I paused to take in the view at the start of the walk and watched a Kestrel being mobbed by a Crow. After a couple of minutes the Crow called for some help and another Crow joined the fray. Once they’d seen the Kestrel off they then turned their attentions to a passing Raven. This time instead of hassling the Raven off towards the sea they moved up the hill and over the top. As the show was over I made to start walking again and noticed a Small Heath and Brown Argus roosting in the gloom. They were quite sensible as about 100metres further on the rain came in for a quick sharp shower. As we came over the ‘hump’ at the top of the coastal path the weather cheered and the clouds dissipated. Within a few minutes all the rain had evaporated from my T-shirts and trousers and more importantly the butterflies had started to emerge. A Painted Lady flew up the hill from the Cove and as it did I noticed a couple of medium sized dark butterflies fly onto the tiny chalk terraces on the banks of the path. After seeing so many during my recent Portugal Holiday I twigged right away what they were – Grayling. Where possible I got some shots but they seemed to like to land on the terraces on the highest and steepest (nearly vertical) parts of the bank and always those on my left where I’d have to climb up and never on my right where I’d be able to look down onto them. I managed a few shots in the end but it was touch and go at times as I scrabbled on the edge of mini precipices. The final butterfly here was a Meadow Brown seeking to divert my attentions by flying for all intents and purpose as a Grayling. Once we’d safely made it to the lower slopes of the car park we kept on going feeling the downward pull of gravity as if water flowing to the sea. The beach was packed with Grockles despite the now only intermittent sun so we skirted round the beach and made up the old hotspot path. The foliage was looking brown and battered and gone was the lush greenness and sprinkles of colour from my previous visit and gone too were the Lulworths – at least for today they may have been sitting out the weather waiting for more favourable fair weather days? At the top I mooched about for a bit near some clumps of the yellow flowers. A Painted Lady, a fresh looking one, was really playing hard to get as was a female Adonis which was looking spectacular right up until I pointed my lens at her. Then she would either move out of range of close up shop, wings held tightly together. The Whites were more approachable here and I saw a Green-veined amid a few Small and a single Large. It seems to be getting to that stay of the season when even the smallest clump of reasonable vegetation holds several butterflies. After a pleasant day with one or two surprises (the Grayling, the sun shining while we ate lunch…) we headed home. The girls were due back in a few hours and we couldn’t wait.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Martin Down 29-08-2019

After the recent successes and with my holiday fast running out I treated myself to another quick trip to Martin Down. When I set off from thee Sillen’s Lane end it was still intermittently cloudy with a gusty breeze which picked up and stray Whites and carried them off into the distance. Because of this the walk to the Dyke was pretty uneventful but things picked up once at the Dyke. I stood next to a large clump of Marjoram and I was soon joined by a Chalkhill, Adonis, Common Blue, Brown Argus and a Small Copper. They all visited this little patch over the space of 5 minutes or so in a little like an identity parade of Lycaenids. Further up at the back of the Dyke a Painted Lady stood out like a sore thumb amidst the Meadow Browns. I worked my way round towards the ‘terraces’ checking out the Hollow checking out the Hollow at their feet and a Small Tort looked stunning compared to the less than tidy Adonis and Chalkhills which also frequented this little spot; the latter looked even more spectral now that they were a good way into their flight. As I crossed the track a mustard yellow butterfly piped up and flew away leaving me wondering how I could have possibly missed it previously? It was in roughly the same position as I’d seen one/it a few days before and I did my best to follow it for a few shots. Suddenly it hit the turbo, dropped into a lower gear and tore off along the Dyke veering violently up and over the Dyke. Still it was great while it had lasted. Pleased I started to make my way back towards the car. As I rounded the corner from the Hotspot and started my way back along the main track something (my Spidey-sense?) made me look over to my right. There a little moth like being was moving swiftly from flower head to flower head. As I cautiously moved closer it resolved into a Silver-spotted Skipper. I’d seen one near here a few years back so I couldn’t work out if this was a wanderer from a colony nearby or a proper Martin Down Silver-spot? Pushing queries of its providence to one side for future cogitation I watched it for a while enjoying its life affirming vivacity whilst all the other species around seemed to be waning. Realising that I’d not taken any shots I rectified this situation and clicked away. It was then that I realised what great nick it was actually in. Perhaps if there is a colony here, of which this was a representative, they could be late emergers which is why I’ve failed to see them some years? Feeling even more pleased I carried on back to the car the Silver-spot having ‘spoilt’ the majority of butterflies I spy on the way as they just don’t compare. I only stop for an Adonis which stands its ground on the chalky path and a probable Small Blue in the longer turf that lines the hedge near the car park. So that’s it then – back to work all too soon and with it the feeling that the season is on the wane proper.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, you do seem to get the Blue out in the Butterflies they seem to Gleam those at Martain Down Especially Goldie

Some great late summer shots there. I reckon you were seeing a lot more than I was back then, more evidence of an east/west divide

Good to see you had some decent Clouded Yellow encounters last season.
Personally I didn't see a single specimen in 2019, even the ' hot spots ' failed me.

Hope you are holding up in the butterfly desert that is January !.

All the best,
Trevor.

Hi Wurzel, just caught up on your report from Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, one of my favourite spot too Looks like we will be down there again this year, this time for a family holiday in June ...and maybe again for a September visit if I can wangle it

I only saw three Clouded Yellows last year, all in Dorset. One was at Fontmell Down, one at Osmington and one at Durdle Door about a week after your visit.

Cheers,

Neil.

Cheers Goldie I'd love t take credit for it but I reckon it's a combination of the camera (I remember reading somewhere that Nikons are good for yellows?), lovely fresh butterflies and great light
Cheers Bugboy I suppose that's the advantage of the late start we seem to have in the West, it;s followed by a late finish
Cheers Trevor That little spot is often quite good for Cloudies I was glad that I didn't have to do a late, and chilly trip to Southbourne for them
Cheers Neil It wasn't a particularly good year for Cloudies so you did well with three different ones from three different sites Good luck with the wangling and give us a holler when you're down, I might have accrued enough Brownie points to get out butterflying by then

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I don't think I've ever visited Martin Down as late as that, Wurzel - it obviously continues to be productive and looks well worth a trip. Good to find a Cloudie, though - I saw as many in Yorkshire in 2019 as I did down in the sunny south...

I see you're off the mark for 2020 already. Here's hoping it's just the beginning of a stonking season.

Cheers,

Dave

Well done on the Silver Spotted Skipper, Wurzel. I had a good look at Martin Down in August last year, but failed to find any. So it’s good to see they are still present.

Cheers Dave That particular spot is where I've found Cloudies on site on five occasions now, it's almost becoming my 'go to' spot Let's hope 2020is a cracker
Cheers Essex I still can't work out if they're thinly scattered over the site or whether this was a wanderer from somewhere else (although where I couldn't guess)?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Mottisfont 07-09-2019

There are some outings that I make when, shock horror, butterflies take a back seat. Don’t get me wrong I still carry my camera and keep my eyes open but getting shots falls down the priority list. Today was one of those days as there was an exhibition of BEANO artwork on display in the house at Mottisfont. As Little L is an avid BEANO reader (who else is - let’s see…DING?) the main aim was to have a look and hope to catch up with her favourite character Minnie. The visit was purely for Little L and was most definitely not for my benefit…

We arrived at midday and once we’d collected the rather spiffing badge for attendance we headed to the back lawn for lunch. While we munched a Darter lived up to its name above our heads flitting here and there in a jerky fashion reminiscent of a broken VCR with a faulty fast forward. There was also a UFW which flew lazily along the length of Lavender.

After lunch we strolled up to the Walled Garden noting various BEANO characters on the way and as we entered the veggie garden the new raised beds were alive with Whites. Most were Smalls with a few large and Green-veined thrown in. They were taking advantage of Nasturtiums and the various ‘screening’ plants in the main and possibly because of their numbers they were tricky to capture on film. This trend continued on into the middle garden with the quarter gardens that had Buddleia all boasting many whites but on even the most stealthiest of approaches they would take to the air in unison. Finally in the end garden I could settle down for some shots when I spied a lush looking Comma on what I think is Boules Mauve? Frustratingly the most well behaved and docile butterfly of the day had plonked itself down in the middle of the large flower bed. To get any shots I ended up leaning as far as I could with camera in outstretched arms and hoping that the single layer of Lavender hedge would support my weight. Still the strain was worth it for such a lush looking butterfly, a real Autumnal spectacular. As I was making to leave the Comma another butterfly flew in from my left and landed with such force that the flower top bent over and sprung back like a Weeble. It was a gorgeous looking Painted Lady – but again it was deep into the bedding making getting any shots difficult. I edged round to try and get as close as possible and again leant in as far as I dared. After this we ambled round and had a sneaky coffee while the girls took their own shots for Insta and after regrouping we started back towards the call of the Minx. On the way at the final Buddleia I glanced at a Small Tort and a second Painted Lady and so I tarried for a short while before sprinting to catch up with the others. It was then time to put the camera away and enjoy a memorable hour laughing at the antics of the Bash Street Kids, Dennis and Gnasher and of course Little L’s heroine Minnie the Minx. To be honest I don’t know who enjoyed the exhibition more…probably me!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Some lovely shots there Wurzel, the Butterflies look great on the flowers , their colours really set off the Butterflies
We're into the S's I see on the favourite Butterfly Post, nearly there now Goldie

As I found out last year, formal gardens can be excellent for late Summer/early Autumn butterflies.
They also offer a good source of nectar when most wild flowers have gone to seed.
And, importantly, there is sometimes a good café within the grounds to polish off the day!.

Great images from late Summer.
Trevor.

Cheers Goldie The butterflies make it quite easy for us sometimes don't they - somehow they manage to pick flowers to feed on that naturally offset their livery
Cheers Trevor There is also the fact that a trip to a National Trust House with gardens counts as a 'family outing' and therefore you don't have to spend valuable Brownie points to get a little butterfly fix

Have a goodun

Wurzel

The Devenish 08-09-2019

So jobs done /

Marking done /

A free hour to nip out to The Devenish? /

So indeed off I set Devenish bound. I was wondering what might still be about now that we’d entered the ninth month; Adonis, Small Copper maybe…maybe…maybe a Cloudy?

Once I was parked I made straight up to the small paddock. An agitated Peacock was hanging around here and a quick scan didn’t produce anything else so I carried on down the dark tunnel and emerged into the Orchid Meadow. Another quick scan on my across to the gate produced only a single Brown Argus so I carried on. Normally I’d be able to take my time and search out everything but today with only an hour to spend I adopted the approach of just keeping going. I finally ceased wandering as the little path up the Down opened up onto the Downside proper as here was a fresh Small Copper waiting for me. As I continued onwards and upwards I watched female Common and Adonis Blues (no chequers and chequers) which flew on either side of me and then I followed the diagonal path which bisects the Down finishing up on the far side at the bottom of the gully that demarks the edge of the Down. As I gently descended a Painted Lady bombed by and a male Adonis entertained me for a moment. At the far end there’s a fly-by Common Blue which acts typically for a bit – flying low, grazing the grass tops as it passes before banking and climbing vertically to eventually disappear a la Holly Blue over the line of Beech trees. In the gully I watch a very brief courtship of a pair of Green-veined Whites. Normally I feel sorry for the spurned male but this one put in such little effort I wasn’t surprised or even sympathetic when the female raised her abdomen in defiance of his feeble advances. I really felt like taking him to one side and telling him to ‘sort himself out’! There were also a few Small Whites here as well as the obligatory Specklie. I now climbed up and out of the gully and started back to the original side of the Down along the top, scanning the hill from my vantage point. There were a few Whites and a Brown Argus about on the way ad then I reached the flat area abutted by the boundary fence. In here I settled down and spent a bit of time as here there were 5 or 6 butterflies in view at any time. A Brown Argus popped up now and again whilst 2 faded and battered Painted Ladies kept niggling at each other and the three Small Heath jostled away with one always seeming to bumble into the ‘territory’ of one of the other two. Cheered by their antics I set off back noting a few blues looking to lay on the way down and one back in the Orchid Meadow I turned right and made to the other end of this Paddock. A few Green-veined Whites finally succumbed and consented to pose and an almost mint condish Painted Lady lived up to its name, acting to all intents and purposes like a Jezebel. My time had almost ran out and so managed only a few more glances and record shots of a Brown Argus at the near end of the Meadow on the way back before I was vaulting gates and departing rapidly. All in all not too bad a showing for an hour but there really is that end of the season feel which seems a little early this year?
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great shots once again but I know what you mean about the early end of season last year. Maybe we've been spoiled in recent years but it really did seem to die a death by the end of August !

Cheers Bugboy For the last few years the butterflies have indeed spoiled us, definite 'early doors' this year

February 2020

Happy February! Time to start looking out for Small Torts should we get dry sunny day with temps just into double figures
Have a goodun

Wurzel

The Devenish 14-09-2019

What a difference 6 days makes? When I was last here there were Brown Argus, Adonis Blues and Small Heath – the remnants of the late summer butterflies yet today things were quiet as though the butterflies were spent. There was a definite end of the season feel but even so I was still hoping for maybe 6-7 species?

I started off in the Small Paddock scanning up the side of the Down where there was little if any activity. The entrance to the tree tunnel was closely guarded by 2 Commas and a Speckled Wood. The Commas remained aloft, peering imperiously down at me from beyond the reach of my lens. They must have down their job as loo outs as I was buzzed a few times by the Specklie who was patrolling lower down. On I wandered through the cool shade of the tunnel and emerging out the other side back into the warmth of the autumnal sun. Again upon entering the next section of the reserve I scanned ahead trying to work out where to concentrate my efforts. Normally I’d just wander through and see what cropped up but at the tail end of the season there are so few butterflies it pays to plan your steps a bit more so as to not miss out or even worse spook limited quarry that is still out and about. A Green-veined White flew along the boundary hedge hugging the sides of the reserves whilst a Red Admiral travelled in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the Meadow but much more hastily and much higher up. I headed towards a Common Blue that I had previously espied and felt slightly despondent by its decrepit state; chips and chinks missing from its wings and scales completely or partially rubbed away it looked like it was on the way out. I was quickly cheered up though as a Small Copper buzzed in. It was in fine fettle and the vibrancy of the orange on the fore wings brightened my mood considerably. With a slight spring in my step I followed the tiny, steep path up the side of the Down and took the diagonal track towards the gully. Again things were much, much quieter than 6 days previously and for my efforts I could only manage a distant Red Admiral and a Holly Blue which was not hugging the hedge but instead hugging the tops of the tall Beech trees. At the Gully a few Whites were flying and some actually stopped long enough for a few shots. As I watched a Large White that I’d finished photographing fly off in the direction whence I’d come I saw a small group of Deer gambolling up the side of the Down. After this flurry of activity things reverted to the peace and quiet I’d have expected here mid-winter! I still saw a few butterflies but despite walking along the top of the Down and exploring the furthest reaches of the Meadow I could only find a few more Whites and a single Red Admiral and not one more butterfly sat still long enough or landed low enough to enable any shots. I decided to make for home and as I did so I totted up the species tally – a reasonable 7 species. However things weren’t quite over. As I reached the Small Paddock I became aware of a monotonous droning sound. As I got closer and closer it became less monotone and more clearly a buzzing sound. On reaching the gate I could see from where the noise was emanating; the floor of the Paddock was alive with (Ivy?) bees. Some were flying low skimming the grass tops but most were just crawling over the ground or each other in a strange terrestrial river. I tried for a few shots but they were so active it was very tricky to get anything decent. At one point it seemed that some males had found a female as they all congregated around the poor soul and smothered it metamorphosing into tennis ball sized ball of bees. A wondrous spectacle with which to finish my visit. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Won't be long now Wurzel It'll be great to see some Butterflies in the Garden instead of the Squirrels which seem to have taken my Garden over, the birds can't get a look in. Goldie