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Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sat May 02, 2020 6:53 pm
by Maximus
I've enjoyed reading your posts of your exploits in Portugal last year, Wurzel, no shortage of species there
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
I'm particularly drawn to the Striped Grayling, what looker
You certainly seem to have plenty of Small Torts on your local patch
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
so far i've just seen the one, hope this changes. Not easy times and I understand your frustration. Hopefully things will begin to improve soon, and we can all get on with those things that have been put on hold
All the best,
Mike.
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sat May 02, 2020 7:26 pm
by trevor
Some great shots and tales from your hols.
A mrgreen for the Swallowtails and Grayling.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
That long Tailed Blue saved you a trip to Sussex!.
Talking of which, hopefully things may have eased for you to travel east for the Black Hairstreak in June,
though that's only just over five weeks away. Looks like the Marshies are out for me this year.
Keep well,
Trevor.
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 5:36 pm
by Wurzel
Cheers Mike
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
The Striped Grayling was my fave too
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- mind you saying that I've just remembered the Large Wall
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
and that made me think of the Scarce Swallowtail
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
which led me to the Red-underwing Skipper
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
...
The Small Tort does seem to be doing okay over this side of the country - it could be because it's a bit cooler/wetter or much more rural - I don't know I just hope that it continues
Cheers Trevor
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I'd still like a British LTB though
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Hopefully things will go okay - they're on about allowing people to travel to the countryside - it's just how far can you travel that will be the burning issue
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
fingers crossed
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 6:19 pm
by Goldie M
More cracking shots Wurzel
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 7:13 pm
by Wurzel
Cheers Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
The Portugal reports are coming to an end soon which is a good thing actually as I'm about 20+ reports behind from 2020 already
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 9:30 pm
by Wurzel
Last Day Proper Part 3 06-08-2019
On the main trackway down there were a few fly-by Hedgies and a Wall, Grayling and GB Grayling all of which stopped for a photo as it had clouded over and the wind had picked up. At the Well once I’d gotten there things were the quietest that I’d yet seen with all the usual suspects but this just goes to show how quickly humans get used to situations as the cast of usual suspects included – Southern Common Blues, Long-tailed and Lang’s Short-tailed Blues Iberian Sooty Copper, Southern Brown Argus.
Oh well all good things must come to an end – although there may be some time to see things tomorrow before we fly. Plus there was still a cool pool to swim in, some ice cold beers to finish up and a little mothing whilst reading and listening to Scops Owls and Nightjars…
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Mon May 04, 2020 7:30 pm
by Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 8:16 am
by Goldie M
Great holiday shots Wurzel, you'll be sad to be home this year, lets hope we can all get a way some where later,
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 6:46 pm
by Wurzel
Cheers Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Yeah we were booked to a cracking place in the South of France with vultures and butterflies a plenty
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Hopefully we'll be able to visit there next year instead
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Oh well at least I've been able to get out during the daily exercise
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 9:36 pm
by Goldie M
Hi! Wurzel, I'm going out tomorrow over to Hall-Lee-Brook, don't know if I'll see any thing but the exercise should do me good
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 6:26 pm
by Wurzel
I wish you'd said earlier Goldie - I don't think the Grizzlie I sent up there will make it in time
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
I hope you have a great walk and find plenty of living things to fill your cameras memory card
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 5:10 pm
by Wurzel
Middle Street 25-03-2020
So as I started working from home today I was at a bit of a loss about what to do over my lunch break as usually I would be walking the paths around the school and taking advantage of the decent weather? So I accumulated my mid-morning break and lunch time so I could get at least an hour and set out later than usual in the hope that I could avoid anyone else that might be taking a walk during their lunch break. We’d been given the correct guidance for Social Distancing now and most people seem to have got the idea except that is the cyclists – they seem to think that they travel faster than the speed of Covid-19 and so whilst people on the path get over to either side they can carry on travelling right down the middle path. Despite having to keep a very cautious eye out for the two wheeled Pirates I managed to spy out 2Peacocks and a Brimstone on the walk over and also a Small Tort which flew into the back garden of the neighbouring house by the entrance to the reserve.
Safely on site I scanned around and could see no-one else so I was able to shift my gaze from head height down to foliage level and made straight to the Hotspot of old – sadly this year it seemed to not be delivering as many goods as it once did but today it was working hard to retain its title. As I negotiated the quagmire (giggety) track on the corner of the Hotspot a Peacock was basking down on the damp deck. A male and then female Brimstone passed by over the tops of the Briars by the now refilled pond and scattered about the flat turfed area were three Small Torts. It certainly seemed to be living up to its name in terms of temperature at least as the Small Torts were really hard work – having basked so effectively.
![DSC_1052 - Copy.JPG (2.35 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1052 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_e732d5e9a5d97e25bf4e645b39373cb8)
![DSC_1056 - Copy.JPG (1.1 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1056 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_f4b5c782376c79712b1301b8a6a9242f)
From here I followed the main track as it curved round towards the T-junction of the banked path that runs the entire length of the reserves and the rounded path which ran round the other side of the main pond/lake following the riverside. On the way I encounter a couple more Brimstones bombing by and not stopping for love nor a photo. At the very end there’s another Small Tort playing around in the nettle beds at the top of the river bank.
Now’s the time to nip down and check the Dips…Dip 1 being the largest holds the greater number of butterflies and my traipsing round on the boot wide trackways saw me able to count a Peacock and three Small Torts – some of which were in great nick if a little flighty. A Brimstone crossed from one side of the Dip to the other and just kept on going right the way across to the other side of the river and frustratingly with it river crossing completed it then chose to settle down and take nectar.
![DSC_1079 - Copy.JPG (1.44 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1079 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_695d27df74e343897b8da59794f3f5a5)
![DSC_1090 - Copy.JPG (1.83 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1090 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_2da96bb2b7cb0234c2034d35e0b58b09)
![DSC_1103 - Copy.JPG (1.12 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1103 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_6cad3e39b62e69751bab334a978fc38f)
Onwards and upwards I went, well it was more a case of on and up and then on and down as I climbed out of Dip 1, walked along the banked path a short way before climbing down into Dip 2. This is often the most disappointing Dip at the early stage of the season as the ground is more thickly covered in vegetation so lacking in basking spots and any butterflies present are often hidden away in the tussocks. In here today was a single Small Tort and a Peacock which vaguely familiar? It took off and made towards the riverside path before disappearing amidst the tree branches. In Dip 3 there was another Small Tort enjoying the cleared patches where it was soaking up the sun. There was also another Peacock which I started to think was the same one I’d seen in both Pits previously?
![DSC_1110 - Copy.JPG (1.54 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1110 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_dec10b082f363ebe7d00f8169100ce8f)
![DSC_1112 - Copy.JPG (1.81 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1112 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_28436067bd7cf69f2c6777763cad89a7)
On the final stretch to the end of the site I strolled along in the small field checking the side of the banked path as I went as this little sheltered sun trap is often popular with basking butterflies and so it was today with a further 3 Small Torts and a Peacock which looked different from the one I’d inadvertently been stalking in the Dips. At the very end was another Peacock taking advantage of the sheltered little alcove.
![DSC_1115 - Copy.JPG (1.25 MiB) Viewed 835 times DSC_1115 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_e76c45e0be3384f5673fedf570d93950)
I had a look through my notes at this point, totalling up the butterfly haul. The possible double/triple count of the same Peacock was bugging me and as I didn’t get any photos of it/the three of them I couldn’t use the shots to confirm either way. Instead I settled for a quick walk back along the Banked path stopping to look over into the Dips and count any obvious butterflies – the better to not double up. This seemed to work and the walk back to Dip 1 in my notebook ran “ST, B, ST, ST, 2P, ST, 2ST, P and B” making a total of 6 Small Torts, 3 Peacocks and a single Brimstone which meant that what with the other Small Torts from elsewhere on site there were double figures and also I hadn’t doubled or tripled up on the Peacock count on the outward checking of the Dips. To celebrate I spent a little time with the Small Torts in Dip 1 before making my way homewards, hour of exercise over bar the walk back and almost within time too.
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 7:43 pm
by Wurzel
Work 26-03-2020
So now I’m here at work on a Rota system. There are even fewer pupils here today so Social Distancing is even easier although during break and lunchtimes they don’t really seem that bothered. After some time in the computer room doing some work the Science Department set out the materials for Water Rockets as it was a nice sunny day and that way we could ensure that there was plenty of hand washing. After they’d tried and failed to hit the security camera on the main block (my preferred target) and all were soaked to the skin I took them for a walk up and around the field to dry off noting a Peacock and a Small Tort at the start, a Peacock half way down the field and another Small Tort in the far corner.
![DSC_1148 - Copy.JPG (1.77 MiB) Viewed 814 times DSC_1148 - Copy.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_2f8c2fc5e25ea5b82fb50c02545f6e23)
I’m sure that I encountered some of the same butterflies when I set out for lunchtime walk with a Peacock along the fence and a Small Tort at the end corner of the field at the start of the back path. About a quarter of the way along a second Peacock flew about for a bit and then at the half way point a Small Tort and Brimstone interacted with each other – well the Small Tort had a go at the Brimstone.
I carry on along the path ticking off butterflies as I progressed; Peacock, courting Small Torts, another pair of Small Torts, a solitary Small Tort hanging around near the rubbish heap and finally three Small Torts in the small Muscari field at the end of the track. Again I tarry a bit more here as there’s a certain something about Small Torts on Muscari that appeals to me, possibly the contrast in colours orange against purple or maybe the contrasting silhouette – the butterfly is more angular compared to the globular flower? Whatever it is I like the combination.
![DSC_1167 - Copy.JPG (1.81 MiB) Viewed 814 times None shall pass!](./files/thumb_9821_42a2ba64de622cc6e88968ea648f56ef)
- None shall pass!
![DSC_1171 - Copy.JPG (1.65 MiB) Viewed 814 times Couple number 1!](./files/thumb_9821_2b05fa0c73166dc4acf272446afe978b)
- Couple number 1!
![DSC_1176 - Copy.JPG (1.36 MiB) Viewed 814 times Couple number 2!](./files/thumb_9821_0c6585fee68f9cf000468bfb66ac2051)
- Couple number 2!
![DSC_1177 - Copy.JPG (1.65 MiB) Viewed 814 times Loner on the rubbish heap...](./files/thumb_9821_da8880f7b896c98fc7b57fd3af67c05d)
- Loner on the rubbish heap...
Tearing myself I make the return leg this time seeing 8 Small Torts and 2 Peacocks. I’m just about to cut across from the halfway point through the estate when a Brimstone turns up and flies towards me doing that evasion manoeuvre where they fly directly at you and you have to duck out of the way. Luckily I managed to swivel round and spied where it had gone down and with a careful stalk I was able to get some half decent images onto the memory card.
The final quick trek back through the estate some adding singles of both Small Tort and Peacock to the tally bringing it to a respectable 11 Small Torts, 3 Peacocks and 2 Brimstones. I don’t know what’ happened to the Commas in these parts this year?
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 9:59 pm
by Janet Turnbull
That's a particularly nice capture of the Brimstone, Wurzel, and I love the one of the Small Tort couple gazing at each other across a dandelion!
- Janet
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 10:56 am
by Neil Freeman
Nice way of wangling a bit of butterflying in with your work day Wurzel
Commas were a bit thin on the ground around here too, definitely a poor third place behind Peacocks (2nd) and Small Tortoiseshells (an impressive 1st).
Cheers,
Neil.
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 1:44 pm
by trevor
All those Small Tort images are a bit taunting for us poor souls in East Sussex, Wurzel !.
Good news about the Marshies at Tilshead, hope they're not in a red flag area.
There seem to be regular sightings of them now, but I've always reckoned about 20th May at the Hill.
Keep well exercised, safe and well,
Trevor.
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 4:03 pm
by Wurzel
Cheers Janet
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I like Couple umber 2 as well
Cheers Neil
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
The lack of Commas did seem to be a thing this spring - hopefully just a blip?
Cheers Trevor
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Sorry about the Small Torts Trevor - you'll be getting your own back later in the season I'm sure
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
The Marshies numbers are building - they've started emerging at Battlesbury which is a couple of Hills along - so it won't be long now
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 8:41 pm
by millerd
What would the butterflies do without the dandelions in springtime? Great Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell images - and I do like the one on the muscari flowers in particular.
Cheers,
Dave
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 9:46 pm
by Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 10:15 pm
by Goldie M
Hi! Wurzel, great shots of the Small Tort, they did very well round here this Spring, so did the Peacock , I can't tell which shot I like the best, your Brimstone really stands out so I think that one
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)