Cheers Nick - surely it hasn't been that bad
Cheers Phil - they're one their way it seems so fingers crossed
Cheers Philzoid - I was only acking the other day about Painted Ladies...lets see if it works for Clouded Yellows..."Has anyone seen a clouded Yellow recently?"
Cheers Goldie - it looks like Red Admirals should definitey be on the cards from what I've been reading tonight
Shipton Bellinger
On Tuesday I made a run to Shipton Bellinger to take advantage of the last bit of sun for a day or two and also to make sure I got a break from house hunting. As I strolled up the hill feeling the sun coming on strong when it came out from behind the clouds there were still whites about but fewer in number than last time. Most were slightly tatty looking too with chunks gone from their wings or scales missing giving them a translucent appearance but there were one or two that still looked presentable.
As I continued up the track through the double hedges I was accompanied by Holly Blues and Meadow Browns – which were getting very adept at impersonating Brostreaks – even down to a jinky flight. They are very frustrating as you know for a fact that they are Meadow Browns but you feel like you better just check to make sure...As I came out of the onto the open field I could see that a few people were staring into the hedge along the back of the site so I headed over to see what all the fuss was about and got one of my easiest Brostreak sightings ever. “There’s a male there” “Cheers...CLICK...CLICK”
As we were properly meeting and greeting each other a female came down onto the Brambles just to the right of where the male was. She was still in quite an awkward position for photography but I took a few shots anyway before making room for others. After a short while she headed off and the male joined her I suppose as it went slightly quiet on the brostreak front. John V recognised me and so we joined forces is how you’d put it I suppose and so we trawled the hedge once or twice. There were plenty of Meadow Browns around as well as some obliging Holly Blues and on one patch there was Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma and Holly Blue all taking nectar. After a while things seemed to quieten down so we headed over to the large patch of Brambles where I’d been lucky the last time I was here.
The thistle heads had gone to seed by now and there didn’t seem to be many nectaring opportunities available at this patch so I wasn’t surprised not to see any Brostreaks here, disappointed yes but not surprised. It served as a reminder of how transient the butterfly life is, here one day gone the next almost. The last time I was here (a week and half ago) this patch was crawling with butterflies; 2 Brostreaks, Brimstone, Peacocks, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers all possible in one view. And now a single solitary Holly Blue which did a brief fly by and seemed to get confused as instead of acting like a Hairstreak and staying up high actually landed on the ground deep in the vegetation. It appeared that it was getting mineral salts from discretely hidden dog turd (another one for the “butterflies on poo” book).
The springy grass turf also held a few butterflies with a Brown Argus or two and two male Common Blues, one of which looked pretty fresh I thought.
Having spent some time with the feisty little Brown Argus we tried the hedge again. By now we were the only people left on the site and the adage “good things come to those who wait” was only partially true as we soon found another male Brostreak (I’d have preferred a female but there we go). He posed very well for us for what felt like an age so we left him in peace and carried on checking the hedge. We found a few more male Common Blues, a Small Heath and loads more Meadow Browns, with 6 balancing on one flower head at one point. On the return journey the male Brostreak was still there so we took a few goodbye shots.
Along the double hedge there was more of the same with the addition of a Small Tortoiseshell which was very flighty and a Comma playing hide and seek in amongst some large leaves. And then all too shortly we were back at the car park. Overall a cracking afternoon with some great butterflies; It was pleasure to meet and photograph with John and I look forward to the next time we bump into each other.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
P.S. Once at home I had to return to domestic duties mode and as I was about to go and water the greenhouse I noticed a Small Tortoiseshell perched on the wall, so I took a few shots to try and get a close up of its’ palps... So much easier than the Shipton one.
