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Slop Bog 30-06-2021

This is always a hard report to write for several reasons; the site is so small and the quarry is easy to find, there a huge numbers of the same species and often there are only a few others butterflies knocking about among the Silver-studs. This is slightly ironic as my now annual visit to Slop Bog is also one of my favourites; I love the contradiction between the crappy name and the wonder of the site, whenever I visit I’m transported back to my formative years when Canford Heath felt like my own personal playground, when I visit the weather is often good and Silver Studs are one of my favourite species of Blue. This trip however the weather was a little less kind, with a thick blanket of cloud that was punctuated with peepholes of sun. My camera really struggled with the alternate low levels of light (it often does) and then sudden brightness catching the blue of the males’ wings and turning them almost white…

The walk up through the wood was really quiet with not even a Specklie to be seen and no Damselflies fussing around the Lilies at the start of the boardwalk. As I followed it round the corner straight away I was able to tick off ‘Silver-studded Blue’ from the yearly Tally as a male drifted across the tops of the bog looking to all intents and purposes as a whisp of Cotton Grass caught on the breeze. Stepping down from the boardwalk onto the aptly named Silver-studded Heath I saw a multitude of Blues fluttering about, annoying one another and occasionally upsetting little brown jobs which I took (correctly as I turned out) to be females. I spent 10 minutes or so in this little section only making the occasionally step as another butterfly presented itself within reach of my lens and I was soon racking up images of both males and females. The butterflies had clearly been out for a while as some showed signs of wear with tatty fringes and the odd male looked a dark grey in colour as scales had been rubbed off. There were also plenty of fresh ones about too – though they were slightly harder to photograph as they were more energetic and less likely to be clinging to a strand of Heather. I then set about roaming the Heather looking at this and that and working my way across the large expanse of heath towards the rectangular pond. A small cluster of Bog Asphodel was a nice surprise, but shouldn’t have been really as the Bog was definitely damper underfoot than in previous years. On the way over there were masses of Silver-studs. I’d look ahead and they’d almost twinkle among the greens, browns and purple of the Bell Heather and Dorset Cross-leaved Heath. Then as I drew level they’d float upwards from their perches and scatter like living jewels. Again there was a nice mix of old and new with the females being the more approachable and better dressed. When I reached the pond I had a quick look around but there were only a few Damselflies they seemed to hug vegetation around the straight edges. I reckoned that this could be so that should a larger Dragon appear they could easily disappear into the cover and so escape becoming its evening meal. As I was over this side I spent a fair amount of time here watching and waiting for the butterflies to sit nicely within reach. One problem of this site due to the sheer number of Silver-studs is that I often find myself not focusing for long enough on one individual; few clicks and then onto the next shiny Blue; and I generally go home with hundreds of pictures of different butterflies that all look very similar. Today I decided to be a little more sparing and also to spend as much time with an individual as it would allow. To that end I set up camp as it were in a quadrant of the main heath and waited. Amidst the more usual butterflies that showed up there were a few oddities. One was a damaged male, the tears in the fore wing gave it an unusual pattern there were also a couple of females with joined up spots and I also found an unusually silver studded male. Usually the females are the proud possessors of the most impressive blue spots/silver studs but this male was giving them a run for their money. Tune in for more next time…
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Cracking good Silver Stud shots Wurzel. Those underside images are top class.
Fortunately there were enough fresh specimens still around for those stunning shots.

They are one species I missed this year, stay well.
Trevor.

Cheers Trevor If the weather had been better I'd have had more topside shots - still something for next year

Slop Bog Part 2

I eventually left my little study zone as a Clouded Buff led me astray, I would have preferred it to have been a Clouded Yellow but beggers can’t be choosers. It was upon the return from my brief Moff foray that the most impressive variant turned up. As a certain Law dictates she stopped by for the very briefest f visits just as the wind momentarily picked up. The likelihood of getting any great shots of her were further diminished as she chose sit atop the spindliest sprig of Heather for the shortest of times. I managed a couple of shaky record shots one the approach and then she was gone. I include the best of a bad bunch of shots just to show what I missed out on! I set out in a circular search pattern but I didn’t relocate her instead I found a really small Moff that reminded me of Rhubarb and Custard sweets and a whole array of other nice, but more normal Silver-studs. As I realised that she was gone I made my way slowly back across the heath towards the Silver-studded Heath and again settled down and watched from a vantage point among the heather. Occasionally I’d take a few steps and click away. It was fairly easy going and made even easier as the butterflies started to congregate in bigger and bigger groups as the hour hand slowly worked its way round and they started thinking about going to bed. The cloud once again swallowed up the sun and I took that as the sign that I needed to drag myself away from one of my favourite sites. As if to wish me adieu until next year a Rhubarb and Custard saw me off at the boardwalk. So ended my visit and it was a cracking visit despite the cloud and missing out on the really special butterfly. As I walked back along the boardwalk I realised that I’d seen hundreds of butterflies but all were of one species, I'd reveled in the scent of the heather and the lovely scratchy noise it makes as it scrapes past your jeans another aspect that had made it such a great trip was that I beat the Ticks – 17 flicked off my jeans and not one bite!

Coconut fragrance
Carpet of purple Heather
And Sapphires twinkling

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Brilliant SSB, Wurzel, and quite a few butterflies with genuinely striking turquoise studs as well - they are so often a bit feeble. One or two fresh females among the glorious males, which is good to see as the ladies so often don't appear in numbers until they've faded a bit.

Cheers,

Dave

The rhubarb-and-custard moth is Purple-bordered Gold, which is a rarity confined to bogs.

Why are so many lepidoptera associated with bogs coloured purple and orange?

Great report and photos Wurzel. I think the blue Dragonfly in your number 2 report is a Keeled Skimmer. A locally scarce dragonfly found on wet heaths and boggy areas such as Slop Bog (where I first saw one in July 2013) and Crockford stream in the New Forest.

Spent 4 days in Suffolk and Norfolk last week principally birding but I saw my first Wall Brown of 2021 along a roadside in Ringstead, N. Norfolk whilst looking for Grey Partridge. It was nectaring on a Creeping Thistle. I was not expecting that ! And my first Painted Lady of 2021 at Strumpshaw on a Buddleia bush which was more expected. I also saw a Willow Emerald Damselfly there (new one for me) on a bush close to the reserve centre pond. Red Admirals and Peacocks seem to have had a very good second brood. I counted more than 100 of the former at Minsmere alone and 40-50 at Strumpshaw.

Good to meet up with you, Dave Miller & Trevor at Shipton on 16 August whilst searching for Brownstreaks. I look forward to your diary entry sometime in the future.

Jenks.

Great array of beautiful photos! My favourites are the female on heather flowers and the steely grey male above.

Cheers Dave I think that the ladies had almost caught up with the males in terms of emergence this year due to the 'iffy' weather. I was just annoyed that the real star of the show was so camera shy
Cheers Matsukaze Thanks for the ID (although I prefer my name ) - could it be to camouflage them amidst the Heather and Gorse flowers?
Cheers Jenks Thanks for the ID - I wouldn't know where to look as the App I used to use doesn't exist in the App store anymore Those are great numbers of Red Admirals It was great to meet and catch up at Shipton Hopefully I'll have the PD written and ready for this side of Xmas
Cheers Katrina I was chuffed with that male - the background was really complimentary

September 2021

Here we go on the downward slope - I wonder if we'll have an Indian Summer this year? I could do with one as I still haven't seen a Cloudy Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Work 01-07-2021

Another day and another dollar which is what it pretty much came down to at work during this time. We had the triple threat of OfSTED hanging over us, being PINGED and having to isolate just when things are getting good butterfly wise or even worse catching Co-Vid from one of the pupils. Needless to say when the opportunity arose at lunch I grabbed it eagerly with both paws and made my way out to the relative peace of the Pits. I say relative peace as the proximity of the Primary School does somewhat temper the tranquillity but I’m finding that with each passing visit I can tune out more and more easily with the added benefit that there aren’t various curse words littering the occasional outburst that pierces my mental bubble.

As I crossed the threshold from recently mown into the chest height wildness of the Pits I was greeted by a by a Large Skipper as well as a few bouncy Meadow Browns and a Marbled White or two. What I was really interested in however were the Ringlets which had only just started emerging and seemed to be the last of the Browns to appear on the scene. I got lucky as one actually sat still on a blade of grass long enough for me to confirm that it was actually a Ringlet and not just a dark Meadow Brown and also for a couple of shots. After this I kept my eyes open for more and I could see a few but none were stopping and so I made my way round to the other side of the Bramble bush. Almost immediately I spotted a golden skipper and the sandy and less orange tone suggested that it was an Essex but getting in close enough I was able to see the long and crooked sex brand so it was a Small doing an even better job than usual of confusing identification! Also here a few Marbs – possibly the same ones which I’d seen at the start of the Pits, flew in and out of the tall flowers and a Large Skipper rested on some wind flattened tufts of grass. I checked out the corner and the Specklie was in its usual position but the lighting was pretty dire here – all the shots came out bleached and blown as the sun was still slipping through the cloud and the camera seemed to be over compensating for the slight dulling effect of the cloud and the shady situation so overexposing my shots. I worked my way back to the far side of the Bramble by which time the sun had come out proper and things looked better on the viewing screen; the Small Skipper certainly glowed a fine golden colour. The Thistles held a few Meadow Browns which were partaking of the nectar and I found another Small Skipper enjoying the Creeping thistles. I started to make my way back noting a more Marbled Whites and Ringlets in amongst the much more common Meadow Browns and right on the edge, almost the final stem of tall grass a Small Skipper sat nicely and waited for me to take its photo. With this achieved it was once more unto the breach… Much needed escape
Ringlet sits for a photo
What’s up with it then?
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel, I always enjoy your report from Slop Bog. I just love that name. Your Silver Studded Blues are lovely. This such a delightful species to see in early summer.

Kind Regards
Kev

Cheers Kev Slop Bog is a special site and Silver-studs are special butterflies so that trip is one of my annual highlights

Work 02-07-2021

The phone hadn’t rung yesterday so today we were safe. To celebrate I took myself off to the Pits at lunchtime. It’s certainly more enjoyable now I know that the Browns are about as they seem to pootle about even when it’s drizzling so there will always be something to see. Also without the year 11 I don’t have to worry about bumping into the smokers and then my time out being cut short through having to deal with them.

As I reached the chest hall wall of grass at the start of the Pits the sun was hidden behind some cloud but its warmth and light was still reaching though so the butterflies were active. A Meadow Brown would haul itself up into the air, some of them had an air of chocolate orange about them whereas the faster, more direct Marbled Whites appeared a light grey as the black and white blur into one. There were also a few Ringlets skulking about low down and in the dull they looked almost jet black. If things were starting to get a bit monotone the Skippers brightened things up both by their attire and their character. The first butterfly that fell under my lens was none of these however the honour passed instead to a Small Heath who was looking in mighty fine fettle. On past the large Bramble with more skippers (both Large and Smessex, though in all probability Small) and the others flitting by. I stood back and watched as a Red Admiral was seen off by a moody Meadow Brown and unfortunately the Red Admiral made a bee-line for the train tracks across the Primary school’s field. The less dense patch on the other side again was the playground for Large Skippers, Smessex and Marbled Whites. The fewer Ringlets and Meadow Browns favoured the margins where the grass grew longer and some Meadow Browns were delighting in the thistle patch. I spent a bit of time here trying my best to get anything but all were playing hard to get. I’d take a few steps, something would go up and then I’d watch as it flew around and around investigating almost every flower head before flying on more powerfully to pastures new. I did have some successes; a definite male Small, a Marbled White feeding on some thistle and a Small appearing to float in mid-air. However the pride of place went to a Small Skipper feeding on a Pyramidal Orchid – a lovely addition to another of my collections and some consolation for not getting onto a Marbled White that had been on the flower earlier. Walking back I totted up the numbers in my head but apart from the single Red Admiral and 2 Small Heath the others were next to impossible to count. The Meadow Browns would appear to go down amid the grass and another would fly up – but was it another or was it the same one? The Marbled Whites would chase each other about and put up others that had been hiding and as for the Skippers well they put the Craw Step to good use; I’d be watching one intently and then it would shift up a couple of gears and just vanish. In the end I just took to wandering and marvelling although a final Small Skipper posed too nicely to ignore. As I made my way back to the block I counted myself lucky to have access to the Pits every day.

With charming Skippers
Marbs and Ringlets abounding
The Pits it isn’t

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Work 05-07-2021

During break duty a Red Admiral bombed by and paused just long enough on the wall of the Drama Studio to positively ID it. I was left wondering whether it was the same one that I’d had fleeting views of over the last fortnight and also where it was bombing off too? Hence it was with some annoyance that I spotted another Red Admiral (or the same one?) during my lunchtime trip to the Pits. Again allowed a positive ID, this time cruising slowly past me before shifting up several gears and disappearing from sight into the Primary School. Still I carried on wandering the small paths, the huge grass stems brushed my shins as I walked and Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns, the occasional Ringlet and little orange blur of a Smessex zipped this way and that ceaselessly. I carried on past the large Bramble and started checking the Smessex in earnest but try as I might all turned out to be Smalls. The antennae all flicked out, any sex brands were thick and crooked and all were a bright orange colour. I just couldn’t seem to find an Essex and then I saw what I thought was good for one. It had a sandier colour compared to all the others I’d seen so I cautiously approached it and fired off a few shots but alas it too was a Small. By this stage I’d reached the patch of Thistles and so I paused a while to take in the scene both before me and around me. The Marbled Whites when they weren’t sitting down in the perched atop the Thistles heads as did the Meadow Browns. The Skippers also joined in when not sitting on the smaller flower tops or some the large broad leaves around the margins of the paths. But it was the Ringlets that proved the most difficult as they flew pathetically but continuously. I followed one round to the ribbon of woodland and it was joined by a second but neither would land. Through the trees the Specklie went up from its usual perching spot but I was more interested in the large dark butterfly I’d seen out of the corner of my eye. It was a/the Red Admiral and so I set up camp for a few moments and added several sets of images to the memory card. It fluttered out and back perching lower than its original position and so I once more fired off a load of shots. Leaving it in peace I moved on down the hedge where another Smessex remained a Small and soon entered into the Small Heath territory. Looking out over the small fields of unmown grass I could see many Small Heaths flapping about along with the occasional Marbled White and Meadow Brown but I was short of time and so started back. On my return leg I saw a lot of the same butterflies but I did stop for a couple. The first stop was for a Small Skipper which on one of the Orchids along with a hidden predator. The second was for another Small but this one had a strange blob of black on the rear tip of the fore wing – a possible ab or some form of damage I couldn’t work it out. Slip past me at break
But catch up with it at lunch
Yes Sir, Admiral!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

You are very lucky to have so many grassland species near your work.
My place of work was nestled at the foot of the South Downs, and in
22 years the only events of note were an Emperor moth on an outside wall,
and half a dozen Clouded Yellows basking on a chalk bank behind the car park.

Great shots of the Small Skippers.

Stay well,
Trevor.

Cheers Trevor The school saved a fair bit of cash by not mowing some of the field and in the process I got my own meadow habitat Mind you I'd swap it for half a dozen Cloudies

Work 05-07-2021

I called in at Larkhill on the way home as I just had a feeling that I might get onto an Essex here after drawing a blank at work. I started up the rising path and a Small White immediately caught my eye so after catching up with it I moved on my eyes staring to make out small yellowish shapes amid the grasses. The rain we’d had over the previous month had made the grass spring up and now finding butterflies was tricky and more often than not the only reason any butterflies was seen was the fact that they’d erupted from their hidey hole deep within the grass. As I was bemoaning this fact to myself I happened to look to my right and there in a slightly shorter patch of grass were two butterflies that seemed to fit the description of my target species. I managed to get a closer look at one and sure enough there was the thin, straight sex brand, the sandier colour and most obvious the antennae that had been dabbed in ink. I tried for a few shots before checking out the second which was also an Essex and that was when the first went up. I managed somehow to keep track of it possibly because it was less energetic in the gloom. After really making sure that I had some positive ID shots I moved on and a Small Tort tempted me to retrace my steps. I did and again found the Small White but the Small Tort had vanished so I carried on and tried the overgrown path that cuts diagonally across the field. First one, then a second, then a third and finally a fourth DGF all went up and then motored away skimming the grass tops. The first and the second I hadn’t had a chance with but the third and fourth I was expecting. However what I hadn’t expected was exactly how well they hide away despite their large size and their bright ginger livery. I didn’t want to lose too many Brownie points and so I made for home but not before the Small Tort helped me across the road and I watched a Red Admiral cutting along the edge of the farmer’s field. The two main thing from this stop off were that I’d gotten my target and I had an inkling that I knew where the DGFs would be if I decided to stop off again…

Ten minute stop-off
Enough time to bag my target
Got me an Essex

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Some nice skipper shots there Wurzel. On another grey and dreary morning here, those days seem so long ago now.

Cheers,

Neil

Cheers Neil Those grey and dreary days are the worst I find - there's just a glimmer of hope that if you go out you might find something but you probably won't; the final weeks of my holiday were like that and now I'm back at work the weather is great of course

Work 06-07-2021

As this was Sports Day I was sporting my Australia football shirt and so I didn’t know if I would have much luck with the butterflies due to its bright yellow colour? I remember reading that some insects can see quite far into the violet spectrum so how a yellow top looked under these conditions I could only guess. The strong breeze, intermittent showers and passing clouds didn’t help matters either but I set off ever hopeful and with the Socceroo’s motto of Never Say Never passing through my mind.

Along the small tracks at the Pits the usual butterflies appeared. The Large Skippers were looking very jaded and I couldn’t find a single Ringlet. I checked as many of the Smessex Skippers as possible but they remained either Smessex when they took flight too quickly or became Smalls when they were better behaved. Behind the large Bramble the breeze whipped across the grasses but despite this it seemed that the Marbled Whites and Skippers had usurped the Meadow Browns as there were none of the later and three each of the other two species. I cut across to the gap in the trees and out up the Specklie as I broke out into the daylight. There was no Red Admiral here today instead a Small Tort had discovered the nectar source and was guzzling greedily on the good stuff. Leaving it supping I strolled down the path to the bottom of the field. The hedge side held Meadow Browns and Skippers whilst in the grass Small Heath played. When I reached the bottom I started back and a Small Tort dropped into the Bramble. As I looked up from getting some record shots of it a second, which I’d missed on the way down due to it having its cryptic underwing facing me, suddenly appeared. Further along the Red Admiral flew past but that was the final ‘different sighting’ of the outing. Another brief but efficacious trip which hadn’t been noticeably affected by the less than usual clothing!
Would I be lucky?
In bright yellow football shirt
It doesn’t scare them

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Garston Wood 11-07-2021
It had been a hell of week previously…having just breathed a sigh of relief that the GCSEs were completed we’d received the call that all schools dread…then an hour later the same inspector called to say that they weren’t coming in as they’d been told to isolate by Track and Trace! So we’d then been in the position that we knew for definite that OfSTED were visiting for 10 days. The stress was unbelievable and then they finally came and left on Thursday. On Friday we found out all the things that we’d have to do ready for September from when they could be visiting again. Then I had a mad dash across to Sussex to get to my cousins wedding near Trotton and then drive us back the following day. Hence this morning I just needed to get out and stand in a wood and just breathe…so off to Garston Wood I went. I didn’t care that it was grey and cool, I didn’t care that I’d probably pick up a Tick or a horsefly bite I just wanted to stare down the viewfinder and lose myself for an hour.

When I arrived I made my way straight up the main ride as this is generally the one bit of the wood that I miss out on when we take our walks here. The verges seemed alive with Ringlets and slightly bigger and lighter looking Meadow Browns. A Green-veined sat still just long enough for me try for a few shots or at least work out what it was. Then a big ginger beastie appeared on my radar and I watched as my first Silver-washed flew into view. It stopped for some nectar within range but in the chill it’s vibrated its wings so getting anything in focus was tricky. After a few stops it must have worked out that it had partaken of all the nectar available and it set off at pace gliding and scything its way into the wood. I carried on up the ride with many more Ringlets and the odd Meadow Brown and then I spot what at first I thought was an old leaf but turned out to be a grounded Silver Washed. It felt great to catch up with this species again and so I got a few shots and then stood back and drank in the scene for a few minutes before leaving it still sitting wings out desperately trying to gather some sun. Up at the staggered cross tracks a Marbled White adds a different colour to the palette and also put me onto something a little more interesting. At first I thought that it was just a Ringlet with fewer spots on the wings but a closer look revealed that they were still there, just reduced to tiny white pin pricks. A passing Meadow Brown put it up so I watched as it flew and when it landed I was there just long enough to see that it was an ab.arete but in the cool grey air it quickly opened up to full basking position so I couldn’t get a shot of the under wing. I moved on and down the track with Meadow Browns and Ringlets, still very fresh and looking like chocolate coloured velvet. Another Green-veined White sat on a leaf and so I paused my proceeding and had another look at a species that I’ve not seen that much of so far this year. Once I got on my way again things reverted to form and I reached the butterfly enclosure without adding any additional species to the days tally. I turned around and started back and spotted a Large Skipper and then a small orange looking butterfly. It set my mind to racing as to what it was and then it clicked – it was my first Hedgie of the year. I had to get in a bit closer but The Lady favoured me as someone else had already walked up to the clump of Bramble and so I picked my way along in their footsteps. Whilst there another Ringlet caught my eye as it was a lovely russet brown colour and had been well provisioned with spots. Chuffed with my findings I made my way back up the track and once at the staggered cross roads I cut across and made my way along the plantation. The little clearings and fields were bedecked by butterflies with some of the taller flower heads holding several butterflies a piece. When I walked along at the edge of the path butterflies would float upwards as I passed and it was great to just be surrounded by them, they were everywhere that I looked. And on one occasion there again was a big ginger beastie, grounded I guessed by the slight drop in temperature that had accompanied the thickening cloud cover. I picked my way through the clumps of grass and the taller flowers hoping that the erupting Ringlets and Meadow Browns which I had previously enjoyed seeing didn’t ruin it for me by spooking the Silver Washed. As I approached I saw that it was a slightly more muted orange, almost with a greenish tinge as it was a female. She too, like the males from before, was vibrating her wings in an effort to warm up but it wasn’t working out too well for her so I backed off and skirted round her so I could get back to the path without spooking her myself. I was almost back when I happened to glance down and there was a Small Skipper sitting out the cool too. I cut back through to the main track and then contented myself with watching another male Silver Washed and pootling around with the Ringlets for the remaining time. I found myself breathing deeply and easily, the dull ache that had been behind my eyes for the last month had gone and my mind had stilled. Just what the doctor could have ordered. Gloomy old Garston
The return of an old friend
The Hedgies are back

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

It just shows how therapeutic an hour or two with the butterflies can be, Wurzel. It's a prescription I've used many times, and would recommend it to anyone!

Your post also neatly encapsulates the overall feel of the 2021 summer - cloudy days, but bright enough to bring the butterflies out. Ringlets especially seem to relish it, and it can't be coincidental that they've evolved to emerge at the peak of the English summer when conditions are - how shall I put this? - less than traditionally summery.

Cheers,

Dave

Your post above does sum up that critical part of high summer.
One day in particular I waited for three hours, after arrival, for the tiniest hole in the cloud to appear.

Great report, and a for the female Silver Washed Frit. ( They did have a great year ).

Stay well,
Trevor.

Loving your descriptions of the ringlets Wurzel. I do love the colour and metallic sheen of a fresh one. If you squint a little you can turn one into a high altitude sooty copper - not that you’d want to of course - well, maybe one.