Re: millerd
Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 8:22 pm
27th July was another sunny and warm day, and I took advantage of the lack of early morning traffic on a Saturday to go down to Bookham again.
Initially, all I found were the old guard, the fading White Admirals and SWF. However, making my way to last year's main Brown Hairstreak hotspot, I found Colin from BC Sussex intent on a similar quest.
Before long, we spotted something come down to the large areas of wild parsnip that have sprung up here (and everywhere else it seems). A Hairstreak, yes, but not the one we sought. It was a rather worn Purple Hairstreak. A bit further on, we deviated off the track a little to take in another likely spot with some creeping thistle and there in front of us was the right Hairstreak. The butterfly moved a couple of times, not far, first onto a sprig of hawthorn scrub... ...and then back to a thistle flower. A glimpse of it in flight when it left confirmed that it was a male.
The excitement was over - we didn't find any more hairstreaks. However, there were one or two other nice sightings. From three species that have been a bit thin on the ground this year there were a couple of Common Blues... ...a Small Copper... ...and a Large Skipper. Another much fresher skipper (a female) posed... ...but it took a check of the antennae to make it Small not Essex. Finally a new Brimstone nectared against the light, bringing out its colour nicely. In the end, a successful start to the Brown Hairstreak season.
Dave
Initially, all I found were the old guard, the fading White Admirals and SWF. However, making my way to last year's main Brown Hairstreak hotspot, I found Colin from BC Sussex intent on a similar quest.
Before long, we spotted something come down to the large areas of wild parsnip that have sprung up here (and everywhere else it seems). A Hairstreak, yes, but not the one we sought. It was a rather worn Purple Hairstreak. A bit further on, we deviated off the track a little to take in another likely spot with some creeping thistle and there in front of us was the right Hairstreak. The butterfly moved a couple of times, not far, first onto a sprig of hawthorn scrub... ...and then back to a thistle flower. A glimpse of it in flight when it left confirmed that it was a male.
The excitement was over - we didn't find any more hairstreaks. However, there were one or two other nice sightings. From three species that have been a bit thin on the ground this year there were a couple of Common Blues... ...a Small Copper... ...and a Large Skipper. Another much fresher skipper (a female) posed... ...but it took a check of the antennae to make it Small not Essex. Finally a new Brimstone nectared against the light, bringing out its colour nicely. In the end, a successful start to the Brown Hairstreak season.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Dave