www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks Pauline. It's taken me a while to catch up but hopefully better late than never!

ASTON ROWANT.

On Friday,it was time to take my yearly visit to perhaps the best British site i have visited-Aston Rowant. For sheer numbers and variety,this place is hard to beat. We spent the morning on the south side. Here,lots of Peacocks were feeding on marjoram,ahead of hibernation. In the shorter grass were one af the stars of this site-lots of Silver Spotted Skippers. These lovely skippers have so much character,they are a pleasure to watch. One of the males chased down a female, then tried to connect with her,twitching,turning his back end towards hers,but every time she moved just out of reach. After a few minutes,he gave up and flew off. Sometimes,small clusters of skippers would chase each other over the down,all at breakneck speed. There was a lot of cloud,and the skippers loved to bask on chalk chippings,where rabbits have dug them out, during these cloudy spells.

Chalkhill Blues were also seen,though not in high numbers. Brimstones have emerged,and there were still plenty of browns,whites and a few Dark Green Fritillaries.A Holly Blue was on wild basil flowers,too.

In afternoon,it was time to visit the north end of the site. Here,Chalkhill Blues were more abundant, and Silver-spotted Skippers were again in profusion. A Painted Lady put in an appearance,as did Small Copper and Small Heath.

It's not just the butterflies that make Aston Rowant so special. Clustered bellflower grows abundantly at this northern section. In the recent rabbit diggings grows a plant i always seek out when visiting,as this is the only place i have seen it-the wild candytuft. Each plant lasts just one year,and these rabbit scrapings are essential for the establishment of new seedlings each spring.

In the evening,the sun came out,and many roosting blues opened their wings to give us a late finale to a very good day.

Todays list were;Small Skipper,Essex Skipper,Silver-spotted Skipper,Brimstone,Large White,Small White, Small Copper,Brown Argus,Common Blue,Chalkhill Blue,Holly Blue,Small Tortoiseshell,Peacock,Painted Lady,Comma, Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White, Meadow Brown,Gatekeeper,Ringlet,Small Heath.

21 species. A third of the British list at one site. In one day.

Lovely images from one of my favourite places too, Essex. I always stick to the north side, having failed once to find the way onto the south side and getting lost! It looks just as good, if not better!

Dave

I realise I must have missed you on Friday - if it was last Friday (7th). I was at Aston Rowant (north side) from five until seven. The sun came out again soon after I left, I think!

Dave

It's a lot quieter,Dave! And very easy to get to. Simple drive past the north side entrance,on the road towards Christmas Common. Drive over the M40 and the car park is after 1 mile in the beech trees on the left. Park here and cross the road near the large Aston Rowant picture sign. Both north and south side are good as each other,really.

Shame i missed you, were you with anyone? I saw the odd couple,we stayed untill about 8pm as the sun was indeed shinning!

Hi Mark, great report and photos from Aston Rowant, one of my favourite sites as well. I visited the south side for the first time myself last year and like you found fewer Chalkhill Blues but just as many Silver-spotted Skippers. As you say, just as good as the north side and being that bit further away from the M40 it is quieter

Cheers,

Neil

DORSET 2015!

Just back from our annual adventure to the isle of Purbeck. It was a fine day last Sunday,so our holiday started with a ride on the excellent Swanage Steam Railway. A very enjoyabe trip,and it saved us from the often frustrating drive through Swanage at this peak season. We were hungry when we arrived,so we went to the bakers for supplies,then walked to Durlston Country Park.

Plenty of butterflies here,but what we really wanted to see were Lulwothe Skippers,and these were soon located. Some were showing signs of age,as you would expect from a species that ha been flying since June. But others were remarkably fresh,including a surprising mint male.

An emperor dragonfly was flying with something flapping in it's jaws. Then it dropped the unfortunate victim which,when located,turned ont to be an oak eggar moth which had had it's head bitten off. Yuck!

We had a few hours here and,apart from Lulworths,we also saw Small Skippers,Large and Small Whites, Small Blue, Brown Argus,Comon Blue, Chalkhill Blue,Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White, Gatekeeper,Meadow Brown and Wall. A hummingbird was also seen.

Ravens and buzzards were present. A kestrel was seen. Swallows and house martins flew overhead. By now it was time to head to our B+B in West Lulworth. With Lulworth Cove just 10 minute walk away!

Great Lulworths Essex Looking forward to more reports from Dorset

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It's a great part of the country, Wurzel!

DORSET DAY 2

Stying at West Lulworth was a great advantage,for it meant i could go for a pre-breakfast walk round Bindon Hill on fine days. Today,this walk produced lots of Chalkhill and a few Common Blues warming up in the early morning sunshine-a photographers dream.

Today,we decided to leave the car behind,and explore the area between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. Much of this area is dominated by tor grass,and more Lulworth Skippers were seen,though most were showing their age. Many Meadow Browns were still present,one of which had two pupils on its front wings,and lots of Walls were near the bare patches. Graylings were around,especially near Durdle Door where, surprisingly,a Brimstone flew past. A Clouded Yellow male was on the hill,along with a very obliging male kestrel. Nearby,several Marbled Whites were on greater knapweed.

After lunch,we continued to search the area,adding Brown Argus to our day total,as well as Large and Small Whites.This was a leisurely day,enjoying the scenery,the weather and the wildlife.

Absolutely love that subtle Chalkhill in the first image.

Great stuff!

I really like your Grayling image, for the usual closed wing pose i don't think it could be bettered.
TREVOR.

Hi Mark, great reports and photos from Dorset

If I remember rightly, for the past couple of years you have been down there a couple of weeks before I have...guess where I will be next week

Cheers,

Neil.

Correct! Maybe one of these days i will see you there! With the season running a little late,i think you will see most of the stuff i saw,Neil.

DORSET DAY 3

A pre-breakfast walk produced more Chalkhill Blues,including females. Brown Argus,Marbled White and Meadow Browns were also seen on Bindon Hill.

Later,we returned to the hill, where three lovely Exmoor ponies were grazing. Lots of Walls,both male and females,were in the bare area's near the top of the hill overlooking the Cove. They were not easy to photograph,the males in particular flying up at anything that passed,including Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns. A Dark Green Fritillary and Small Heaths were present as were whites including,near the hedge at the bottom,my only Green-veined White of the trip,and a Brimstone.

For afternoon,we went to West Bay,with it's spectacular sandstone cliffs. At the top of these cliffs, Painted Lady and Red Admiral were seen.

Birds today included lots of swallows-they were enjoyed as they will soon be migrating-plus buzzards,kestrels, peregrines and a raven.

Great shots of lovely Butterflies essex, in your photo of the early morning I recognise the hill there, also there is a narrow passage way along the wall to the next Bay ,I remember going along this path and finding lots of Holly Blues, one of my best photo's of one was taken there , great memories, I will have to go back , the weather looks great too, I envy you being there Goldie

Nice to see a couple of Wall Browns, EB.

I've only come across a handful thus far in 2015.

Cracking shot of the Grayling Essex and very Nic Walls too However the best photo has to be of Durdle Door - my favourite place in the entire world that is

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Goldie. It's a lovely part of the country,you really should go back,although i realise it's a long way for you. And i think Neil F is going next week,so keep an eye on his diary too,for more Dorset delights-of torture!!! The weather wasn't always good though...

I like to see the Walls to David,and they are common on this coast. I saw them especially from the Sout West coast path just east and west of Lulworth Cove,and in lower numbers at most of the sites i visited.

Lovely place Wurzel,i even saw people swimming through the door. Too cold for me though!

DORSET-THE NEXT INSTALLMENT

The next day,an unwelcome warn front appeared on the weather maps,which brought two days of rain,drizzle and fog. This wiped out the butterflies,but every cloud,and all that. This gave us a chance to do a few things we wouldn't have done in good weather.

Visits were made to Gold Hill in Shaftsbury,famed for the Hovis adverts (remember the boy with his bycicle up the hill?),Corfe Castle,where we had a Dorset cream tea and visited a model village,and water gardens near Weymouth-home to the national collection of water lilies,we also saw two kingfishers there!

Hi Mark,

All your reports & photos are of outstanding quality!

Hope & trust you had an excellent season.

Cheers,

Lee Slaughter (Cornwall).

essexbuzzard wrote:.. And i think Neil F is going next week...

Yep, heading down tomorrow for a week, fingers crossed the weather is looking to be more settled.

Ah yes! those steps on Bindon Hill, I know them well...my legs are aching just looking at them.

Great shot of Corfe Castle shrouded in mist, very atmospheric

Cheers,

Neil

I'm loving your reports from Lulworth Mark. Only been there once but brings back very happy memories.