www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Great stuff Wurzel, glad to see you got your Green Hairstreak

Cheers,

Neil F.

Wurzel wrote:The curse was broken and I took my fill of shots!

Congrats Wurzel - and nice shots too!

Cheers,

- Pete

Good for you, Wurzel. You'll be tripping over them now...

Dave

Gorgeous first photo of the Grizzled Skipper Wurzel, and at last you got your Green Hairstreaks, well done, a great day.
All the best, Nick.

hideandseek wrote:...and at last you got your Green Hairstreaks, well done, a great day.

The relief is palpable (for us all as well as for you!)

Wurzel's first Greenstreak is fast becoming one of the year's landmark events!

Well done Wurzel great photos, glad you got your Green Hairstreak!

Mike

Cheers guys for all the congrats and kind comments And thanks as well for putting up with all my moaning about Greenstreaks - I'll try to not let it get to me next year...

Martin Down Part 2

While I was making the most of my find one of the Holly blues decided to pay me a visit also, perching low down and just in the line of the sun so getting a shot without it completely blowing out was tricky. In the end I managed to get close and clicked away when the sun went momentarily behind a cloud. But the Holly Blue was being a bit coy really, refusing to open its wings and besides the Greenstreaks seemed to be putting one a bit of a show as if to entice me back to watching them. One would disappear, land and then hide behind a leave before peeking out over the top of the blade. Absluelty lovely little critters, like little Teddies when seen up close. Again I was momentarily distracted this time by a Small Blue looking for some attention. But it wasn’t long before I was back with the Greenstreaks despite the Holly Blue teasing me by opening her wings just a fraction. All Greenstreaked out I set off again. From the tunnel I then strolled over the top towards the dip where the path from Sillens Lane transects the ditch. As I reached the first ring of the hill fort something was bombing along aided by the breeze. The jinking flight reminded me of something as did the particular orangey/red colouration. As it shot past me I realised too slow that it was a Marsh Fritillary (hopefully my first of many) and almost as soon as I started trying to follow it I lost it. After a further 20 minutes of scanning and searching I gave up and carried onwards. The “dip” over the years has been one of the hotspots for me with my first ever Green Hairstreak, Duke of Burgundy and Grizzled Skipper as well as offering me the chance to get shots of most of the Blues but I was gutted to see on this visit that there has been a small fire and the vegetation hasn’t recovered yet. So instead I set off down the path but something small and orangey caught my eye – my first Small Copper but it too didn’t stop for photos. In fact by now not an awful lot of things did stop apart from a (I think) Common Carpet and finally once almost back at the car a Dingy Skipper. On the way to the site I was running through what ideally I would have liked to see. It went something along the lines of :
Have a bit of a tidy up, get better shots or first shots of species that I’ve seen but not got photos of (male Orange-tip, Holly Blue)
Find some Small Blues
Find some Green Hairstreaks (“ha! I thought sarcastically I may as well wish for a Martin Down Marshie”)
Blow me down if I didn’t! Remind me next time to think “hope to see a Large Tortoiseshell or Camberwell Beauty” as I drive somewhere

An absolutely cracking day – one of those epic ones that lives on in your memories. It almost felt like the season had finally started only for the weather to go off again a few days later. Oh well if it stays two steps forwards and one back we’ll get there eventually.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Splendid to hear (and see) how it all just came together for you... I am now planning an expedition down to Martin Down sometime Friday onwards, maybe venturing that bit further to Hod Hill for the chance of fresh Marsh Fritillaries and lots more too I hope.

Dave

What a fantastic selection of butterflies you have seen. Great pictures, too.

Excellent stuff Wurzel

Neil F.

Cheers Dave - I recommend parking at Sillens Lane end if you find yourself at Martin Down and follow the hedge along the bottom of the hill - it's level and easy walking and there are butterflies all along the hedge. I don't know if Marsh Frits are out at Hod Hill yet but I'm keeping my eyes open ready
Cheers Nick and Neil for your kind comments

Bentley Wood

On Sunday I made a visit to Bentley Wood with the Wiltshire Branch. I normally prefer to go out on my own or in very small groups as you get to see more and also stand more of a chance of getting some shots but this was in a different part of the Wood and hopefully a chance to do a bit of a reccee for Small Pearls. I took my older daughter along as she was up for a wander.
Once we entered the wood butterflies seemed to be about with good numbers of whites (Brimstones in particular) and a pair or two of Speckled Woods however nothing was stopping for very long. There were a few long horned moths around and they looked spectacular catching the sun like burnished gold. We headed off the main trail and my older daughter found a Peacock and there was also an Argent and Sable about but it didn’t allow a decent approach. I handed the camera over to my daughter for a bit and she managed to creep up on the Peacock which was busy nectaring. However it got a bit too piney and dark so we made our back to and then further along the main track. A pair of Pearls appeared and then led us on a merry dance for a bit as it was getting near to midday, the temperature was nice and high and they were obviously super charged. The closest I could get was about 3 feet away. We arrived at the pond for lunch and as we munched my daughter and I watched the tadpoles, Minnows and a Newt in the pond and the Large Red Damselflies around it. We then said our goodbyes as the party carried on along the switchback to the Eastern clearing and started on our way home. Almost back at the car I saw a sign for a familiar bit of the wood which I’d visited last year and then it had taken me almost an hour to get to it. Yet when I looked through the trees I could make out some familiar landmarks so we veered off to check it out. Indeed it was the same site and there was a Green Veined White and a couple more Pearls to greet us. After some much closer shots we wound our way back and Speckie stopped to wish us a goodbye. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Incredible that we're still seeing spring Peacocks on the cusp of June!!

Well done to your lass for snapping it!

Cheers David Although it's almost June it still "feels" like late spring My little girl was made up when I told her I'd posted her shot it seems my training her as a "spotter child" paid off

Isle of Wight...just for a night (or two)

Last Monday we set off on one of the “Sun holidays” to the Isle of Wight. When we booked it back in January or whenever it was, the last week of May seemed like the perfect time to go. It would be warm enough the for butterflies, we usually get a dry spell and the Glanville Fritillaries should be emerging in force so I contacted Marmari (cheers) and genned up on sites around the Island...

The journey over was pleasant and the sun shone down as we started out to find our way around. As we couldn’t check in until 4pm we headed over to West Wight and had lunch on the coast path. The odd White and male Orange-tip patrolled along the hedges but refused to stop so I settled instead for some shots of a Slow Worm. Lunch over we drove one westwards to a National Trust nature reserve at New Town. A quick stroll down to the bird hide added a Peacock the tally and there were more whites and another male Orange-tip. All were very flighty and none stopped for a photo. So I settled for some Orchids – at least they can’t fly/run away and my first shot of Scorpion Fly of the year. Then things started to go a bit astray. When we checked into the accommodation it was terrible – minging beds , stains on all of the seats and lino and handfuls of clumped hair in the drawers as well as ants all over the kitchen. The next day despite some Red Squirrels running around outside I don’t think I saw another living animal all day as it rained from the minute we awoke to the minute we went to sleep . So we cut our losses and the next day we were on the ferry heading back to the mainland. We’ll be back as the island itself is fantastic but next time we’ll camp because then you know exactly what you’re going to get.

As I was sitting at the ferry terminal I realised that I hadn’t taken a single butterfly shot in the island and to compound my woes the first Glanvilles had been reported! Here’s hoping Wrecclesham comes good again this year.

Back home with all the unpacking done I walked into town to get some provisions and stopped for a sight I have never seen before. As usual a Grey Wagtail caught my eye but there was a strange call catching my ear. Once I’d located the bird I noticed further movement from among the branches that it was perching on. Then I saw 4 chicks all begging for food. The parent would fly out, catch a Mayfly and return and once sated the offspring would close it’s eyes and have a little doze while it’s siblings carried on making their appeals to mum and dad – and I thought I had it tough as a parent to two little girls! Have a goodun

Wurzel

Shame about the weather, Wurzel - it's the one thing we can do nothing about.

Quite a contrast to 2011 when you think the Glanvilles at Sand Point in Somerset had disappeared by Whit bank holiday!! I daresay they haven't even emerged yet this year.

Sorry to hear about your IOW experience and the lack of Glanvilles. As always your bird shots are fantastic.

Will keep you posted on any recces to Wrecclesham.

Phil

Cheers Philzoid Definitely keep me informed on the Wrecclesham situation.

Cheers David it was a bit galling to be sitting there at the ferry terminal in Cowes reading about the first sightings Still I’ve just had an absolutely cracking weekend with firsts for the year all over the shop from two new sites (including Dukes and Marshies ). But before I can look at the 1000+ photos I’ve still got Thursday and Friday to sort out. So here goes...

Wet afternoon at Bentley

Having returned from the IOW I was at a bit of a loss what to do with myself. I was supposed to be surreptitiously tracking down Glanvilles while the girls played on the beach and instead I was faced with a wet Thursday. In the end I reasoned that a trip to Bentley Wood might pay off and so I bundled the girls into their willies and water proofs and we set off.
Once in the Eastern Clearing the girls set up camp by one of the benches; umbrellas to make little tents, a rug to sit on, library books to read and sweets to eat. Once they were all sorted I was free to roam within line of site so off I set. If the girls thought I was straying a little too far then shouts of “Wurzel” would echo round the clearing. However t wasn’t producing the goods with sightings of only two Pearls braving the light rain. We moved camp to the look-out post and I tried my luck along the track there. I’ve often wondered what happens to butterflies when it cools down or when it rains, I thought they’d hunker down but it seems that Pearls head to the trees. We moved back to the Eastern Clearing as I had a hunch that the rain would stop and then the sun might shine through. There were a few more moth species around including what I think is a drab Looper? But then the rain did stop and the sky brightened and all of a sudden there were 3 or 4 Pearls active in the clearing. Brill! My patience paid off and as I’ve caught up with this species a fair bit this year I tried for some different shots but couldn’t resist one “Classic” side view too. We drove home the girls all played out after 4 hours in the field. Brill again! And typical as I pulled out of the car park the temperature rose and the sun shone down!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Entertaining as usual Wurzel, well written, with some lovely photos, keep it up.

All the best, Nick.

Sorry to hear about your IOW experience Wurzel.

Smashing report and great photos, you always seem to pull something out of the bag no matter what

Cheers,

Neil F.

Hi Wurzel
The plain brown winged moth is as you say a Drab Looper (which is one I haven't seen before). The first one pictured is Brown silver-line and the micro is Celypha lacunana

looking forward to the next installment!

Phil

Cheers Nick, or should I say Neil - I'll certainly try to keep it up
Cheers Neil , I just keep plodding away
Cheers for the ID's Philzoid That was a great trip out on Sunday but I've still got Friday and Saturday to sort out and on that note...

Mottisfont

On Friday we took advantage of the good weather and spent the day at Mottisfont a National Trust site in the Test Valley. As soon as we arrived we set out along the river in amongst the dappled light. The first beastie to meet us was a Speckled Wood which seemed intent on keeping this little patch of the path to itself. Anything that entered into the zone was soon seen off – a fly, then a Bumble Bee and finally a male Orange-tip, which I was rather annoyed about because it was about to settle! The river opened out onto a lush flower meadow but apart from a couple of whites there were no other butterflies which surprised me as it looked like it would be great for Uncommon Blues? Still we ended back across the fields in the lawned garden. After our picnic lunch the girls went off and found friends to run around with, my wife enjoyed lazing in the sun and I trawled along a small area of nettles. It was a cracking little area. A Holly Blue put in a brief appearance, as well as a Banded Demoiselle. There was a Nomada bee, Scorpion flies, various other flies, some micro-moths (3 different species) as well as a large, black and white wasp. What really caught my eye was a moulted case of a May Fly. Up in the walled garden there were a few more whites around but they were no playing ball; flying endlessly along the borders and then dipping down before soaring up and over the wall. We moved on pretty quickly as there was a swarm of bees on one of the posts which took off on mass.
From the walled garden we got the girls some ice creams and I picked up a little mate, a lovely coloured beetle. Finally we went to feed the fish and play Pooh sticks on the bridge so I sloped off for a few minutes and found a late Peacock that wouldn’t come out of hiding and a Large White that was a bit more accommodating. The butterflies were proving to be hard work, very skittish and turbo charged so I settled for a few shot of the Brown Trout feeding. Once back as if the girls hadn’t had enough fresh air I took them to the park in the town. While they were playing I nipped over the fence and got a shot of a Small White. It must have thought it was a way from prying eyes having landed down in the Brambles but it hadn’t realised that there was a nice window through which I could see it. Even though there weren’t that many specialities an absolutely brill day!

Have a goodun

Wurzel