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Some nice Essex Skippers there Wurzel. Hurry up with those books as I can't wait to read them

They're in the pipeline Pauline, well at least one of them is

Bentley Wood Part 2

...At the corner we were treated to a few fly-bys by His Nibbs, some really close but unfortunately he didn’t come down to ground despite the best efforts of Bait Man. After a brief chat with Bait Man (sorry can’t recall your name ) we carried on round to Donkey Copse proper in the hope that one of the Emperors that have been knocking around would come down to the deck. The heat continued to rise and the girls set up camp in the shade and settled down to some serious chat so Philzoid and I could have a mooch around. At one point I saw a male trying to entice a female to copulate. She was flying directly in a straight line not wavering from her course whereas the male was flying in continual loops around. I felt like I was watching a ginger wheel moving through the air. Then something a took off from the shade and its path bisected the amorous couple. As it left the shade I could see that it wasn’t gingery like the other two but silvery – a Valesina – but it didn’t hang around as both the ginger male and female went for her and chased her off into the shade.
As compensation Philzoid found a pair in cop so we spent a good while with the mating pair. The girls were getting hot and as the morning slipped away so did our chances of an Emperor on the deck as I’d been led to believe from speaking to some other butterfliers previously, so we started a slow wander back. We didn’t get very far when I saw a Purple Hairstreak land in an Oak branch overhanging the path. It was almost out of range but with a bit of cropping and sharpening the image I got was not too bad and a vast improvement on last year. Having photographed a female with open wings in my first year and then the next found individuals on Bracken for the classic closed wing and male open wing shots I think I’d not realised how difficult a species this can be to photograph. After two years of standing on tip toes, camera at full reach and still having to crop and sharpen the living hell out of the images obtained I’m definitely starting to appreciate the difficulty of Purple Hairstreaks! As we neared the baited area we bumped into Bait Man on his BMX who was just going to check another baited area deeper in the wood. He said something along the lines of “I’ll come back with you as He always turns up when someone new arrives”. And sure enough His Nibbs did come down from the tree however we couldn’t get close enough for nay really good shots as He was very nervous. Despite leaving him to settle for an unbearable 5 minutes and the slowest stalk in history He took to the air and rested up in a tree. We all watched through binoculars we were that far away and He was magnificent to see. Bait Man explained that this particular Emperor had come down the previous day almost as before the bait was out of the jar. But then He’d been spooked by an over eager photographer who got too close too quickly as well as firing off his multi-shot camera sounding like a machine gun. Now He was jittery and didn’t like to be approached. Bait Man went on to explain that from personal experience he’d come to the conclusion that Emperors learn to be nervous of humans and once learnt the behaviour remains so there are simple rules to follow to enable the maximum number of people to enjoy His Nibbs. Most people already know them – give Him/Her 4-5 minutes to settle, approach very slowly and only take a few shots each time not hundreds on fast fire multi-shoot mode. He was also kind enough to show us his Bait factory and I came away with the names of many strange and wonderful concoctions to try out next year. Thank you Bait Man and hopefully we’ll meet up next year and we can share in plenty of Purple-ness! The walk back was hot and sticky but we still scanned ahead hopefully just in case. Actually we didn’t do too badly and I was able to catch up with one or two individuals that have proved tricky over the last few weeks/months including an obliging Brimstone and a truly wild Large White. There were also Smessex and Large Skippers a plenty and a Comma amongst the Meadow Browns and Ringlets. I also found a grounded Silver Washed back at the “dip” along the main path and it seemed to be taking salts from the grasses? Once back at the car park we eagerly tucked into our lunch and a White Admiral posed nicely whilst feeding on some bird droppings allowing me to finally get the closed wing shot (though slightly faded) and a stained glass one for my collection. Oh well there’s always next year for His Nibbs and perhaps it’ll be the turn of Bentley to host the Purple Party (WINK). Whilst I was slightly disappointed not to get a grounded Nibbs in reality it didn’t matter as I witnessed new behaviours, found out some really useful info about baiting and Emperor behaviour and had a thoroughly pleasurable day due to the excellent company. And when you add all that together who cares about what you didn’t photograph !

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A fascinating account of a brilliant-sounding day out. You're right - days rarely go to plan, but there's always something interesting or different and new to see and stimulate the appetite for the next trip. If we saw everything just right first time every time, what would we do next year? Splendid stuff, Wurzel, just splendid.

Dave

Hi Wurzel,
That sounds like a great day and a successful one at that!
I love the PHS shot and as you say they are SERIOUSLY tough to get a shot of!
I am off to the Trossachs on Monday and am hoping to get some local specialities,so wish me luck.
With a bit of luck I will return with a Scottish Argus, Northern Brown Argus, Large Ringlet, Dark Green Frit (yes, still yet to get one!?) and dare I even contemplate a Mountain Ringlet.......
Flutter on!
CJB

Another entertaining report Wurzel and some great photos

Keep it up,

Neil F.

Cheers Dave You've hit the nail on the ahead there It's a matter of "you've got to go looking to see anything".
Cheers CJB Good luck with all your Northern species
Cheers fro your kind comments Neil

Stop off for a Bombay Bad Boy !

Monday I had to take my wife for one of her "big three" hospital check-ups . So I had the afternoon off work in order that I could run around and make sure that my family got dropped off, picked up and supported. It was packed itinerary which I was glad for as it meant that I didn’t have time for my mind to dwell on what was happening.

I left at the start of lunch and stopped off at a Co-Op on the way so that I could pick up a Bombay Bad Boy – my all time favourite Pot Noodle. If only they’d been around during my student days when all we had was Chow Mein or Chicken and Mushroom (I know there were other flavours, rice even, but really it came down to these two when all was said and done). As I left the shop I spotted a large Buddleia in the corner of the car park and as I had a few minutes to kill and also as I was still technically on lunch break I checked it out. As I got nearer I could see a Large White and a Brimstone as well as a Peacock. They seemed to take their fill and then move on so once I reached the bush all that appeared to be left was a Small White. As I was about to focus in something else caught my eye higher up, something I’d not seen before. A Small Skipper feeding on Buddleia and not only that but in the middle of an urban car park. It was soon joined by what I’m taking to be a second Peacock. Later I had to leave my wife there and pick the girls up from school. As I walked down the path to collect them a Meadow Brown flew across and a Comma kept fluttering around, stopping now and again. It would make to perch and but then it wouldn’t? I examined one of the leaves and saw a small yellow blob which I thought at the time was an egg, though now I know it wasn’t having seen the excellent shots on Hideandseeks PD so perhaps it was just checking out the foliage and deciding that it wasn't suitable .

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,

Interesting about your Small Skipper on the buddleia. I had a Large Skipper in my garden this morning, a first in itself but it also stopped for a while on one of my dwarf buddleias, got a couple of shots but pretty ropey so didn't bother posting in my diary.

Cheers,

Neil F.

Nice report(s) and photos Wurzel, great SWF mating pair. The PE has been giving us the 'run around' too, but yes there is always next year

Mike

Cheers Neil If only Silver-Spotted Skippers visited Buddleia in Co-Op car parks
Cheers Mike There is always next year, and I'll be prepared with Bait - I know where and what to get now

Devenish Record stop off

On the last day of work last week we finished early and had a BBQ to say goodbye to some staff members that were moving on. This meant that I had arranged to pick the girls up from their school and give the entire family a lift home as well as having about 15 minutes at The Devenish.

After the speeches, skits and some almost tearful goodbyes I wished those that I will see in September a good summer and raced to the car and set off. Things were looking good and I was well within my time frame. However almost as soon as I left the village where I work I ran into trouble. One of those drivers that don’t drive to the road and the conditions, not even one that sticks rigidly to the speed limit but the worst drivers of all. I’m pretty sure that they can see and read the numbers it’s just that in their brains 40 becomes 25 or 30 and 30 becomes 20 As for 50 well they just can’t cope with that and so range between 40, speeding up to this just as you’re contemplating overtaking them and 25 when there is no way you can get past them (bends, blind summits, traffic coming the other way etc). This old duffer even had the temerity to do the pointing out of the window thingy probably accompanied by “look at the lovely view over there Doris”!

This ate into my time considerably which was further eroded away by tractors and traffic lights; in fact pretty much everything that can slow you down on the road barring animals on the carriageway or alien invasion .

In the end I pulled into the car park at the Devenish with a measly 5 minutes to spare before I had to be on my way again in order to make the pick up on time. This would be a record breaking stop-off if I could manage it...

One minute to run up the hill, find a Chalkhill, there’s one, will it land?

15:42 (according to the clock on my camera – but it’s out by about 42 minutes) – first photo with a few more following on... 15:44 – final photo A minute to run back to the car park.

Stuff in the boot tidily so as not to raise suspicion and then tear out of the car park and bomb it across the valley, over the hill, down the hill, park. Sprint down the footpath...

Made it just in time!! It seems that all that training at Larkhill has paid off .

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I'm out of breath just reading that, Wurzel! Perseverance pays of as usual, despite all that driver could do to stop you. I know the type - drives at 40 in a 50 limit, and when you get to the 30 sign, carries on at 40 as if nothing was there.

Dave

Just catching up with your diary, great read as usual Wurzel with some lovely photos but, have you ever thought of buying some running shoes, might give you a few extra minutes with the butterflies.

All the best, Nick.

Cheers for the empathy Dave
Cheers Nick - good suggestion but I'm not sure that running shoes would fit in with the professional (corporate) dress code at work Still I'll see what I can get away with

Hampshire Marshies

A little while back I took a visit to a site in Hampshire looking for Marsh Frits. Well to be honest I wasn’t really looking for Marshies as I’d heard from other people that they had been recorded there but I’d visited a few times before with no luck so I doubted if they were still present. However, during the course of the afternoon I managed to see not just one, but 2 in one area of the site and at least 4 in a second area of the site.
The first one of the day as basking in the sun on the closely cropped turf and was holding it’s wings out as far as they could go in a poise I’ve not captured before. It wasn’t the freshest looking individual I’ve seen but it was still in pretty good nick. Further down at the second area that I saw them some were a bit more worn though none looked like a greasy dishcloth quite yet. I noticed that the level of wear only became really apparent when the butterfly held its’ wings in such a way as to catch the light just right. The minute they twisted or turned slightly the wear wasn’t noticeable. By the end of my time they seemed to have gotten used to my presence so I was able to get really close. I love the reddish palps and the dark proboscis. What made it extra special was the fact that I have now seen and photographed Marshies in three different counties; Hod Hill in Dorset, a Wiltshire Wood and Hill and now in Hants too. Perhaps next year I should try for a Devonian or maybe head even further afield over to David M’s neck of the woods and look for a Welshie Marshie?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I love the close-ups, Wurzel. I've always liked their little ginger quiffs as well. And their eyes can be almost blue...

Dave

Cheers Dave - Marsh Frits - the Johnny Rotten of the butterfly world

I've just returned to Wiltshire after revisiting my homeland of Dorset for a few days ( I missed the Wurzels but wasn't accused of being a grockle once ) and having caught up I'm now too knackered to do a posting even though I'm about 2 weeks behind with my PD I'm also late with my calendar so to rectify that...

August
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,

Hope you had a great few days away. I`m in the same boat as you when it comes to my personal diary, i`m so far behind, i`m going to need a time machine to catch up.

All the best, Nick.

Cheers for the empathy Nick - in an attempt to circumvent the need for a time machine I've taken to turning 4 possible posts into 1 Oh well needs must...

Larkhill

Skippers were becoming less of the norm during my final week of visiting Larkhill. All my stop-offs for the week were morning ones as I was keen to get home as the end of work was so close.

18-07-2013
Gatekeepers seemed to be in abundance on a 5 minute stop-off although there were other Browns about. I took the Northbound path and made my way along it and it felt joyous to have butterflies erupt from the grass in front of me in such numbers. This was definitely a Brown day with Gatekeepers, Meadow Brown and Ringlets which were now fading fast. When I was almost back at the car I practically stumbled onto a Marbled White (yet another Brown) which allowed some pretty close up shots – even sheltering a Bombus humilus from what I’m still not too sure 19-07-2013
Today was a regular Gatekeeper fest as I started my yearly quest to find various unusual individuals to add to my collection. I’m enamoured by Hedge Browns again. A couple in this small site stuck out almost immediately and were duly added to the “Carter Collection”.
The first was a female with an eye, brown spot and a white spot on the hind wing as well as having a misshapen eye and extra dot on the right fore wing. The other with its wings closed revealed six white spots on the hind wing and a heptagonal eyespot. Next came another closed wing shot – this time with only 3 spots before finishing up with a cracking male which had its eye spots almost divided into two. 22-07-2013
I didn’t get back until after the weekend. A very quick stop of only a couple of minutes meant not seeing an awful lot. A Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone bombed by joined by a green Veined White. The usual Browns erupted from the grass ahead of me but again I found myself wandering and wondering after Hedge Browns, like a romance rekindled. 24-07-2013
I’d missed out on the penultimate visit as I gave the Dance teacher a life to school. As he hailed from Brixton I didn’t know how he’d take to me pulling in for a 5 minute butterfly foray so I didn’t get to visit Larkhill until the final morning of work.
What was strange was how similar the final and first visits were conditions wise – cool, damp, dark and drizzly – in July, really? What also added to the dampness of my mood was the desolation of the Westbound path. Where I’d photographed my first Large Skipper, my Burnet moths, my first Essex Skipper, mating Common Blues – gone! It had previously looked like the Northbound path. Gutted I checked the Northbound path which was still intact. Butterfly of the day it seemed was the humble Meadow Brown and I managed to capture two dew soaked individuals. The later summed my mood as a single dew drop sat tear-like, by its eye. I also found a suffering Marbled White. Dew soaked, chilled and with bloodsucking (well haemolymph really) critters on board, it was a shadow of its former self. That is it then unless September brings an Indian Summer and some species third brood. Of course there may be migrants – here’s hoping

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Brillant stuff Wurzel, lovely photos as always, don't , (I'm sure you would'nt), forget, the beautiful BH.

You post always make me smile,

All the best,

Mike.

Cheers Mike Indeed I haven't forgotten the BH - I'll be trying for that and SSS as soon as I return from West Wales - if I can swing it past the wife that is

Horse riding in the holidays

The first day of the holidays wasn’t spent as I thought it would be. No looking for Chalkhills or Silver Spotted Skippers for me. Instead it was lunch at my Aunts so the girls could have a free horse ride. I took my camera though just in case . As I sat in the garden before lunch various butterflies made visits. On the variegated Ivy a Small White seemed to take shade in amongst the leaves. Both a Red Admiral and a Comma made fleeting visits and a Small White investigated and then laid on one of the pot plants. Once at the stables a few more butterflies were evident. In the stable yard itself while Jigsaw was being groomed and saddled I took a quick look at the nettle patch – finding caterpillars and a Large White. Another Red Admiral and a Peacock put in appearances but didn’t stay long as they set off looking for an even bigger Buddleia. Up on the field there were Meadow Browns, the odd Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admiral but my camera usage was reserved for the girls as they rode around on a seemingly gigantic horse. Once back in the yard I had a quick mooch around adding a Small White and an older Small Tortoiseshell to the day list. Driving home at the time I thought; “I’ll have to try and cram in some butterflying soon – but how I don’t know? The weather doesn’t look crash hot next week, typical!”...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,

Tomorrow looks like its going to be pretty 'orrible almost everywhere but Tuesday onward looks better, showers maybe but some good sun between hopefully.

Cheers,

Neil F.

Cheers Neil - I just hope that it lasts until the weekend - I've still got Silver Spots to try and see

Stourhead 26-07-2013

Again instead of looking for Silver Spotted Skippers I took the family to Stourhead. A red Admiral in the car park was a good sign and we decided to do the “top route” through the woods this time. So we walked across the bridge to the walled gardens with little L asking “why isn’t there a river?”. In one of the small boxes filled with Lavender three species of White were represented. An area 2m x 1m held 15 whites! I tried a few shots but the light was too strong and my images were bleached out. Never mind there should be plenty of other opportunities as whites were everywhere. I caught up with the girls in the next walled garden up the terrace where again there were plenty of whites as well as some Small Tortoiseshells – 7 in total. They ranged from “edgeless” to “scaleless” to almost immaculate. On entering the woodland Avenue proper Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers with the odd battered Ringlet fought amongst the equally ubiquitous whites for any available Brambles. The whites were also aping the browns as they’d be down in the grass and would erupt from in front of your feet. One Bramble bush was particularly popular with the butterflies. There was a Red Admiral, a few Ringlet and Meadow Browns, Green Veined, Small and Large Whites as well as a Peacock that dropped in briefly right at the back out of reach. My wife pointed out a “weird looking butterfly” which it turned out to be weird because it wasn’t one butterfly but actually a pair of Green Veined Whites in cop (another species in the “sex book”). They accommodated me by landing close by on some Bracken and I managed plenty of shots while the girls ran up and down the woodland paths. Rather than mating with both parties holding their wings closed they seemed to prefer a “one with wings closed, while the others were open” system. Perhaps this was so that they were ready for a quick getaway?
I got a few close up shots which as well as the “in cop” and “stained glass” seem to be one of my “things” this year. Despite getting so close in they eventually accepted my presence it seemed as the male adopted a more relaxed attitude, antennae drooped and wings partially closed. I left them in peace and my family moved on. The Avenue opens to a view of the Obelisk and by the brush next to the Ha-Ha I did a bit more mooching. Again there were whites everywhere – some looking tattered round the edge – a side effect of taking nectar from Bramble flowers. A few Dragon flies buzzed around trying to distract me from the butterflies when a Ginger Beastie appeared. A male Silver Washed, a species which I didn’t know was found here, dropped down onto the bush scaring everything else away. It was a cracker lovely and fresh almost as if it had just come out of the box, in mint condish as it were. As we carried on a couple of Peacocks added themselves to the day list as well as some mating Blue Damselflies. I also got a 4 butterfly/3 species shot. But the stars were the whites with more and more of them appearing. I’d look about and in a single view I could see 6 or 7 whites. Some would fly by and behind me only to be replaced but more from some underground bunker. In the end I passed my camera to my older daughter so she could have a go and I could stand back and take in the spectacle .

Have a goodun

Wurzel