www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Another great read with some lovely photos Wurzel. I see you have seen a Clouded Yellow at last, excellent and got the opened wing shot as well, but the Silver-spotted Skipper ovipositing has got to be my favourite, but then i am a complete sucker for that sort of shot, well done for capturing the moment, brilliant.

All the best, Nick.

Cheers Dave I know what you mean about noticing variation - I'm seeing it in Small Coppers at the moment
Cheers Nick That was my fave too, I need to work on my Clouded Yellow shots I just can't get close enough

Before I forget...I took the girls to Legoland today and didn’t take my camera as I didn’t want to smash it on the rides or for it to get a soaking at Drench Towers. I did see a good range of butterflies – singles of Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral and Holly Blue as well as 3 Gatekeepers, many Small and Large Whites and 2 Small Torts. The star butterfly of the day however was a Purple Hairstreak which landed on the deck. The precise location was 2 feet away from the blue slide at Drench Towers and having moved it in my cupped hands the exact spot it had been in 30 seconds later was covered in water splashing from the side of the slide. I didn’t get a photo on my iPod as I didn’t want to look like a weirdo as there were kids in swim suits all around. I guess that has to be the most unusual location I’ve seen a butterfly in. Then there was a Clouded Yellow across the approach road to Junction 2 of the M3. Back to the PD and somehow I’m still a week behind...

Martin Down

Last Sunday after the visit to Stockbridge Down the previous day we had some family jobs to do. First we had to check on my Father’s allotment while he was away in France and then we were scheduled to help out my sister in-law who was clearing out what used to be our old garden.

The allotment trip was pretty quick and I came away with two bags brimming with veggies and a sense of justice. This came from the fact that the allotment owner who had been slightly derogatory about my fathers’ plot had multitudes of Small and Large Whites all over their cabbages despite the netting!
As we were out at Sixpenny Handley I suggested a picnic lunch at Martin Down and once there I guided my family to the hidden little alcove of shrubs where I’ve found my first Grizzlies the last two years. As we sat down on the springy turf a fair number of butterflies flitted around us including a Small Copper that landed briefly on our picnic rug, as if to join us for luncheon. Brimstones and other whites doodled about on the surrounding brambles and Meadow Browns posed nicely with their wings wide open (grrrr) until the occasional Blue would bomb past and upset them. A worn DGF circled overhead and dropped down. I lazily picked up my camera while holding my sandwich in my other hand, took a photo and then when back to eating. Once we’d eaten I let the girls loose with my camera for 10 minutes while my wife and I watched them posing for each other and then stalking for macro shots. It seems my younger daughter is more into flowers at the moment but my older one was trying hard to stalk butterflies. I doesn’t help that she can only just hold the lens upright!
Playtime over we had to get back to my sister in-laws for some heavy duty landscaping so we packed up and on the way back to the car I stole a few shots here and there. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Just catching up on your diary Wurzel as I have my coffee break. That's a great photo of the SSS oviposting - well timed. That is also an amazing tale of the Purple Hairstreak but a sad reflection of the times we now live in that you felt unable to take a photo with the kids around.

Cheers Pauline Unfortunately these are the times we're living in and any pleas of innocence would have been met with "a Purple what? Get in the back of the van!" At least it would if I was in "Withnail and I"

Have agoodun

Wurzel

Shipton Bellinger

A little over a week ago I and my girls had a meet up with Philzoid and his. After a game of hide and seek in the central car park we made the move over to Shipton Bellinger looking for Brown Hairstreaks. As we pulled into the car park the sun came and went and it felt pretty autumnal which is kind of appropriate for the final emerging butterfly of the season. So to avoid the nip in the air we set off up the track to the two hedges. Along the route we encountered plenty of whites, a Holly Blue doing the usual trick of staying up high and browns which would tease us by flying by and looking orangey when in flight. We both knew that they weren’t Brown Hairstreaks but it always paid to check them just in case, you never know... At the top of the track we found a large Bramble bush that was attracting lots of butterflies and representatives from the range of species that we had found so far. And then Philzoid saw something high up near to the very top of the track and the Master Tree. The fast, jinking flight reminded me of the White letters we’d seen earlier in the year but this one had a definite orangey appearance. So we’d bagged a Brostreak! Delighted but wanting more we carried on out to the open area. Here there were butterflies erupting form under our feet, tumbling off of flowers and flitting by us it was a fantastic sight. While the girls set up camp Philzoid and I mooched around on the turf before moving over to the hedge that borders the site. Highlights of the first foray included a lovely fresh Brown Argus that was so intent on feeding that it seemed to stand on it’s on proboscis and a Comma doing it’s very best at impersonating a dead leaf. There were other people around and when they all started peering into the hedge and gazing intently at something a few feet away with binoculars we thought we ought to find out was all the fuss was about. Okay to be honest we knew what it was going to be but it was still early in the visit so there would be plenty of time for us to find our own. Hence we sidled up and asked the old chestnut “anything about?” One of the group informed us that there was a brown Hairstreak, a male, low down on a bush and pointed out where in the hedge it was. Once they’d relocated it for us they moved off so Philzoid and I managed to make a gentle approach. He was a right little cracker posing with his wings open then half shut before moving to another perch and closing them while he fed. At this point we were joined by another observer who, having followed our pointing fingers proceeded to wade directly through the undergrowth to where it was perching. Or rather where it had been perching because all the commotion they’d caused had spooked it. I couldn’t believe it. I’d taken a good 5 minutes to get into position, edging around and picking my way around the bushes to avoid trampling them, slipping my foot down between the stems of the brambles, pausing at every foot step to check that I hadn’t disturbed it and that Philzoid had gotten some shots. Five minutes to cover a distance of about 2 metres and this bloke wades in taking two footsteps, ripping the undergrowth to shreds and spooking the butterfly in the process ! We did relocate further along the hedge but now it was much deeper in and only distance shots were possible.
I always like to read up on a species before venturing out into the field and most of the texts I’ve read all say how rare it is for males to come down from the tree tops and how you’ll hardy ever see males down on the deck and those Brostreaks that do come down are invariably female. Yet for the past three years at this site (and Alners Gorse) I’ve invariably seen and photographed male Brostreaks. Is this a particularly good site for the males to venture down at or is the literature in need of an update? Musing this and other things excitedly (and angrily) we continued walking along the hedge to see what else was about and whether we could find any other Brostreaks. On our mooching we encountered good numbers of blues and them seemed to be almost as numerous in places as the Meadow Browns. There were still Gatekeepers (or False Hairstreaks) around and the vanessids were represented by a Red Admiral, another Comma, and a brace a piece of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. An aged Small Skipper and Silver Washed Fritillary almost made it a full house. One Brown Argus was so fresh it had a little confused while it was flying as it looked almost like a Chimney Sweep at times. In flight it looked black on top and like a silver flash below. The blues also seemed to be bunching together around what looked like bark, but was probably very ancient dung. We reached almost the end of the hedge and were making our way back. Philzoid had gone back a bit more in order to show some of the girls what we’d seen as by now iPods and colouring had become a bit boring and their curiosity had been piqued. The sun was dipping in and out of the clouds and during one of the duller, noticeably cooler moments I stumbled across a Brimstone, wings open basking. I couldn’t believe it at first and thought first that I must be mistaken and second that it must be dead. Either way, this looked like a once in a life time opportunity, so I called out to Philzoid and he rushed over to partake in the possibly unique encounter. After what felt like an age (but was probably only a few minutes) the sun started to peak through the clouds, the temperature started to rise and it was off. It only flew a distance of about 3 metres and then quickly settled down to feed, this time with wings tightly shut in the more usual posture. Slightly stunned we carried on picking our way back to where the girls had made camp debating how that had happened. Was it that it suddenly got too cool so it had dropped, basking to desperately raise its temp? We carried on checking the Hedge observing every Hedge or Meadow Brown that would fly past just in case but the sun was staying in the clouds for longer and longer periods of time, the wind was picking up and it was starting to feel cooler again so we didn’t hold much hope. By now our wanderings along the hedge had brought us back to almost where we’d started. I remember last year Pauline put me onto a female quite close to the Ivy bush here and this year a path had been created (trampled) in by this same bush. Just on the off chance I took a few steps along it and then stopped abruptly. There in front of me at waist height was a gorgeous Brostreak. She had her wings held wide open in the classic field guide pose which I’ve been trying to capture for the last three years. I called out to Philzoid and we both took photo after photo. She moved around a little bit, only a few inches at a time and then closed her wings and started to nectar. After a while of this she took another wander, this time below the Bramble leaf, which possibly explains how they can just seemingly disappear at times. Sated and warmed she then took to the air and landed up a bit higher and just out of range but luckily before this all four girls had had a look so we bade her farewell and headed back to the girls camp for lunch. It didn’t look like the cloud would shift so we made our way back to the play park near the car park so that the girls could have a mess around and we could get some lunch. Absolutely cracking stuff – the final “emerger” of the year, shots I’d always wanted in the bag and one hell of a surprise too! The day wasn’t over quite yet as we decided to head next to Five Rivers...
Have a goodun

Wurzel

You`ve out done yourself Wurzel, great photos,. Which one is my favourite? have`nt got the time to name them all, brilliant.

All the best, Nick.

Absolutely stunning shots Wurzel, the second shot of the female BHS with wings open is fantastic! Great photos, you must be over the moon, especially as you 'held back' on posting these.

Great stuff

Mike

A brilliant set of photos, Wurzel. I've still to see a Brown Hairstreak this year, and you go and see a selection like that. If there are degrees of envy, the beautiful new male at the start probably rates highest.

Dave

The open wing brimstone pictures are amazing!

Ahhh Wurzel, payback time, my turn to be envious

Great series of photos, not only those excellent Brown Hairstreaks but open wing Brimstones as well, great stuff

Cheers,

Neil F.

Cheers Nick and Mike your comments had me chuffed to bits!
Cheers Dave for your very kind comment I'm sure you'll be all Brostreaked up soon!
Cheers Dilettante and Neil for your very kind comments It was just luck really and the fact that I was dealing with such photogenic butterflies

Five Rivers

Once we’d eaten lunch and while the girls were playing we decided to make a move to check out Five Rivers. A large cloud hung over the area but looking further afield it seemed much clearer over towards the west. On the way there we’d been held back by a lorry and now on the way back there was a tractor and various other drivers slowing us down still we got there eventually, pulled up in the loose stone bays, jumped out and headed off. First we checked out the thistles and brambles by the old compost heap. Most had turned by now and what was a small lake of purple was now white and fluffy. The huge number of Small Tortoiseshells had been replaced by three Commas, a looking very smart and acting very lively.

We then made our way over to the banks hoping to find an aged Essex Skipper for Philzoid to add to his years tally but we could only rustle up a Small. There were a few blues about, a couple of males whizzing around and a nice blue-ish female. She seemed quite content for me to get a few shots basking for all she was worth in the weak sun. The middle bank with its large Buddleia looked like a better bet for finding butterflies. There was a Red Admiral lurking around the back, a few Meadow Browns, a Peacock and three Small Tortoiseshells in amongst the multitude of whites. Once again however the cloud seemed to deter the butterflies and despite moving round we didn’t add much more as the sun kept hiding on the clouds and the temperature seemed to noticeably drop. The Painted Lady I was hoping for didn’t materialise either and eventually we started making our way back towards the car park. That’s the thing with Five Rivers it had a good range of species but nothing that’s particularly out of the ordinary so it’s a good place for me to drop into to pick up my common or garden species. Plus I suppose after the highlights of Shipton Bellinger where there were butterflies everywhere we’d been a bit spoilt so it I walked away feeling that Fiver Rivers hadn’t lived up to my expectations . Still once back at the Thistle bed I was cheered by the lovely fresh Comma that had decided to take a break on one of natures fluffy duvets. We then had to part ways, Philzoid to head off into the city for some food and me homewards so the girls could bath and bed. Hopefully this won’t be the final meet up of the season as through the year when we’ve teamed up we’ve seen some cracking sights!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Martin Down (a week ago)

I’ve not been in this situation before; where I have seen “all” (baring unusual migrants) the species that I could expect to see with two weeks of the holiday to go so when I said I’d take the girls out I was at a loss where to go . However remembering the relaxed butterflying offered the previous weekend at Martin Down I decided to head there. It would also mean that I could pop in for a cuppa with the girls Great Grandparents and check my fathers’ allotment too...

Once we’d pulled into the car park at Sillens Lane we headed off immediately up the hill towards the spring at the bottom of Ham Hill. The progress was slow – not because of my girls dragging their heels but because there was so much to see on the way. Small Coppers would bask on the stones on the path while Common Blues, the odd Brown Argus and Chalkhill favoured the grasses and flowers along the verges. Whites were everywhere including a Cloudy at one point that flew towards me down the track and then up and over Hawthorns and into the flower meadow on the other side. I watched it bombing around from flower to flower, stopping only for a second or two at a time and all the while it was getting further and further away . Eventually we reached the bottom of Ham Hill and set up camp. My picnic was interrupted as a very pale looking, almost cream, butterfly did a few passes. I dropped my sandwich and followed it and it settled as the sun ducked behind a cloud. It was a very worn Clouded Yellow which looked like a “Helice” in reverse, with the “window” the brightest yellow part while the rest of the body was a greenish, limey colour. A quick flight shot confirmed it with the darker, broader hind wing band interrupted by large spots. Closer inspection showed the level of wear as well as chunk missing from a hind wing. Strange really as I hadn’t thought about how a worn and tired Cloudy would look as I never imagined coming across one. When people talk about other butterflies I can often imagine them in various stages of decay as it were but whenever I hear Clouded Yellow I always get the image of a pristine, bright and fresh individual. Once I’d returned to my sandwich and the girls had eaten lunch we discussed what we wanted to do. Obviously I wanted a root around the spring area as it often yields all kinds of species, my older daughter wanted to climb up the steep slope of Ham Hill (she’s got to the age of Famous Five and making camps etc) and my younger daughter wanted to sit in the shade and look at the books we’d brought. So we all set off to do our own thing and as my younger daughter settled down and my older daughter set off vertically at break neck speed I took the middle ground of a quiet mooch. Basically I would stroll over to the base of the hill on one side and then back again across the flat and thin chalk soil with a bit more time spent around the bushes of the actual spring. In a little over 5 minutes I’d racked up a total of 10 species including a female Chalkhill, Brown Argus, an aged Smessex and a decrepit Dark green Fritillary. On my second turn around the bushes by the spring the same Cloudy as before caught my eye and she moved in closer and started to lay eggs. She’d take a short flight, land a lay and then move onto the next plant. I watched her intently until she had decided that she needed to try elsewhere and then once she’d gone moved in to find a miniscule egg. Both the girls then told me that they wanted to head to the very top of the reserve and so we set off to the top of Borkerley cutting across the rolling down. As we hiked along we were joined by a Small Copper and another Clouded Yellow bombed past, racing us to the top. It won and then proceeded to run my a merry dance once we got there, doing the usual trick of stopping for a fraction of a second before flying off powerfully. There were loads of whites here in the top field as well as a few Chalkhills, Common Blues, Brown Argus and a very timid second brood Adonis Blue. Our enjoyment was cut short by a family who had a couple of dogs off their leads, despite all the signs and notices to the contrary . The dogs weren’t vicious or troublesome it’s just that after a nasty incident a few years ago my older daughter is petrified of dogs so to calm her down we set off down the hill to the hotspot...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Martin Down Part 2

...Having reached the Hotspot the girls set up camp just off the path on one of the terraces. As they were happily ensconced I set about wandering here and there, along Borkerly, down to the sign, across to the miniature quarry face etc and over about 20 minutes I saw pretty much everything that I’s seen over the course of the morning; all condensed into this one little area. It just seems that all of the micro habitats present across Martin Down converge at this single point. What struck me was that there were at least three Clouded Yellows here which would work their way up and down the ditch or cut right across the terraces disappearing by the quarry. I now that there were at least three individuals as I watch a pair spiralling upwards having literally bumped into each along the ditch. They were joined by a third and all three intermingled and continued spiralling upwards like a little puff of sulphurous smoke. When they disbanded I spent what seemed like an age trying to approach individuals for a shot but they were a complete nightmare. In the end I managed some shots that are slightly better than those from my previous encounter at Stockbridge Down. Whilst chasing the Clouded Yellows (metaphorically and not literally – you can’t really chase them, only take two steps and they’re gone!) I stumbled across a Silver Spotted Skipper which was basking on the bare chalk. Another species added to the Hotspot list and as I strolled back to the girls I realised that this meant that from this little area I really had now encountered everything that the rest of the reserve had to offer! I grabbed a quick cup of coffee and noticed that the burnt patch from earlier in the year was now in full bloom and I felt a bit bad about missing out on a lot of species due to my blinkering by Clouded yellows. So to make amends I set about to try and see all the species that I’d taken for granted since arriving at the hotspot. First up was a Small Copper which again, to my eyes, had slightly pronounced tails as well as a few sparse blue spots, a ginger hairdo and orange on the forewing that ran right to the wing margin which I presume means that it wasn’t long out of the chrysalis? I then worked my way through the species – Common Blue, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Peacock, various whites, Chalkhill Blue, Small Heath, Smessex Skipper, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Eventually we had to make the move back home and so we set out from this little butterfly oasis back to the car park. Due to time restraints and tired little feet I didn’t stop for butterflies, instead it was a case of heads down and get the walk walked! However, just as we were almost back, a strange looking butterfly seemed to be working its way along the hedge towards us. It was only when it landed that I realised what it was, a Greenish Silver Washed Fritillary! Just when you think you’ve seen everything that Martin Down has to offer it throws up a curve ball like this. The nearest woods are on the opposite side of the reserve, Vernditch and Kitts Wood yet here is a woodland species acting more like it’s Dark Green cousin. That’s the great thing about this lark – you never know what to expect! After a little while and a few shots by me it carried off along the hedge stopping at each Bramble for nectar so I left it in peace and we all headed homeward.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Like they say, Wurzel, always expect the unexpected. It's what makes this hobby so interesting. That SWF is an amazing bonus! On my wish list...

Dave

On my wish list too Wurzel, well done. Going back to your previous post, that Clouded Yellow ovum is a great find, and a lovely photo, great work. Do you know the name of the plant the egg was laid on?

All the best, Nick.

I always enjoy reading your reports, and that SWF is great. It's chance encounters like this that make butterflying days thrilling.

Gorgeous photographs, Wurzel (such colour in the Small Coppers and Clouded Yellows!) And the SWF! What a find! I've never seen one - Great report. All the best, Hoggers

Another great read Wurzel, your diary always brings a smile to my face

Nice find with the Valesina SWF , another species that seems to be hanging in there later than usual this year. They certainly seem to have been dispersing well in the midlands, I even had one turn up in my garden a few weeks back as reported in my diary, miles away from any colonies.

Cheers,

Neil F.

Loving your diary at the mo,Wurzel-some great pictures there.

I am particularly envious of those Brown Hairstreaks!

The plant with the CY egg on it is common birds-foot trefoil,by the way...

Great shots and nice interesting report(s) Wurzel. Like you i'm trying to make the most of the Clouded Yellows, as who knows when we'll get another year like this Great shot of the CY ovum, I also saw a CY laying yesterday. Excellent stuff finding the Valasina and some lovely fresh Small Coppers too

Mike