From Sun 22nd
A meet-up with Wurzel and a trip to Hutchinson’s bank had been in the pipeline for some time. From the reports coming in we were confident we’d get to see our quarry. For me this would be the first time for 3 years in the UK since the demise of Wrecclesham and drawing a blank on my last two visits (to Hutchinson’s) in 2014 and 2015. All through the week we’d been nervously eyeing the weather forecasts and it wasn’t looking good. Nevertheless, we’d made up our minds that we’d be going come rain or shine. It was a pleasant surprise to find the weather on Sunday morning ideal for butterflying
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Wurzel was over my way (Woking) by 09:00 and I drove us on to Hutchinson’s with Wurzel’s SatNav taking us on a third alternative route (via Purley). N.B. When we left, we returned via "planned route 2" a country and motorway route to Limpsfield, Oxted; M25. "Planned route 1" was A3; Morden; Carshalton; Croydon Coombe rd. Gravel Hill. I’ve still to work out which is the best route
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
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We found a parking spot at the top of Farleigh Dean crescent. The reserve is accessed along a wooded track-way. Immediately we were greeted by a Speckled Wood and then Brimstone and Holly Blue followed by more Speckled Wood. The track with dappled light through the trees reminded me of my time butterflying in La Bastide de Serou in France. I knew this was going to be a good day
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Through a kissing gate you enter into a banked gully. Only seconds in Wurzel spotted a Small Blue, but before we could focus on it there was a Dingy Skipper and then a Glanville Fritillary whizzed by
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. The weather was keeping the fresh looking Glanvilles fairly active but they would settle on hawksbeard and vetches to take nectar or occasionally alight on the ground or on a blade of grass to soak up the sun. They were quite approachable on the whole
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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Unable to find a/the Small Blue again we decided to explore a bit more of the reserve. As we moved out of the scrape a male Common Blue flew by, our first of the season. Climbing up steps to get to the top of the next paddock we saw another Holly Blue and Wurzel caught sight of a Green Hairstreak (I missed it lagging behind climbing up the steps
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
). From the top of the bank another Glanville was spotted but the butterflies were more noticeable by their absence. Searching along a pathway at the bottom of the bank failed to get us a Small Blue or Grizzled Skipper which I’d seen in that area the previous year. However, a couple of beautiful little micro moths added interest to that part of the walk, the Orange Conch (spotted by Wurzel), being a lifer for me
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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![E 2016.05.22 IMG_4395 Scoparia pyralella, Meadow Grey, Hutchinson's Bank g t.jpg (275.1 KiB) Viewed 769 times Scoparia pyralella (Meadow Grey)](./files/thumb_10062_67bfc96c2f1d3ecc94bd6f0c4b381832)
- Scoparia pyralella (Meadow Grey)
![F 2016.05.22 IMG_4392 Commophila aeneana, Orange Conch, Hutchinson's Bank gi t.jpg (216.53 KiB) Viewed 769 times Commophila aeneana (Orange Conch)](./files/thumb_10062_9d6a60ff2a500e60a0fcf08c75c35d19)
- Commophila aeneana (Orange Conch)
Moving back to the banked gully area I was able to get an underside shot of a Glanville and then a shot of a Small Blue. Also seen was a Grizzled Skipper but too quick for a photo
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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The weather was marginally more overcast than it had been at the start but we figured there was still time to fit in a visit to Chiddingfold (Botany bay/Tugley wood) for Wood White. Normally we miss out on the first generation butterflies and pick up the second generation later in the year but this was a case of strike while the Iron’s hot (or Wurzel having an unprecedented time slot away from domestics and a venture into ‘uncharted territory’)
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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By 13:00 we were making our way in and unusually we encountered our first Wood White before reaching the bridge over the ‘piddley stream’ (river Lox). The singleton soon became two and then a Green-veined white joined in, temporarily buzzing the Wood Whites as they nectared on Cranesbill and Bugle.
Past he bridge was the best area with plenty of bugle in flower, Eucera longicornis Long-horned bees in profusion and then a real treat, a broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth quartering the bugle flowers
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. This was to repeat itself further on but I still didn’t manage to get a satisfactory picture
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
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Along the ride to the triangle there were plenty of Brimstone and more Wood Whites showing. A patrolling male Orange-tip decided to check out a pair of Wood White and this turned into an in-flight menage et trois. It is a fanciful thought but I’m sure they were flying with each other for the sheer fun of it … we’ll never know I suppose
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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Moving further on we made our way into the L/H side clearing and were surprised to see it was just that … clear
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
(birch scrub had been showing signs of taking over). While following a female Wood White ovipositing we bumped into Susie … nice to meet you Susie and I’m glad you got to see and video the Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
(your Wood White pics are much better than mine by the way
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
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A Large White was a treat taking my season’s species count up to 19
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![S 2016.05.22 IMG_4444 Xanthorhoe montanata montanata, Silver-ground Carpet, Chiddingfold gi t01.jpg (449.46 KiB) Viewed 769 times Silver-ground Carpet](./files/thumb_10062_8d93583cd9e7d0c939b3190717209600)
- Silver-ground Carpet
Soon we had to make our way out and as we approached the ‘river’ Lox I caught site of a Wood White just sitting there with wings side open
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
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Getting closer we could see that it’s wings had some damage of the type where they fail to expand properly after emergence. It could’ve been a freshly emerged example attempting to warm up as the cloud was on its way over (the forecasted mornings’ weather eventually reaching by mid afternoon). When we moved in closer to determine if it was actually alive it moved, so we left it at that .. finishing on an open-wing Wood White
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
….well almost:-
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![U 2016.05.22 IMG_4463 Lackey Moth (larva), Chiddingfold g t01.jpg (505.52 KiB) Viewed 769 times Lackey moth larva](./files/thumb_10062_4d0599227b685b17164133bebc99a43c)
- Lackey moth larva