Bernwood Meadows, Bernwood Forest & Whitecross Green Wood, Oxfordshire 18th June
Hi all,
I don’t get a chance to post on here these days due to being too busy but I went to one of my favourite places today and thought I’d share the findings as I was a little surprised. My wife Karen and I visited Bernwood Meadows and then carried on to the main forest track before finishing at Whitecross Green Wood in Oxfordshire this afternoon. We only got to the meadows just before 1pm and the light cloud had come over, but just as well as it was really quite hot in the open meadows! It was nice to see so many flowers in the meadow and the Red Kites above us.
- Bernwood Meadows under the warm and cloudy skies.
- Red Kite above Bernwood Meadows field
It took us about half an hour before we saw our first Black Hairstreak, probably a female looking for spots to egg-lay on the Blackthorn about 150 yards from the small gate leading to the forest. Once spotted the female stayed for about 5 minutes until flying further up and over the Blackthorn hedge, nearer to the larger Oaks and possible the field behind. There were plenty of Large Skippers, Meadow Browns and Ringlets in the main field as well as some Common Blues and Marbled Whites.
- Black Hairstreak amongst the Blackthorn, Bernwood Meadows
We then followed the main ride through the forest and immediately saw two White Admirals that were a bit too flighty to photograph. The weather was still a bit changeable. I was very pleased to see the White Admirals as I hadn’t expected to see them this early. I did have a few exchanges with some other keen lepidopterists that were passing down the lane and into the main meadows.
Once I got to the main ride near the Bernwood Forest car-park there the sun returned fully for about half an hour: there were a few Silver-Washed Fritillaries flying through. On the main ride I thought I’d seen another White Admiral but then it turned out to be a male Purple Emperor.
- First view of a male Purple Emperor on the main ride
There were in fact two males along the main ride though photographing them in the sunshine was definitely out: the only dog-pooh the males could find were in the shade so I spent about 20 minutes happily laying on the path trying to get photographs. I think I can still smell the pooh now, several hours later.
- One of the few photos of the Purple Emperor on the path in the shade.
- A close-up of the male on the path.
This is definitely the earliest I’ve ever seen Purple Emperors in this country and I certainly didn’t expect to see them today – so it was a real bonus.
I did briefly speak to Mike Oxon who passed with his family (Mike used to frequent the UK message board) so we had a nice chat and I showed him my pictures from the day. Later in the afternoon Karen and I walked through the Bernwood Meadows again (no hairstreaks unfortunately) and when we arrived at the Whitecross Green Wood Site there was a lovely male Brimstone and plenty of rather flighty White Admirals - but no Hairstreaks were seen by me. Though I did speak to four heavily-lens-laden butterfly photographers (on their way back from the pond area) - they’d all seen several Black Hairstreaks (although the butterflies were probably a bit past their best). It was extremely hot when we left Whitecross Green Wood about 5:30 but there were some lovely Swallows to see on the telegraph lines near the house opposite the entrance to the reserve.
Best wishes to all,
Michael
. Should I spray on insect repellent now that the Purple Emperor season is upon us?
