Wurzel

[Old Wolf]

Hello Wurzel.
I am glad to see someone is as behind as I am

I love the squirrel sequence, a perfectly timed jump shot

[Goldie M]

Love the jumping Squirrel Wurzel I'd five of them in the Garden one day together with two cats I was annoyed because they chased the birds off and ate all the food, still I live near a small park so I suppose it's to be expected.

I've not seen any more Butterflies since I saw the Small Tort but I've got my Camera loaded and ready just in case Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Old Wolf I was chuffed with that sequence I've almost caught up now, only a few more from 2019 and then I can start on the Portugal holiday snaps
Cheers Goldie That shot went down a storm with my daughters too It's getting to that time of year when I go everywhere with my camera too Goldie

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Andrew555]

Wonderful 2019 reports Wurzel, your Large Blues are sublime. Still on my 'to see' list. Great Smessex shots, and I really like your Brostreaks as well (partly because I have had very little luck with them so far!).

[Wurzel]

Cheers Andrew If you can get to Shipton Bellinger you might have a bit more luck with the Brostreak - even though 2019 was a tricky year for them Shipton still came up with the goods

Stourhead 19-10-2019

After yesterday when it was reasonably balmy I thought that today was going to be the same. Nice again but the weather report couldn’t be trusted and at one point on the journey I had to put the wipers on – so much for sunny intervals until lunchtime! Once we’d parked and started the walk whilst it was dry it didn’t get much better – it was so cold almost if the heating had suddenly been switched off. Up through the walled gardens and on I didn’t see anything and it was only when we were making the descent of the woodland walk that I picked up anything of interest with a few fungi. Also I managed to recall some of my bird song lore and a bit of ‘pishing’ soon brought in Chaffinchs, a mixed tit flock and a Nuthatch. I had a go at teaching little L the technique and in doing so brought in a Goldcrest that set to flitting about in the boughs.

After this the walk was quiet despite the riot of colour from the autumn leaves. It still remained cold and with the circular walk over, lunch eaten and all the girls ensconced in Ye Olde Craft Fayre I revisited the walled garden. As I strode up the hill the sun came out and it suddenly felt noticeably warmer. I was cheered by this and imagined a Comma or Red Admiral sitting on some of the remaining flowers as I climbed the hill. As I walked up the second set of steps into the final garden there was something orange looking out of place amid the mauve flowers. I got a few distant shots and it played hard to get flying occasionally but always landing on the garden and just out of reach of any decent images.

I followed it as it flew and it looked like the lower temps meant it couldn’t go far and eventually I managed to catch up with whilst it was close enough for a few proper shots. It had chosen to land in a fantastic and unusual juxtaposition. There I was in four layers, hat and wishing I had my gloves taking shots of a Comma butterfly on a Banana bush!!

Still it proved once again that it only takes one butterfly to make a day!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Love the shot of the Comma on the Verbena, great combination of colours.
Verbena is a noted plant for butterflies, so I planted one several years ago.
To the best of my knowledge not a single butterfly visited the flowers.

It would seem things have started to move, at last.
Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Well spotted Wurzel, hope fully we'll see more shortly I saw the Sun for a short time this morning now we're back with the cloud Roll on!! Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor I saw my first Brimstone last weekend on Saturday lunchtime and it was still there three days later the weather was so bad, and just as it improves I get busy at work
Cheers Goldie If only we could get a few days of decent spring weather rather than just a few minutes worth Still can't be long now surely?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

It was such a terrible autumn, you did well to find even that. Six months later, we are still waiting for the sun to re-appear!

[trevor]

'Busy at work' is not a term I am familiar with, could you break the phrase down
in easy to understand terminology.! .I can imagine with exams on the horizon
that you are approaching silly season.

As for butterflies, the weather seems set to improve this week, and I might be
able to bag my first Brimstone of the year. A real prize would be a Small Tort,
but I doubt that around here.
Hopefully, unless things get worse, I should be in Wilts for Easter.

Keep well,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Essex I did manage one more trip out (see below) but it was a disappointing autumn. I saw the sun today though and it felt awesome
Cheers Trevor I could try Trevor but then I'd have to work it out for myself first - I heard someone use it once, liked the way it sounded and so chucked it into my prose Yep silly season is on the way - the examiners time it to perfection every year - just as the butterflies start emerging in earnest the revision sessions start Hope to see you for some mutual self isolation at Easter

Stourhead 27-10-2019

Every October I’m inundated by sister in-laws as they all descend on us for a few days visit. Luckily this means at least one trip out to a National trust site with Stourhead being the popular choice. So it was this year only I hadn’t counted on national advertisement of the ‘glorious autumn colours’ which meant queueing to get into the overflow car park. Still it meant that we emerged from the ticket office into slightly warmer temps…if you can call them that. This year it’s almost as if someone’s flipped a switch; summer off autumn on. No Indian Summer, no shorts and T-shirt in October instead having to rattle round in the loft to find hats, scarves and winter coats.
We followed the traditional route – across the bridge, through the walled garden and stables, skirt the edge of the garden and dive down through the wood. Whilst there were more birds to see, their protective cloak of leaves dispersed and decaying, as well as fungi the insects were few and far between and as I wandered I wondered if I’d already finished the year?

As the woodland path came down the hill and merged with the lakeside track to flow together over the dam my question was answered for me. My season hadn’t ended as there was a beautiful lemon Brimstone looking to all intents and purposes as a falling leaf caught on the breeze. I knew that it wasn’t one though as in the slight breeze most leaves were spiralling diagonally downwards and this ‘leaf’ was moving horizontally. And just as quickly as it had come it was gone disappearing into a small tree which was bedecked in Brimstone yellow leaves. Nothing ventured nothing gained I tried to relocate the Brimstone in its hidey hole and amazingly there it was, hanging upside down looking remarkably like an apoptotic leaf ready to drop.

After this I kept my eyes open and in the remnants of the walk I spied out a further two butterflies – both Red Admirals and both high up and out of reach of my lens. I didn’t mind not getting any shots of them I ‘d rather they found somewhere snug to hide away as the autumn came quickly upon us.

And so ended 2019 for me...there were one or two more sightings but nothing down on memory card...I guess I'd better start sorting out the Portugal reports now then

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Interesting, Wurzel - shots of Commas and Brimstones! You would almost think it was spring... I wonder if you'll see any of the self-same butterflies over the next few weeks that you got shots of in October?

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Cheers Dave Not seen a Comma yet but I did get some photos of a Brimstone the other day and in fact it was in exactly the same pose as the one in that last post Hopefully I can cram in some butterflying before Lockdown

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Portugal First Day! 30-07-2019

The journey had been stressful but then there are always loads of things to sort out. Plus I discovered that despite telling my credit card company where I was heading my card didn’t work! On the other hand the motorway journey was really straight forward, one bit for about an hour and then take a left and carry on through some stunning scenery and surprisingly quiet road for another 2 or so hours. Eventually we pulled off the motorway, found ourselves on the other side of the little village of Faia and were making our way up a very bumpy dirt track to Villa da Manta. As we were pulling up a massive butterfly and a smaller pair fly by without stopping for ID – interesting from the get go!

Once we were settled in and unpacked we took a wander round the various steep paths with the aim of finding the pool. On the way down I cursed the Gatekeepers as I was sure there were some Southern in among them but they didn’t stop long enough for me. Something even smaller did stop though – my first confirmed Southern Brown Argus (SBA) and also my first ‘Lifer’ of the trip. We carried en masse on once I’d caught up with the others and at times it seemed bewildering as one steep path led to a new terrace and soon seemingly endlessly. Butterflies were flying about but I wasn’t used to following them when they were flying so frenetically due to the 30 degree heat and they were so turbo charged they rarely stopped. In amidst the Gatekeepers I saw slightly bigger butterflies; Specklies, Meadow Browns, Walls and another new species for me – Tree Grayling. A bit like ours in habits but in a monotone grey colour. Finally we found the pool and a small butterfly bumbling in the reeds that lined it was a Lang’s Short-tailed Blue. We headed back to our Safari tent and while the girls got ready for a swim I spotted a Purple Hairstreak in the Chestnut (?) tree opposite the veranda. Things were going well with two lifers while finding my bearings and now a Purple Hairstreak from the dining table.

The girls headed back down to the pool and I accompanied them and once they were in I set to having a bit of a mooch. I checked each Gatekeeper more carefully now just to ‘make sure’ but most were the familiar species although much more blonde and unicolour – quite different to the ones we get at home and I’d gotten used to seeing recently. I found my way back to the corner of the path where I’d found the Tree Grayling and it was still hanging about here (it could have been a different individual but seemed to be similarly marked) so I followed him into the Olive grove where he tussled with another. Slightly further down the hill I finally found another lifer and one I’d been hoping to see – a Southern Gatekeeper, even more flighty than the usual variety. Feeling the heat I sought some shade and so checked back in with the girls at the pool. The Lang’s was there again and was a bit more co-operative this time. In the shaded area around the edge of the pool a few Specklies flew looking look a totally different species.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Portugal First Day! 30-07-2019 Part 2

I then set off down the main dirt track which we’d driven up earlier. Along the way a few Hedgies flew as well as a Holly Blue and some Meadow Browns. What really surprised me was the huge numbers of Grayling that were resting a la Walls on the walls, trunks of tress and rocks that lined the track. Some seemed to lack the white band on them?

Back at base I had a quick mooch about before tea and in the small field next to the decking was another SBA as well as a Small Heath and while we ate a/the Purple Hairstreak sat above us possibly attracted by the scent of my Bombay Badboy?

Later still, showered and with a beer to hand I sat and wrote up the day while Crickets churred and so too did a distant Nightjar…I can’t wait for the morrow!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

I can imagine that a number of ' double takes ' were necessary on your hols.
Namely, are the species you are seeing over there the same as at home, or
are there subtle differences which make them unique to ' over there '.
In the Cevennes the Grizzlie lookalikes gave me mental indigestion, they all
looked similar to our own but not one could be seen in the UK.

Great report, hope you have some of the spectaculars to show us later on.

Keep well,
Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Lovely Butterflies Wurzel, it's always interesting to see different Species, I'd be happy at present just to see the Comma the wind is so cold and Hall-Lee-Brook is the only place so near that I don't have to travel to and when I went there last time nothing was flying. AH! well it's got to get get warmer soon , I hope Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor You're right as a lot of the species were new 'races/subspecies' for me but I didn't mind that I was due to head to the Cevannes this summer (in August) - don't think that will happen now
Cheers Goldie Hang on in there the butterflies will come - I saw plenty today despite the near arctic wind - just look for those little dips and hollows out of the wind

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Day 2 – Out and about the site….31-07-2019

Up bright and early and after a shower and fresh coffee I slipped off for an hour before breakfast to have a bit of a recce. I was looking for my ‘go to’ place as I had in the Dordogne. Down the track I was joined by only a single Hedgie which I wasn’t too surprised about as in my T-shirt and shorts I felt slightly chilly. Slightly further down the track I spied a much larger and darker butterfly with flashes of white – a Great Banded Grayling? I wondered if it was and when I reached the spot that it had been at I fund a fore wing lying on the deck. It still being a bit early for the butterflies was indicated further by a Grayling desperately soaking up the rising suns warmth. At the end of the road I had a choice to make so I tried the right hand side before realising that there wasn’t any open ground that I could access so I retraced my steps and followed the road on down to the left. A Scarce Swallowtail flew through the only ’garden’ I could see away into the distance and after a 10 minute walk I came to the junction at the end of the road where there were flowers that I could access. It looked promising but at this time of the morning the sun hadn’t reached it yet so I decided to come back later once it wasn’t so shaded. On the way back I found an interestingly marked Jays (local race?) and a trip of Crested Tits – my first since Poland many years ago! Back on the main track up the hill the butterflies were just starting to wake up. There were a couple of Hedgies and a very nice male Wall. Nearer home I spied a Southern Gatekeeper and a brace of Small Coppers to add to the tally whilst a Grayling hung around in the small field near the tent. Not too bad for a pre-brekkie wander.

We needed food so we loaded the car up with bags and water and SATNAV and took a trip to Guarda in search of a Lidl but before I could drive away a P. Fritillary flew into our ‘garden’. I managed a few shots before I was called away. On the drive I noted a few Browns and whites and a Scarce Swallowtail (the same one as earlier?) but the real kick in the guts came on our return as we ascended the track up to the lodge. A Cardinal dropped down on a leaf strewn bank on the passenger side. It looked like a larger ‘normal’ Silver washed crossed with a Valesina. Typically this was the one time that my camera was in the boot! Grinding my teeth I carefully carried on the slow drive up the track and then set about unpacking before I was able to take a quick detour down the track and back. I saw all the usual suspects but didn’t add a Cardinal although to console me a female Southern Gatekeeper opened up.

After lunch a GV White pretended to be a Bath White and just as I was cursing it a Southern Scarce Swallowtail landed on the other side of the veranda so I was able to get a few shots. Heartened by this I set off to check out some other parts of the site and I found a good looking place to check properly later.

After lunch I escorted the girls down to the swimming pool/pond and once they were past the ‘Guardian Frogs’ I took to following various pathways that wound downwards towards the valley floor and what I thought was the end of the site. Despite the promising look of the various terraces and fields it was very hard work for only a little return. I did manage to catch up with a ‘Swarthy Copper’ – misnamed ‘Small Copper’ as it was so dark at first I thought it was Sooty Copper. It should have been renamed a Miniscule Amount of Copper. There were also the usual butterflies; Walls, Grayling a plenty, orange Specklies, Tree Graylings and also plenty of very flighty Hedgies and Meadow Browns.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Superb capture of that Scarce Swallowtail, Wurzel. I remember sitting in a meadow
in the Cevennes watching one in flight, just floating on the breeze, it reminded me of a child's kite.
A very elegant butterfly, and not that scarce in some areas.

Great report, stay safe,
Trevor.