Martin Down 19-05-2024
The weather forecast for the Saturday hadn’t been that accurate, instead of the heavy shows and black clouds there was a little covering of grey and even the occasional brighter interlude that had me second guessing about staying in and catching up on Wandavision. This boded well for the Sunday though as there was a window off about 4 hours in the morning showing full sun, blue skies and 15 degrees minimum, which judging by the level of inaccuracy today should have meant it would possibly be more conducive than suggested. So I’d be able pop over first thing, grab a few Marshies and be back before anyone realised. Even better I had to do a trip to Ikea in the afternoon when the cloud, and wind and rain would be smothering the site so there would be no FOMO. What a great plan…
But it didn’t happen like that…I was greeted by blue skies when I arose but by the time I’d washed, dressed and grabbed my gear it had started to cloud over and as I set off once at Martin Down it was still grey and surprisingly cold. Unsurprisingly the butterflies weren’t showing at all. I kept checking the app and it assured me that it was pleasantly warm under the full sun without a cloud in the sky…I ended up walking from the main car park to the top of the Dyke, then all the way along to the half way point where I paused for the Burnt-tips, on down to the terraces and round the old hotspot near Greenstreak field and then back to the half-way point without seeing a single thing, not even a hardy Brimstone that managed to fly in the chill of February nor a butterfly roosting atop a seed head. As I was walking I would pause occasionally to check to see if they’d updated the forecast but no they carried on telling me to relax and enjoy the balmy weather under a cloudless sky! I must confess that more than a few choice words were uttered but luckily they got carried away on the strengthening breeze so they were barely a whisper.
As I approached the half way point from the main track and I was inwardly chuntering away I suddenly stopped dead and silenced the inner monologue. Among the taller tussocks of green grass I’d spotted a miniscule white flag. As I neared to confirm that it was a Small Blue suddenly there were three more, closed up Small Blues hiding in plain sight. I set about getting some shots and tried for all four individuals but this proved tricky as one was sitting much lower than the others on its perch and so I had to shoot from an angle which proved tricky.
Slightly relieved to have actually found something to photograph of the lepidopteran variety I strolled up the path aiming to get back on the path that runs along the Dyke. As I turned the corner I examined the tussocks on the corner as this little spot often holds Small Blue. So it turned out again and once again there were four Small Blues spread across the various tussocks. Getting shots felt slightly easier this time as I’d picked up a thin stick which I was able to thread amongst the grass blades and hold back those that would obstruct my view of the butterfly. I started back, now scanning the seed heads and pods and the dried husks and skeletons of last years’ plants. It paid off as about half way back to the Butts I found a Grizzlie and then when I was three quarters of the way to the Butts there were a brace of Grizzlies together.
With raised hopes I carried on seeking out dead seed heads and often glancing up at the sky and convincing myself that it was looking a little brighter or that there was a slither of blue. There wasn’t and whilst checking out the little scallops at the foot of the Big Butt I spotted an enthusiast that I’ve often bumped into. Unfortunately every time I’ve bumped into them in the past I’ve failed to find what I was looking for. As we talked all hope of a Marshie evaporated and seemingly condensed as I swear there was a slight mizzle. When we went our separate ways I set off along the Dyke to check the start and in the first little hollow there was a Dingy clinging to a rounded seed head, doing its best to blend in. If I hadn’t have gotten my eye in on its smaller cousin then I would definitely have missed it.
After this I carried on checking out the Dyke and bumped into Chris C and his partner and after a chat and a catch-up carried on round and back down the main track to the Butts which runs parallel to the Dyke. I relocated and found a few more Green-winged Orchids along the way but I was starting to feel pressed for time so I didn’t tarry too long and my circular route brought me back to the little hollow where the Dingy had been. It was still there but in the now brightening skies (typical) it had been joined by both a Small Blue and a Grizzlie. The former was clambering around in the grasses lower to ground and so getting any shots without a forest of green in the way was next to impossible and the latter clung grimly to its perch. With that I made my way back to car Marshie-less.
In a way this trip had proved to be a boon as I’d managed to get plenty of closed wing shots of Grizzlies, a Dingy wrapped round a seed head and also gotten my eye in on roosting butterflies – a habit which may come in useful on future trips either when the weather isn’t great or for those when I make a very early start. At least this is what I told myself as I drove away, to blue-ing skies and increasing temperatures which by the time I’d gotten home and picked the girls up to walk around an industrial, artificially lit, blue and yellow monstrosity, had become possibly the best weather of the year! Typical, so much for no FOMO!
Where were they hiding?
Roosting under leaded skies
And who could blame them
Have a goodun
Wurzel
They are a charismatic butterfly; was it Matthew Oates who described them as 'sex maniacs'? 
I'd forgotten just how difficult they can be 
for those glorious underside shots.
I will how ever be going to Blean Woods if the weather keeps up it's been awful here. Goldie 
