Wurzel

[trevor]

My mrgreen goes to your Marshie underside shot
Try as I may I could not achieve that this year, it was just too warm.

His Majesty is keeping his subjects waiting this year.

Stay well,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Dave I got really lucky with that Marshie as I think it was newly emerged and had got caught out by the cloud Martin Down finally came into good form and luckily at just the right time
Cheers Trevor I don't mind if His Nibbs is a couple of weeks later as I'm booked up for the next two weekends ...though the Wedding is in Surrey, I wonder if I could slip away into the woods after breakfast

Martin Down 22-05-2021 Part 2

On the other side of the line of scrub at the half way point I found the spears of some Burnt Tip Orchids and then climbed back down into the Dyke. From here back to the Butts the odd butterfly turned up and I notched up 3 Small Blues, Small Copper, 2 Brown Argus and a Small Heath. At the Butts I had another one of those purple patches where everything seemed to come good; this is where the Dyke is at its shallowest and there are plenty of wildflowers growing plus as I reached this spot there was another break in the cloud. Suddenly there were two Small Coppers, a Grizzlie, a Brown Argus, a Small Heath, 3 Dingies. A few steps on 2 more Dingies another Small Copper and a Peacock. It was as of they’d appeared from out of the ether. One minute there wasn’t hide nor hair of them, the tiniest little crack opened up in the blanket of cloud and then there they were.

I pressed on and got back down into the Dyke near to where I’d started and walked towards the little bridge across the Dyke made by a transecting path. Here there was a lovely looking Small Copper as well a brace of Dingies flying about. The later seemed to favour the Dandelions and the large yellow flower made a nice contrasting backdrop to the dull browns of the Dingies. The next Small Copper that I found was a little more battered than the previous one and also here was a very hirsute Grizzlie. It was holding its wings in a slightly odd fashion. I’m used to seeing them hold their wings flat and everything in between to closed above their head but this one was holding its wings open with them pointing down.

It was then that I found my third Marshie of the trip. Whilst this one wasn’t in quite as good nick as the second it was still mighty fine looking although at first it was a little camera shy and it did it’s best to hide behind some vegetation. It’s best was a bit pathetic really; it did a good job in hiding its body but forgot about its wings sticking out on either side like a sore thumb! In the end it gave up and did a few runs up and down the length of the Dyke before landing on a twig which meant that I was able to get some decent closed wing shots as well as a real close up. It took to the air again and did a few more circuits before landing on a cut stump – this must be the best behaved Marshie in existence. I walked back in the bottom of the Dyke and spotted another distant and very unapproachable Marshie, a distant White and a Grizzlie and Common Blue both of which actually stopped. The former even landed on a half Dandelion clock.

Time had run away with me slightly and so I pressed climbed out of the Dyke and made my way back to the car park so that I could pick up my lunch. On the way I listened out and was rewarded with a Cuckoo which was embedded somewhere within the island of scrub next to the car park. With my lunch pack slung over my shoulder I made my way once more across the Bowl towards the Dyke with the intention of setting up camp by the Bridge and wandering back and forth along that section of the Dyke as it had proved to be so productive. As I was making my way through the longer tussocks of grass at the bottom of the bowl I spotted a Small Heath which really caught my eye. It had a bright peach/salmon panel on the hind wing behind the brown panel. Unfortunately it was one of those things that hasn’t shown up on the photos taken, instead it appears slightly salmon in colour. I then climbed back down into the Dyke before the Bridge and started working my way along the bottom towards the bridge. On the way I passed a Common Blue, Small Copper and a Grizzlie. Once at the bridge I set up camp which meant placing my pack down hidden under some taller brush, pouring a coffee and grabbing a Hot Lime Pickle sandwich to much down on while I checked out this section of the Dyke. I counted 3 Small Coppers, a Common Blue and a Grizzlie all within eyeball range and then, with cheeks blushed from the spice I looked a little further along the Dyke.

I but further on the Dyke slopes up slightly and the banks seem to rise even higher. This area is overshadowed by the taller trees and shrubs in the border hedge and the grasses grow taller here because of this it seems. The lusher vegetation offers more cover and so butterflies like Small Blues seem to prefer this section over the shorter turf of the section near the Bridge. I managed to find a couple of Small Coppers, a Marshie, Dingy and a Small Blue here really easily. A female Orange-tip was also hanging around here, feeding up on the Dandelions and probably had more luck in sniffing out a Cuckoo flower than me, what with their week(s) of experience. One of the Small Coppers vied for my attention and I spent a few moments flitting forward and back between the OT and the Copper. This felt like a fitting end to my trip and so I climbed out of the Dyke and made for the car and back to reality. It had been a wonderfully peaceful visit as at times it had felt like I was the only human for miles around, so cossetted and protected I’d been in the Dyke. Once again Martin Down proves what a fantastic site it is.

What a great visit
The wonders of Bokerly
Site extraordinaire

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

Excellent Marshie underside shots. It was too warm for that on the days I saw them.

How far from the hallowed ground is the wedding ?. I may be able help with some shortcuts.
Emperoring in suit and tie, the mind boggles.

Stay safe,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cheers for the offer of assistance Trevor The arrangements are still a bit fluid what with Co-vid so I might not know whether I'm actually going until the day itself Maybe I'll be able to escape the following day

July 2021

So this is summer is it? Time to head into the Woods! Happy July and Silly Season Greetings!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I always look forward to seeing your calendar for the start of the month Great shots you've posted lately , love the ones of the Small Copper on the long stems Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cheers Goldie It feels like the Calendar shots are coming quicker and quicker recently I need the season to slow down a little so I can catch up

A couple of stop offs… 25/26-05-2021

Duke Site 26-05-2021

The BBC weather did it again. For the previous fortnight I religiously checked the weather for Tuesday 25th May. For all 14 days it showed the same – reasonably warm, sunny intervals, light breeze. Perfect conditions I thought for a trip to my Duke Site and so I made my plans. Luckily that would be my Tuesday ‘off’ from afterschool Intervention/Revision Sessions, it was also an ‘easy tea’ night meaning I wouldn’t need to rush home to lend a hand in the kitchen. I had a free period last lesson so I’d be able to pack the car ready, get a coffee in my travel mug and be away as soon as the bell went. It was going to be perfect.

On the morning of the 25th I checked the BBC Weather app one final time – and things were still looking good, with the same forecast. Just to be sure I refreshed the App and yup still the same, reasonably warm, sunny intervals all day. Brilliant. As I drove to work I didn’t do the usual mental tuning out of the weather and then it happened; “…with cloud building during the afternoon and then rain showers, some of them heavy, to follow.” What? As soon as I got to work I checked the App and then the betrayal was laid before me, the sword of Damocles had fallen, and what a mere 35 minutes before had been a promising forecast had totally changed. Gone the little clouds and sun to be replaced with dark clouds, sun and rain drops, the percentages had risen from 10-12% chance of rain to the mid 50’s! The complete and utter ba$!ards!

All through the day I watched out of the window as I taught, and marked, and beavered away and the cloud did indeed build, and it did indeed grow dimmer and there were indeed showers increasing in both duration and intensity. I pressed ahead with my plan and there was a little slither of brightness and blue sky as I cut across country form work and headed for Tidworth. Having changed in the car I set out across the scrape hoping to find some Small Blues before the brightness disappeared. Alas the wind direction was wrong and the little slither of blue passed by in the far distance and I faced the growing gloom and drear. It meant no butterflies, nothing flew up from ahead of me, nothing hung onto the tops of grasses or seed cases. I checked all the usual sheltered spots but there was nothing and the skies grew darker and darker and then the precipitation began. I took shelter in the Beech wood and saw many spear of Orchids that would soon be White Helleborines as well as a few Birds Nest Orchids.

After leaving the wood the pitter patter of the rain ceased and things momentarily looked better, it brightened and warmed but not enough so I took to checking out the rings as more of a recce than anything else. On the way back I finally found a butterfly. It was a Common Blue stoically sitting out the next wave of weather amid a Dandelions yellow petals and it looked to have some 'studs' too. Bouyed somewhat by this I strengthened my resolve to find more butterflies…this lasted for about 30 seconds as then the next shower hit and hit harder than the last so I beat a retreat and made for home and an early tea.

Larkhill 26-05-2021

After the previous day of weather induced woes that particular Law which we are all familiar with kicked in with a vengeance. Today was not good; no free period at the end of the day, all the vegetable delivery to out away and my hands would be required for tea so there was no chance of retracing my steps in much improved conditions. Instead I had to make do with 10 minutes or so at Larkhill on the way home.
I reached the middle of the ‘T-junction’ when a dark brown blur caught my eye. Upon following it and watching its jinky flight carefully I deduced that it was Dingy Skipper and when it eventually landed I grabbed a few shots before it buzzed away across the fields. I made my way back and just started up the gentle rising track when a similar sized but more orange and less jinky butterfly crossed my path. It was a Small Heath and I did my best to follow it as it circled about, often looking as if it was about to land but never actually doing so. So within mere moments I’d already seen twice the number of butterflies that it had taken me an hour to see yesterday. As I started up the track again the Small Heath became two, then three and then four. Whilst this was lovely to see it was a right pain to photograph as almost as soon as one settled another hove into few and away both would go scrapping all the while.

Leaving them to their antics set off and actually made it up the track this time. It was a close run thing and a Grizzlie did it’s best to lure me off course. I was going to give it short shrift but it was sitting in a manner that I’d not seen before and which was reminiscent of the rejection posture of a female White; with abdomen arched up slightly. A few more Small heath fluttered about but sat only long enough for the odd grab shot when there was a reddish blue. At first I thought it was a Cinnibar but as I watched its progress I could see that it was too small and the initial red was actually a dark orange (perhaps I’d witnessed Red-shift as it was moving away from me…); it was a Small Copper. It landed after a brief frantic flight and I leaned in to take advantage of its break.

Further on up the track things became quieter and the Greenstreak didn’t conduct a repeat performance so I turned back and headed for home. On the way the Small Copper and Small Heath were joined by a passing Brimstone and then I was back in the car driving home; a short stop goes a long way in mental health terms.
Watch for a fortnight
Then in 30 mins all change
Left me feeling blue

A much better day
Mental health is on the mend
Only took 10 mins!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Benjamin]

A double haiku - must’ve been a good day!

An enjoyable read as ever Wurzel - good luck getting out to enjoy the woodland species just getting going.

[Neil Freeman]

I have given up with the BBC weather reporting these days Wurzel. If I had been so wrong so often in my job, I would have been sacked years ago.
The MET office isn't always much better but at least with them it is usually more a matter of timing with the predicted weather arriving earlier or later than predicted.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Ben Family commitments have kept me from venturing into the woods so far - but judging by the weather that's probably been a good thing Fingers crossed that I can make it out on Sunday
Cheers Neil I've noticed that about the MET, but then every now and then the BBC get it spot on or better than predicted - I reckon just looking out the window and hedging your bets/going out anyway is probably the way forward

Pewsey Down 27-05-2021

Tonight was a parents evening but because of my previously mentioned small house and teacher voice I planned to complete it remotely from work. This meant that I would have about 1 ½ hours prior to the first appointment. Hmmmmmm what to do I wondered for all of about 10 seconds as the answer was obvious – take a spin up to Pewsey Down.

Once Bus Duty was finished I set off immediately and within 10 minutes I had pulled into the car park and started towards the dips and furrows further back down the hill which had held good numbers of butterflies in the past. As I walked across the first field I was accompanied by a few Small Heath an then as I hopped over the gate I was accosted by a medium sized marmalade butterfly. I couldn’t believe my luck – only a few moments on site and there was the butterfly that I’d secretly hoped to find - my first Wall Brown of 2021. However getting shots required even more luck and the best that I could conjure up was a distant ‘proof’ shot.

Typical Wall shot!

Still pretty chuffed I continued on down the slope scanning ahead and spying several each of Small Heath and Dingy Skipper. The former were sandy coloured and flappy, the later darker and zippy.in the first little hollow there were more representatives of these species as well as a brace of something larger. There were two Marshies that appeared at almost the same time and proceeded to fly in opposite directions. I didn’t which to watch and so my head did a series of rapid sweeps from side to side that are so prevalent in cartoons. Nursing a mild case of whiplash the decision was made for me as one returned and the other kept on going (possibly all the way to Devizes). The one that had come back plopped down almost in front of me and sat for a while seemingly catching its breath.

Things were going well and so I pressed on, only mildly conscious of the time ticking away. As I watched a Dingy jink about a comparatively massive butterfly jetted down from the hill and past me slicing through the hedge and disappearing from view on the other side of the road behind. I was left with the impression of a pinky grey which I associate with worn Painted Ladies. I fairly convinced myself that this was the case (checking later one had been seen flying down the hill at roughly the same time I was there) and so my chuffed-ness went up a few notches as adding this species to the year tally can be a bit tricky some years. I got back to following Dingies and Small Heath and they led me to the very bottom of the site where a Grizzlie sat waiting for me near to the churned up ground where the cows enter and exit the site. This was providing some decent mud pooling opportunities for a couple of Dingies – but still being in school attire I couldn’t really get close enough and so I left them to their libations.
In the next furrow up a lone butterflier sat watching the antics going on. We got (socially distanced) chatting and it turned out that I knew him from Facebook. While we’d been working this out and discussing the various fortunes of various species so far in the season there had been plenty of butterfly action around and about. Small Heath and Dingies played along the foot of the ditch, a Marshie passed through, a few Walls did that thing where they fly by and then head up the vertical sides of the Cleeve disappearing from view somewhere above as they settled on a small terrace of turf. Small Blues seemed to be everywhere and it was really tricky knowing where to point the lens.

With time ticking I had to head back and Chris wanted to head that way so we followed the ditch as it worked its way upwards. Again there were a few Walls, one of which stopped and perched on a Hawthorn for just long enough for us to swing our lenses round before it disappeared vertically again like all the others. A Wood Tiger Moth also landed oh so briefly and there were some more Small blue sightings and plenty of Dingies and Small Heath doing their thing. My need to head back became evermore pressing and so I reluctantly said my goodbyes and started back at almost breakneck speed, stopping only for my second Grizzlie of the trip on the way.

I got back just in time to slap the bow tie on, down a mug of coffee and read the line of data in readiness. Later I mused that it had been a cracking little trip with two firsts for the year, some lovely Small Blues and putting a face to a Facebook name - it certainly beat hanging around in the Lab and biding my time.

A chance encounter
Whilst out looking for Wall Browns
A new friend well met

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Duke Site 29-05-2021

The good weather had arrived, finally after what had felt like an eternity and with it came the Whitsun holiday. So with chores done I motored over to my Duke site to take advantage of the possibly short spell of decent weather and try and catch up with sightings from the rest of the country. At the time I didn’t realize that this was going to turn into a brilliant butterfly streak so I set off to try and make the most of what I expected to be a limited opportunity.

Pulling into the ‘car park’ or at least the small patch of flat turf just off the tank track I did the usual scanning ahead looking across the vista that lay before me, tilting my head upwards to take in the hill and then the heavens; it looked great with acres of gold and green and echoing acres of blue above and after a quick (socially distanced) chat with an old boy that was enjoying the view I set off through the long grasses. As I went a couple of Small Heath welcomed me to the site and a Marshie flew by swiftly followed by a Dingy as I reached the scrape. Rooting around the patch of long grass by the little spinney at the base of the hill didn’t turn up any Small Blues so I continued on the little track down the slope to the main track, the exposed chalk blinding in the sun. On the way down I was harassed by a few more Small Heath and a couple of Marshies flew by and around and about, occasionally they sat and posed.

Onwards I pressed working my way up the old favourite Duke track and I would sometimes make a little sortie into the main field with it mixture of grasses and clumps of wildflowers. Again there were plenty of Small Heath, the odd Dingy and Grizzlie and also a Treble Bar moth (which one I’m not sure) and at the top of the track at the T-junction I followed an aged Greenstreak for a moment or two. It was keeping low to the ground and didn’t once perch in the Hawthorn that lined the tracks so I assumed it was a female. From here I ventured into the top bit of the field just to see what it offered and wondering if maybe a Common Blue or maybe a Wall might flush up. Instead I found a Brown Argus which just wouldn’t settle for long enough for a photo. No it was far too intent on knocking seven bells out of any butterfly that passed by or even sat quietly out of the way at the edge of its territory. Surprisingly what I was bale to get a few shots of was a Mother Shipton moth. Even more surprising was the fact that there weren’t errant blades of grass across the wings.

So far so successful but I still hadn’t seen two of my main targets at this site and so I set off across the next field to the far corner and the little patch of springy turf that makes the Duke hotspot. Looking over the springy turf and almost lime green tussock grass I immediately saw a dark brown blob. My interest piqued I looked more carefully but the flight was wrong and when it eventually landed I could see that it was indeed a Dingy. I second one tried to pull the same trick but I was ready for it this time. And then as often happens here I spotted a tiny dark butterfly take off and fly in a different manner from a place where umpteen previous looks there hadn’t been one. I held back form rushing over and let it land and settle for a moment. Once it seemed placid and peaceful I moved in ever so slowly and got a few record shots of a Duke at my Duke site. It was great to know that they were still here and judging by their slightly less than immaculate state it had been out for a little while.

With one ‘target’ met I followed the little track back across towards the wood checking out the little scallops on the way which threw up a Brimstone, male Orange-tip, a Peacock passing through and at the far end a Large White looking more like a giant compared to the diminutive emerald Foresters. In the wood the Bird Nest Orchids still weren’t open but the spears had gown and the florets were hanging like little baubles on a Christmas tree. As I broke free from the wood the suddenly change in sun momentarily blinded me but I was soon following a Greenstreak up the slope to the crossroads. At the crossroads itself I spotted my second target, well two of them actually. One flew in from the East the other form the North and then when they met they spiraled upwards before breaking apart and continuing on their respective ways. As the Walls were on patrol I set up camp here and poured myself a coffee to await for their return. While I was doing this a third Wall appeared in a patch of vegetation near the centre of the crossroads. I just scanned across the vegetation and down the hill and there is was settled in the grass wings wide apart. In between all this Wall action a Greenstreak also showed up and played around in the same patch of tussock grass at the edge of the track but after a few shots I reverted to watching Walls – which is obviously a lot more interesting that it would suggest to a none butterfly enthusiast! Speaking of which I was drawn away from butterfly photography as I was asked to take a group shot of a group of family and friends that were taking advantage of the slight relaxing of restrictions but I quickly reverted to macro mode. I spent a bit of time here enjoying the antics of the Walls and over the next ten minutes or so I was luckily enough to witness the four individuals in various poses and pursuits and get a nice selection of shots my favourite of which was the of a Wall delicately balanced on a Hawthorn which seemed an unusual perching point.

With my coffee drunk and wanting to let the Walls get on with whatever Walls do I pressed on up the track to make my way into the rings. It had gotten to lunchtime by now and so I munched down on a sandwich with my favourite filling. As has happened many times before I spotted a butterfly at the same time as the first burning sensation spread across my inner cheeks. I was just about to cross over what can only be described as a lay-by from the path to go through the gate when I spotted it and this one was different for when it flew it appeared grey with a hint of peach. It went down on the deck and I crept closer; it was a tatty Painted Lady. I tried to get a bit closer but it was intent on feeding up and so once one flower was drained it would take off, do a few circuits around the lay-by before landing and feeding. The flowers it chose didn’t seem to hold much nectar because in a matter of seconds it was up and flying around once more. I watched it repeat this process several times and working out how to best approach. I could wait by a likely looking group of flowers and hope that it hadn’t previously visited them – but if it had I could have been there for a long time – and I didn’t know how long it took for nectaries to replenish or even if they did. So it would have to be a bit ‘dash and grab’; watch and wait, when it looked to be going to settle stalk quickly over using the ‘click step’ and hope something came out.

With this confirmed first for the year added to the Season Tally I passed through the gate and walked into the rings…

Who would have thought it?
Watching Walls isn’t boring
Least not at Duke Site

Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Duke Site 29-05-2021

The first part of the rings that you come too is where the sides of the ditch are tall and the shelter offered allows the vegetation to grow tall and lush. A couple of fallen trees lie across the floor of the ditch so I worked round to my right and as I did so the butterflies seemed to come one after the other. I must have been walking from one territory into another as it seemed that no two butterflies were in the same space at any one time apart from at the (invisible to me) boundaries. Then the butterflies would chase the intruder off meaning that I’d have to walk slightly further along and hope that they’d settled down. This made counting easier but it was a bit of a pain as I’d have to keep stopping to add an entry to my notes or wait for the butterflies to sort each other and then themselves out. My progress was inevitably slow but pleasant and I ratchetted up the tally. First a pair of Walls, then bickering Marshies, a Dingy, a Grizzlie, a Small Copper and a Brown Argus. I wasn’t too worried if I didn’t get any shots as I’d be returning via the same route and so I’d get a second crack of the whip as it were. About half way the walls of the ditch drop down and there is the ancient entrance to the rings which would have been heavily fortified in ancient times but now it make this part of the ring open to the elements, most noticbly the wind which rushes up the side of the hill from across the plain cooling and drying the plants as it sweeps into the bottom of the ring, it’s effects enlarged due to the lack of tree cover as well. Because of this the vegetation starts to become shorter as this part is approached but this made spotting the butterflies slightly easier with a(nother?) Wall, a Common Blue and a brace of bickering Brown Argus.

Beyond this the walls stretch upwards but the turf doesn’t follow suit as it’s still exposed here due to the lack of the wood offering shade that helps the plants keep their moisture. Along this stretch I finally saw a female Wall Brown who was considerably larger than the males I’d encountered earlier and I reflected on the fact that while they were probably still patrolling the paths on the side of the hill, here in the sheltered bottom on the ditch, pootling about was the object of their affections! I felt like going back and pointing them in the right direction. For all that though she was hard work and wouldn’t sit still long enough for a photo so I carried on finding more of the same butterflies as well as several Brimstones.
The ring again came to an end this time by another ancient gateway and so I turned about and made the return journey. As I bimbled on back I saw a lot of the same butterflies as on the way. There’s the Marshie, the female Wall, the brace of Brown Argus and the Common Blue. I also find the same moth which I think is an Orange-underwing? Again as I proceeded the turf became sward and by the time I was back by the logs where I’d joined the ring the grass was back up to my waist and I more wading than walking. After finding a few Dingies, a Brown Argus and a couple of Marshies I climbed up one of the cutting in the inner ring and I was rewarded with sightings of Small Copper, Brimstone and another Wall. However the real star here was a lovely fresh Grizzlie that looked like a butterfly constructed at Build-A-Bear.

Cute as it was I was getting a bit peckish and so I got back to the logs, poured myself a coffee and ate the rest of my lunch. I kept my camera close at hand I was glad that I did as during my repast I was joined by Jewel Wasp and a male Orange-tip. I thought that it was going to land on the small clumps of Cuckoo flower just the other side of the log but it passed on. What I didn’t expect to feed off of these plants was a Wall – probably the same one that had perched mid patrol at the start of my journey in the rings.

Snack time over I begrudgingly left the rings (I could have stayed here all day) and made my way back to the top of the hill. Rather than go through the gate I kept to the tree line and followed it, as well as a Green-veined White, round and down the side of the hill. At eh head of the little valley I watched a male Orange-tip patrolling around and then it veered violently off course. Getting a little closer to where he’d disappeared from view a peered round the vegetation nd then could see why he’d deviated so. There wings held flat and abdomen arched was a female who wasn’t having any off it despite the males’ best efforts. To give him his due he was relentless in his courting but the lady wasn’t for turning. Leaving them to their shenanigans I walked down the little valley to the stile and had a little look around. There were a couple of Dingies, three Brown Argus and another fresh Grizzlie.

After this I was on the home stretch – it would be springy turf, then the main track and home. I didn’t want to leave and so I dawdled around the springy turf spotting a really nice Common Blue, a Brown Argus and in amongst the Dingies some really well marked and dark individuals – so dark they looked a bit like Chimney Sweepers when in flight! I then broke through the trees popping out in the Duke corner. As I did so I scanned across the tussocky grass and there was the Duke but not so far away there was a second! Briliant! Getting shots of both of them was a bit tricky as one was better behaved than the other. I tried for the less sedate one first and after a couple it flew up into one of the overhanging trees and peered down at me disdainfully. Leaving it to it I then turned my attentions to the second one which was much more amenable.

With the excitement of the Dukes rather than just Duke, I thought it best to just get my head down and head for home. This lasted for all of 10 metres for I spotted two Greenstreaks at the end of the track and tried for a few shots. “Right” I said to myself “it really is time to go now” and so I motored down the main track ways, the gradient working in my favour. I still kept an eye out for the butterflies but it was mainly Small Heath, Dingies and the odd Grizzlie. I was so close to the car when I got distracted again. I’d tried the edge of the little spinney for Small Blues to no avail at the very start of my trip but the trackways had brought me to the other side of the Spinney so I decided to have a little nose around this tiny bit of the site. My meanderings after a Dingy saw me cross the tank road and plunge into an area of grass and scrub on the other side. As I scanned around I discovered where the Small Blues had gotten too as they peeped out from amid the grasses. There were also the obligatory Grizzlies and Dingies and one of the later had markings very reminiscent of a native American chief in full feathered head-dress, although I might need to highlight the key features for other to see it…After catching up with the Marshie that was vying for my attention I spent a good while focusing on the Small Blues. They were a delight to behold as only a couple were a little tired looking the rest were fresh out of the box with that gorgeous peppering of sky blue scales that can give them a white appearance when their wings are held at a certain angle.

I eventually dragged myself away and forced myself to walk back to the car, I had to really as my time was almost up and I didn’t want to over extend myself in terms of Brownie points but this was actually a good time to head home; leave on a high they always say!

Double up on Dukes
Small Blues glisten in the sun
A fantastic trip

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

A Mother Shipton and Walls !, very good for your fitness regime.
Great Marsh Frit shots, once again showing the colour/wing pattern variation in that species.
Things are moving fast now, not for nothing is this called the silly season.

Stay safe,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor Things have certainly ratcheted up a notch I checked out the car park on the Packway this afternoon - I couldn't see any Bramble but I'll have a closer look tomorrow - fingers crossed

Just a gentle stroll 30-05-2021

The day before I’d made an epic trip to my Duke site and had born witness to Walls, Dukes, Marshies, Small Blues and all manner of other species. I had expected for the trip out to be a more sedate affair, more of a Sunday stroll along one of the walks from the ‘Wiltshire Walks App’ that had proved such a Godsend during the period of ‘Keep it Local’ restriction. As my wife and I set of in the little village of Farley the sun beat down and the temperatures started to creep up and we progressed at a gentle pace along the track with high hedges which funneled us into Hound Wood. Our previous visit here last year had been later in the season, too late in fact for Pearls but now they might still be about and so I kept my eyes peeled as we ventured along the woodland rides and up the slope to small clearing. Well last year it had been a clearing this year it was covered in small conifers awaiting Yuletide. It was nice to step out from the shade back into the sun and almost as if reading my previous thoughts, a Pearl flew strongly towards us along the path. It passed us and then veered off looking for spaces between the treelets. Slightly annoyed that if had escaped my lens I was soon cheered up as my wife pointed out a Marshie on the track slightly further on. As I was getting a few shots it was buzzed by a second and so I tried for a few of those as well.

From the little clearing the track continued flanked on either side by a tall but shallow hedge beyond which lay fields of golden corn. All very bucolic but the day was turning into another broiler and I was not grateful for the little shade offered by the hedge. I reverted to walking mainly due to the fact that the butterflies had now responded to the heat by flying like bats out of hell. In fact one was flying so fast it almost blinded me, I had just enough time to work out that it was a Specklie before it collided with my head, it’s wing tips brushing my sclera. The path carried on, opening on one side, then rising gently upwards and crossing a road. On the other side there were paddocks and then the path dove down again into the village of Pitton. From here we worked our way onto the Clarendon Way. There were the odd White or Orange-tip passing by but nothing was really stopping and we were intent on walking having worked out that this wasn’t going to be a gentle stroll after all. We were just under half way round and had walked almost 3 miles. We paused for lunch and this was when the butterflies appeared of course – Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Brimstones all passed by while I sat on the rug and munched.

Once we’d left the wood (too dense for Pearls unfortunately) we ventured once more onto byways across fields. At one such field a Holly Blue paused on some Bramble in the demarcation hedge. I managed to leg it to the edge of the field and then sticking to the very edge of the field so as not to trample the crop I managed to get within range for a few shots. She, for it was a female, opened up just partially hidden behind some errant Bramble stems of course. I whispered “move a little” and she did but having conceded to my initial wish didn’t subsequently open up beyond the three quarter mark. A Brimstone on the paths later played even harder to get, landing periodically and then when I was still 10 paces or more away taking off and moving further along the hedge. I thought that eventually she’d run out of hedge and I could catch up with her but when we did reach the terminal section she just flew over the hedge and flew to about 10 paces behind me!

Eventually we arrived back in Farley and made for home somewhat footsore and tired but happy none the less. Our gentle stroll had indeed turned into more of a trek, just shy of the 6 mile mark which made this probably the worst return of butterfly per mile that I’ve had but still great none the less.

On a gentle stroll?
The Marshies shine in the wood
Broiling six mile trek!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Wurzel]

Fovant Badges 31-05-2021

After an early start and meet up in the Central Car Park Philzoid and my pace was slowed slightly on the drive over due to a Horsebox. There always seemed to be a car coming the other way whenever the road was safe enough to pass so instead of the usual 9-10 minutes it took us a little over 15 to reach Fovant Badges. Luckily no one else had ventured to the site so there was ample room in the pull in for both our cars and we were soon over the road and over the gate. Unlike previous visits we worked up the side of the hill immediately to out left rather than taking the deeply rutted tractor track along the bottom of the hill. We started scanning and there was a Duke almost immediately. It seemed to be favouring the longer grass in a small scallop in the Bramble but after a few shots it was off and away and so were we, with a bit of a spring in our steps due to both the ease which out target had presented itself and also in the hope that that was to be the first of many!

As we wove our way diagonally along the side of the Down there were several Dingies, the odd Grizzlie, a multitude of Small Heath and singletons of Peacock and Small Copper but Dukes didn’t feature in the tally after the initial success. The habitat looked brilliant for them with terraces sliced across, and old quarry workings gouged out of the Down, small clumps of Bramble and Hawthorn offering shelter here and there and peppered across the entire site were Cowslips forming a crochet blanket effect. We rounded the corner and started back up the Down taking the diagonal footpath. At the first terrace there was nothing but when we reached the second there was another Duke. It was hard to follow it when it flew as there were so many Small Heath and Dingies that would go up like distracting us from following our quarry but it did settle now and again, generally in the longer grasses. I don’t know if this is because the grass had grown to an unusual height this year what with all the rain but I found it slightly odd as most of the ones I’ve encountered before usually seem to prefer sitting on a path or track and basking?

We carried on up the hill with Small Heath and Dingies flying up wherever we walked but there were no more Dukes. At the top we turned around and retraced our steps back down and again it was Small Heath and Dingies all the way. We paused when the path approached the second terrace and looked down across the Down. Again there the two usual suspects but also a sapphire jewel that swiftly became as Common Blue. We watched from afar and when it settled made our approach getting closer and closer as it bimbled about from flower to flower. Then it went down on a Dandelion Clock and so my approach became a lot more rapid. Chuffed to have those shots in the bag I wasn’t too fazed when I missed out on a female Common Blue and then we made the small climb back up onto the track and carried on down. We didn’t get far before we found our third Duke of the morning at the edge of Terrace 2 and 1. At the time I wondered if it was the same one that we’d seen earlier but looking at the shots later it turned out to be number 3.

This was good but it wasn’t exactly the Duke fest I’d been hoping for so with eyes peeled we reached the bottom of the track at the corner and this time we checked out the old quarry working just round the bend at the foot of the Down. I had seen bits and bobs in here previously but those sightings weren’t a patch on what was found on this occasion. It started quietly enough with a Common Blue and of course a couple of Dingies along with plenty of Small Heath. But then as we slowly shuffled round this and that started turning up almost with each new step. There was another Common Blue, then another, then a Small Blue, the odd Small Heath then a Small Copper and finally as if to complete the set a Peacock popped in. It was brilliant we’d nicely upped the species Tally for the day in the easiest manner possible, the butterflies were almost vying for our attention.

Climbing up and out of the Bowl we started back across the side of the Down. The plan had been to pick up a few Dukes (done) and then move over to Martin Down for a wander along the Dyke but a chance encounter with a butterfly counter made us deviate from this and after walking back the way we’d come to the gate without relocating the initial Duke we crossed over to investigate the old quarry workings on the other side. This is an older, deeper quarry and the bowl at the bottom is probably about 8 metres across. The sides of the quarry sweep up almost vertically as the corner of the Down has been cleaved and cut away. Inside it was noticeably warmer and very little breeze found its’ way in. Almost immediately there’s a Duke, then a second and then a third. In 10 seconds we’d matched out entire mornings count. I watched as two more detached themselves from the bottom and flew up vertically to reach the top of quarry. They carried on going up the only slightly less steep side of the Down and the disappeared from view when they landed on one of the little tracks/scrapes. So slinging my camera over my shoulder I climbed up the side of the quarry, not looking for handholds just pulling myself up with my eyes firmly fixed on where I’d last seen them. When I got up there they were and I could see that one was a Duchess!

The Duke

The Duchess

After a while they set off upwards up the Down once more. They paused on a blade of grass, egging me on to follow and so I did until, with my lungs hammering against my ribcage, I was able to stop because so had they. They’d landed on a small spring of Hawthorn and as I clicked away I saw the smaller, older male swing his abdomen round and lock on. I called down “Dukes in cop” and was joined by Philzoid.

After a good start
It all went a bit quiet
Then a pair in cop!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[bugboy]

just a few for the mating Dukes, still waiting to catch that species 'in the act'

[Wurzel]

Cheers Bugboy It was a first for me but a welcome one as now I've completed one whole group of my 'In Cop' collection - it's a bit like completing a team in the Panini World Cup sticker book Okay I know that there is only the one species representing the Metalmarks in the UK...

Fovant Badges 31-05-2021 Part 2

With the shots in the bag we carefully climbed down taking a less precipitous pathway and worked our way back around into the Bowl of the quarry. Once in the Bowl we set about trying for shots of the Dukes that are still here as well as trying to establish how many there were. It was an almost impossible task as there was always one that was hidden away which would suddenly pop up out of the grass and spook another. So your attention was constantly being diverted as they scraped all over the shop. You’d start counting maybe get to two if you were lucky before you’d be watching Dukes 2 and 3 rising upwards in mortal combat, totally ignoring the Dukes flying around your feet at ground level. It was total carnage as each battled for the ‘best’ perching spot from which to spy a passing female and woo her. There were definitely four as this was the maximum I saw at one time but there could easily have been a couple more. Here was the Duke Fest that we’d come for. I’ll definitely have to check this area more carefully next year, and maybe come a little later in their flight as on my previous two visits I seem to have caught them at the beginning while their numbers were still building.

Leaving them in peace we set off once the passing male Orange-tip had given us the slip and made for the Queen’s Head in Broadchalke for a cheeky beverage and a moment to absorb fully what we’d witnessed.

[i]The Ducal System
With petty squabbles
They have one thing on their minds
Fight for the fiefdom[/i]

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

Congrats from me also for the mating Dukes. Also some nice shots in your last post.
From what I was told last year the place to look from the Packway, is straight on
from the carpark to some Elms with bramble beneath.

Happy hunting !, stay well,
Trevor.

[millerd]

Well done on adding those Dukes to your collection, Wurzel! There's always something new to find. Wiltshire is the place to do it - it's a big county, no doubt there are endless walks to do with unexpected gems waiting to be seen along them.

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor I've made a few sneaky stop-offs but no luck so far - I guess it would help if I was one hundred percent certain what an Elm/Wytch Elm looked like In my defence DED had already decimated them while I was growing up
Cheers Dave That is the great thing about butterflies , but some birders that I know don't seem to get it; "Once it's ticked why do you need to see it again?"

Martin Down 31-05-2021

Suitably refreshed we started off on the excellent cross country drive to Martin Down and made good time despite having to deal with a Landrover that couldn’t possibly drive up onto the bank because you know he didn’t have four wheel drive obviously, well duh! I only lost a small amount of tooth enamel over that and soon we were parked and striding/wading across the bowl so that we could enter the Dyke. The crossing was nicely broken up on the way by a Brown Argus that shimmered in the sun and a couple of vibrant Common Blue males. The BA, true to form, was picking a fight with the Blues, the Small Heath and in fact anything that flew, crawled or had the sheer audacity to come within 5 foot of it! This included a couple of Small Coppers, possibly the same ones that I’d seen on previous visits that were branching out from the Dyke.

Having crossed the Bowl we made our way down into the Dyke by the little ‘bridge-come-path’ and a Wood Tiger had us walking back up towards the less productive end. Having failed to relocate it we started off down the Dyke the right way. A Grizzlie popped up and a few Small Heath flew up from our feet but this first section was pretty quiet though I reckon that next year it will be very productive as it’s only been recently cleared, the piles of ash and the floor covering of twigs and sticks laying testimony to this fact so by next year the long dormant flowers should hopefully burst forth.
Once we were over the ‘bridge’ the butterflies started appearing in earnest – this is one of the most reliable spots for Marshie in the whole reserve so we peel our eyes even more looking out for the rapid reddish blur that is this species winging its way towards you. To start with there was a Common Blue and then a Small Blue which looked a little lost in the shorter turf. The Common Blue tally then jumps by two more, there’s a Dingy Skipper and then a Marshie zips past us, veering erratically and plopping down on some Germander. A little further along as second is feeding intently on some Buttercups. Once again their ground colour changes with the passing clouds ranging from black through to a light chocolate colour when the cloud shifts revealing the sun behind.

As the sides of the Dyke grow higher the turf grows longer and so we press on reaching another section that has been cleared recently. The shade and the reduced exposure here has led to the vegetation growing a la Triffid and this has turned into a great little spot for Small Blues. While we watched and photographed a couple of Marshies here the Small blues were buzzing around us all of the time, some were brilliantly fresh with the blue scales catching the light and appearing white. In terms of Marshes I think there were two more individuals here but I can’t be sure there may have been more as they flew all about quartering the sides of the Dyke.

After this we left the Dyke as it had shallowed out and instead followed the main track towards the Butts. Things went a bit quieter after this but at the Butts a Greenstreak pops up like a Small heath, erupting from our feet and then start doing a bit of Ovi-posturing or ovi-positing – couldn’t see any eggs so I reckon it was the former. I tried for a few in flight shots as well but the best I could get was a brown blurry butterfly like silhouette.

We carried on wandering along the top side of the Dyke, staring down into it hopefully until we reached the half way point where the Burnt-tip Orchids were in a much more advanced stage than on my previous visit. As well as the Common Blues buzzing about here there were also some electric blue Adonis – so a first for the year to go with my earlier first ‘in cop’ shots. The Adonis were even more flighty than the Common Blues and they just wouldn’t sit with their wings open. They’d land and almost immediately close up shop before taking off and bombing another butterfly. At this juncture I had to say my goodbyes to Philzoid and head on homewards leaving Philzoid to deal with the boisterous Adonis. As I reached the scrubby bushes near the Butts a peach coloured butterfly caught my eye. By the time I’d realised what it was, focused on it for a record shot and had taken a breath to call out to Philzoid it was gone at great speed away across the fields heading for Salisbury directly. This prompted me to make the rest of the journey staring at the track beneath my feet lest I should spy anything interesting and wouldn’t be able to share it with Philzoid.

When at Martin Down
Walking in Bokerley Dyke
Produces the goods!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[millerd]

I missed out on the Martin Down experience this year, more's the pity - that looked like a top notch visit, Wurzel! Even second-hand it's pretty darn good. The Dyke full of Marshies and the grass with fresh Small Blues, not to mention everything else. Brilliant.

Cheers,

Dave