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Wales 28-07-2024

It had been a poorish start to the summer so it was actually quite nice when I was able to count 19 Whites between Camarthan and Ffos-y-ffin. There were probably many, many more but we’d left and gotten onto the motorway before the butterflies would have woken up plus I was only counting those that I could see directly along the side of the road. Once we’d unloaded and had lunch I watched a brace of Whites, a Meadow Brown and a Hedgie through the kitchen window as they played in the back garden. That’s actually pretty par for the course for here so my spirits were raised somewhat and when my wife and I set out later to have a walk around Aberearon I wandered in hope.

Once parked we stumbled into a Heavy Horse show and also had a look a small collection of Tractors. All bar one were possibly the best make, Massey Fergusons, although the odd one out in the group had the best livery and name – Fordson Super Major! After a patronizing a few local shops we strolled down the main street to towards the sea, and a female Small White fussed about, browsing for somewhere to lay from the looks of things. Unfortunately she didn’t find what she was looking for so didn’t stop. However a sunbathing Small Tort on the sea-defence boulders did sit nicely posed for a few holiday snaps. The other of note here was a Herring Gull with a totally white body, no pale grey back nor black wing tips, just totally white. The afternoon was still young when we returned and so I nipped up the Lane for half an hour or so. A few Whites fluttered by but they always dived over the fences and hedges into the gardens and so escaped my lens. The Hedgies however were much better behaved, and also in reasonable numbers. One of the advantages of visiting earlier in the month is that this time on the whole they were still very fresh looking and I only saw one or two that had started fade or had some scuffing. I walked along the hedge and one would take off from and unseen vantage point on the edge of the hedge. It would fly away, and then back towards me a couple of times before eventually settling. If I timed it just right or got lucky I could sneak a look at the wings for those all important extra spots. Most were ‘standard’ although there was some variation in the presence, absence or number of hind wing spots but then I found a couple of ab.excessa, one of which seemed slightly asymmetric with two spots on one wing but only one on the other. Another male seemed slightly different from the other males but there and then I couldn’t put my finger one why. I grabbed a few shots and looking back on them it was the sex brand that had made it stand out. Possibly because it was fresh out of the box the sex brand seemed to be segmented with the wing veins clearly defined through it on both wings. I kept on walking up the rise and round the corner adding a Meadow Brown to the list which was bullied mercilessly by a brace of Hedgies and once I’d past the corner cottages a Red Admiral dropped in. There was a scant supply of Nettles but one or two of the few must have been okay because as she landed she opened her wings and reached round with her abdomen. Slightly further on from the Admiral I spotted another interesting Hedgie. This one was also different ‘spotty’ wise but they weren’t an excessa. In fact they were missing some spots, well one spot or pupil in each of the distinctive eyes. After waiting for it to settle a few times I started to continue my walk up the Lane only to have the foresight to check my phone…I’d already been half and hour so I promptly turned about and made for home without stopping in order to help get the tea sorted. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wales Day 2

After the usual set of jobs we were headed out for a couple of hours. During the first part of the morning I’d spotted a Meadow Brown, a Hedgie and up to 7 Whites through the kitchen window as they flew across the back garden. Hence I was keen to actually get my lens latched onto something and I hoped that Llanerchaeron would produce the goods…

When we arrived we headed straight through and up to the Walled Garden after passing by the Stables and nearly being decapitated by the coming and going Swallows. Around the various herbs and vegetables running in lines perpendicular to the wall 4 or 5 Whites flew about but none were stopping so we went through the archway into the 2nd half of the garden with the glasshouse. Perched just outside this ancient pile of sticks and bricks was a glorious Small Tortoiseshell. It had obviously found the most awkward spot to perch at so I had to settle for ‘maximum manual zoom’ and fingers crossed in terms of getting any shots. After this we went back through into the first half of the garden and then out the other side to take a turn around the lake. There were plenty of Dragonflies zipping across the water surface and also a very twitchy Specklie and a Hedgie. The Hedgie seemed to have developed a personality complex as, judging by the way it took to zipping backwards and forwards out across the lake, it thought it was a Dragonfly. Some actual dragonflies behaved a little better, sitting on the odd tree stump or grass blade and before we knew it the ‘turn’ was complete. We then had a bit of a pause just after the Lake at the little unmown section just outside the walled garden. Whilst my wife enjoyed sitting in the sun I strolled around the edges of the taller sward every now and then reaching in to try for some shots at those few butterflies that:
a. were actually flying,
b. were within reach of my lens.
I managed to pick up a couple of Meadow Browns and a Ringlet whilst a Small White went by and stubbornly refused to me get anything of it. We then made out way back into the Walled Garden. The Whites were still eternally flying and now both a Meadow Brown and a Hedgie had ventured into the enclosure. The Small Tort was still sitting in the same stand of vegetation but luckily for me it was now a little closer so I was able to get a clearer view. And then with a final goodbye from a Golden Ringed Dragonfly it was time to get back to the Outlaws…

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A great array of variously spotted Welsh Hedgies, Wurzel, and then that splendid rarity the Small Tortoiseshell.

Cheers,

Dave

Cheers Dave There's plenty of the spotty ones over in Ceredigion, there must be something in the water

Wales 30-07-2024

Again we didn’t really get out properly until after lunch. During the morning we did some shopping for the Outlaws in Aberystwyth and it was a bit early for the butterflies to be out. Also the sun was a little hazy, it was warm but very low lying cloud diffused any sunlight. Once back I needed to do a couple of errands the first of which was to the petrol station at Llwyncelyn. Job done I pulled up in the little car park and had a quick look down the slope at the end of the car park. A Meadow Brown or 4 showed up, erupting, then settling again and then erupting again. A few Hedgies drifted across the gap from one hedge to another and a Small Skipper turned up at the top part of the slope. Next on the jobs list was Nisa… Again with the shopping picked up and packed in the boot I set off for a quick ‘looksy’, this time on the waste ground behind the shop. As I wandered round Meadow Browns were the dominant species closely followed by Hedgies and I counted 8, non-stop Whites however unlike on previous visits there weren’t any Blues, Coppers or Painted Ladys. I reasoned that this was because we’d come a little earlier so they might not have emerged quite yet. As I climbed back up into the car park a Red Admiral was fluttering round fitfully, possibly looking to lay? Job two done it was off to get a few more done… A little later I took a quick ‘last’ walk up the Lane. As I wandered up to the corner I tried to check every Hedgie just in case there was an excessa or something else hiding in plain sight. A Large White also turned up while I was busy counting Hedgies but as there was just the one it was easy to add it to remember it on top of the 19 Hedgies already on the tally. Things went quiet from the corner all the way up to just beyond the first turning to the farm. Beyond this it was as if a switch had been thrown and over the short distance between the two farm tracksmI notched up 3 Meadow Browns, a Ringlet and a further 4 Hedgies. A quick trip down the second track yielded a very dark Small Tort which looked absolutely stunning against the dusty grey backdrop of the track. I turned round here and then worked back following a similar method as to the outward journey. On the return to the corner there were 4 Meadow Browns, a H.Comma added some much needed colour but it was all quiet on the Hedgie front with not even a sniff of a sighting from either side of the hedge. As I neared the corner this ‘duck’ was broken and I finally started the Hedgie recount with a brace. Another 20 were added over the first/final stretch of the hedge and am unknown White resolved into a Green-veined, which sat ever so briefly. The final flourish was a neat Ringlet and then I was back to help get tea ready and pack for the off on the morrow… Have a goodun

Wurzel

March 2025

March already - crickey how did that happen?
Have a goodun

Wurzel

A new year…a new lens 22-02-2025

After many years of saving and tucking pennies away down the back of the sofa I finally had enough to put towards a new lens. Luckily Bugboy and a gent called Clive both put me onto the Sigma 150-600 which I duly ordered and after what felt like an age but was actually only 6 days I was able to pick it up. The very next day I was off and out on a local safari to test it out for various uses.

First up was Blashford with its collection of lakes a ponds, wooded paths and most interestingly the woodland feeders. This myriad of habitats would offer me the chance to test out maximum distance, middle distance and close up. First to the hide by the large. I scanned around with my bins and picked up a plethora of ducks – most of which were very far into the distance and when I switched to my camera whilst I could make out what they were but shots would have been just little grey blobs. Still it was good to see such a wide variety; Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Greylag, Canadian and 2 Egyptian Geese; Cormorants, Tufties and Pochard. The stars of the show for me though were the Goldeneye and I made out three pairs and an errant male who seemed to be a bit a chancer when it came to the ladies. After this I walked back through the car par, crossed the road and made for the Woodland Hide. On the way a few Coal Tits proved too fast for me but I was able to judge the progress of the Treecreeper and clicked away as it appeared in the spot I’d pre-focused upon. When I got into the hide I had the place to myself and so I was able to set up at the one opening window looking out onto the main feeder. As I watched I noticed that there seemed to be a hierarchy. The Siskins and Goldfinch would fly in and feed whilst the Greenfinch looked on nervously from the side lines. As a Blue Tit would drop in the Siskins would look around and then all would fly off when the bully boy Great Tits landed. Once they left, sated and filled with seed the Coal Tit would nip in before the Siskins once more took up position. While this was going on up above, down below the Dunnock, Blackbirds and Robin mopped up the spoils and crumbs at their leisure until the local Squirrels stopped in for a snack. This pecking order or resource partitioning went through several cycles while I sat there and had my lunch and the only time I saw it breakdown was when a Nuthatch dropped in dispersing everything as it did so. After this I wandered back and forth along the paths visiting the two hides that looked out over the smaller Ivy Lake. Someone very kindly pointed out an Earth Star to me so I had to see how the lens wold cope at the smaller end with ‘macro’ and then it was back to ‘distance’. The lakes had more of the same but luckily the Wigeon were closer in and a Black Headed Gull dropped in on one of the small Tern islands. Time was ticking by so I retraced my steps back to the car but something made me pop back into the main hide. I was only there for a matter of moments before I spotted something a little different. In amongst the silver grey and russets of the Wigeon was something white and much less sleek. In fact it was positively fluffy; “Black-necked Grebe” I exclaimed at the same time that I twigged what it was. The man next to me laughed and told me that he wanted to tell me it was there but also wanted to give me the satisfaction of finding it myself – which I rather appreciated. As I drove away I found myself reaching for the sunglasses on the dash and so instead of heading directly to my final spot I took a quick detour and called in at Middle Street along the way. I stepped across the threshold and started to wander down the back path when I spotted a sight that lifted my spirits more than any other. Flapping lazily along the hedge was a vision in lemon, my first Brimstone of the year. Chuffed I carried on round checking the woodpile, the old hotspot and along the bank path. Nothing else seemed to be flying so I wandered across the bottom of Pit 1. I was about half way across when I glanced behind me and there was my second butterfly of the season – a Peacock. It was very flighty and it was difficult to get any shots with my new lens as I still approached it as if I was using my macro and hence I’d get too close and couldn’t focus on it. After a few attempts I swung my other camera round and reverted to the trusty 105. After this I scouted around and checked the other Dips but nothing else was flying. Still two butterflies in February isn’t to be sneezed at. Detour a success I moved onto the final stop of the day; the Pumping station near Sixpenny Handley. When I eventually found a parking spot I walked along the straight bit of road and bumped into Clive who’d informed me about the 150-600. We got to chatting and every now and again scanned across the rough ground looking for a flash of wings in the failing light. Eventually this was spotted and then another so in the end there may have been up to 4 Short-eared Owls flying about and seeking a supper of Voles. A fantastic looking bird which changed colour chameleon style as the light shifted but all the while showing the dark comma on the carpel on the under wing. A stunning way to finish the inaugural trip with my new lens. New year a new lens
Lots of birds to photograph
And two butterflies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Not butterflies...but getting there...

Quick trip out with the lens…26-02-2025

As I was in the area and the weather whilst being still cool was nice and clear I decided to make a quick stop at the Pumping Station with my new lens to try and get to grips it a little more (no mean task as it’s four times the weight of my trusty 105!). I was quite shocked when I turned up to find that I was the only observer about and so I parked up and strolled down the road scanning both sides as I went. There were a few Corvids flying in the distance and a couple of Mipits piped as they passed overhead but in the golden light nothing much seemed to be showing.

I’d reached the half way point along the road when another car turned up and it driver hopped out with impeccable timing as at that exact moment I spotted a Shortie sitting atop a spindly bush. It looked a little ridiculous, this stocky, hefty bird of prey sitting atop a tiny twig a little like a Christmas tree topper. It sat for a good while so I was able to creep as close as I could along the road and then use the boundary fence to stabilise my lens. All of a sudden it was off for a quick hunt before resuming its sentinel position on the same bush. A cracking way to round of the working day…now I just need to work out how to get the best of the lens when targeting butterflies?

In the golden hour
Short-eared Owls take their supper
Then settle to roost

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A Day’s Birding 02-03-2025

There have been a couple of times over recent years where there have been some interesting ducks that have visited us from America but I’ve not been able to get out to see them. However what with my new lens and a long staying Lesser Scaup I decided that this year I’d just go for it. Hence early on Sunday morning I was wandering along Green Lane trying to work out how to actually get to the lakes at Longham. Eventually after a few left turns I broached the hedge and started out around a lakeside gravel path. Scanning through the Tufties only revealed a Pochard and a Great Crested Grebe and not the hoped for Yank. There were many more duck on the larger South Lake and so I started around that – first checking out the little island. There were a few Greylag and Canadian Geese here along with plenty of Wigeon and the ubiquitous Tufties. I duly checked all of them out but all had the black stripe down the centre of their backs and the little swatch of unruly feathers that give them their name. I carried on round enjoying the Reed Buntings which were making use of the sparse edging of reeds. Again there were many Tufties to check through and I bumped into a trio of people out for the morning. I mentioned the Lesser Scaup and promised to wave if it turned up and then carried on. In the far corner there is a little island and as I worked round one of the ducks stuck out. It was slightly smaller than the surrounding Tufties and lacked both the tuft and the strip of black down the back. The flanks were also a mottled grey colour and not the dazzling white of the Tufties. Chuffed I stood and waved frantically but couldn’t catch the eye of the trio so I set to clicking away. Eventually I moved on and made my way back bumping into the trio and the way and sending back the way I’d come; fingers crossed they found it. On the stroll back I was surrounded by the chattering of Fieldfares and twittering of the Green and Goldfinches overhead. Not a bad start to the morning but in order to placate Haskins where I’d parked I popped in a had a quick vegan breakfast . After this I moved onto Blashford and set up shop in the Tern Hide. Close in a Snipe was on the little point and there were a few Wigeon and Tufties. Scanning further out I could make out Goldeneye, Shovler, Pintail and Teal. There were also a couple of Goosander and the odd Cormorant and a small group of Gulls and Greylag Geese. I drew my attentions slightly closer in and there was a Black-necked Grebe; I’d be able to spot that fluffy bum anywhere! As I was watching it a pair of Egyptian Geese came in closer and took up residence on the little island off the point. After pointing this out to a few people one gent wondered if there was a (Greater) Scaup out amongst the Tufties and Wigeon. There was indeed a duck which looked like it had a bandage over its beak! While all this was happening a great cacophony ensued and a Marsh Harrier quartered low over the lake hoping to flush some prey. A few Lapwing and what looked like a Pied Wagtail mobbed it mercilessly so it moved away over trees. Excitement over I hung around for a bit and relocated the various titbits including a few more, distant, passes of the Harrier and then I took to checking out all the other hides. There were a few more Goosander and nicely marked Cormorants and the Coal Tits played hard to get as usual and having missed out on a Kingfisher I made my way back to the car and onto the final stop of the day…can you guess where? Yep the Pumping Station looking for Short-eared Owls. I joined the throng and tried slightly further down the road than usual. It was a little tricky as some people insisted on getting really close to the fence whilst others were practically shouting out directions every time one would fly. Because of this close-up shots were of the premium and they seemed to get further and further away with each foray. A cracking day out
Yanks and Owls and Harriers
But no butterflies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Fantastic Owl in flight shots, your new lens has certainly opened up new possibilities.
His Majesty high up in a tree should be easy prey for you now!

Good to see you given the new lens a decent workout. Keep it handy for Hairstreaks and HIM! (Also quite useful for Large Tortoiseshell should you be so lucky )

Cheers Trevor I've got the gear, now I need some luck!
Cheers Bugboy It'll defo be going to Alners Gorse and Bentley Wood with me...as for Large Tort that might be a while yet

Middle Street on the way home…05-03-2025

We were still getting frosts in the morning but with the lengthening days the warmth seemed to be building. The delectable cloudless, blue skies felt as if they were doing more to warm the soul than the sun and so at the start of the week I ventured forth at lunchtime; the first, I hoped, of many such fruitful trips…

It was certainly bright enough and when I held my hand a few centimeters above the scattered patches of bare soil it certainly felt warm enough but there was still a slight spike of chill in the air. My hopes of a fruitful visit seemed forlorn as despite finding and rescuing a large, moth pupae from the middle of the path I had only fleeting glimpses of a Brimstone. A day later however the weather forecast told a tale of double figures temperature wise and blue skies rather than grey and so after nearly completing the mindfulness jigsaw at lunchtime I stopped off at Middle Street on the way home for a quick mooch and a little meditation. Because of where I’d parked I started at ‘The End’ and worked along the bank towards the Dips, I’d only gotten about half way along when a Small Tort took off from it’s hiding place and set off across the football field. The last I saw of it was when it went up high over the boundary trees. Still it was a Small Tort and so not to be sneezed at.

Things went a little quiet after this as I checked the Dips, the Woodpile and the far end hotspot; all to no avail. I was starting back and had reached Dip 2 when I spotted a butterfly down low on the ground. Brill! I carefully click-stepped my way down the bank and knelt down to get my first Small Tort shots of 2025. Along with it I felt the prickling sensation of my first nettle stings but this is almost the accepted payment for Small Tort shots at this time in the season it seems. The butterfly flew again, buffeted by the breeze, from Dip 2 into Dip 3 where it put up another Small Tort. After a brief tussle one made it’s way back along the Bank Path to Dip 2 whilst the other plumbed for dropping down onto the sheltered side of the Bank Path itself. I mentally flipped a coin which landed on ‘Heads’ and so I set off in pursuit of the later…Which as it turned out was the original one from Dip 2. I didn’t mind too much as my further travels meant that I encountered Small Tort number 4 back at the corner of the End section. So 4 Small Torts – none too shabby a haul after their poor showing last summer – hopefully there will be plenty more to come!

Middle Street stop-off
And with four Small Tortoiseshells
Not a shabby start
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Good to see your Small Tortoiseshell shots.
I'm now wondering what the ratio of ST' to LT sightings will be this year.
I've not seen a Small Tort yet this year.

Cheers Trevor Over my way I reckon it'll easily be in favour of the Small Tort

A bit of a day…08-03-2025

I took both cameras with me for a trip out to a couple of sites but as I hadn’t worked out how to effectively use both at the same time when I arrived at Middle Street I had to do a quick ‘eenie-meanie’ and my macro wasn’t out. So with my trusty 105 slung over my shoulder an feeling like I was carrying a feather I set off. It was still cold enough to wear a jacket and a hat but the sun was shining down strongly which helped boost the ground temperature. I walked along the Bank path from The End peering own into Dips 3 and 2 before slipping/walking down into and across Dip 1. There was nothing I was started to wonder if I’d plumbed for the right lens? Luckily as I worked through the Dip a Brimstone shot past. I was able to follow it but unfortunately it landed too far away and too deeply in the large Bramble on the very corner of Dip 1. Still it was a butterfly and hopefully where there was one there would be more. And indeed there was for as I climbed up out of the quagmire and onto the Old Hotspot a Brimstone took off from behind me. I cursed slightly as I watched it as had been in a perfect position and now was making headway into the neighbouring gardens. Fortunately for me it did a U-turn and after a few false stops it plopped down practically in front of me. So I had chosen the correct lens After this I wandered onwards around the curve and back along the Bank path checking down in the various hollows on either side as I went. When I reached Dip 1 the original Brimstone was still in position and so I pressed on as it was still unobtainable with the 105. A trawl through Dip 1 didn’t yield anything extra and so I moved swiftly on to Dip 2. There didn’t appear to be anything in there but once again the butterfly appeared from behind. In fact I’d have missed it entirely if I hadn’t turned round to watch a Bumble Bee struggling to remain airborne. I clicked-stepped down into the bank aware that at this time of the year the butterflies can be a bit nervous and take flight at the slightest little thing and I really wanted to get a good shot of this as it was my first Comma of the year. I did another I walked to The End and back not seeing anything until I was back at Dip2 where the Comma was still in residence. A quick trip through Dip 1 saw first two Brimstones which then became three but they all departed almost as quickly as they’d arrived and so I retired to the car making my decision where to head next as I went… I decided to try Langford Lakes in the hope of connecting with a Great White Egret which had been frequenting one of the smaller lakes recently. On the drive over I clocked up 5 Brimstones so I was hoping to add a few more once I got onto the reserve. When I arrived I managed to take the last and only recently vacated parking space but despite this the reserve and the hides were actually quite quiet as most people seemed to be in the café? I checked out the furthest hide first and it was quite quiet with a few Teal sleeping round the margins, a Heron on the other side and a few Tufties bobbing about and periodically disappearing under the water. A couple of Red Kites passed by in the distant as did a pair of Raven but the highlights were a pair of Gadwall close in and a Kestrel hovering at various points round the margins of the lake. I took a quick stroll round the main lake to the hide on the opposite side of the lake so that I was a little loser to the gull flock. They were mainly Black-headed Gulls but in amongst them were a couple of juvenile Herring gulls and about 6 Lesser-black Backed. There was also a smaller, more delicate looking Black-headed which I tried to convince myself was a Little, unsuccessfully. After a few micro cups of coffee from the flask I started back round the lake to the furthest hide. A Brimstone played really hard to get along the way and when I got back in the hide there was more of the same but this time there was an odd looking Tuftie which may have been a hybrid between a Pochard and a Tuftie? As I made my way back to the car a Peacock flashed across the path. From here I set off back to Salisbury and out the other side to Britford. It had been a few years since I’d paid a visit here but as I drove down the narrowing roads and over the humpback bridge it all came back to me and funnily enough I hoped to see the same species here today as I did back then. After negotiating a few turns I spotted the sign for the Trout Farm and as I started down the track I saw a few of my target species. Over in the distance, skulking around and under the small herd of cattle there were a few Cattle Egrets. I kept walking down the track stopping whenever there was a break in the hedge to push my lens through the barbed wire and try for a few shots. I saw a maximum of 7 Cattle Egret and also 4 of their smaller and slimmer cousins the Little Egrets. I then took a quick turn down to the water meadows at the end of the track and a Green Sandpiper played along the edge of the first drainage channel. It was hard to photograph being so distant, so small and also as it was incessantly moving but I took a few chance shots before returning back to balance my lens on the wire fence and try for a few more Cattle Egrets. After this I eschewed the Shorties and instead made for home as it had been quite a day after all. A trio of sites
Got to sneak some butterflies
In amongst the birds
Have a goodun

Wurzel

A Couple of trips 09-03-2025

It was getting to that time of the year when things would start emerging in a rapid acceleration of diversity…at least this was what I was hoping for when I had an afternoon free to check out a couple of the local sites…I also had to work on my two camera strategy which until now had meant missing out on everything whilst I decided which camera of the two to use. Either they were too close and so I had to switch to the macro or they were so far away that they were colourful dots through my macro. Either way by the time I was close enough or had the correct lens they were a blur disappearing into the distance or I had a perfectly focused leaf in the viewfinder. Today I was going to try something different; I had my macro ready to slip off my shoulder and the larger 150-600 hanging round my neck.

I started off at Five Rivers and as I broached the small rise up to New Comma Corner sure enough there was a Comma. I tried with my 150-600, got as close as I could whilst still being able to focus at 150 and then swung it round to about 550 and clicked away. Then I could ‘click-step’ in with the macro until I was kneeling, the large lens resting across my thigh, and capture some images on my trusty old 105. Once I was safely down the rise and back on the riverside path I started scanning the ever increasing bank on my right. Sure enough there was a Comma at the Old Comma Corner and so I deployed the two camera strategy again and again it seemed to work quite well. I was able to get record shots without fear of spooking the butterfly and this seemed to settle it almost as if it had worked out that I wasn’t really a threat and so I was able to then approach with the 105. As I carried on I worked my way diagonally up the Banks from the main path and I came across Commas number 3 and 4 just before the little break between the trees. On through the gap I went and the grass here was longer and in tussocks so I had to approach more carefully as the last thing that the butterfly wanted to see was my ugly mug appearing over the top of their grass stockade. I managed to find 2 apiece of Comma and Peacock and by the Bench there was Comma number 7 and a lovely looking Small Tort. The latter played hard to get and in the end I lost it as it flitted in and out of the miniature clearings amongst the tussocks. Having lost the Small Tort I retraced my steps and walked on a little further to the end bench and by way of compensation, found Commas 8 and 9 which had a bit of a set too and then they were joined by number 10 and a Peacock, it was certainly all go! At the very far end I found nowt so I worked my way back along the Banks. From the end bench to the mid Banks section I counted 6 Commas, a Peacock but best of all I caught up with a/the Small Tort. I can’t be sure if it was the same one and I’d like to think it wasn’t but better to err on the side of caution and under record. From the ½ way back to Comma Corner I added another 2 Commas and at the new Comma Corner the original was still holding its territory. What a great way to start, it was great to finally see more than one or two butterflies. I then loaded the car back up and cut across town to Middle Street. It was quite busy and so I ended up parking about half way along the road and hence started my foray by walking along the central path and up onto the Bank Path. Staring down into Dip3 I didn’t find anything but a similar gaze across Dip 2 and there was the ginger glow of a Comma. I half stepped and half slid down the bank ending up in a slightly crumpled kneeling heap but luckily I didn’t spook the butterfly and ended up practically on top of it. When the butterfly had had enough and set off to find a drink I unfolded myself and investigated Dip 1 but all it held was a typically flighty Peacock. Looking round after this disappointment I noticed the shadows lengthening and clawing their way across banks so even though it was only about 3pm I departed for home… At last it happened
With multiple butterflies
A gurt proper day

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Fantastic shots with your new lens Wurzel especially the Bird shots Goldie

Cheers Goldie The only problem is that I need to get down the gym and build my biceps so I can carry it

April 2025

A little belated but then the butterflies have been good recently - let's hope it continues!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Five Rivers 18-03-2025

I took a quick trip out at lunch time in the hope that the coming of the sun would bring out the local butterflies. It did but not to the extent that I’d been hoping for. In the end a Small Tort at the end of the field in the little rectangle was all that I could find. I’d been so surprised to actually see one there that almost before I’d clocked it, it was off, over the wooden panel fence to hide in the neighbouring gardens.
So to compensate for this I made a little stop off on the way home at Five Rivers. The Glades didn’t hold much in the way of nectar and the nettles there were still barely clearing the ground so I left it hopefully to return in about a fortnight when things should have moved on somewhat. Hence I found myself walking up the short rise to one of the Comma Corners (to be honest I can’t remember which is the original and which is the new so I from now on I’ll try to remember to call this Top Comma Corner). Waiting for me at the top in the area cleared of Bramble was the namesake butterfly which was being hassled occasionally by a Peacock. Onto the Banks which turned into something of a Comma Fest. In the first section there were a brace of the ginger beauties, their occasional wing flashes belying the fact that they weren’t in fact leaves. On through the gap in the trees to the second section which is a little less like a woodland clearing and more like the tussocky bottom of a Down and there were another two Comma. One would settle and the second would fly overhead and then both would go spiral upwards in a reverse tumble. There was another Comma near the bench and a final one at the far end which when I walked up was clinging to the edge of the Bramble bush like an amber brooch. Totalling this up brought me to the grand total of a single Peacock and 7 Commas, none too shabby a ration for 13 minutes work. I hung around a little bit listening to the birds; Chiff-chaff, Cetti’s and various tits and then picked my way back along the Banks. I moved more quickly now, eager to get home and so I observed less and walked more. Despite this I still recounted four of the Commas; 1 at the end back in its brooch position, 1 at the bench, near the cut through 1 more and a fly-by near the other end of the Banks by Bottom Comma Corner. A quick check of top Comma Corner and the original Comma was still holding his territory and as a bonus for it (but not for me) it had seen off the pesky Peacock. Numbers are building
With a surplus of Commas
Rounding off the day

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Finally some Spring 23-03-2025

I took a quick trip out on Wednesday (19th March) as there wasn’t a single attendee at the Intervention session. What’s that phrase; “Build it and they will come”? Not really…still it meant that I was able to do a quick sweep of the usual work route. It felt a little like the butterflies were adopting the same attitude as the pupils for a while but by the little triangle of rough ground at the nd of the field a Small Tort was hanging out in amongst the dead grass stalks. It was a while until the next sighting a Brimstone flew along the path around the half way point disappearing as it rounded the cherry tree. After this I didn’t see another butterfly until I completed the return trip where the Small Tort was sitting back in almost the same spot. I did think that this would be it for the week as I was busy but I managed to wangle a bit of a break on Sunday afternoon and so set off for a few spots. First up I walked through town along the river to Five Rivers my new lens weighing heavily around my neck but proving useful for a few birds along the way and also enabling me to confirm my first Small White of the season even though it was on the other side of the river as I used it like a pair of binoculars. This set the expectations rising and so I sped up slightly and swung the macro camera round in readiness…As usual at this time of year The Glades was quiet even though the sun was shining through the budding leaves and starting to dapple. Whereas up at Top Comma Corner the sun was in full flow and warming the flat piece of clearance up nicely so it was no surprise that the resident Comma was out. On along the Banks was the next part of the visit but there wasn’t a lot to see until I broke through the gap and had almost reached the bench. Something caught my eye as it floated, drifting on the breeze over the top of the rambling patch of Bramble. As I settled stalked closer and closer, using the large lens to try and get a distant shot as it was so twitchy. They came out very blurry but the grey lines striping the wings were clearly visible; it was my first Green-veined White. My state of chuffed-ness didn’t last long however as it had obviously had enough of a breather and so set off along the Bank in the direction I’d just come from. I did my best to follow it but it kept ranging higher and higher up into the line of trees before flipping over the top. I had to settle for a second Comma before I retraced my steps and ended back where I’d been 5 minutes earlier. When I reached the rambling bramble bush again I thought I was having a touch of de-ja vu as there was another white butterfly drifting down over the aforementioned bush. This time however it made off towards the bench and so I eagerly round the bottom of the bush and started scanning for it spotting it on a red nettle. A few grab shots were all that I could manage before a third Comma sent it packing. Luckily it did a loop over the line of vegetation and then dropped back down near the bramble bush. With a bit of careful feet placement I was able to get in close enough to use my macro rather than my large lens and so get something more than a grab shot. Having extricated myself without disturbing the butterfly I carried on but alas by the time I reached the end it had clouded over again and so I had a snack and waited and watched the wildlife in the reeds but also for the fingers of light that would reach out when the sun returned. It didn’t and so I decided that I would quickly pop over to Martin Down just for half an hour before tea. The cloud didn’t really shift there either which was unfortunate. However I took both cameras in the hope that I might relocate the webs of Marsh Frits that I’d found the day before. The usual stretch of path had at least one Adder, I did manage to find the Marshie cats and a Yellowhammer sat nicely but there were no more butterflies. Still I drove home happy that I’d made the most of the smallest window of opportunity and it had produced two firsts for the year. A brief spell of sun
Wove its magic pleasingly
For a brace of Whites

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Those shots of the Snake remind me of the Lake District Wurzel, that's where I saw one when I was taking shots years ago of the Large Heath at Foulshaw Moss

Some lovely shots of the birds and at least you've seen the the Small Tortoiseshell and Comma I hope to soon Goldie

I love the shots of the seething masses of Marshie cats, Wurzel. It can't be long before they're flying now...

Cheers,

Dave