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if you find anywhere reliable let us know. I've got some relatives in the Swanmore area so if that local wood produces any goods I'd be really interested to hear about them. 
Hi Wurzel and TutsWurzel wrote:Alright Jack - welcome back!
I reckon you can't go wrong with Bentley Wood for the first three on your hit list - the Eastern Clearing is your best bet. Don't ask me about Green Hairstreaks
Have a goodun
Wurzel
, appeared briefly but did not settle. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be similar and tempt out a few more for a flutter Hi Mark/TutsTuts wrote:Hi jack - congratulations on just about the only sighting in March! Bentley wood is very reliable for PB and SPB and there is a chance of a Duke there during the PB season although they are few and far between. The sites in the new forest were fantastic for PBF in 2011 and I saw literally hundreds - but numbers were very low last year. The site for SPB in the new forest is quite small and again I managed to draw a blank there last year. Noar Hill gets pretty busy in Duke season but is almost a banker with good numbers of a large range of other species Too, not to mention being just a very pleasant site. Bentley Wood does get very busy at weekends in PE season but most people concentrate on the main ride - its a huge site and I have encountered His (and Her) highness well away from the crowds if you are prepared to make the effort
Kind Regards
Mark.
Pearl Bordered Fritillary were apparently seen at my local site in Whitely last year, though not by me. They died out there back in the eighties apparently but reappeared there last year, surely this must be an unofficial reintroduction. Maybe I will only have to go just round the corner to see them with a bit of luck 
). I was shown the error of my ways by someone I met at a local site towards the end of last year. So this season I will record all sightings properly, todays and last Sundays are all done. Is it worth me going back over sightings from last year and recording them properly 
Can you back date sighting reports to last year (comments please) , but at least it was not raining - yet. After I had dealt with my commitments I set off to look around and stumbled across Brede High Wood. Brede High Woods is a mixture of habitats covering 647 acres. . I decided to have another look, I am glad I did. The first butterflies were a Comma and Peacock duelling and fighting for the best spot to bask. . A walk to the local shop at lunch time produced several butterflies. none on the way there, but on the way back I took a meandering route, as one does on these occasions , and was rewarded. The first of which was my first Orange Tip of the year, closely followed by a male Brimstone. By the time I got home I had seen several more male Brimstone, a Peacock and a couple of unidentified buterflies in the distance. Later on in the afternoon I was pleased that my eldest son agreed to accompany me to check out my favourite local footpath. Another male Brimstone was our first encounter then a little further along 2 Commas. Then to round off the day 2 Small Tortoiseshells fluttering around some Nettles. No photos to show for today though.
'What do you mean, loads of butterflies' I said. He said that there were 100's of Peacocks just sitting on the tree and not moving. As you can imagine my ears pricked up . I expressed my disbelief that he had not mentioned it before 
, knowing my interest. He said it was not that interesting to him and his friend. I asked some carefully chosen questions to make sure he was not winding me up. He answered all with the correct responses 
. I could not get this thought out of my head. I even started to plan in my head to return next winter to see if the spectacle would repeat itself. It was not until a couple of hours later that whilst questioning my son again, that he admitted to conning me 
. I had forgotten that he had sat and watched the Monarch programme on the tv a few weeks ago 
I will get him back 
nice story 
Sunday 28.4.2013 Botley WoodDavid M wrote:What a little tease he is!!
Revenge is a dish best served cold, so I advise you to sow the seeds of revenge right now and let them germinate later on in the year.
Sadly, the thing that drew my attention more than anything else was the large amount of litter and rubbish that had been dumped at the entrance to the wood Some people have no conscience and no respect for the countryside, absolutely disgusting.
but maybe not today . A quick look out at High & Over over the Cuckmere river and I knew instantly that nothing would be flying here, too windy. I found my way across the road to Cradle Valley walked west along the valley for an hour, where thankfully the wind was much less noticable. However, I did not see a single butterfly . I did manage to find several Bloody Nosed Beetles, including a group of 5 right next to the track. a Comma. This was in a very sheltered spot just away from the main track. I stayed here to observe for a while and it was joined by another Comma, a Peacock and one Small Tortoiseshell. . Of course he parked right next to the 'No Overnight Stops' sign, he was still there when I left. Then there was the workers in the vineyard opposite Cradle Valley who descended to the small wooded area near the track to do their business as I walked past , seemingly unaware that they were only a few metres from a walking route, and in full view. . It has been sunny and warm nearly every day since, whilst I have been at work. I have seen plenty of Whites and Brimstones out and about this week, all too far off for id though. . Not far from the house I spotted a white flying up the footpath. This one settled and I was able to get close enough to identify it as a Small White (first confirmed one of the year) Further on, where the footpath is much more wild and less busy, I spotted my first Speckled Wood of the year. . A little further on I found 2 more Speckled Wood. I spent a little time observing this pair. At one point one of them was nectaring from a Dandelion, something I have not seen before. I then checked out the area where last week I had seen Small Tortoiseshells flying around a patch of nettles. No Comma, Peacock or Small Tortoiseshells at all this week . .
Just to rub salt into the wound, the sun came out and stayed out whilst I twiddled my thumbs and waited I had now missed the best part of the day . On her return I rapidly drove off in the direction of Oxenbourne Down, slightly miffed . I took the quick route down the motorway, rather than the scenic route cross country. The sun was out all along the coast, but by the time I had arrived at Oxenbourne Down the sun had given way to cloud. , he kept me company for some time. Seemingly not interested in feeding, but keen to investigate any light coloured object in the vicinity. Stones, leaves and clumps of dry grass were all fluttered around for a few moments before he moved on in search of his female. I pressed on along the track further than I had explored last summer. The further along the track I got I started to see more and more Cowslips as well as lots of Gorse and Buckthorn. I also came face to face with someones wildlife camera, hopefully they had more luck 
. The sun was now starting to make an impression but still hardly any butterflies. Although this is a lovely site, I started to make my way back to the car feeling mildly disappointed . I got almost within site of the exit when something small zoomed in, settled a little way ahead and stayed just long enough for a photo. My first Grizzled Skipper of the year . Also seen my first Large White of the year and one Holly Blue flying through the Rameses Revenge ride. . Cool with rain and wind, miserable! hopefully it will not last much longer. Today thankfully the weather was not as bad as forecast. I walked my normal Saturday morning route along the Itchen Navigation from Bishopstoke to Itchen Valley Country Park whilst my youngest son did his football training. Some prolonged sunny spells meant there were a few butterflies around . , as I did last year in the same location ( butterfly eggs are unfortunately beyond the capabilities of my camera). I found 5 today but I imagine if I had searched for longer I would have found more. . I believe that this particular part of the track is privately owned and provides vehicle access to a private fishing area and farmland. I wonder if the same fate is likely to befall this years generation , should I attempt a rescue mission Any comments on this are appreciated I have booked the day off . I suppose thats a sure fire way to get the weather to turn even nastier Some serious butterfly time is planned, so everything is crossed Rake Bottom, Martin Down and Bentley Wood are all beckoning as I have never visited, but I have not decided where to go yet. Hopefully I can fit in a second site as well. So I had to be satisfied with a 10 minute stop for lunch, in the car park at Wootton Bridge. Luckily a couple of male Brimstone fluttered around the edge of the car park, in the afternoon sunshine . There were again 2 or 3 Small Tortoisehells fluttering around the same area, though looking a little more tired now. I will monitor their progress. Just a few Speckled Wood and Green Veined Whites seen along my local footpaths Hopefully by the end of next weekend I can add a few more species to the list.
Hi Paul/Jack,jackz432r wrote: Today, however, a quick look revealed at least 3 larval webs
Perhaps somebody reading this could confirm that they are Small Tortoiseshell larvae. I have never found any before today. I am surprised that the eggs were laid in such an exposed position. This Nettle patch is certainly not the lushest or the largest in the vicinity. It is also not the most sheltered Nettle patch and is in full sun pretty much all day. Is this typycal
I'd recommend Bentley Wood for Pearls there were another 5 reported today and if the weather isn't brill you might be able to find them roosting. 
