Maximus

[David M]

The weather seems fairly grim almost everywhere in Europe right now, Mike, so you have to make the most of the few opportunities that present themselves.

Nice to see you did just that with the Green Hairstreak.

[Maximus]

Cheers, Wurzel, I understand what you mean about the hill but the weather has just gone back to bad again Hope to bump into you sometime this season too

I guess that South Wales has the same cool weather, David? Yesterday was on of those days that you just had to make the most of, it's now back to 'normal' again!




Five Rivers has been producing the 'goods' for us in those small periods of sunshine, in spite of the horrendous strong breezes we have been experiencing lately. It's given us our first Small Whites, Green-veined Whites and Speckled Woods of the season.

In addition Orange-tips have posed nicely, at last, to enable some reasonable shots to be obtained.

During our walk this morning there was the bonus of a Cuckoo calling nearby and many Blackcaps and Chiff-chaffs in song.

Blackcap and Reed Warbler?

[Wurzel]

I'm chuffed that you could understand the word salad of my previous comment Maximus - I think quicker than I can type
Also chuffed that Five Rivers is coming on, back in mid April I had 10 species there Love the OT shots and good ID with the Reed Warbler- it can't be a Cetti's as you can actually see it

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks, Wurzel, you made yourself very clear, in a roundabout kind of way There seem to be quite a few Cetti's around at FR, but as you say they are heard but not seen


Noar Hill 30th April


Having seen the very favourable weather forecast for Selborne for Tuesday 30th we set off from Wiltshire, skirted Winchester, before heading for one of our favourite sites, Noar Hill near Selborne. I knew that Dukes had been spotted there about a week or so earlier, so we were in with a good chance of seeing a few. Arriving at Noar around midday, it was full sun and eighteen degrees with a stiffish breeze in the lane as we parked. There were already half a dozen cars parked up but some were possibly dog walkers. We headed up the rutted lane on the North West side of the site and entered through the first gate into the site proper. We had only gone about twenty metres and there were our first two Dukes. At the same time a guided party of half a dozen people carrying cameras and binoculars appeared around the corner to exit at the gate we had just come in through. We waited while they took some photos and had a good look through their binoculars before we moved slowly on. It only took a few more steps before we found another Duke and this time took some shots. It was four years almost to the day since we were last here so we made the most of this moment spent in the company of a lovely little rare butterfly.

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon searching the sheltered corners of the many flint pits. We saw in total 10 to fifteen Dukes and two Duchesses. It reminded us of times past and of the many visits we have made to this lovely site. Lets hope that the Duke of Burgundy frequents these slopes for many years to come.

This Duchess was either still inflating her wings or had a problem with them not inflating fully, she was certainly able to fly..

this was the icing on the cake...

and a couple of context shots..

There were many Brimstones across the site, we also saw a single Dingy Skipper..but alas no shots, plenty of male Orange-tips and several Holly Blues. We also heard our first Cuckoo of the year. All in all a brilliant day out.

Holly Blue ovipositing on Dogwood.

A male Orange-tip paused long enough for a shot on our way out.

[Padfield]

Brilliant shot of the mating Duke and Duchess, Maximus.

What has ten legs and four wings?

Guy

[millerd]

Great shots from Noar Hill, Mike - it was a toss-up for me on Monday whether to head down there or head north to the Chilterns...I chose the latter and had a good day, but it looks like you probably had the best deal in the end! I shall no doubt visit Cotley when Wurzel sends up the smoke signals, so may well bump into you there.

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots Maximus especially the 'icing on the cake' It's been a few years since I've visited Noar Hill but your context shots brought back a load of great memories

Have a goodun

Wurezl

[David M]

...I guess that South Wales has the same cool weather, David?

Been awful, Mike, although I've been in Spain for over a week now (where it has been largely cool and cloudy too).

Finally though, things have picked up, although given I'm in Almeria that's perhaps not surprising.

Nice work with the Dukes.

[trevor]

If you are exploring Wiltshire, Mike, I have a recommendation.
Tilshead, on the A360 from Salisbury. Leave the A360 at the far end of village ( by the garage ).
Head straight on up the hill until you see a large concrete parking area on your right.
It's military land with public access. Brilliant for Common, Adonis & Small blues + Brown Argus.
Walls, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers can also be found. It's a nice flat easy site.

As others have said, great work with the Dukes.

[Maximus]

Thanks, Guy, Ten legs and four wings, it's a cracker

Cheers, Dave, you did very well in the Chilterns, looks like you had a great day. Hope to see you at Cotley if we are still in Salisbury at that time

Cheers, Wurzel, Noar is a great site, glad the shots brought back some good memories for you Can't be long before you post some Wiltshire Dukes

Glad you finally found some good weather, David, hope that your trip to Spain was fruitful

Thank you for the site recommendation, Trevor, might get a chance to visit later this week, if the rain ever stops


France 2023 part 2


Our hosts at Moulin de Pensol where we stayed for a few nights B and B, recommended a visit to an abandoned quarry about a half hours drive from them. We were not early birds that day and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast, which meant that it was already really hot when we arrived at our destination. In a small field next to the quarry we found loads of Blues flying, both Common and Adonis but they were barely stopping at all. With no cloud cover there was very little chance of any half decent shots, so after spending some time here we moved on into the quarry.

The quarry itself was fairly bereft of butterflies and we only saw these two species..

Ilex Hairstreak.

Pearly Heath.

but they were both new species for the year, perhaps in a good year there would be more?
The only other thing of note we saw were a couple of Orchids...

Bee Orchid.

Pyramidal Orchid.

This theme of finding low butterfly numbers (for us) in France in 2023, continued through our month-long trip, although there were a couple of exceptions.
The next day up bright and early we headed for the Dordogne.

[Wurzel]

Lovely Pearly Heath Maximus I'm looking forward to seeing what the Dordogne has to offer as I visited there a few years back Closer to home; I have seen a couple of Wiltshire Dukes - coming to my PD around July

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...Glad you finally found some good weather, David, hope that your trip to Spain was fruitful...

Thanks, Mike. This second week has been a cracker.

Looking forward to your further instalments from France.

[Maximus]

Cheers, Wurzel, the Dordogne should have plenty to offer, I hope Glad you've seen a couple of Dukes, but it looks like a long wait to see their portraits

Glad you had a great second week, David, look forward to seeing your write up



A couple of Wiltshire beauties, seen yesterday. Both took a bit of finding but it was well worth the effort in the end

Today was a different story, we spent couple of hours at Bentley and it was really hard work, they just didn't want to play ball

Three or four seen and this record shot is all I could manage Give it a week and hopefully a few more will have emerged

[Wurzel]

Great to see the Duke and Grizzlie Maximus Also really good to see the Pearls out, a case of better late than never

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Grizzled Skipper, Duke of Burgundy and Pearl Bordered Fritillary are three excellent May butterflies, Mike. Looks like you're getting to grips with your local area.