BUTTERFLIES IN SHROPSHIRE

Not long ago I was talking to someone  about the butterflies I still had to  see  to complete my UK list of sightings. One of these is the Large Heath and I learned from him that the nearest place I could see them was   at  a place called Whixall Moss in Shropshire, about 3 hours' drive. As this would be too far for me to drive as a day trip, I decided to make a short break of it, and accordingly booked some air bnb accommodation nearby. A bonus was the fact that another rare butterfly, the silver studded blue can be seen at another reserve close by, although this is a species I have seen regularly each year in Berkshire.

Whilst doing some research I found that   the large heath butterfly can be found at two locations in the area,  Bettisfield Moss as well as Whixall Moss, so I decided to visit both to give me the best chance of success. These are both peat bogs and I was warned that  biting insects can be  prevalent!  I therefore dressed with long sleeves, despite being a hot day, and sprayed myself liberally with insect repellant, 

At Bettisfield there was just one other car in the small car park  and I   walked up the main path onto the reserve. I had been  told   that I might find the butterflies along this path, but the ones I did see  were  flying over the peat bog itself but  they were very  active and I couldn't  really see the markings clearly as they didn't stop! 

I decided to try my second location, and parked at Morris' bridge car park right next to the Llangollan canal. You have to go over a lifting bridge to get to the car park, and soon after I got there   I saw  the bridge being lifted to enable a narrow boat to pass through,

I'd looked at a map of this reserve and took the path from the car park, past a gate and then turned right at a  t junction. This   led to a wide path between two vast bog areas.  I wasn't really sure what to expect a peat bog to look like, but it seemed like a lot of dry grass with a scattering of small trees. However, there were warnings to stay on the path.   Again the large heaths were flying  in the   peat bog area each side of the path,   occasionally crossing over  but never stopping to settle. I spoke to a lady who said she had seen one or two settle earlier that morning  but it certainly seemed unlikely now. After walking up and down the path, I decided to call it a day, and head over to Prees Heath Common to look for my second rarity of the day the silver studded blue. 

 I'd already located the car parking area on a map so found the spot with little difficulty. I'd been told the butterflies were on the right of the car park, and even when stepping out of the car, I could see a number of figures with cameras  This was going to be easy, and it was. There  were dozens of silver studded blues, many of them settling regularly, sometimes with open wings and sometimes with closed wings showing their blue 'studs'. I soon found I had plenty of photos to choose from!

Although pleased to have finally seen a large heath butterfly, I really felt I needed a photo to confirm the identity and to add to my album of butterflies, just in case I never had an opportunity to see another one  So  the following day  I got up early and was on the heath by 7.45. am. It was sunny and quite warm and I soon saw skippers flying and thought may be the large heaths would be out early too, However,  the bog area proved a lot windier than yesterday, and it even became quite cloudy and a bit cooler and no butterflies appeared. I could see that a  break in the cloud cover was imminent so decided to stick it out.  Finally my patience paid off, as suddenly two  butterflies seemed to appear from nowhere, and started chasing each other before one decided to settle for a few seconds on a piece of grass  about 10 feet  away. Now was my chance, and I took it!  I didn't see them again, but was quite satisfied  to get a photo at last. 

I now have  four more butterflies to find, namely High Brown Fritillary, Northern brown argus,

Mountain ringlet and chequered skipper. 

the lifting bridge in action

the  Llangollen canal 

The bog where the butterflies were flying

the path in between two areas of bog

Here is my only photo of a large heath!

Silver studded blue

LARGE BLUES AT DANEWAYS

So many butterflies are on the wing in June, it's sometimes hard to know which species to look for first.  I had it in mind to visit  Ravensroost Wood to see if I could find any White Admirals or Silver washed fritillaries, but then my phone showed a notification saying that  Large Blues had been seen at Daneway banks near Cirencester. Large blues are rare, and were introduced successfully at this location ten to fifteen years ago and this remains one of the few places where you can find them,  Now I know from experience that Large Blue butterflies don't like the sun too much so if they settle they tend to keep their wings closed. So I needed a mix of sun and cloud, so that the sun would cause them to fly, and the cloud would encourage them to settle with open wings. It was still fairly sunny as I finished work at lunch time but with some cloud cover forecast for the afternoon, so  I drove the 35 minute journey over to Daneway  banks where there were thankfully still several parking spaces left in the layby at the bottom of the hill. I walked over the bridge, and took the narrow steep road which passes the reserve enteance at thd top of thd hill.  On the way to the reserve, I met one or two visitors who said they either hadn't seen any large blues or  had just had a possible brief glimpse of one. Things weren't looking so good. Maybe I'd picked a wrong day. However, I tried to  remain optimistic as yesterday's report said six butterflies were seen so surely they must still be around somewhere! 

The first butterfly I saw was a large orange butterfly which almost flew straight at me -   it stopped to rest briefly on a number plate of a car parked in the gateway and I saw that it was a silver washed fritillary! Not what I was expecting, but possibly had flown over from Siccaridge woods on the opposite side of the road ( where I saw the Pearl bordered fritillaries back in April)  Well that was one tick for the year anyway. 

I walked slowly through the reserve, which I've visited many times before, and spotted numerous marbled whites, and a few small heaths, ringlets, meadow browns and painted lady.  Eventually I reached the far corner, where a number of people seemed to be congregating. Yes - a blue butterfly was fluttering around and settled on some thyme - a large blue! I do like this pretty butterfly -   a gorgeous wedgwood blue in colour with black markings. It stopped long enough for a quick photo before  flying back and over the hillside behind.  After a short wait,  another one was spotted but didn't rest.  A couple of other blues further away caught my eye,  but when I went to investigate they turned out to be common blues. 

With no further sightings, I decided to take a narrow path  up the hillside and just before it came to the top, spotted another three large blues which I was pleased about. They did just about open their wings, but I couldn't get in position for  a decent photo so had to be content with record shots.  As I returned downhill, the sun had gone in, and so had the butterflies.  It seems I had made the trip just in time today, though doubtless the next couple of weeks will prove good for them, and delight a good number of visitors. 

silver washed fritillary having a brief rest on a number plate

marbled white

painted lady

large blue

NOTES FROM NORFOLK

 I spent a few days in Norfolk with my sister during half term, visiting a number of well known bird and butterfly sites With the hottest day of our holiday predicted on Tuesday, we headed straight for Strumpshaw Fen hoping to see some of the recently emerged Swallowtail butterflies. I've only managed to glimpse this species from a distance before, so was hopeful to see something slightly closer. In fact, in the end we didn't  need to go further than the visitor centre where a single swallowtail was nectaring on the flowers nearby. I was pleased to be able to photograph one at last, and pleased we didn't have to walk the length of  the reserve to find one, particularly as my sister was using crutches to support a recently broken ankle!

In the afternoon we visited Ranworth Broad where we had distant views of ospreys,  which were nesting on the opposite side of the broad, then after returning to our accommodation for something to eat, we went out again at dusk to Kelling Heath where a conveniently situated car park allows visitors to  hear and see nightjars. I had no idea what the 'churring' sounded like, but a couple of locals who were familiar with the site,  pointed it out as soon as they could hear it. Initially the sound was distant but eventually moved closer and finally we were able to peer round into a clearing in an area of heathland just off the car park and saw three nightjars, albeit briefly,  black shapes flying around in front of us. A lifer for me and worth waiting for. 

Next morning I looked out of one of the upstairs window on to an area of rough ground in front of our cottage and was  thrilled to see a barn owl hunting, the first I'd seen this year. After quickly dressing, I was soon out  of the door and standing at the edge of the field. The owl was still there and as I had my camera pointed towards it, the owl began to head in my direction, finally diving down into the long grass about ten metres ahead of me. After a few minutes, it reappeared with a mouse in its claws and flew off into the direction of some trees. It didn't return so I made a point of looking out a dusk but without success. The following morning,  it was  back in the same area, though sadly didn't  come close enough for photos again. 

 

Next day we took a wildlife trip from Martham Broad; our guide was knowledgeable and interesting, and he pointed out the numerous species of  bird we could see from the boat, which included marsh harriers, hobby, great crested grebe, cuckoo, cranes, as well as more common species. A couple of grey  herons gave really close views perched on top of markers. 

marsh harrier

grey heron

We spent our third day exploring Titchwell Marsh, where I was hoping in particular to see bearded tits in the reeds and sanderlings on the beach. We didn't see any bearded tits  from the usual section of the path but from the hide we eventually saw some juveniles which appeared at the front of the reeds, but no handsome male this time!  I left my sister to enjoy her lunch on one of the benches overlooking the freshmarsh, where a family of redshanks was feeding whilst I made my way down to the dunes which led on the beach.  The tide was far out, but I  walked out towards a rocky area where a large group of small birds had just flown in. They turned out to be the sanderlings I was hoping for and I watched them all busily poking about amongst the seaweed for what ever treats they might find, noting the wide variation in their plumage.  Amongst them  was an oyster catcher and a couple of turnstones which was nice to see. 

I noticed several painted lady butterflies fly past me on the beach, and found two of three nectaring on thistles back on the reserve. It seems this is the beginning of a large influx!

painted lady butterflies

BUTTERFLIES ON THE DOWNS

Yesterday I took a trip down through Wiltshire just over the border into Hampshire to visit a butterfly site at Fontmell and Melbury Downs. On the way I stopped off at another popular site called Martin Downs, south of Salisbury, an open area of chalk downland, heath and woodland. I parked in the Sillens Lane carpark located three quarters of a mile along a rather pot-holed narrow road as I'd heard that sometimes turtle doves can be seen or heard here. With many tracks to choose from, I decided on a straight track alongside many bushes and trees, and a grass verge. Sadly no turtle doves, but even at eight o'clock, butterflies were already on the wing in the warm temperatures. I spent the best part of two hours there, including talking to another butterfly enthusiast who informed me he'd seen all the UK butterflies each year for about 12 years!  That would necessitate travelling the length and breadth of the country annually.  I think I'll be content with trying to see all 60 species at least once in  my life time! However, he did give me some useful information about  a couple of sites where I could find some of my five  'missing species'. albeit in Scotland and the Lkae District, many miles from home! Butterflies I saw at Martin Downs were common blue, small blue, small copper, speckled wood, orange tip, brimstone, small heath, dingy skipper and green hairstreak. 

My second stop was at Fontmell and Melbury Downs where my aim was to locate a couple of  'firsts for the year', namely Adonis blue and Glanville Fritillary. The latter species was once only found in the Isle of Wight but has been now 'introduced' into one or two areas in the south of England where it appears to be thriving.  I soon spotted my two target butterflies, on a sunny bank part way down a fairly steep track leading from the car park down to the valley below. With the day becoming increasingly warm, they were hard to photograph as they tended to settle with wings closed or amongst vegetation where it was cooler. On previous visits I've seen Marsh Fritillaries here, but there were none today although there were good numbers of brimstone and also small and common blues. 

My final visit was  on my journey home, when I stopped off at Boscombe Down West, a straight 1km section of a disused railway which runs alongside some ministry of defence land and is bordered by chalk embankments. Today it was hard to spot many butterflies but I did find a green hairstreak and one Adonis blue and one common  blue which often seemed to be interacting with each other. 

                                                                  Adonis blue

common  blue

Glanville fritillary

green hairstreak

SMALL BLUES AND DUKES AT CROG HILL

 It was so nice to be able to get out on a butterfly hunt today after some dull and windy weather. I decided to stay fairly local as I've a few trips further afield planned over the next few days. Crog Hill, just outside Lambourn is a well known spot for small blue butterflies so I  headed over there and parked in the usual place just off the road, where a bridleway starts. Along this bridleway it is  easy to spot these tiny butterflies, not so much blue but almost grey/black. I spotted one virtually as soon as I got out of the car and saw several more as I walked along the rutted track until I got to a grassy spot on the left hand side. Here  I found most of the small blues, together with at least four duke of burgundy butterflies, another speciality here,  which were much easier to see and photograph than at Rodborough Common at the end of April.  Other butterflies seen along the track  were common blue (3), Brimstone (2), small heath (1) peacock (1) and a further two dukes. 

A BUNDLE OF CUTENESS AT SLIMBRIDGE

Today's visit wasn't to see any new species for the year, (although I did add swift)  but to see the new life emerging at Slimbridge as resident waterbirds show off their broods. Goslings of all sizes were all around the reserve, plus cygnets and  ducklings and young coots and moorhens.  An extra bonus was a couple of bittern flights though both times it caught me by surprise and flew away from me so I was unable to record on my camera. A few of the cutest  are below.