SILVER STUDDED BLUES AT SILCHESTER COMMON

Having  added Large blue butterflies to my sightings list yesterday, it was time to look  for another blue, this time the Silver Studded Blue. Some years ago I discovered that these could be seen in an area close to where my daughter lives, so  this afternoon I headed  over to Silchester Common, to see if any were flying there yet. 

From the car parking area, I entered the common and followed the footpath for several hundred yards to an area of heathland and gorse. In the very warm afternoon sun, it wasn't long before I found the butterflies I was hoping for. Several were  fluttering low over the clumps of heather, regularly settling with open wings. I saw 15 - 20  within the hour I was there (mostly males), also a few very tatty looking common blues. 

WARM AFTERNOON AT DANEWAY BANK

After some cloudy days, the sun finally came out today,  and the temperature started to rise. I went straight to Daneway Banks from work, to try to see some Large Blues. I chose the higher path from the gateway and straight away I was drawn to a blue butterfly which I saw land, wings closed for a minute or so.. my first large blue of the afternoon. A quick photo, and it was off again. 

I spent a couple of hours traversing the slopes and the paths, and saw about half a dozen more; only one of which settled, and kept wings firmly closed, which I understand is common behaviour when it is sunny. Later on I saw a pair mating. I think I might do better if I try a late afternoon/evening visit, or slightly cloudier day. 

Other butterflies seen included lots of marbled whites and meadow browns, and a skipper (not sure which one) , dark green fritillary, several small heaths and common blues and my first Painted Lady of the year. 

BENTLEY WOOD TREE PIPIT

I got up early and drove down to Bentley Wood near Salisbury this morning to look for Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, which is a species I have yet to see.  The weather was warm as I walked from the car park to the Eastern Clearing and a few butterflies were already on the wing. I found my first ringlet of the year, plus marbled whites, meadow browns, large skippers and some common blues. Sadly no small pearl bordered fritillaries appeared; I had obviously missed them but, haven't had an opportunity to visit  until now. 

However, as I made my way through the clearing, I spotted a pipit-like bird perched on a wooden fence post. Unsure of its identity I  managed a photo, before it flew up and landed right at the top of a tall pine tree.  It proceeded to sing for a while, then suddenly lifted itself off from its perch, singing, and then returned to it again. It did this every five minutes or so, sometimes flying to a nearby tree, then returning again to its  original perch.  I recalled that 'tree pipit' was   among the sightings in the car park log-book and realised that this must be it!  Not having seen one before, it made up for the lack of small pearl bordered butterflies! 

tree pipit

ringlet

ELEVENSES AT WHITECROSS GREEN WOOD

A couple of sunny days forecast so I chose to visit Whitecross Green Wood, east of Oxford to look for Black Hairstreaks. Last year there were plenty of them so I was keen to see how many were around this year, after all the inclement weather. 

To reach the woodland carpark, you have to pass through two gates so after hopping in and out of the car four times, I found a space to park, some what surprised to find only another couple of cars there. I had expected it to be full with people catching up with their sightings, but on reflection, maybe Friday isn't the best day, and with Saturday forecast sunny too, people may be delaying their visits until tomorrow. The sun, which had disappeared behind clouds for most of my journey, re-appeared as I got to the woods and it felt warm, good for butterflies. 

I've visited this site for the past couple of years, so had a good idea of where to search for butterflies. There are mown paths along the rides, which visitors are asked to keep to; this does restrict those intending to use macro photography but posed no problem for me, having brought my zoom camera.

Black hairstreaks were hard to find, though I did locate half a dozen individuals, and managed a couple of record shots. I was pleased to see a couple of white admirals, several marbled whites, and good numbers of meadow brown and large skippers, and even two dark green fritillaries,  all of which were new sightings for the year. Other species seen included common blue, red admiral, comma, speckled wood and a brimstone. 

With eleven species seen, including six year ticks, it was a good few hours spent in the woods, and as I left for home, the sun disappeared once more. 

black hairstreak

dark green fritillary

large skipper

marbled white

meadow brown

SLIMBRIDGE AGAIN

Well, what a soggy June we've had, and I've not been out and about at all, hence it's nearly three weeks since my last entry. But today the forecast was better, and although not that sunny it was dry and warm enough to spend a pleasant couple of hours at WWT Slimbridge.
It was fairly quiet really, the best action was on the Rushy Pen which held good numbers of nesting avocets and black headed gulls. A few had already hatched their young, and there were also families of shelducks and oyster catchers and some juvenile pied wagtails. 

Other birds of note on the Rushy, were a pair of little ringed plovers, close to the hide, and a green sandpiper which flew in while I was in the hide. 

Around the Centre, were families of greylags, juvenile coots and moorhens, swans and cygnets. Plenty of flowers in bloom, but I didn't see any butterflies at all. Hopefully the predicted warm sunshine over the next couple of days will bring some out. 

oyster catchers

avocet

young avocets and shelducks 

shelduck family

goldfinch

greylags

Little Ringed Plover

flamingos in the flowers

green sandpiper

SEARCHING FOR THE DUKE

I've just returned from a few days away during half term, during which I made a couple of butterfly trips with my sister who was wanting to increase her list for the year, and particularly see a duke of burgundy butterfly. The weather forecast wasn't great for our trip to Ivinghoe in Bucks but we hoped that it might be bright enough and warm enough to encourage a few species to fly. 

Having arrived at our first stop, College Lake, we decided to follow the Wild trail which consisted of a two mile circuit of the reserve, passing through a variety of habitats and with the opportunity to visit several bird hides en route.  The usual species of bird were to be seen, including several with broods of young including greylags, Canada geese and redshank.   The most notable sightings were three little ringed plovers, 

views across College lake

juv long tailed tit

male bullfinch

 The clouds seemed to break for a moment as we passed an area of long grass and suddenly it became alive with small butterflies; numerous small blues, as well as common blues, brown argus, and small heath. We looked for green hairstreaks amongst the hawthorn bushes but didn't see any. 

brown argus

common blue

common blue

small blue

small blue

small heath

We continued our circuit of the lake, stopping off at a woodland hide where there were two pairs of bullfinches feeding from the ground.   A quick stop at the wildlife garden completed our tour followed by a snack lunch in the small café.

 After lunch we drove the short distance to the carpark at Ivinghoe beacon where there have been reports of a variety of chalk grassland butterflies including duke of burgundy, grizzled and dingy skippers as well as green hairstreaks.  I have to confess I was rather doubtful of seeing Dukes and green hairstreaks as it is at the end of their flight periods but there might be a few remaining . 

A printed  butterfly route from the NT website proved very difficult to follow; even from the car park the starting track wasn't clear and we took the wrong path!  Then, having eventually located  roughly where we should be, it appeared that cattle troughs had disappeared and vehicle tracks didn't exist and a stile had been replaced by a metal gate! ( or perhaps we had misread the map!!)

As far as butterfly sightings were concerned, the sky was still cloudy and there was a breeze, so our hopes of finding many were minimal. However we eventually found ourselves in a sheltered part  and found some common and small blues and brown argus.   As we followed a chalky path along side a field, I suddenly spotted a dingy skipper and soon afterwards Karen  asked 'Is that a Duke of Burgundy?' as she pointed towards a rather tatty brown patterned butterfly which she had just seen settle on some grass. It was, and in fact was the only one we found, but at least it gave her a fifth year tick of the day. Despite the cloud, it had become quite warm and we treated ourselves to a whippy ice cream from a van at the carpark before returning home.

mating pair of common blues showing difference in size and pattern

dingy skipper

rather tatty Duke of burgundy

The following day was predicted to be hot and sunny and  I planned my route home via Bucknell Wood near Silverstone which I read recently was a hotspot for Wood White butterflies. I found it easily by using the SAT Nav and walking up the main track from the gate, saw my first two Wood whites within five minutes as they fluttered weakly above the verge at the side of the track, occasionally stopping to settle on some bugle flowers.  I saw at least 6 of these dainty little butterflies within 40 minutes  although as it became warmer, they seemed more reluctant to settle and I returned to the car to make the final part of my journey home to Wiltshire. 

wood whites