BROWN HAIRSTREAKS

With the summer ebbing away, it's time to seek my last few butterflies of the year;  in particular the brown hairstreak and silver spotted skipper, usually seen at two sites in Oxfordshire.  I wouldn't necessarily choose to be out and about on the hottest day of the year so far but it looked as the weather may not be so good next week so I  decided to take plenty of drink and drive over there mid-morning after finishing my tutoring sessions. 

For once, the car park at RSPB Otmoor had plenty of room in it, and as I glanced down the Roman Road as I entered the carpark, I could see one or two people already there, presumably hunting for hairstreaks like I was.  

After dutifully putting my RSPB membership card in the window of the car, I walked the short distance back to the Roman Road. I know from previous visits that the brown hairstreaks are usually found somewhere about half way along, but just to be sure, I walked slowly checking the bushes and plants on the sunny side of the path. Although the car temperature had already read 30 degrees, the path I was exploring runs between two tall hedgerows so gave some  welcome shade on one side.  

As I approached  some other people there, they waved to me come towards them and I was shown a brown hairstreak which was on some nettles close to where they stood. I took some photos of the male brown hairstreak and was informed that they had seen about five that morning. The butterfly stayed on the nettle for a while but then  started to flutter about and settlein different locations several times in succession, including on the ground. It then opened its wings once  before flying off and disappearing. Sadly we didn't it find again and in fact we didn't spot any more  brown hairstreaks along the Roman Road. It would have been nice to see a female as they are much brighter coloured; however it is fairly early in the season for them so they may be around later on, although I may not have an opportunity to revisit this year.  

Next  I continued down the Roman Road before turning left onto the bridleway.  This is an area where I expected to find some dragonflies as a ditch runs along side but a little way along, a  lady who had passed me earlier along the Roman Road pointed out another male hairstreak to me she had found. A few photographs later, I decided it was really getting too hot to stay longer so returned to the car.

Seeing as I was already the other side of Oxford I opted to drive a further twenty minutes down the  M40 to  the nature reserve at Aston Rowant. Here I hoped to find some silver spotted skippers. Heading onto the top path of the reserve, it was noticeably quite breezy as well as hot, and any butterflies that tried to fly were quickly blown away! I spotted gatekeepers and meadow browns, chalkhill blues, common blues, whites and brimstones as well as a few peacocks. As for skippers, if I saw any suspects, they were quickly blown away, so I never had the chance to identify them properly. Maybe I will revisit on a cooler day for those as it was getting far to hot to walk for much longer! 

SEVEN BARROWS

Seven barrows is a Nature Reserve owned by the BBOWT near Lambourn (famous for its race horses). As well as being  of archaelological interest, it provides an area of chalk grassland, rich in flowers  which attract a wide range of butterflies. 

I had recently discovered the existence of this small reserve so when looking for somewhere local to visit on a warm sunny day, but with limited time at my disposal I decided explore it  for the first time as it is situated less than 30 minutes away. 

I arrived just after 11 am, parking in the small car parking area  just outside the reserve. It was almost a cloudless sky with temperatures gradually rising.  One other car was already parked there, and I could see  someone in the distance at the other side of the meadow, However he went shortly afterwards so  I had the reserve to myself.  I  followed the flattened grass path which led from the gateway  and  started to meander through the reserve. However  it soon fizzled out and I was left  to find my own path amongst the many wild flowers growing there. 

I soon spotted meadow browns and gatekeepers but  it was a little while before the number of butterflies flying began to steadily increase. However I eventually l  made a good count of  16 species of butterfly, 

Although butterflies were present throughout  the whole of the reserve area,  some large patches of wild marjoram were  attracting  the most   species.

These included small blue, common blue, chalkhill blue, small copper, small heath,  peacock, small tortoiseshell,  meadow brown, gatekeeper, brimstone, small white,  green veined white, brown argus, marbled white, ringlet and small skipper.

brown argus

chalkhill blue

entrance to reserve

path through reserve

green veined white

marbled white

meadow brown

peacock

ringlet

small blue

small copper

small copper

small skipper

small white

chalkhill  blue

BBOWT RESERVES IN BERKSHIRE

I started out today in hope of adding some new  dragonflies to my  list of sightings which I've started this year. I planned to visit a couple of nature reserves near Padworth, starting with a walk at Padworth common where golden ringed dragonflies are among the species mentioned, follwed by Decoy heath which according to BBOWT boasts 23 species of dragonfies and damselflies.

On arrival at Padworth Common, I found I was the only car in the carpark. I knew that there was a pond somewhere so went to the information board to take a look.  Whilst reading it, a lady and her grandson (complete with butterfly net!) came back   down one of the paths. I asked them about a pond, but was told that they had all dried up! So much for the reccommendation by the Wildlife trust to spend half an hour sitting near the main pond watching darting dragonflies and damselflies! Nevertheless I took a quick walk in the direction of the pond, but found it was completely bereft of water, although there were a couple of ruddy/common darters there, and several butterflies. 

My next stop therefore   was therefore  Decoy Heath, only a couple of roads away. I found the car park designated in the guide book but the gate was locked and there was no signage indicating a wildlife reserve!  I wasn't having much success so far!! 

Being quite near to the village of Mortimer, I decided to have a search for grayling butterflies which I have seen regularly at an area  which forms part of a conifer plantation. I parked outside the gate - which looked pretty unused and hoped it would not be needed! A ten minute walk took me to a gravel  area beside a small water filled quarry area where  I expected to see several graylings. However, I saw none, although I did notice that the gravel area was somewhat more overgrown than last time I visited. Thinking maybe it was a bit early in the season, (although they have been recorded already this year) , I turned and  wandered back to the car again. There were quite a few small skippers and gatekeepers about but then I noticed a couple of  duller brown butterflies fluttering at the edge of the track. On closer inspection they turned out to be what I had been looking for -  graylings, typically settling on gravel or bits of bark, and shutting their wings quickly to camouflage themselves. They were certainly hard to find once they had settled, unless you had followed them very carefully to see where they landed. I took a few photos, glad that I had at least achieved one of my aims for the day!!

Having spent less time than originally planned at some of the reserves, I realised I would have time to revisit Greenham Common. Once parked,  I ate my picnic in the car before  heading over to one of the pond areas.  I followed a path round the side, next to some bushes and  noticed several emperor dragonflies patrolling the water. One eventually did stop and flew to a gorse bush from which it hung motionless. for a while. I also spotted a couple of black tailed skimmers However, with people picnicking nearby and .a popular place for dogs to have a swim, I decided to leave and try another area. 

At a second pond, which was in a quieter, more secluded area, I started to walk round the shore line, and every so often heard a 'plop' as something entered the water right in front of me... frogs! There were at least half a dozen that  I saw, one of which presented with  me some lovely views of its swimming ability!  At the other end of the pool, I noticed what they describe in story books-  a frog on a lily pad!  The pink  waterlily flowers looked amazing in the sun. Here again were several emperor dragonflies, including three egg-laying females. There were also a couple of brown hawkers, but they were not stopping for any photos, as usual. 

I stood watching the tranquil scene; hearing an occasional 'plop' from a frog entering the water, or a rustle as a dragonfly touched its wings against some reeds, until it was time to leave for home. 

emperor dragonfly

black tailed skimmer

female emperor dragonfly egg laying

frog!

wtaer lilies on the pond

second pond

CHALK HILL BLUES AND A BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT

Last week, my daughter informed me that she had seen a butterfly on her courgette plants that she could not identify. Her description, brown with a bit of purple on it, and an underwing with a wavy line, fitted that of a purple hairstreak. I suppose it   was unsurprising really, seeing as she has a large oak tree at the bottom of her garden; I had often looked at it  and wondered about but nevertheless an exciting find.

I was therefore keen to visit her and see for myself, particularly as at this time of year her garden is  full of butterflies.  Today's forecast was  a cloudy morning, though warm  so I thought I  could also stop off at  the NT site of Lardon Chase, near Pangbourne as I wanted to look for some Chalkhill blue butterflies, which are now emerging. 

The car park at Lardon chase was almost full at my arrival time of 11.30 am but  I just managed to find a space. A short distance  from  the gate there was a small herd of young cattle  but they were more interested in sheltering under the tree than blocking the entrance and I walked close to the hedge to keep out of their way.  I could see groups of people walking in this popular area, some picnicking but I was interested in looking for blue butterflies amongst the wild marjoram/thyme. It wasn't long before I found a small blue  specimen, but this  turned out to be a common blue.  It wasn't particularly sunny and at first  I could not spot any 'chalkies' but as I walked, they were disturbed and I realised that there were actually quite large numbers. When the sun did appear occasionally, they were much more evident. 

I reached my daughter's house at Burghfield Common in time for a picnic lunch then we sat outside in the garden for the remainder of the day. On the two buddleias, there were peacocks and red admirals continually nectaring, occasionally joined by some small or large whites. A brimstone was attracted to the runner bean flowers whilst meadow brown, comma, gatekeeper and holly blue butterflies were also made an appearance from time to time. also an emperor dragonfly.. However, the butterflies that caught our attention the most were the purple hairstreaks. I saw at least 3  amongst the oak leaves, and one or two regularly flew past us as they explored other areas of the garden, settling from time time for a few seconds on the ground or on a  plant. One did open its wings, but  to my surprise they looked completely brown, with no purple visible. It maybe that it is quite a worn specimen and the purple scales have worn off.  I did see an individual higher up in the oak which did give me a glimpse of purple, though. I decided it would be an ideal opportunity to do  a Big Butterfly Count with the following results:

Peacock 8, Red admiral 2, comma 1, large white 1, small white 2, purple hairstreak 3, meadow brown 1, holly blue 1, gatekeeper 1. 

purple hairstreak

peacocks on buddleia

brimstone

red admiral

comma

peacock

red admiral

purple hairstreak (zoomed in!)