About this time of year I normally do a trip to Aston Rowant and rspb Otmoor to find the final two emerging butterflies of the summer, the silver spotted skipper and the brown hairstreak . Having already found the hairstreak at Arnside knott I decided to to try a new site for the silver spotted skipper. Warren Hill lies east of Tidworth and I easily found the location using my sat nav and parked on a large rough area at the bottom of the hill. With a large of grassland in front of me I started to follow a track towards the hill. Earlier blue skies were now clouding over but in the breaks there were good numbers of butterflies - mostly meadow browns but also common blues, brown argus, and a small copper. Joining up with another butterfly spotter I made my way up the hill and continued searching. Here we saw small heath and brimstone and a fritiilary which sailed past, possibly a dark green fritillary or silver washed, it was very faded and difficult to tell.
I ventured into a meadow of wildflowers the other side of the hill but they were past their best and not attracting many butterfles. Eventually I walked back down hill to and turned off to an area on my right. At last I came across a few chalk hill blues which indicated I could be in the right area and sure enough I finally found what I was looking for, a small brown butterfly fluttered past and rested on the ground , its wings folded behind showing the silver spots which distinguish it from the large and small skippers. It had clouded over now so having achieved my goal I had to be content and returned to my car. At least I will know where to look first next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment