Friday, 2 May 2025

MORE SPRING BUTTERFLIES

Another sunny morning brought out the butterflies in good numbers at Aston Upthorpe Downs near Didcot. Having left my car in the parking area I followed the deeply rutted track to the reserve entrance, a walk of about 20 minutes, and entered the valley through a gate. A grassy path runs the length of the valley with sloping sides either side, making a sheltered area for downland butterflies. Having missed my target butterflies at Martinsell, I thought I'd travel a little bit further to this reserve I knew fairly well, especially as both species  ( green hairstreak and grizzled skipper) had been reported earlier in the week.

I was soon finding typical species for this habitat - dingy skipper, common blue, brown argus, small heath ( numerous) and some of the larger butterflies - orange tip ,brimstone, peacock, red admiral. 

I didn't spot any grizzled skippers as I walked the length of the reserve, and then headed slightly uphill toward a flower covered hawthorn ( are they particularly good this year?) However I did spot one green hairstreak two thirds the way along which I mentally ticked off. I scanned the hawthorn and soon saw a couple more hairstreaks flitting about the flowers One in particular was particularly active on my side of the bush and posed nicely for the camera! 

On the way back down the valley, I did at last spot a small dark butterfly which was dog fighting with a small heath and common blue eventually separating and landing for a short time to produce my second year tick of the morning - a grizzled skipper.  Despite a number of  reported sightings a few days ago, I just saw one more on the track returning to the car park. 











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