BRAMPTON WOODS AND GRAFHAM WATER

 Still breezy with sunny/cloudy conditions for a visit to a couple of nature reserves in Cambridgeshire. 

First, we visited Brampton wood and noted 1 purple hairstreak, (although it was too high to photograph), 1 comma, good numbers of silver washed fritillaries, meadow browns, gatekeepers, large and small skippers, green veined white, small white, large white, ringlet, several red admirals, 1 peacock. 

We then went on to Grafham water, walking through some nature reserves, and saw comma, painted lady, peacock, meadow brown, gatekeeper, small white, green veined white, large white, ringlet, red admiral, small skipper. 

comma showing the white 'comma' on its underwing

peacock

Bedford Purlius

This is a well known spot for butterfly enthusiasts in Cambridgeshire, although there are no signs to tell you where it is or even that you have arrived at the right place! This is on purpose, though, to prevent too many visitors. 

We drove up the entrance track and spoke to a farmer on a tractor who told us we could find parking a few yards up the track which we did, and found ourselves opposite one of the many rides in the wood. 
Before even getting out of the car we saw a couple of  silver washed fritillaries  which was an encouraging start.  Despite the fairly breezy conditions and the sun going in and out of clouds, there were plenty of butterflies to keep us happy along the ride. I was particularly pleased to see several white letter hairstreaks, initially shown to us by another visitor, but then fairly easy to find ourselves. 

Butterflies seen included, large skipper, brimstone, small white, large white, peacock, silver washed fritillary, ringlet, meadow brown, gatekeeper, white letter hairstreak, comma. 

rather tatty comma

large skipper

silver washed fritillary

white letter hairstreak, showing letter 'W' very clearly

peacock

CHERHILL

I went here on Saturday early afternoon, it had been sunny but clouded over a bit when I arrived, which probably accounts for the lack of butterflies, especially any blues. There were gatekeepers, meadow browns, small skippers, ringlet, red admirals, and I thought I saw a couple of dark green fritillaries in flight, also a small yellowish butterfly which I could not identify. However, when I spoke to another couple, they said they also thought they had seen two dark green fritallaries and a wall butterfly in flight, which makes me think that I may have seen them too. 

the white horse at Cherhill

steep path to the top of the downs

ringlet

yellow hammer in full voice

THE COOMBES WALK

Quite a nice tally of butterflies from the Coombes walk at Hinton parva, just a short distance from home, despite not seeing the ones I was looking for! The half way point  of my walk along the valley floor was barred by a herd of cows, so I made a steep climb up the side of the valley and returned alongside the top hedge. There were the usual marbled whites, meadow browns, small skippers, gatekeepers, also a bright yellow brimstone, a couple of small tortoiseshells, red admirals, large and small whites, green veined white and a comma. 

brimstone

red admiral

small white

comma

small tortoiseshell

barred by some cows!

looking down on the valley floor at The Coombes, Hinton Parva

HACKPEN HILL

I hadn't any plans for today, but with some time on my hands, I was reading through some Oxfordshire butterfly sightings and noticed that Chalkhill Blues and Dark Green fritillaries had been seen at Hackpen Hill near Wantage.  As it was only half an hour's drive, I decided then and there to make a trip over to see if I could locate any.

Having located the car park, I walked up part of the Ridgeway Path before deviating through a gate through a wheat field to  the entrance of the reserve. The usual  grassland butterflies were in abundance. I saw a few common blues, and was on my way back, when I noticed a slightly larger blue butterfly flitting about. It stopped a few times, with wings closed,  but then eventually slowly opened them a tiny bit to reveal  the chalkhill blue markings.

crossing the wheat field

walking down Hackpen hill

common blue

marbled white - I love the underwing pattern

chalkhill blue

chalkhill blue opening  its wings

juvenile green woodpecker in the garden at home

 

yellow hammer on the Ridgeway path

THE GOOD WEATHER CONTINUES...

Another fine day, so I started off with a trip to Webbs Wood and Echo Lodge meadows (first visit). I walked through meadow on the southern edge of the wood, where oaks overhang, scanning them as I went, then suddenly I noticed a small, pale butterfly flitting about. Initially it was too high to identify but then it came down to head height which enabled me to identify it as a purple hairstreak and get a couple of photos of the underside of its wings.  In the meadow were the usual browns and whites, also saw a pristine red admiral but it didn't stop. 

I called in briefly at Ravensroost Wood but no silver washed fritillaries or white admirals around, although, surprisingly I spotted a brimstone. Afterwards, I made off towards Cheltenham to Prestbury Hill reserve, looking for dark green fritillaries ( none seen), but there was a single common blue as well the other grassland butterflies.

On arrival back home, one of the green woodpeckers was on the back lawn.

green woodpecker

Species seen at Webbs Wood: red admiral, purple hairstreak, marbled white, small skipper, green veined white, meadow brown, gatekeeper.

Species seen at Ravensroost: brimstone, meadow brown, gatekeeper, green veined white, small white, marbled white, small skipper. 

Species seen at Prestbury: common blue, speckled wood, gatekeeper, small tortoiseshell, meadow brown, marbled whtie, small skipper. 

brimstone

small tortoiseshell

common blue

purple hairstreak

green woodpecker

PURPLE EMPEROR - JUST!

First day of the school summer holidays and during the morning I heard a racket coming from the willow tree, which turned out to be a family of green woodpeckers. Having been disturbed they flew onto a neighbours rooftop.

I then left for Savernake Forest as I wanted to see a Purple Emperor if  I could, After arriving at about 10 am I found a couple of others already standing around the tall stone column which is known to be a favourite spot for these butterflies as they like to taste the salt from it. The weather certainly was a little cooler than recently, but it warmed up and after about 20 minutes we could see one flying around the top of the oak trees where they prefer to live. Eventually a butterfly was  seen perched on the side of the column,  though  still pretty near the top. I did just manage a photo as it didn't rest for long in one spot. I also saw a couple of silver washed fritillaries flying around but not settling.

I waited around a bit, but it had started clouding over so in the end I decided to go back home via Barbury Castle. Here there were plenty of marbled whites, meadow browns, and a few gatekeepers, small heath, green veined white and just one small tortoiseshell .

long distance shot of green woodpeckers

purple emperor

gatekeeper

small heath

green veined white

marbled white