Date: 27 + 28th July
Location: Mendips & Dorset
Weather:
27th - Overcast + Windy,
28th - Very Overcast, Drizzle + Windy.
27th - Overcast + Windy,
28th - Very Overcast, Drizzle + Windy.
Other Species:
(Mendip Hills) - Chalkhill Blue, Grayling, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Whites, Small Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary.
(Fontmell - Alners Gorse) - Silver Washed Fritillary, Gatekeepers, Red Admiral + Marsh Tit - Of Note!
Observation:
Normally do my walk on Wednesday but rain forecast so headed down to Priddy and Draycott Sleights for a few Butterflies as when walking up weather not as bad as predicted, well overcast with no sun and a bit windy but what the hell!
Very few Butterflies about a couple of Dragonflies buzzing around saw Emperors and this nice Common Darter.
Plenty of Grasshoppers, this I think Meadow Grasshopper.
Green Veined Whites still collecting minerals in good numbers, with Gatekeepers being the most abundant closely followed by Meadow Browns and Small Skippers.
Saw 1 Dark Green Fritillary briefly and still a few Marbled Whites, wind making it hard to get a steady focus.
Next down to Draycott a stunning views from up here,Cheddar Reservoir, Crook Peak then Brean Down and Steep Holme out into Bristol Channel, Wales beyond.
A fair few Chalkhill Blues around being the most abundant! I'd estimate numbers to be 30+.
This the female of the species again weather making it difficult to shot well.
Was returning back down hill and a Grayling caught my eye, just the one but nice all the same.
Was slightly sheltered here and manage a couple of half decent shots.
Above making a right racket a Buzzard and Crow battle, the Buzzard won!
28th July
Weather forecast was worse today so decided it might be wrong and headed down to Fontmell Down for the Silver Spotted Skipper, Weather not wrong got out van it rained and very windy did the route anyway NOUT! Well Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns was about it.
So carried on with plan and to Alners Gorse for Brown Hairstreak. It rained on way down but turned to drizzle so walked around, no one there surprise!
Did see this distant Marsh Tit, again Gatekeepers lots, few Whites and Red Admiral's but little else.
Couple of Marbled Whites on far side trying to hide in grass.
Decided to call it a day and managed this shot of a Red Admiral on way back to van. Hope next week better. My butterfly total this still stands at 44.
Thanks For Looking !
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