Clouded Yellow Makes It 48!

Date: 30/08/2016

Location: Durlston Head - Arne (Dorset)

Weather: Stunning Blue Skies, Temp 24c

Other Species: 
Durlston Head
Birds: Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Buzzard, Kestrel, Whitethroat.
Butterflies: Clouded Yellow, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Lulworth Skipper, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Small Copper, Wall, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Large White, Small White

Arne
Osprey, Buzzard, Sandwich Tern, Barn Swallow, Little Egret, Curlew, Oystercatcher.

Observation: 
With many reports of the Clouded Yellow coming in Durlston Head seems favourite and a beautiful day was forecast so off I went. Arrived at 9:30 parking some distance away, FREE and started my walk along the coast towards Durlston after leaving caravan park where footpath took me, saw Small Blues, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals before I'd left the caravans was looking promising!
Cutting up through Townsend Nature Reserve butterflies were fluttering all around me but not target species. Walking along to Durlston Head Reserve I saw plenty of birds too.

Wheatear standing proudly on stone walls also darting around the now cut flower meadow with Common Redstart's and Whitethroat also present.

Back on target and Painted Ladies and Adonis Blues abundant on path towards car parks.

Plenty of these on their second brood about.

As I came over brow a misty Solent and Isle of Wight could be seen.

After chatting with birder and seeing Spotted Flycatchers all seem a bit quiet but kept looking, wandered up past lighthouse and up to car parks, I followed butterfly trail and realised I'd walked in on this trail.... but on turning around I spotted my prey!!

A Clouded Yellow not my best picture as he/she wouldn't keep still followed as long as I could then it disappeared. But species number 48 for me this year, next year the 59!!

A Silver Y moth, so called because of the small Y on it's wings which you can just see here, Seemed to be lots of these about.

This the view across Durlston Bay and Swanage beyond.

At Durlston Castle saw a Wall Brown plus Holly Blue taking Butterfly count for today to 12, 

not bad I thought.

After hunting for a couple more hours around Durlston I started to return to van but not after taking a few shots of the Spotted Flycatcher's who were it seemed catching butterflies too! Watched a group about 5 birds for some time, stunners!

Almost back and earlier in year went in search of the Lulworth Skippers at Durdle Door but a very windy day and not fully convinced I'd seen them left 80% sure I'd seen one. 

But saw 2 mating in last field before I got back, 100% can see small C on wings! 

Excellent 13 now species now!

So still earlier around 1 o'clock so decided to drop into Arne, but on way back was passing the amazing looking Corfe Castle so stopped for a couple of shots.

Had to park in overflow car park but started to wander round. Headed for the Raptor Hide and across Combe Heath which was stunning with heather in full bloom on entering the hide saw I think Osprey through the heat haze very distant and it had it's back to me, very rude! Watched it for half hour when a Buzzard past by and Osprey took off and followed it away.

Walked around all tracks on reserve not seeing an awful lot, maybe heat and mid dayish !?

Walked on to Shipstal beach where most the birds were Oystercatcher, Curlew, Black Headed Gulls, Lesser and Herring gulls but tide out so all distant. Did spot a couple of noisy Sandwich Terns squawking overhead.

While watch a Little Egret put in a brief appearance but apart from Swallows last bird spot of the day.

Common Darter in Car park and I left very happy! Journey back took a bit longer than I'd hoped with it seems accidents on 2 roads making me detour and my Tom Tom not being the best, 2:30 mins! It should be 1:50 but a great day was had.

Gonna do a Butterfly Special with where I saw my 48 in a roundup of my Butterfly year!

Thanks For Looking !

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