First half of the 59 butterflies of the UK (almost)

Date: 20/05/2018

Location's 
Fry’s Hill,Battlesbury Hill, Bentley Hill, Cotley Hill, Wyre Wood, Monk wood, Haugh Wood

Species Highlights: 
Pearl bordered Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Small Blue, Small Copper, Adonis Blue, Wood White.

Observation: 
Bit of a catch up on our butterflies travels so far this year, after me doing the 59 uk species in 2017 I seem to have inspired Lauren to do the same this year so we’re checking out the normal haunts starting off with a few of the common ones.

This from Our Patch a Painted Lady, this the butterfly that separates me and Lauren at the Moment, she still needs it. Seen on 24/04/2018

The underestimated Orange Tip, Male

Fry’s Hill in Axbridge nr Cheddar always a good Hill and this year no different with Dingy Skipper.

And then the Smaller Grizzled Skipper.

Closely followed by lots of Green Hairstreak. It even landed on our finger.

The following week off down to Battlesbury Hill Nr. Warminster and soon after arriving Lauren spotted a little beauty, a Small Copper and it perched up nicely.

Soon flying closely by were a few Marsh Fritillary 10+ seen, a stunner of butterfly.

Also another to the finger tick list.

Also Duke of Burgundy a new site for me as I normally go to Rodborough Common or Cerne Abbas so pleased to see them in a new spot, at least 3 seen.

Still being early we jumped into van and headed of to Bentley Woods a good site for Pearl Bordered Fritillary and within a few minutes of arriving we soon had added Pbf to our list, weather was quite warm so butterflies not really posing much although we did get a few shots.

After seeing 10 or so we headed back via A36 and stopping at Cotley Hill my favourite site with last year totting up 22 species from this site. 
After parking and walking on to the site we soon saw a few more Marsh Fritillary then a brief view of a Adonis Blue our 4th species of the day, a Adonis Blue then perched up nicely for a few shots.

Small Heath, another tiny beauty.

We walked along the hillside hoping for a Small Blue but on first pass nothing was spotted, we started to do the return route when I spotted the Smallest Small Blue i’d ever seen but before Lauren could get her camera on it it vanished, feeling a bit sad we started heading back to van when again I spotted another, this time she managed a few shots, excellent making the daily total 5 new year ticks for me and 2 new year ticks for Lauren.

Monday today 21/05/2018 we made the trip up to Wrye Wood nr Worcester for a bit more Pearl Bordered action 100 at least but again weather warm and butterflies not playing ball, when they did land they were normally hiding in grass but great to see so many.

Some 20 miles away was Monk wood a new site for us both but what a site for Wood Whites again a 100 or so seen and this time pearching up nicely for some pictures.

Hidden gems,

So our year total stand at me: 25 & Lauren at 24 species with Lauren missing the Painted Lady, still plenty of time,  25 down 34 to go!!

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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!

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Fontmell Down & Ham Wall

Date: 01/09/2015

Location: Fontmell Down - Ham Wall

Weather: Blue skies for some part but clouds and light wind

Other Species: Butterflies: Chalkhill Blue, Small Blue, Adonis Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Silver Spotted Skipper, Meadow Brown, Whites, Small Copper.

Birds: Peregrine Falcon, Linnet, Yellowhammer. 

Hamwall: Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Little Grebe.

Observation: Headed to Fontmell Down for that Silver Spotted Skipper, wasn't happy with one in a jar! Nor the Adonis at Rodborough Common last week so....

On arriving was happy to see lots of Adonis Blues also a flyover Peregrine Falcon !

Liked this one :)

Quiet a few mating this unlucky couple getting eaten by spider :(

Adonis to see you !

At least 10 or so Small Blues flirting over hill too.

And then the Silver Spotted arrived, Nice ! 

At end of trip had seen at least 15 with a group of 5 !

The sunshine making all the flutterby's frisky !

Sitting Pretty

A much nicer day than last week ! I shall return next year  ! :)

Now a bit of birding and Ham Wall it was

 with this nice Small Red-Eyed Damselflies

Went to Tor Hide not much going on there so headed for viewing platform 2 Great White Egret at distance and a Grey Heron. Reeds gonna be cut soon, Good !

A feisty Wren in defiance a stance !

Little Grebe was the end of a great day .

Cheers For Now !

Adonis Blue makes it 41 !

Date: 27/08/2015

Location: Rodborough Common & Slimbridge

Weather: There wasn't snow! But rain, wind, thunder temp 12-20c

Other Species:

Rodborough: Redstart, Kestrel - Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue, Tortoiseshell, Small White.

Slimbridge: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Buzzard, Ruff, Snipe.

Observations:With my trusted BBC Weather app saying sunshine thought I'd drive up Rodborough Common as Adonis Blue here day before, thanks to Twitter ! 

But the drive up soon turned wet and grey! On arriving a gap in the cloud and I was off over the Common saw a lovely Redstart but lens cap on camera !

Almost the first butterfly I saw was a Adonis Blue hiding in grass but now its raining !! 

Back to Van for coffee after 20 mins it stopped so back to where I saw Adonis, very few butterflies not surprising windy and the odd rumble of thunder !

Didn't find any more Adonis Blues but that one puts my Butterfly life list to 41 !

 Around 20 Chalkhill blues all landing low in grass :(

Clouding over again.

 Jumped in Van and started to drive to Slimbridge, that coffee I left on side has just fallen into my walking bag! Nice ;(

But it's now sunny, car park very full. Headed to Rushy Hide and a Common Sandpiper was scurrying in front of hide.

A Greenshank standing still looked nice in the sunshine.

Green Sandpipers of which there were 10+ were buzzing all over the place 

Also Ruff, Snipe, Lapwing, Greylags from the Rushy hide.

Last shot was Wednesday went for a walk there on My Site Here, while there thought I'd look for Silver Spotted Skipper, yeah right good job Met Office ! Again .

Thanks For Reading !