Fontmell + Martin Down NR + Badbury Rings

Date: 16/08/2016

Location: Fontmell + Martin Down NR + Badbury Rings

Weather: Blue Skies, Little Wind, Temp 24+ - Perfect!

 Observation:
Perfect weather and not really happy with my last effort for the Silver Spotted Skipper so decided to go back to Fontmell Down was not disappointed!! Saw loads, at least 10. Saw one as soon as I entered the gate!

Arrived around 10:30 sun was blazing and the Skippers were perching up nicely!

6 or so people on hillside also looking, as usual, as the Skippers move they disappear, really hard to relocate but a few were moving from one Hawkweed to another.

Much better than hiding in the grass! 

Even a almost incoming flight shot.

Apart from SSS there were lots and I mean lots of Meadow Browns, a few tatty Chalkhill Blues plus a few Common Blues.

On lower slopes 2 Small Coppers plus a Brimstone.

Birds Kestrel, Redstart, Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Linnet, Chiffchaff.

So time still early headed cross country to Martin Down NR, never been before, on arriving car park empty! But saw this Redstart hunting.

Think I was a bit late for butterflies, a few about but I'm sure June/July would have been better as the meadows looked fantastic!

Saw just one Tatty Dark Green Fritillary although this angle make him look amazing!

Common Blues again with lots of mites on, seen lots of these this year on different butterflies?

On almost leaving saw Tree Pipit ( I think? )

Now anyone who reads my blog knows I need one more butterfly, Clouded Yellow to complete this year list of 48 so yesterday a Clouded was reported from Badbury Rings and only being 16 miles away couldn't resist! But arriving there not much apart from an annoying drone buzzing around! Did see this and about 3/4 more Brimstones yellow but not Clouded.

Although in the light more green stunning all the same.

While watching Brimstone I saw a lizard scuttle across path in front of me then seconds later this Kestrel appeared from nowhere and scooped up something! Not sure if it was lizard!

So after 3 wonderful places today I headed home happy with my improved shots of the Silver Spotted Skippers but still no Clouded Yellows, 

they are arriving, so tomorrow I might be lucky !? :)

Thanks For Looking !

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Week 30 - Mostly Damp!

Date: 27 + 28th July

Location: Mendips & Dorset

Weather: 
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.

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Fontmell Down & The SSS

Date: 12/08/2015

Location: Fontmell Down

Weather: Temp Rising all day to 25c - but some cloud and gusty wind. 

Other Species: Brimstone, Large White, Meadow Brown, Chalkhill Blue, Commom Blue, Small Skipper, Silver Spotted Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Small Heath, Dark Green Fritillary, Brown Argus, Small Blue, Small Copper.

Observation:  Up over Spread-Eagle Hill, blue skies and a full car park ! Waited 10 mins and a space opened up so headed off in search of Silver Spotted Skipper. Seemed to be two groups of people on opposite hill but carried on alone searching with nothing. Saw lots of Chalkhill, Common Blues and Brown Argus then a Clouded Yellow with wings open but missed the shot !

The wind was a little gusty and the butterflies were not posing for long.

More Chalkhill Blues than anything else on lower slopes.

5 or 6 Small Copper's around

Then after speaking to the other groups who were BC-Somerset  BC-Dorset  they found our first Silver Spotted - Camera Bad Setting ! Doh !

After another hour searching backwards and forwards along hill 10 or so hands seem to waving at me ? I rushed over and in a jar they've found another! After it was released it disappeared completely! A tricky thing to find on Fontmell may try again in week or two .

  

A Pretty Chalkhill on Knapweed 

Back towards car park now and down little track, the old Quarry on left always a good bet for Small Blue. Feeding on Kidney Vetch

And finally Brimstone Male

I Checked on Google Earth to see how far I walked, 5 miles, felt like 20!

But with nice people stunning views and some beautiful butterflies a Great Day was had!

Thanks For Looking !

Alner's Gorse & Fontmell

Date: 30/07/2015

Location: Alners Gorse & Fontmell Down

Weather: Cloud, Slight wind but more sunshine ! 18c

Other Species Butterflies: Brown Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Silver Washed Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Ringlets, Speckled Wood, Large/Small Whites, Large/Small Skippers, Small Blue & Dark Green Fritillary, Fontmell, Gatekeepers, Comma -16 Total Species.

Observation: 

Missed the Brown Hairstreak last week so of down to Alner's it was. On arriving struggled to park as grass verge very busy, but got in on end of line. Off down track and Brown Hairstreak were already spotted but couldn't locate so carried on around. At this point cloud was overhead and all seemed quiet got round to Buckthorn tree, couple of high up Purple Hairstreak so waited patiently. Then I spotted a Brown Hairstreak !

Almost open wing shot ! Nice

 Spotted 3 in all 

A great looking Butterfly !

Even the Purple Hairstreak came down a bit, still around 7ft into tree.

 I noticed the eyes, a sort of greyish sheen.

This one having a Jaws moment!

Looked hard for 'Valencia' Silver Washed Fritillary's but no good saw stacks of Silver Washed Fritillary's though.

Stayed for around 3 hours on leaving even more cars! Headed now for Fontmell in search of Silver Spotted Skipper, no joy :( Last year it was spotted on the 30th but nothing. In fact not much, no Common Blues, saw Small Blue but not much there. More cloud now and slightly more wind.

This, I think is a Common Footman Moth.

Quite a few Southern Hawkers about.

I'll try again soon ! This final Butterfly of the day Common but a stunner from any angle ! 

Red Admiral.

Thanks For Looking !