Butterfly Hunting

Date: 05/05/2016

Location: Draycott Sleights - Crook Peak - Priddy Mineries

Weather: Blue Skies, 14-19c, Some Wind Speed 9/10 mph

Other Species: Brimstone, Peacock, Small White, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper.

Observation: 
Draycott Sleights was first destination last year went there 16th May so bit earlier, only second day of pure sunshine and only 2 Grizzled Skippers & 5 Dingy Skippers seen with around 2 Small Whites and 2 Brimstones and this Speckled Wood.

Grizzled Skipper looking good perched also so this and another doing the dance !

More Dingy Skippers around 5 on lower slope near gate.

Dingy but beautiful !

Couple of Tiger Beetles mating.

Crook Peak almost nothing, walked to top checking all normal spots Brimstone was only butterfly. Wind was fairly strong around 10 at least. Lastly popped in to Priddy Mineries even less here. I will try again in a week or so .

Thanks For Looking !

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media:

Twitter
Facebook

Crook Peak & Priddy Mineries

Date: 11/08/2015

Location: Crook Peak & Priddy Mineries

Weather: 17.5c Cloudy, No Blue Skies, No Wind 

.Other Species: Common Blue, Gate Keeper, Meadow Brown, Wall, Grayling, Large White, Small Skipper, Silver Washed Fritillary, Marbled Whites.

Birds Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Stonechat, Buzzard, Raven.

Observation: Weather not doing butterflies any favours this year, not the numbers of last year for me anyway. Headed to Crook Peak for a wander just inside gate Common Blues around 4, 3 Male and 1 female male But not stopping so headed up to look for Grayling.

Few Birds on hill.....Green Woodpecker x2

Stonechat with a rather nice Bokken view !

And this lovely Kestrel, hunting on lower slopes

Seemed small areas had a few butterflies then nothing this Wall Brown stopped briefly, there were more on summit of Crook Peak.

Then my target a Grayling.

Not quite the background I wanted but a Grayling all the same .

On Heading back down 2 or 3 Tortoiseshells looking fabulous !

A Large White on budlieia.

The Common Blues at bottom were a bit more cooperative now.

 Even a bit of mating going on !

Can you see Mites ? 

 Next off to Priddy Mineries and into Stockhill Carpark Scraping the roof bars as usual !

More Cloud now so not holding out much hope headed on to the  Mineries saw this Common footman.

 I Think a Nicrophorus vespillo a Burying Beetle. 

Complete with Mite? or Young ? 

Thought i'd look into Woods and saw 6 Silver Washed Fritillarys On Knapweed within 10ft of each other Looking Splendid ,and with Dark Background !

Just gotta love them Eh !!

Thanks For Looking :)

Draycott & Priddy Mineries

Date: 28/07/2015

Location: Draycott Sleights then Priddy Mineries

Weather: Windy some sunshine later

Other Species Butterflies: Silver Washed Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Copper, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Red Admiral, Small White, Large White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Chalkhill Blue = 12

Observation: 

Sunny spells forecast but wind not good for butter-flying :( but headed to Draycott Sleights anyway saw around 6/7 Chalkhill Blues all hiding in grasses not really posing so headed up slope came to this Silver Washed Fritillary had another wander round but still to windy, wind was gusting at 15mph.

Thought maybe Priddy Mineries would be better, it was a bit,so headed into Stockhill Wood first and saw this lovely looking Large White.

Bit further on surprised to see this large skipper in the woodland .

Dark Green and Silver Washed Fritillary's Soaring through the glades. Also birds saw Goldcrest and Coal Tit and unknown bird of prey calling thought maybe kestrel.

Out on to the Mineries path, windy again. But this Small Copper stopped briefly.

Lots of mostly Small Skippers with Marbled Whites, Burnet Moths, Meadow Browns making the numbers

I really liked this shot, thought he was smiling I was as well ! :)...I'am now ! :)

Last thing of the day Common Darter landed on path, Nice :)

Thanks For Looking :)

Priddy mineries,Blackmoor Reserve,Black Rock

Date: 23/07/2014

Location: Priddy Mineries - Blackmoor Reserve - Black Rock

Observation: Day three of my hunt for 5 new butterfly species,headed for Stockhill and Priddy Mineries on entering woods a Silver washed flew in to me ! Had a few shots then spotted a nice Dragon a Common Darter. Wandered round rest of wood Euro Peacocks feeding on Blackberry flowers was about it so crossed road Skippers Everywhere! Spoke to nice gent who said Dark Green Fritillary where just ahead! Got nice shots with wings a spread .Got back to van temp said 44 !!!! Scraped out of car park which is 6"5 my van is 6"5 ! Headed 5 or so miles to Blackmoor another Silver Washed Fritillary was first spotted then Common Blues, first time there, nice, good car park. Spotted some Linnets and 3 Buzzards Mewing. Then headed to Black Rock, Cheddar.Again first spot was a Silver Washed Fritillary, total for day 5 ! Not much else Small Copper and a Raven .Headed on top Cheddar Gorge for Final View and Home. Still need one Species gonna try Fontmell and Collard hill areas tomorrow.

Weather: Another hot day, blues skies clouded over in afternoon.

Other Species: Silver Washed Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Skippers, Marbled White, Small Tortoise, Small Copper, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Comma, Common Blue, Green Veined White, Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Ringlets.

Birds: Ravens, Buzzards, Linnet, Whitethroat, Barn Swallow, House Martins.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Common Darter

 Small Copper

Dark Green Fritillary

Marbled White                                 Cheddar Gorge