28th June Visited Southwater Woods in West Sussex in search of Purple Emperors again today. The wood was good with a broad section of butterflies with respectable numbers of Silver-washed Fritillaries and White Admirals which, along with Purple Emperors, would be very welcomed in my local woods. I eventually found a couple of Purple Emperors in a large tree about 20minutes walk from the car park, they however never came down to the ground. They were however feeding side by side on tree sap so prolonged, neck breaking views were obtained. A female Purple Hairstreak was in a sallow beneath the Emperor tree.
From here I then went to Cissbury Ring where I had around 10+ Dark-green Fritillaries, a few Painted Ladies and 15+ Marbled Whites along with numerous commoner species, I ended up with a day total of 18 butterfly species.
27th June Bit by bit I'm wittling down the outstanding UK butterflies to see with only a handful to get in southern England, those being Lulworth Skipper, High-brown Fritillary and Wood White whilst the northern species will be started on next year. Today I knocked off another on the wants for the year with three excellent Purple Emperors at Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire at Goose Green Inclosure.
Today was one of those really good butterfly watching days. I arrived at Straits Inclosure in Alice Holt at 8.30am with Sheryl but again the weather was not as forecast and we had to wait until around 11am before it was warm enough for butterlies other than Ringlets to get going. When they did get going they got going. The main track yielded at least 40 or more stunning Silver-washed Fritillaries with the superb bramble patch at the first observation tower being the prime spot for taking photos. There were at least 12 minimum White Admirals plus many commoner woodland species. After failing to find any Purple Emperors, the tracks are to dry, we broke for a very good pub lunch at the Jolly Farmer.
At about 1.30pm we were at the master trees where were had three Purple Emperors which never really came down out of the canopy but did provide excellent flight and perched views. Here were also Silver-washed Fritillaries, White Admirals, Marbled Whites and three Purple Hairstreaks.
Following on from the here we returned to Straits Inclosure where Silver-washed Fritillaries were everywhere whilst White Admirals were perhaps down on the morning. On leaving we were treated to a fine view of a single Marsh Tit.
25th June Yay, there be White Admirals. Belfairs Woods this evening with Sheryl produced at least four of this locally rare butterfly with some pretty decent images taken. Also here were at least 60+ Heath Fritillaries looking rather worn out. Plenty of Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets and a Red Admiral to be seen.
23rd June An hour or so in the evening at Benfleet Downs turned up the goods with six White-letter Hairstreask, five of which were around the favoured bramble patch. Several other butterfly species were on the wing with the most notable being a few Marbled Whites, five Holly Blues and a couple of Painted Ladies.
21st June Another Black Hairstreak attempt following last weeks failure. However this time round I visited the prime site of Glapthorne Cow Pastures in Northamptonshire and not that far from Brampton Woods. On the way I had two Red Kites and a Buzzard over the wood with another kite over the Cow Pastures themselves. It was very busy at the reserve with many visitors and I was here 10am through to 3pm trying to get the best images possible which was often more frustrating than expected however some good images were obtained. At least six were seen on the flowering brambles. Also commoner woodland butterflies were out and about, Ringlet, Meadow Browns and Large Skippers as well as a huge and very impressive Hornet. Missed a Silver-washed Fritillary though.
20th June Continuing in my effort to get all of the UK's butterflies I headed off early to Collard Hill in Somerset and despite the weather, which was mostly overcast and rainy, I managed to get at least 10 Large Blues including a very confiding male which sat out the rain. This guy stay around allowing photography to a few inches as he cold but when the sun came out he opened his wings for barely a minute to warm up and then took wing. A stunner that was well worth staying with for an hour. Also at Collard Hill, especially once the sun came out were several Small Tortoiseshells, Common Blues, Painted Ladies, Ringlets and Meadow Browns were common and Large Skippers.
On the drive home stopped in at Bentley Woods but again under cloudy skies. Highlights were three Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries though only one were in any sort of decent condition. There were several Large and Small Skippers, a Marbled White whilst Ringlets and Meadow Browns were common otherwise it was hard going. There was a singing Tree Pipit present in the same place as a month or so ago.
19th June An evening visit again to Benfleet Downs with Sheryl resulted in my first White-letter Hairstreaks, two, of the year. They took a little digging out though. Also I had my first Small Skippers and Ringlet on the year. There were around half a dozen Marbled Whites whilst Meadow Browns were now abundant.
14th June Continued with the butterfly theme in the absence of decent birding. Today went to the Norfolk Broads with Sheryl where Strumpshaw Fen was the first place visited. There was a diostinct lack of Swallowtails despite the excellent weather conditions with only two singles seen in two hours, neither really posed for the camera. More obliging were the numbers of Small Tortoiseshells where were well into double figures, its been a long time since I've seen that number.
From here went to How Hill where we had far better luck but learnt from other butterfliers that Swallowtails were scarce this year. In the meadow by the nature trails were had at least four with a couple showing well for the camera, stunning. Also nearby a Norfolk Hawker was seen.
Following a good pub lunch nearby we went to Buxton Heath north of Norwich were we saw at least 10, perhaps more, Silver-studded Blues making a good day out.
12th June Very pleasant evening visit to Little Haven EWT where at least 300-400 Heath Fritillaries were on the wing, simply superb.
6th June With no local birding incentive it was down to the butterflies to again put on a show. I visited Little Haven EWT reserve over at Hadleigh/Thundersley for the first time ever and found a very pleasant reserve, a mix of woodland, open glades and flowering meadows. Here I located the colony of Heath Fritillaries at a clearing by the pylons and had a huge count of 344. Again a remarkable event. On walking around the reserve 21 Meadow Browns were found, mostly in the meadows on the western side and a couple of Speckled Woods. Amongst the other insects present a Cardinal Beetle and a Froghopper were amongst the most notable.
From here visited nearby Pound Wood and located the Heath Fritillary colony there. Spread out at two clearings another huge count was made, a total of 322. This however was not as easy a place to enjoy them as at Little Haven. Also here was an out of place Common Blue.
2nd June Following yesterdays fritillary success I returned to Hockley Woods and had a little more time to make a proper count, I ended up with a remarkable 151. This was a great experience with many, up to 30 in one clearing, just dancing around me, stunning stuff.
1st June A pleasant evening stroll around Hockley Woods produced the hoped for Heath Fritillary and in good numbers, 50+, in the clearings at the southern end of the wood.