8th August - Queen of Spain Fritillary - Monk Sherborne, Hampshire

Over the last few weeks there have been reports of Queen of Spain Fritillaries being seen in the country, with the more notable sightings being along the southern and eastern coasts.  This butterfly is a rare migrant to the British Isles. The vast majority of sightings are from the south coast of England, with a fairly even spread from Cornwall to Kent. There are fewer records further north and several records from southern Ireland. It is believed that the presence of this species on our shores is dependent on individuals originating in northern France or the Netherlands.

The first local sighting was on the Isle of Wight and then in the last week there were reports of several in a field just outside Monk Sherborne, which is just outside Basingstoke.  When the report of at least five present came in on Friday Ian and I decided to go and hopefully see them.  This was a new butterfly for me, I haven't been able to see them on trips into Europe.

Parking was an issue but I managed to find a spot and we set off along the footpath with Painted Lady flying past us.  There were a good number of other butterfly twitchers present as we arrived at the designated spot.  It also din't take long to find one as it was settled on the bare ground.

The vernacular name of "Queen of Spain" was given in 1775 by Moses Harris in The Aurelian's Pocket Companion, although no explanation for this name was given.  This species is most-easily recognised by the large silver spangles found on the underside of the hindwings. 

The Queen of Spain Fritillary is a sun loving butterfly that often stops to bask, usually on bare patches of ground.

There were at least three males present, and others had remarked that they had seen a male and female together.  The hindwings themselves are a curious shape, with a comparatively sharp angle at the edge of the hindwing that is not found in other fritillaries found in the British Isles.

The best distinguishing features of this butterfly are the large silver patches on the underside f the hindwings.  The male, seen here is smaller than the female.

The female is a little less bright and also has green on the upper side of the wing bases as can be seen here.

It was a case of following the butterflies around as they flew from the bare ground to the gravel path alongside the field.  Although strong flyers as you would expect from a migrant, the action is jerky and similar to that of a Wall Brown.

In 2009 several individuals were seen near the Sussex coast, including a sighting of a mating pair. Even so, there have been less than 400 sightings in total since it was first recorded in the United Kingdom back in 1710.

Although females have been seen egg-laying, neither larvae nor pupae have been found in the wild except in the Channel Islands, where larvae were found in 1950, and larvae were again found in 1951 and 1957. However, in 1945, 25 individuals were recorded at Portreath in Cornwall, suggesting that a migrant female had deposited her eggs in the vicinity and that this concentration of adults were her offspring.

This year’s influx and the presence of these butterflies in immaculate condition suggest that this has happened too, there may have been early arrivals back at the start of the summer and this concentration is as a result of egg laying then.  Unfortunately, this species is known to be unable to survive our winter, but will that change?

The larva is known to like warmth and is most-active on sunny days. This stage lasts between 3 and 4 weeks and there are 5 instars in total.  This supports the theory that these fritillaries are as a result of breeding early in the summer and hot summer has supported the development of the larvae.

The primary larval foodplants are Field Pansy and Wild Pansy.

There were plenty of opportunities to catch the butterfly on the ground and as you can see there were also plenty of closed wing views too.  But the hope was that they would move to the flowers or grasses and as the morning warmed up, that is what they did.

The migrant tendencies of this butterfly mean that it can turn up almost anywhere. However, it is most-frequently encountered in patches of grassland or heathland where it nectars on a variety of flowers, Thistles being a particular favourite. In northern Europe, sites are typically hot and dry.

Perched on a Thistle.

Finally a close up of a very special butterfly.

In our time walking along the edge of the field there were at least three Clouded Yellows and a few Small Heaths.  Also noteworthy were Buzzard and Kestrel and this Red Kite.

And a Sparrowhawk that flew close overhead, probably wondering what all the fuss was about.

Nice to be able to watch this lovely butterfly here in Hampshire, it takes my count of Hampshire butterflies to 48.  But where next to go, more butterflies?

7th August - Noar Hill, Hampshire

 Another day of sunshine, albeit a lot fresher and the sky looking that lovely azure blue.  I decided on a visit to Noar Hill hopeful that I might be able to find the elusive Brown Hairstreak.  I walked from the car to the other footpath that leads to the entrance on the west side of the reserve.  Above me were two juvenile Red Kites calling to each other.

Once through the gate you are immediately faced with Hemp Acrimony everywhere and there were a few white butterflies about, but the first insect that caught my eye was this large fly.  It is in fact a Hornet Plumehorn or Hornet Mimic.  Despite the size it is harmless to us and uses the mimicry to evade possible predators as it searches for nectar.  It can be distinguished from the real Hornet by the size of its eyes and the lack of a sting

First butterfly was a Cmma, looking rather worn.

And then as I walked into an open area a Small Heath.

At the first chalk pit I came across there was a lot of Hemp Acrimony and along with a couple of Red Admiral there was a Painted Lady nectaring.

Walking on there were more Painted Lady.  Here a slightly different pose.

And here showing the liking for the Hemp Acrimony.

There were good numbers of Common Blues from their second brood.  Here two males.

And a female.

As well as the Small and Large Whites there were a few Green-veined Whites, this one looking quite immaculate.

And for once I was able to get close in with a Large White nectaring on a Field Scabious.

The first Hummingbird Hawkmoth I came across was unusually stationary, settled on a leaf.

But a little further along I found one nectaring around the Thistles Thyme and Field Scabious.

I was now at the top end of the reserve with a lovely view across the harvested field though a gap in the bushes with small clouds floating in the azure blue sky.

Unfortunately there wasn't any sign of Brown Hairstreak, but I carried on walking the bridle way back towards the entrance.  I cut across to some more pits and again more Hemp Acrimony and again more Painted Lady.

They did seem to be everywhere, I counted eighteen on my walk around the reserve.

There were two Clouded Yellows that flew past me never to stop and then this moth which I have identified as a Sulphur Pearl.  This moth is right at the end of its flight period and feeds on the wild Carrot of which there was a lot on the reserve.

I walked around the same areas once again in the hope of finding the Brown Hairstreak, but without any luck at all.  They are appearing to be very elusive for me this year.  The last butterfly of the day was this Speckled Wood as I walked down the path back to the car.

It was lovely to walk through the wild flowers and the hordes of butterflies around this lovely reserve, it was just a shame the one butterfly I was hoping to find was not playing ball

6th August - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

A busy start to the month family wise, meant today was the first chance to get out this week.  I had arranged to meet Ian at Titchfield, but got the time wrong.  Never mind we met up in the end and walked around to the west side of the reserve.  It was another clear blue sunny day, but a lot fresher than of late with a north westerly breeze.

The tide was out and the Common Terns were fishing in the shallow pools left by the falling tide.

There was a large flock of Turnstone in the harbour and they could be seen flying off shore towards the Rainbow Bar where there was also a flock of approximately twenty Sanderling, some still showing signs of summer plumage.

From the Meon Shore hide the water levels on the South Scrape had fallen in the week since i was last here.  The Common Tern chicks were all present and looking well.  The adults still bringing in fish and watching over their family from the wooden posts.

But the 'imposter' was still about probably an adult that lost a family and was trying to feed or adopt this one.  The chicks were not having anything of it.  Here it has brought a fish in and the chicks stayed in the tile.  It also looked like this fish was very dead, staying stiff in the bill.

Here a fresh catch caught by one of the adults, and you can see how it hangs in the bill.

When the correct adult arrives it calls and the chicks recognise this and come to the adult to take the fish.

The two parents were also seen displaying and exchanging fish probably to reinforce the bond between them and the chicks.

The Common Sandpiper was also around the Common Terns, there were five on the scrapes, this one showing the best.

It was pretty much business as usual on the scrape with the Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits competing with the Common Terns for the highest numbers.  Amongst the Common Terns were also a few Sandwich Terns.

After lunch Ian and I walked around to the Pumfrett Hide but spent some time around the Darter's Dip where the water was drying up.  The most numerous dragonfly was the Ruddy Darter with at least six males, maybe more.

These can be distinguished from the commoner Common Darter by the red eyes and 'pinched' abdomen.

A close up of the compound eye, showing the individual eyes.

The lovely green background provided by the pond weed covering the water.

Walking around the shrinking pond we also found one of the Willow Emeralds

Unlike other Damselflies it rests with the wings open like a dragonfly.

Another lovely green background.

A close up of the head and thorax.

Around the trees a Southern Hawker.

The north scrape was in a poorer condition than that of the South Scrape with hardly any water visible from the hide.

A Green Sandpiper was seen on a small pool in the north west corner, too far away for the camera.  In front of the hide there were two Clouded Yellows, this one settled on the yellow flowers.

We walked down the path to the Spurgin Hide where the view from the hide was probably even worse.

Walking back to the entrance, we found this Migrant Hawker.

And a female Ruddy Darter.

So yet again an interesting visist,there is always something of interest around the reserve.