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.