20th July - Keyhaven, Pennington & Oxey Marshes, Hampshire

We have enjoyed a prolonged spell of dry weather through July up to now, but yesterday the rain returned, and welcome though it was, it dampened proceedings, and produced a damp and breezy morning.  Driving down to Pennington early in the morning I passed through rain showers, but mostly drizzle.  The forecast for the day was a bit hit and miss, but did not inspire confidence for a good butterfly day, so Ian and I decided to chance our luck along the south coast.

Waders were beginning to turn up as they headed back from their breeding grounds in various spots around the country and there was always the chance of something interesting.  Swallows were moving through heading west, and around the car park there were several Whitethroats, with a lot more seen around the area during the day.  And so it was with anticipation as we set off across the old tip towards Fishtail Lagoon, with blue sky appearing away to the west, and bird activity around the exposed mud at the back of the lagoon.

We stopped and scanned the mud to find that there was a lot of juvenile Pied Wagtails about, along with several Meadow Pipits.  An egret flew across the lagoon, we didn't see where it came from but it dropped down onto the saltmarsh.  Much larger than a Little Egret, it lacked the yellow feet and the bill was yellow, so we were happy it was a Great White Egret. We were going to make our way around to the area  so we hoped it would still be about.

Swallows moved through, skimming low across the damp grass, swooping up every so often to catch insects.  Drooping down on to the path that leads to the sea wall, a Grey Heron was hunting in the small pool close to the reeds.

Looking across the lagoon there were six Avocets preening just off the shingle island with one juvenile bird amongst them.

We walked along the sea wall towards Keyhaven, stopping to scan the lagoon, concentrating on the mud at the back.  As well as the juvenile Pied Wagtails we found a couple of Common Sandpipers and a Ringed Plover.  Reed Buntings and Warblers were present in the reeds close to the path, and every so often would perch on the wire fence.

We moved on around to Keyhaven Lagoon, once again everything was gathered at the back of the lagoon, and standing out was a large white bird, the Great White Egret we had seen earlier.  This was a first for me here, despite the fact they have become quite commonly seen here in Hampshire now.  With it being a long way off I had to be happy with a record shot.

The sun was coming out now, but along with it a rather stiff breeze from the south west.  Several butterflies were appearing in the wild carrot and knapweed that covered the bank of the sea wall.  A Common Blue settled but moved on before the camera was ready, but a Gatekeeper proved a better subject.

Gatekeeper have been numerous over the last few weeks, this being the peak time for this dainty brown butterfly.  Another name for it is the Hedge Brown, as it is found around bramble hedges, which seem to follow fences and gates!

There were two more Avocet on the lagoon, again at the back, an adult and a juvenile.  There were also plenty of Shelduck families and a good number of juvenile Black-headed Gulls.

A Little Tern was fishing in the open water, flying around and hovering before diving into the water.  This brought this dainty little tern close to us, and allowed some opportunity for some flight shots.

Frustratingly it would use the wind to hover, and this meant that it was always facing away from us and we had to wait for it to come back around.  We watched the tern for a while, then decided to make our way back to Fishtail.  Scanning across the saltmarsh, a Peregrine was sat preening on one of the posts, while distant it looked like a juvenile bird so it would seem there has been some breeding success locally.

Back at Fishtail the Avocets had moved to the shingle island to roost.

Birds on the wires in front of us were thought at first to be the Reed buntings or warblers, but a closer look revealed that they were Sand Martins, probably juvenile birds resting before moving on.

From Fishtail we walked on a round the sea wall.  Butts Bay was empty, the tide starting to rise, but on Butts lagoon there was a large group of Black-tailed Godwits.  The count reached 300 in the week, but today counting them all was difficult as they were tucked into the western corner of the pool, sheltering from the fresh south westerly wind.

Not all the godwits were in the group, we came across two feeding close to the sea wall.  Both were showing variable amounts of the summer plumage, which up close was probably just as spectacular.

This individual seems to have a growth at the base of the bill, but it didn't seem impair its ability to feed.

The bill is thrust into the mud, and the head moved back and forth to disturb the mud.

To the right of where this one was feeding was another, it was standing in still water throwin a nice reflection.

As well as the many Whitethroats that were seen around the gorse and bramble all along the sea wall another feature was the presence of Great Black-backed Gulls scouring the pools and lagoons and surrounding marsh.  Every so often one would fly over, and you could see them looking for an easy meal.

Quite an impressive bird, at one time a group of four could be seen patrolling up and down.

At Pennington Lagoon we picked up a juvenile Little Ringed Plover feeding on the far bank.  You can just make out the feint yellow eye ring.

It would move up and down the shore line at quite an impressive speed, stopping and turning to dart at the mud and soil.

The sun had by now gone and dark clouds were threatening away to the west, at first we couldn't see the Needles, then Hurst Castle began to disappear.  It stayed dry though as we rounded Oxey Marsh.  On a spit looking out across the water there was a group of 29 Eider, all immature and female birds hauled up on the shingle.  A little further along there were two out on the water, one could be seen with a crab, while the other had just eaten one I think and was looking to ensure it could be swallowed.

Then something unusual on the marsh, we watched as a dark bird took off with large white wing patches.  At first we had no idea what it was, was it something special.  It then settled and we could see that this was in fact a partially leucistic Carrion Crow.

Quite a bit of white in both the flight feathers and tail feathers that only really show in flight.  Once on the ground it becomes dominantly black.  Some poor record shots I am afraid

Along the sea wall were Linnets, again a lot of juvenile birds that sport a very bright crimson pink breast patch.

With the Linnets were a couple of juvenile Stonechats and a Reed Bunting that was dusting on the path.  The Stonechats would move along the path with a very upright, almost "wheatear" like stance.

Then the rain came, just as the path turns west towards Moses Dock, and the shower was heavy an intense coupled with an increase in the wind and a dropping of the temperature.  We did get wet, but unknown to me then that was the least of my problems.

We made our way around the pools, keeping below the sea wall to get out of the wind and driving rain.  But almost as soon as it started the rain eased, and behind the menacing dark clouds there was a welcoming patch of blue.  We were heading towards Normandy Marsh, and as we came around the corner by the outflow a Little Tern was fishing very close in.

I struggled to get the camera out as I had put my waterproof on over the strap etc.,  When I managed to get the camera into position any attempt to photograph didn't work, something was clearly wrong.  The message said the camera could not communicate with the battery, so I switched it off, took the battery out, replaced it, and turned it back.  I managed two shots of the Little Tern.

Then the camera failed again.  After more switching it off and turning back on it started up and I was able to get this:

The nothing, and even worse strange noises when you switched it on.  I can only assume water had got into the camera, how I am not sure, but after a short while with the camera in the sun condensation appeared on the panel at the top of camera.  I took the battery out and left the battery compartment open in the hope it would allow it to dry out.  As I waited I scanned the marsh where there were two Greenshanks feeding, and Turnstone close in.

I kept trying to turn it on but kept getting the same message.  I didn't let it completely ruin the day.  We set off back to the car park, with very little about now.  Back at the car I tried again, nothing doing!   I left the camera in the car while we walked around the Ancient Highway looking for butterflies in what was now clear blue skies and sunshine.  We found Gatekeeper, Meadow Browns, Common Blues, Speckled Wood, and a Red Admiral, but not the hoped for Wall.

At Keyhaven harbour we stopped to look on the Pans lake at the back, and of surprise was a Shag on the bank close in, of course no camera!  I am though grateful to Ian allowing me to share one of his.

Shag (c) Ian Smith

From the harbour we walked back around Keyhaven Marsh where the Sea Lavender looked glorious all over the marsh contrasting with the blue in the water reflected from the sky.

Back at the car the camera was still not working, hope was now beginning to fade.  Back home I left it out, in the hope things would improve but it wasn't to be.  It was like having my arm cut off.  All I can do now is just hope it rights itself, and that this was not the last picture taken with it!

The camera incident overshadowed what was a very enjoyable day.  Nothing spectacular but the chance to talk and laugh with my good friend.

30th June - Abbots Wood, Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest and Browndown North and South, Hampshire

It was forecast to be the hottest day of the year, and after the fresh winds of the past few days in sunny conditions, it felt distinctly warmer even at 7.00 am as I pulled up at the car park for Abbots Wood in Alice Holt Forest just on the north east Hampshire border.  At this time of year the quest is mostly about butterflies, the birds are quiet, while they concentrate on finishing breeding and contemplating migration, while the summer butterflies come into their own.  Number one on the list today was the Purple Emperor, but also this is the time of year when Ian and I normally rack up an impressive day list of butterflies, our record being 23.

This time last year the Purple Emperor had been seen frequently since the middle of June, this year there had not been any reliable sightings.  Today the air was still, and would be very hot later in the day, not ideal conditions but much better than most of June.  We headed down the main path, in the shade at first, but as we came out into the open the sun was reaching the edges of the track, and brown butterflies were weaving their way through the grass.  A closer look though revealed these to be the year's first Ringlets.  Finally we managed to find one that had stopped on the bracken.

They look so different with wings open.

It was still very early and we walked the track to a turn where last year I had my encounter with a very smart Purple Emperor.  We were resigned to walking up and down, and set off back towards the car park.  By now Large Skippers had joined the brown butterflies, another first for the year.

And a single Silver washed Fritillary zipped past us, winding in and out of the trees before finally settling on some bramble . and then turning to face the sun so that it was back lit from where we were standing.

But then slowly turned  to make the most of the conditions.

A little further along at a patch of bracken in full sunshine there was a very pale Speckled Wood.

As we made our way back to the car park we found a single White Admiral that stayed high in the branches of an Oak tree, and every so often we would get a view of a Purple Hairstreak.  Both refused to settle of show in an area conducive to photography!/

Walking around the car park Ian found a Painted Lady sunning on bramble in the open.

There has been quite an influx of these lovely butterflies this year, but this was the first I had personally come across.

We left the car park once again, and re-traced our steps back down the path.  In the sunshine Meadow Browns were everywhere.

While they are a very common butterfly in Hampshire they do provide some wonderful photographic opportunities, contrasting with the lovely green backgrounds.

We also found this Black-tailed Skimmer.

The Large Skippers were also now about in good numbers and providing the opportunity for some lovely backgrounds.

By now the Silver Washed Fritillaries were zipping past, and not stopping, and one or two White Admiral remained high up in the trees, winding through the branches.

As we walked up the hill I noticed a Beautiful Demoiselle flying around in the sunshine above the bracken, waiting, it settled on the bracken fronds in the sunshine.

Only two species of damselfly in Britain have obviously coloured wings, the Banded, and the one we had found here, the Beautiful Demoiselle.  In this species the wings of the mature male are very dark blue-black and those of the female are iridescent brown-green. The body colour is metallic blue-green in the male and green with a bronze tip in the female. 

They are usually found along steams and rivers, something of which were not around here.

Back at the car park once again we debated what to do, should we continue walking up and down the main path, or do we walk through to the Straits Inclosure and try our luck there.  We came down in favour of walking through to the Straits.  The footpath took us through and open field where again Meadow Browns were everywhere.  I had hoped for a Marbled White, but it was not to be.  We came across this pair of Meadow Browns coupled together mating on a stem of grass.

Clearly the footpath is not used that often as it was overgrown with only a trace of a path.  Finally it came out by the deer tower.  The bramble bush was covered yet again with Meadow Browns and Ringlets, while up to four Silver Washed Fritillaries buzzed around.

A feature of looking for Purple Emperors is staring at tree tops in hope, and once again we adopted this approach but with no luck at all.  We did see Purple Hairstreak, and the occasional White Admiral, plus a single Holly Blue.

Eventually we had to give up, and decided to walk back down the main ride, still watching the trees, but while also keeping watch at eye level.  A Red Admiral raised the hopes until it settled on the ground and gave up its identity.

Then at last a Marbled White, it settled on the flower head of a thistle with the dark background of the trees behind it.

A challenge of exposure, but the end result was worth it.

At the end of the track there is a large patch of bramble and extensive grasses, a rather worn Common Blue flew around the grasses.  The bramble was still to come into full flower, they seem to be two to three weeks behind where they were this time last year.

Crossing the open meadow the Meadow Browns were still coupled on the grass stem, and there was no sign of any other butterfly species.

Back in the car park we came across a Comma.

Once again a decision to make, what to do next, and we decided to head south, to Browndown.  It was a shame giving up on the Purple Emperor, but some of the reasons for the poor showing did not bode well for the year.  Apparently dry weather in the autumn last year had an impact on the availability of the Sallow leaves for the caterpillars with starvation the result.  If that was not enough the cold weather in June may have delayed them in the chrysalis form, and many could have been predated by Blue Tits or just washed away.

We must remain positive though, back in 2015 and 2016 we managed to see them mid July so there remains some hope.  In fact on returning home there was a report of two seen in Abbots wood in the afternoon.  We though had made our decision and our next stop was Browndown South.  As we got out of the car we could hear gun shots, but fortunately the area was open.  Walking to the beach there was a pleasant breeze that took the edge off the temperatures.

The flowers were out along the main path, the most dominant Viper's Bugloss, a lovely spiked plant with stunning blue flowers.  It was also an attraction to the insects with bees attending the flowers, and also another Painted Lady.

A little faded in colour, and with a tattered hind wing probably as a result of its migration north through France and across the Channel.

Our main reason for being here was to find the Purple Hairstreak colony in the stunted oak trees.  The low height of the trees means that you could shake the tree to find the butterflies, then get in close to photograph them when they settled.

They always appear much larger than I think they are, and in flight could almost be mistaken for a "blue".  However at rest they are unmistakable.

They were not to be found on all the oaks, but on the majority, counting was difficult but a single tree would hold at least four.

Having had enough of the Purple Hairstreaks we went to look for Grayling.  This was maybe a little early, but we headed to the area behind the rifle range, and walked around the heather and shingle.  There was no sign of any Grayling but we did have the bonus of disturbing a Nightjar.  As it flew off you could see the white spots on the wings.  Having surprised us there were no flight shots, it headed away from us and disappeared in amongst the bracken and heather.  We searched again for it but with no luck.

We continued the trawl for the Grayling but with no luck, it is still early, they will probably be around in a couple of weeks time.  We headed back encountering more Painted Ladies along the way.  

Our next stop was to be Browndown North.  The habitat here is a little more heath than than the shingle beach of Browndown south.  As we came through the gate we stopped for butterflies.  Small Skippers were in the surrounding grass, on a closer look we found an Essex Skipper.  The dark black clubs on the end of the antenna.

Yet again a White Admiral eluded us, flying in and out of the trees.  Walking out onto the heath there were plenty of Small and Large Skippers.  Here a Small Skipper and you can see the difference in the antenna.

The search was for Silver-studded Blue, and we walked across a patch of Bell Heather in hope rather than expectation.  We didn't find the blue, but did manage a smart Small Copper.

As we walked back a butterfly in the heather was a nice surprise and unexpected as these days they are becoming hard to find, a Small Tortoiseshell.  Unfortunately it didn't stay long enough for a photograph, and was off over the heath.

Back at the entrance we found the White Admiral again that still wouldn't stop, and a Comma that was happy to oblige us.

The main objective of today was to find the Purple Emperor, and we failed, but we were not alone in that.  The hope is that the season is delayed and we get another chance.  The days butterfly total failed to beat the record with only 20 species seen.  On the positive side though it was a great day for photography with some wonderful shots of some spectacular butterflies.  Throw in a Nightjar sighting and the day is quite special after all.