Restrictions eased it was the first chance to meet up with Ian after over eight weeks. We chose to meet at Acres Down in the New Forest. We decided on an early start, 5:30 am to be exact and as you would expect there were no other cars in the car park when we arrived. I expected to be engulfed by bird song but it was strangely quiet. A Cuckoo called from behind us and we continued to hear it as we walked the cycle track. At the large bend there was no sign of any Redstart but I did find a Green Woodpecker sitting motionless at the top of a dead tree.
A Stock Dove was calling from just below the woodpecker but obscured by branches.
Walking down the path we could hear Blackcap, Chiffchaff and more Cuckoo. There were distant Goldcrest and Firecrest as well but it was still very quiet, I expected a lot more. Singing Wren and Chaffinch had us stopping to listen more carefully for a possible Wood Warbler but it never materialised.
At the bottom of the cycle path by the dead tree a Song Thrush was singing from one of the pines set back from the path.
The last time we had been here was at the start of March and the change was considerable. Back in early March there was water everywhere, the small ditches either side of the path were flooded and the ground waterlogged in many places. The biggest change though was the flow of Highland Water. In March it was gushing around the bends of meanders and water poured out of the drain by the bridge. Today all was calm, the drain was just a trickle and much of the stream bed was visible where the flow had eased off.
As we stood taking in the changes a pair of Grey Wagtail flew from the bank, settling on the exposed pebble on the meander.
Rather than continue on we decided to turn back and take the loop to Milyford Bridge where we could take the path up towards Acres Down. In keeping with most of the morning so far the walk did not produce anything of interest. We stopped listened but apart from a few Siskins overhead very little was showing.
The path up to Acres Down was dry but rutted. There was still a bog over the down so we had to skirt around the outside. A Tree Pipit sang from a bush but soon disappeared, in fact the most numerous were the Meadow Pipits, engaging in their parachute displays.
A Willow Warbler sang from the top of a Birch tree showing well at the top, for me this is the song of wild and open places
Away in the distance there were contact calls of Stonechats and as we approached the gorse bushes we could see both adult male and female along with a couple of recent fledglings that looked really cute sat on the top of the gorse.
They would remain motionless until they considered it a little too close and fly off a short distance.
The adult male looked quite smart still.
But I don't think it would be unkind to say the female looked a little tired. Incidently she has a ring on her right leg but I can't see any detail.
With little else of interest about we walked back to the car park a little disappointed with the morning considering we had put in a very early start.
Not giving up we decided to take a walk back down the cycle track to the main bend in the hope of giving a Redstart one more try at showing. With a little bit of encouragement we managed to find one singing, but as is usually the case here it was at the top of a tall tree.
We were uncertain if there was more than one bird in the area as little squabbles would break out forcing one bird out of the tree, it wasn't clear though if this was in fact another Redstart.
Views then became a little better as it perched and sang a little lower down in the tree.
While all this was going on a Stock Dove was calling from the very same branch we had seen it on way back in early March. While the Redstart went AWOL I turned my attention to the Stock Dove.
Back in the Beech tree the Redstart found a spot where there was a little window through the leaves that allowed me to focus on it.
While I was merrily shooting away Ia was struggling to get on the bird. I know how this feels, you are desperate to see the bird but at the same time completely embarrassed that you can't see it. He didn't manage to see it despite even my attempts to show him where it was. Here is a wider shot, can you see it now?
This time of year is the pilgrimage here for this bird and we were relieved to have made contact.
As we walked back along the cycle path we came across the Redstart on to the track. It didn't stop, flying into an Oak tree. We saw it again a little further along but promptly disappeared again.
We walked back to the car park and decided on the next move. It was to be to Martin Down on the Hampshire Dorset border in the west of the county. A wonderful open grassland National Nature Reserve.
On arriving the skies had cleared and the sun was out and it felt quite warm despite the fact it was only 9:30 am. Walking from the car park a Whitethroat sang from the top of the hawthorn trees lining the main track.
Martin Down is one of the only places left in the county to see Turtle Dove, however our search today couldn't find any in the usual spots, it would seem they were yet arrive here, lets hope they haven't met with a fate crossing the Mediterranean.
Whitethroat and Blackcap sang from almost every bush, while the first butterfly of the morning was a Grizzled Skipper. I had seen one last weekend at Magdalen Hill, but this one was quite pristine
We circled the bushes in the hope of finding a Turtle Dove or maybe some butterflies. There were no doves and the only butterfly was a Small Blue. As we walked away a Lesser Whitethroat sang so we turned back to try and find it. We were given a bit of a runaround but finally managed to get some acceptable views as it sang.
Leaving the Lesser Whitethroat we made our way towards the Bokerley Ditch and hopefully butterflies. That statement turned out to be an understatement as butterflies seemed to be everywhere. I have decided to describe what we saw as we walked the length of the ditch. We started at the location of the Butterfly Orchids, we couldn't see any showing yet. Moving on it was all about the Skippers, Grizzled and Dingy, first a Grizzled again
And then an immaculate Dingy Skipper
And then the first of many Small Blues, this one looking really smart on the grass stem.
The first moth a Yellow Shell.
Competing with the Small Blue for most numerous butterfly was the Small Heath, in flight they look orange but when they settle the wings are closed shut but the detail is lovely.
Then Ian found the butterfly I was hoping to see, a Marsh Fritillary, a beautifully marked butterfly that takes on the appearance of stained glass window. This site is probably the best place in Hampshire to see this gorgeous butterfly.
We took the tactic of Ian walking along the side of the ditch while I walked along the bottom of the bottom of the ditch. Butterflies were appearing all the way, mostly though Small Blues and Small Heath. Every so often though something different would appear in this case a pair of moths, the Burnett Companion.
All around was bird song, mostly Skylarks above us, but also Whitethroats from the bushes at the top of the ditch and the Yellowhammer with that distinctive "piece of cheese" song.
The Marsh Fritillaries started to come in good numbers and we commented on the fact that we had never seen good numbers at this early part of the ditch.
As mentioned before the Marsh Fritillary has the most
colourful upper-sides of all of our fritillaries, being a highly-variable
chequered pattern of orange, brown and yellow markings. The bright colours fade
after a few days and leaves the butterfly with a shiny appearance - early
Lepidopterists naming this butterfly the "Greasy Fritillary" as a
result. This butterfly is primarily a wetland species as its modern name
suggests, one of the reasons why they are found along the ditch.
Colonies of this butterfly are known to fluctuate wildly in
numbers. It may be present in some numbers one year, for the population to
crash the following year before recovering as unexpectedly. This species does
not do well in adverse weather conditions and also suffers greatly from larval
parasitism by a species of wasp. Unfortunately, this charming butterfly is
one of our most threatened species and has suffered severe declines in recent
decades.
Another new butterfly was a nice Brown Argus.
We had reached the first crossing with a south facing slope. This is a good spot for the blues, both Adonis and Common Blue. We chased a blue around with the thought this might be an Adonis as the blue was quite bright. However when it settled it was clearly a Common Blue.
Walking around the area we didn't find any Adonis, but Ian did find a lovely Small Copper, another first for the year.
As I watched the Small Copper flit around the grass I noticed a greenish flutter up the side of the slope. Looking closer I was pleased to see it was a Green Hairstreak. I was beginning to worry about finding one this year so was pleased to see this one even though it was a little worn.
The call of Ravens above diverted our attention for the butterflies to the skies. Not sure what this one is carrying, it doesn't look like prey, something it has picked up that took its interest
A Yellowhammer had been singing from a nearby bush and we managed to get close to it
But there is always the point where you try to get that little bit closer and the bird realises
Back to the butterflies and moths along the ditch, a Common Blue settled on a Cowslip..
Then some excitement as we tried to work out what this moth was. It is in fact a Green Carpet.
The number of Marsh Fritillaries seen was by now into the twenties and the challenge was to try and get a view that was a little bit different. As you tried to get a different angle the butterfly would fly off. With patience though it was possible.
It is extremely rare to be able to get a view of the under wing, this was the closest I got
Up to now the Small Blues were the most abundant, but there numbers were dropping off and the Small Heath were catching up quickly with pairs dueling all over the place and some settling nicely for photographs.
Then two finds by Ian, the first another Green Hairstreak, a little worn, the hind wing on the other side was badly damaged.
And then an Adonis Blue that appeared to have deformed wings as a result of emerging. It fluttered about but never looked like it was happy. What you can see though is the vivid blue of the upper wings and the browner colour in comparison with the Common Blue underneath.
A Corn Bunting was singing from the top of the ditch. They can be difficult to locate as they sit motionless in amongst the branches, their only movement to through the head back to sing.
The butterflies kept coming, a Dingy Skipper.
And a beautifully marked Marsh Fritillary
The walk had now reached the second footpath crossing. Here an Orange Tip and Large White flew past. This is the spot for the Burnt Tip Orchids and sure enough they were already in flower if not particularly tall. Beautiful little flowers that are a speciality here.
Another speciality flower here is the Field Fleawort, a slender plant with a single stem and a rosette of leaves
about its base. It produces up to ten orange-yellow flowers in early summer.
The stem is covered in white hairs. In
England it is confined to the south, particularly the Chilterns, Dorset, the
Cotswolds and the South Downs. This
native plant grows on shallow soils over chalk or more rarely on oolitic
limestone. It occurs mainly on south-facing short grassland and downland in
lowland areas and favours ancient earthworks and tracks which create a suitable
micro-climate.
It is classified as ‘Endangered’ and is included as a
species “of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity”
under Section 41 (England) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act
2006.
It is threatened by agricultural improvement of grasslands
through the application of artificial fertilisers, ploughing of grassland to
create arable land and re-seeding with more vigorous grass varieties.
This short-lived perennial or biennial produces seed which
only remains viable for a relatively short time. As a result, grassland
requires careful management to encourage this wildflower. The presence of Field Fleawort is an
indicator of good quality grassland.
A Skylark dropped to the ground at the back of the ditch and I was able to use the hawthorn bush as cover to get close. In this view it has the look of a lizard about it
It was back into the ditch and here one of two Silver Y moths seen, the "Y" visible on the wing.
More Small Heaths, this one a very showy individual.
And of course more Marsh Fritillaries.
This area of the ditch was fenced off and had been cleared either by man or by grazing sheep. This meant that I couldn't walk the bottom of the ditch but this didn't stop the flow of butterflies, another Brown Argus
Plus also one of three Cinnabar moths
On reaching the firing ranges the ditch becomes a lot shallower and overgrown, there were still plenty of Marsh Fritillaries about, but now the dominant butterfly became the Brimstone, with female Brimstones laying their eggs on the underside of the young Buckthorn bushes.
The Brimstone would alight on the leaf and position the abdomen on the under side of the leaf. Once flown away we turned the leaf over to see the tiny white specks of the eggs
Having completed the length of the ditch we headed back to the car for food and drink. Walking down the path you have to wonder if there is a better place tan this on a sunny spring day, blue skies and white fluffy clouds support the wonderful grasslands.
Another Corn Bunting singing from a small bush in amongst the grass.
While a Whitethroat provided a much better view at the top of a tree
Then as we approached the car park the last butterfly of the day, a rather good specimen of Grizzled Skipper.I had to leave then, but could reflect on a day when it was great to be able to get out again, a day when the early morning really disappointed despite the Redstart. But recovered immaculately in the late morning and early Afternoon. Some wonderful butterflies, the chance to draw level with Ian on butterflies seen and some glorious weather and countryside.
To conclude here are numbers seen of butterfly, the numbers of Marsh Fritillaries being very impressive:
Butterflies:
Dingy Skipper - 29 Brown Argus - 2
Grizzled Skipper - 10 Small Copper - 1
Brimstone - 48 Green Hairstreak - 2
Small Blue - 76 Large White - 1
Small Heath - 77 Adonis Blue - 1
Marsh Fritillary - 51 Orange Tip - 2
Common Blue - 24 Small White - 2
Moths:
Yellow Shell - 4 Cinnabar - 3
Silver Y - 2 Green Carpet - 1
Burnett Companion - 2
