4th April - Noar Hill, Hampshire

Last night was overcast and there was still some cloud around this morning, but the cold wind of yesterday had gone.  Today was forecast to be the hottest of the year so far and as a result Ian and I agreed to meet at Noar Hill midmorning in the hope there may be some butterflies about.

As we walked up the footpath, I realised that this was probably the earliest visit here, normally it is around the middle of April, but with the weather having been so sunny we thought there might be a chance.

First stop was the chalk pit by the gate, there was nothing here though besides the song of Chiffchaff and Blackcap.  Walking up the slope there were Cowslips out, nothing like the coverage you see at its peak, but they were out.

We walked around the pits past the Juniper and Holly bushes with only a fast Peacock to record.  We were heading for the back of the reserve and the pits there.  On a sunny bank there were Bee-flies, but these were not the same species as seen at Browndown yesterday.  They were Dark-edged Bee-fly, these were Dotted Bee-fly.  This is a poor photograph, but it does show the dots on the wings that give it the name.

They were nectaring on the cowslips with their long proboscis that some thing is a sting!

The two pits at the back of the reserve were sheltered and when the sun came out so di the butterflies.  There were at least three male Brimstones and two Green-veined Whites, but they never stopped.  They were joined by a Peacock.

It took awhile but we finally managed to pin down a male Brimstone.

And I managed to catch it as it took off from the flower.

We decided to walk back to the open reserve and as we did a Holly Blue flew past, again not stopping.  We had a very nice relaxed lunch sitting on the grass amongst the few Cowslips.  Then we decided to walk around the outskirts of the reserve where there were more Brimstones, another two Green-veined Whites, a single Comma and another Holly Blue.

Coming down the side of the reserve the view across the field that takes in the Selbourne Hanger is superb.

At the main gate once more there was another Comma, but little else.  It would have been amiss if we hadn't seen a Red Kite in an area where they are numerous, so it was no surprise when one drifted over.

We made our way back on to the reserve, cloud had built up but it was still warm, but there was little butterfly action.  A Yellowhammer called from a bare tree, there was no classic song, just the "zeet" call.

We both agreed we weren't going to see the butterflies we hoped for, so decided to walk back down the slope to the cars.  As we reached the gate a Brimstone settled on a dandelion.

It was a warm day and there were butterflies to be seen, it was nice to get the Holly Blue, but frustrating they were not stopping.  There is no doubt I will be back.