14th June - Broxhead Common, Noar Hill and Beacon Hill, Hampshire

I was meeting Ian at Broxhead Common, an area of heathland in the north east of Hampshire.  The common is a special spot for one particular blue butterfly, the Silver-studded Blue.  I was a little early, for once it isn't too far for me to drive from home.  I wandered out to the heather and immediately found the Silver-studded Blues.  You would see one then others would start to appear, then more and more.  Last year they were hard to find, this year they just kept on appearing, the last time I had experienced this many was years ago on at Beaulieu Heath.

Ian arrived and I walked back to meet him, then we both headed out to the heather and came across a mating pair.  The male looked quite worn and the male attacking the pair was in a much better state.

The inter loper moved away and the pair resumed mating.

We walked off coming across plenty of blues, a female.

And a smart male.

We were walking around the heath hoping to find the Nightjar we had seen last year.  There were two Woodlark overhead and a Great Spotted Woodpecker family.  A Tree Pipit was singing in a small birch tree and gave some great views.

An interesting yellow moth was seen in amongst the heather.  Locally it is fairly common throughout much of Britain, this species inhabits heathland and similar rough habitats.  The males, which are larger and more brightly coloured than the females, are often active during the day. The females are more docile and mainly nocturnal.  The moths fly in June and July, and the slow-feeding larvae feed on heather (Calluna) and various herbaceous plants.

It was back to the Silver-studded Blues.

another pair mating, showing the differences in the male and female, the male on the left hand side.

This delightful blue butterfly is named for the small silver studs on the black markings on the underwing of the hind wing.

The male and female pair separated.

We left Broxhead and took the short journey to Noar Hill, just outside Selbourne.  At this time of year the reserve is covered in orchids, they have replaced the multitude of Cowslips that were all over the reserve in late April and early May.

Walking around the first chalk pit there were some nice Pyramidal Orchids flowering.

The most dominant orchid across the reserve though was the Chalk Fragrant Orchid, pink colour without the markings of the Spotted Orchids.

In amongst the colourful orchids were the Common Twayblade, the flowers having the split feathers and an all green colour for the flower.

It was an overcast day and there were few butterflies about, but this one male Marbled White showed well.

The underwing is just as spectacular.

In amongst the Fragrant, Spotted and Pyramidal orchids were the smaller Musk Orchids.  Like the Twayblade they are all green, but much smaller and have a distinct musky scent.

The tall one is small the smaller even more so.

Common Spotted and Chalk Fragrant Orchid side by side.

The Chalk Fragrant Orchid.

Chalk Fragrant Orchids amongst the grass and flowers.

The Common Twayblade.

We were looking for Frog Orchid, Ian had two sets of coordinates and we searched areas of Noar Hill we had not been to before.  In doing so we came across a few Small Blue Butterflies.

We didn't have any luck with the Frog Orchids, maybe still too early?  But we were able to enjoy the fine collection of Spotted and Fragrant Orchids.  Here Common Spotted Orchid.

Chalk Fragrant Orchid

An all white Spotted Orchid!

Heath Spotted Orchid, the spots on the spotted are joined together.

We came across another group of Musk Orchids.

They are initially hard to find amongst the grass but once your eye is in they are quite easy to find.

We had one more orchid to find today and this took us to Beacon Hill, just outside Warnford.  After encountering a large running event we walked across the slope to the location where last year we had found Man Orchid.  As we reached the area we found a section fenced off with an electric fence.  We were able to step over ht fence and after a brief search we found one Man Orchid.

the spike is about 6 inches high and the flower petals look like a body and legs.

Up close they are quiet a detailed orchid.

The view from Beacon Hill looking north, it was now quite a beautiful day.

Walking back up the hill, and back to the car an orange butterfly flew past us and settled on the ground in front of us.  It was a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, a species that has been quite rare recently, but this year seems to have been a little more common.

This used to be an overlooked butterfly, but with its rarity over the last few years it is good to take the time to appreciate its beauty.

Overall a successful day, with eight orchid species.  We missed out on Frog Orchid, but may have another chance later this week.

13th June - Blashford Lakes and Harbridge, Hampshire

Its June, overcast, so no butterflies, what do you do?  Well I decided to try my hand at photographing Sand Martin at Blashford Lakes.  They have a prepared Sand Martin wall outside the Goosander Hide, and this has attracted quite a few Sand Martin.  Before walking around to the hide I checked the Tern hide where it was very quiet with the majority of birds being Egyptian Geese.

As I approached the Goosander hide a Song Thrush was singing in a tall Silver BIrch.

An early nester at the start of the year,its mate is probably sitting on their third brood.

Another songster was a Willow Warbler, it had a distinctive song, the typical Willow Warbler flutey song, but ending with the call of a Chiffchaff.  Ian and I had heard and seen this bird earlier in the spring.  Today though I couldn't see it only hear it.

Settling down into the hide the Sand Martin were flocking around the artificial Sand Martin wall.  Photographing hirundines is never easy as they twist and turn in the air and you have to just try and follow them.  These were the first shots taken close to the water.

 

There were some huge monsters in the water below the hide.  These are Common Carp and were probably about 40 pounds each, maybe more.  At this time of year they start to spawn.

Another distraction was this gathering of male Azure Damselflies.  Some have settled on a stone that looks a bit like an aircraft carrier in the water.

But back to the Sand Martin, they would flock around the colony and every so often they would fly into the wholes.

THe agility of these little birds in the air is amazing.

They would sit at the front of the holes.

Coming out of the hole and dropping down towards the water.

Three male Tufted Duck passed the hide chasing a female.

And some interesting views of the carp.  Here showing the broad pectoral fins.

As always, wherever a large gathering of small birds appears you can guarantee there will be predators.  The calls from the Sand Martins changed and they flocked closer as this female Sparrowhawk appeared.

The hawk wasn't successful and sat on the top of the concrete nest wall before flying off back across the hide and away into the woods.

It was quiet for awhile but it wasn't long before the Sand Martins returned to their business.

Just as I was about to leave the Black Swan that has been here for several weeks appeared in the middle of Ibsley Water.

As I walked back I could hear the Willow Warbler once more and this time I was able to find it in a Willow tree would you believe.

I turned off towards Harbridge on the way home and pulled over to watch the water meadows.  I used to come here in the winter many years ago for the Bewick's Swan, but never at this time of year.  A male Cuckoo sat on the overhead wires and a Buzzard flew over.  A little later on there was a female Marsh Harrier, and a Sparrowhawk that looked like it had caught a Sand Martin.

But the bird I was hoping for was the Hobby.  I managed to see two, but they were very high and distant and catching insects.  I waited to see if they would come lower but it didn't happen.

A typical June day birding, but some interesting sightings.