27th June - Alver Valley and Whiteley Woods, Hampshire

I met Ian at the garden centre car park adjacent to the Alver Valley park.  Warm weather was forecast once again, but overnight there had been some rain and this morning it was a little bit overcast, but still warm enough for butterflies.  We were here to go and look at a little copse of Wych Elms, in the hope we could find some White-letter Hairstreaks.

As we arrived at the spot there was a hairstreak showing, but the wrong species, a Purple Hairstreak, there were one or two about and they made their way over to the surrounding Oak trees.

The sun was breaking through the clouds and this would wake up the butterflies.  We picked up the White-letter Hairstreaks, but they remained at the top of the trees and were not settling on the leaves, let alone coming down as we hoped for.

Finally I was able to follow one and it settled on theleaves and I was able to get some record photographs of this notoriously difficult butterfly to photograph.

We stuck it out and were able to watch several more buzzing around the top of the trees.  They are known for this behaviour and will come down, usually first thing in the morning to nectar, but we either missed them or they just weren't coming down.

While we watched and waited there were some other butterflies to keep us interested.  A smart Comma, a butterfly that appears to be doing very well this year.

Then in the tall grasses an Essex Skipper.

Identified from the black clubs on the end of the antennae.

Nectaring on the Ragwort.

After a couple of hours we decided to move on and headed to Whiteley Woods, the target a Purple Emperor for Ian.

Walking down the main ride it didn't take long to see one, a lone male was flying around the first Sallow and Oak we came to.  A little further along we saw another two and then three chasing each other around the oak tree, but at no time did they look like they were going to come down, or even rest on the leaves.

We stuck around waiting, and in doing so managed to see several Purple Hairstreak.  These did settle on the leaves and I was able to get some photographs.

We decided to move on to see if we could get a grounded Emperor.  We passed another two which took the total to five, but like the others they stayed high.  It was very windy now, the clouds blown away and it was getting warm, this may have been one of the reasons for them staying high.

As we watched the oaks I picked up a falcon high above the wood.  It turned out to be a Peregrine, an adult that looked a little worn, probably after an arduous breeding season.

There were plenty of butterflies as we walked the main path, Silver-washed Fritillaries were about but as usual not stopping.  In the rides there were Common Spotted Orchids and the bramble flowers were out.  In the grasses a Small Skipper.

But only one White Admiral.

The most numerous butterfly was the Ringlet with numbers above fifty.

Plenty of Comma.

We saw another three Purple Emperor taking the count to eight, but not one wanted to come to ground, or settle somewhere that would allow a photograph.

The third common skipper was a Large Skipper.

A nice head on view.

A pair of coupling Ringlet on the path was unusual.

Another early emergence for the Gatekeeper, normally seen in early July, there were at least three about, setting on the bramble.

So, no grounded Purple Emperor, but good views and a nice count.  The White-letter Hairstreaks frustrated as usual, but at least I was able to get some views.  The Purple Hairstreaks were much better.  An enjoyable morning and early afternoon on another sunny day with plenty of butterflies.