Today was going to be a butterfly day at Martin Down, but as I travelled west and through the New Forest it was overcast, but quite muggy. I met Ian in the car park at the bottom of Sillen Lane and as I got out of the car I could hear the unmistakeable call of a male Quail coming from the field on the other side of the hedge that lines the path. No matter how much you try, getting to see this diminutive game bird is almost impossible, so you go on the 'wet my lips' call.
And so it was we left the car park and headed towards the Bokerly Dyke along our familiar path. Despite the overcast conditions there were butterflies about, mostly Gatekeepers on the wing, but also a few Marbled White roosting in amongst the grass. This male a little wet from the dew.
The one butterfly we were here to see was the Dark-green Fritillary, as we approached the ditch we disturbed two in the grass. These, too, were also a little quiet but the grass stems did get in the way.
A stunning fast flying butterfly and we expect to see many more later as the day warms up.
We set off along the familiar path alongside the dyke. Looking out across the grassland to the fields beyond, the pastel colours of the fields standing out against the dark green hedgerows.
A bit of a surprise though as we walked was this blue butterfly. At first we thought it was just a Common Blue, but closer examination it turned out to be a Chlkhill Blue.
Then the first of what were a count of unprecedented numbers of Small Coppers.
Despite the overcast conditions Martin Down was looking a picture with a myriad of wild flowers amongst the grass.
Ian then found this just emerged Five-spot Burnet, the wings not fully pumped up yet.
Meadow Browns were flying along the dyke and this Ringlet that had weaved through the grass to settle on this hazel bush.
The Marbled White, whilst many were on the wing, several were resting amongst the grasses.
A newly emerged Brown Argus on a grass stem.
Yellowhammer were singing around the reserve, as were the Corn Buntings. This bird singing from the top of a hawthorn bush. Corn Bunting are late breeders whic is one of the reasons they have become rarer over the last few years, hear though they cam prosper around the grassland of the reserve.
It was till overcast but warm and more and more butterflies were emerging, A small skipper appeared in the grass and it was possible to get quite close and you can clearly see the black blobs at the end of the antennae that make this small skipper an Essex Skipper.
We actually saw this blue butterfly flying and it appeared very pale, fortunately it settled on a flower and we could see it was another Chalkhill Blue.
This stood out amongst the purple knapweed, an all white specimen.
We reached the next footpath crossroads and there was a large clump of bramble where this Green-veined White showed very well.
We walked on towards the old rifle ranges. I walked out in to the grass to drop to eye level to photograph this Corn Bunting.
We walked on to the short cropped grass area, primarily to look for the Frog Orchids, but they were not about, probably gone well over by now. We did come across this Chalkhill Blue that was so much in torpor it allowed me to let it sit on my finger.
In the long grass around the smaller ranges there were plenty of Dark-green Fritillary and while some were stopping the majority just wheeled there way though the grass stems.
These were the flight shots in amongst the grass.
Plus also this male Marbled White on a Knapweed.
It was still overcast and we had even experienced some drizzle as we walked the dyke. We now had another decision to make, do we walk back the way we had come, or do we walk around the reserve? To be continued.....
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