12th May - Broxhead Common and Noar Hill

I was keen to find a Tree Pipit today, and with not too much time I decided to try Broxhead Common, only a short twenty minute drive from home, after that it was a nother short drive to Noar Hill for something special.

I walked on to the heath with a Chiffchaff singing amongst the birch trees.  A bird at the top of a dead tree turned out to be a Stonechat, but as I walked around the gorse I heard a Dartford Warbler singing.  The Dartford Warbler moved amongst the gorse and eventually showed, and it showed very well.

Light was difficult but the Dartford stayed in close range.

Great views of the male above the gorse.

I walked around the paths and heard a Tree Pipit singing in the distance.  As I walked around the pond I flushed a Woodlark from the ground, it was joined by another and flew up to the overhead cables.

This view showing off the very long hind claws.

I managed to get a long distance view of a singing Tree Pipit, but couldn't get close enough for an acceptable photograph.  Deciding to walk on as I approached where I had parked the car I disturbed two Small Heath butterflies, a first for the year.

Next stop was another twenty minute drive to Noar Hill.  As I walked on to the reserve it was in glorious sunshine, the reserve sheltered from the cool wind.  I walked into the first chalk pit and found a Duke of Burgundy.

Having seen the dukes earlier in spring, what I was hoping to find was a Dingy Skipper and it didn't take long to find one in the same pit.

Perched oon the Cowslips that are now just going over.

There were still a lot of Early Purple Orchids in bloom, and it was orchids I was over, but not these ones.

Walking through the other pits I disturbed a Holly Blue and then a couple of Common Blues, another first butterfly for the year.  Here the two unusually sitting together in the sunshine.

Another Duke of Burgundy, in total I saw twelve all around the reserve, a very good number at this time of year considering they emerged early in April.  Most of them were males and in quite good condition.

A Painted Lady flew through, of course not stopping, there were also Brimstone and Orange Tip on the wing.  I came by a couple of Juniper bushes and on a Hazel close by were three Green Hairstreak, all immaculate.

I was looking for a particular orchid and headed to the area where I had seen them last year.  I had heard they were showing and again like everything this year they were early, maybe two weeks early.  As I searched the area I found this Common Twayblade, with petals just starting to show.

It took a few sweeps but eventually I found a short flower stem of a Fly Orchid.

The fly orchid has a tall, green spike growing from shiny, oval leaves. The flowers are well spaced and resemble flies. They're dark reddish-brown, with a shiny silver-blue patch in the middle that looks like a pair of wings - they even seem to have tiny antennae!

Fly orchids grow in chalk and limestone soils, from woodland glades and rides to open grassland. They can also be found in quarries, on roadside banks, and sometimes in fens. The flowers that grow from their tall, green spikes in late spring resemble flies.

Despite the flowers looking like flies, they actually attract digger wasps. They release a scent which mimics a female wasp's pheromones, luring in males that attempt to mate with them. The male wasps get a dusting of pollen, which they carry on to the next flower that fools them, hopefully pollinating the plant.

After some more searching I found a spike that was yet to flower.

No doubt there will be more over the next few days and weeks, last year I found a white form of this orchid, so maybe we will see one this year.

Walking on it was back to the butterflies and more Dukes and this Orange Tip that actually stopped and I was able to get a different angle on the butterfly.

Then down the main path this Holly Brown on the meadow sweet with a lovely dark background.

As I walked out of the reserve to the car I heard a Raven calling close by and it then came out over the fields.

Success in getting the targets I went for although a shame I couldn't get a photograph of the tree Pipit, Orchids are now back, three species seen today, some lovely butterflies including a good count of Dukes for the time of year and a great Dartford experience.

20th April - Noar Hill, Hampshire

Tucked away amongst the farms and fields around the Rotherfield Estate, Noar Hill is a delightful little reserve that has a wonderful reputation nationally and in the county.  Every year towards the end of April for quite sometime now I have been visiting for one thing, the Duke of Burgundy.  Noar Hill is a prime site for this little butterfly, the chalk pits and rolling hills provide micro climates in early spring, with temperatures warmer than the surrounding area, couple that with plenty of the butterfly's feed plant, Cowslip and it is ideal for them.

Whilst the temperatures have been low over the last few days there has been plenty of sunshine, so I had high hopes of finding some this morning.  I arrived mid morning and as I walked up the slope to the reserve the wind was still quite chilly.  I walked into the first chalk pit but other than a Green-veined White that flew through nothing showing.  As I came out there were several Early Purple Orchids in bloom.

Walking around the slope to the first hollow a Peacock was nectaring on a dandelion bloom.

There had been quite a bit of clearance and chopping back done through the winter and these had created a few more sheltered spots.  I found a cleared pit close to the large Junipers and there on the moss was my first Duke of Burgundy.

It would fly up, but would always return to a similar spot.

Had to get low to try and photograph the underwing.

This was a male, the males have four functional legs, the front to not used for anything.  The females have six functional legs.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps sang around the bushes and trees, mostly hidden behind the leaves.  The Whitethroats though would sing from a prominent place.

I walked through the reserve trying to find new locations.  I came to one that I knew well and found another male around the ant hills.

Sat up on a leaf.

The wind blew and tipped it over again showing the under wing.

Originally thought to be a Fritillary, due to the chequered pattern on the wings, it has since been classified as close to the metal mark, the only one of that group found in this country.

I found another male close by, so up to now I had seen three individuals

I walked to the far end of the reserve to another sheltered spot where a Green-veined White sat nicely on a leaf.

A lovely Early Purple Orchid in the pit.

A Speckled Wood settled on the ground.

I chased this Orange Tip for ages, it would pause at the Self Heal flowers but never settle, but finally it did.

I walked down the bridleway and it was dominated by Holly Blues, they seemed to be everywhere.  Not all would settle but a few did, this one on the Ransome's, or wild garlic.

This one on a branch of the hedge, initially with the sun behind the cloud, but as the sun came out it opened up.

The Bridleway comes out into the open and view aout across the fields was spectacular with the white fluffy clouds.

I then met another person who was looking for help in navigating the reserve, so I walked with him back to the first chalk pit.  He had not seen one before so was happy to come with me.  As we walked to the far side of the pit another male was sitting on a leaf in full sun

The slope on the pit allowed me to get low again to see the underwing.

I walked back through the reserve and found another three Duke of Burgundy taking my day total to seven.  Not a bad count for my first visit this year and some of my earliest sightings.

As I walked past the newly cleared area near the junipers I heard a Firecrest singing and I waited and it showed nicely.

I was hoping to find a Dingy Skipper, but there weren't any about.  I did manage to see Large and Small White though, but again they did not stop. 

I walked back down the bridleway once more with more stunning views.

A Song Thrush was hunting on the grass amongst the Cowslips.

It wasn't until I made my way out that I found another butterfly, the Comma.

Walking out of the reserve another spectacular sky in front of me, the clouds and sky colour reminding me of the cartoon Simpsons Sky!

Great to see the little Duke once again and to spend time around the lovely reserve, I would have liked a Dingy though, but there is still plenty of time.