23rd May - Martin Down, Hampshire - Butterflies and more

We have a heatwave, with temperatures forecast to hit thirty degrees today, so of course where do Ian and I meet, why Martin Down of course.  This year everything seems to be significantly early in emerging so we were hoping to catch up on the remainder of the early summer Butterflies and maybe a few orchids.  The day turned out to be something special later and there will be a separate post on that.  But for now we will concentrate on what we originally came for.

Walking up the hill we came across the Grizzled Skipper.

Which was quickly followed by the other skipper found at this time of year, the Dingy Skipper.

Even though it was only 8:30 there were plenty of butterflies about.  The skippers were followed by a few Small Heath.

At the top of the Bokerly Ditch is usually a good spot for the Greater Butterfly Orchid.  This is a good spot and there can be quite a few at this spot, there were spikes and a few with flowering heads.

So it was then the walk down hill alongside the dyke.  There were plenty of Dog Rose flowering on the far side of the dyke and there was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on the flowers, but staying too far away.

This year has been heralded as a Painted Lady year, with plenty being seen moving north through the country.  On the same Dog Rose bushes we cam across one looking a little faded.

Then another, still a little faded but with damage to the wing on a different side.

A third was in much better condition.

Then two more, making five in this area.

In the entire walk today we counted fifteen Painted Lady, so yes, it looks like it is a Painted Lady year.

I walked at the bottom of the dyke and came across the first Large Skippers of the year, again, and early one.

At the footpath crossing there were more butterflies, a smart Small Copper, my first of the year.

Then the UK's smallest butterfly, the Small White.

We walked alongside the wood, and came across a couple of Brown Hare in the field.  

Coming back there was a Peacock on the path.

A Common Blue nectaring on the Trefoil.

Then a flash of electric blue and an Adonis Blue, looking a little worn settled on the seed heads.

It wasn't just butterflies, there were day flying moths too.  Here a Five-spot Burnet.

Not an adult moth, but the caterpillar of an Oak Eggar Moth.

And a Mother Shipton Moth.

The fourth "blue" of the day, a Holly BLue which has been numerous this spring.

A much better looking male Adonis Blue.  The key difference, other than the electric blue, are the dark black lines that extend to the end of the wings through the white edge.

Then just as we were thinking it wasn't going to happen we came across the butterfly that this area is known for at this time of year, the Marsh Fritillary.

But then it was gone, would there be more?  Well we did come across another but it was chased away by this feisty Brown Argus.

Another Holly Blue.

And a Grizzled Skipper showing the underwing.

The second cross roads is always a good place for Green Hairstreak, the Juniper bushes are the attraction.  It didn't take long to find one.

This area is also known for the Burnt Tip Orchids, however the last two years have not been kind to this rare chalkland orchid, last year's drought meant they were rather stunted and this year they look even smaller.  There were only two present, both circled with stones to stop them being stepped on, because they were so small.

The other chalkland rarity is the Fleawort, this one looking superb in the sunshine.

We walked to the rifle ranges and then on to the shot cropped grass.  We walked around the edge looking for Common Spotted Orchids, we found one, but just a spike.  We checker around the bushes and then crossed the grass area towards where we had seen the Frog Orchid last year.  I looked down and saw this small male Adder out in the open.  It started to crawl away, but did stop and allow some photographs.

It then started to lift the had as if feeling threatened.

It was possible to get a little closer.

And a glimpse of the forked tongue.

It then moved away and headed towards Ian who was filming it, he held his nerve and it turned away and headed into the gorse.

We walked around the range and into the smaller ranges.  It was a little taller grass here and there were several Marsh Fritillaries.

Ian then came across these two Marsh Fritillaries, initially they looked like they were mating.

But they split up very quickly and the female looked like it was searching for a suitable place to lay eggs, a good enough reason to fight off the attention of the male.

In the middle of the range there were several green Forester moths, their colour flashing in the sunshine.

Walking around the range their were plenty of butterflies, several more Brown Argus that are prepared to fight off butterflies much bigger than them.

And yet another Green Hairstreak.

There was a seat at the first range so we walked back there to have lunch.  Sitting there looking at my phone, there was a message that was of interest and changed the rest of the day.  This will form the basis of the next post and more details of the birds seen.

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.