Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT - 15th August 2010

The plan was to head out to Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB but just before we left a text came through from Mike saying the Purple Hairstreak were showing at Brockholes Nature Reserve so off we went. Walking towards the Oak tree where they had been spotted at the edge of Boilton Wood we spotted several other species of Butterflies some being a first time for Reece. I've always had a mild interest in butterflies and could probably have named a dozen or so species but this year as you can probably tell by the increased postings on the blog I've increased my knowledge and the amount of species I've seen. The one thing that has amazed me though is the size of some of the butterflies as shown in the photograph of the Small Copper below. I spotted it when passing some Ragwort and Reece was shocked at both how I'd picked it out and how small it was.

ABOVE SMALL COPPER BELOW WORN FEMALE COMMON BLUE BOTH ON RAGWORT

There were 5 or 6 people observing the Oak tree where the Purple Hairstreak had been seen but as we arived none had shown for 20 minutes but it wasn't long before one made an appearance. They were quite distant and being a small butterfly with a wingspan up to 40mm I couldn't get in close as I usually do. Unlike most species they feed on the honeydew of Oak trees so they are hard to spot as they spend most of the time in the tops of the trees.

They fly between the begining of July to the first week in September and I'm hoping we have another sunny day so I get the chance to try and photograph them again. Other species on the wing included Common Blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Comma, Small White and Green Veined White.

TOP SMALL TORTOISESHELL BELOW COMMA BOTTOM SPECKLED WOOD

Dragonflies were also flying and none more than the Common Darter. Both the males and females were showing well across the reserve and were quite happy to remain perched as we both photographed them. No such luck with the Brown Hawker which never seems to land though a female was seen oviposting on the fishing pond but none of my photographs were any good to show. We also saw a Southern Hawker and a Migrant Hawker but again with them being on the wing photos were near imposible. Not forgeting birds we saw a Green Sandpiper fly from one of the smaller pools and a Little Egret was seen on pool No 1 but not by ourselves.

ABOVE FEMALE COMMON DARTER BELOW MALE COMMON DARTER

Aston Rowant NNR Revisted - 12th August 2010

I was again lucky to be travelling home from work via Aston Rowant and this time I met up with Mike Foley on the reserve who was hoping to photograph the Silver-spotted Skippers I saw last week. By the time I caught up with him he'd already seen Chalkhill Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper and Brown Argus, a species I'd hoped for but hadn't seen on my previous visit. As I emerged from the tree lined path down from the car park I spotted 2 Small Heath, something I thought I'd seen last week but upon searching around I couldn't find again to photograph. This time I took the opportunity when it presented itself and managed a few shots before it disappeared across the hillside.

MALE SMALL HEATH

I decided to search for the Brown Argus having not seen one before and I soon came across a worn example of a male (not shown). Whilst I searched for a better specimen I anaged to photograph a few of the species I saw last week.

ABOVE SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER, BELOW MALE CHALKHILL BLUE

ABOVE MALE COMMON BLUE BELOW WELL WORN FEMALE COMMON BLUE

I finally managed to find several Brown Argus flying hurredly between the plants and only occasionally alighting to feed. The female is distinguished from the male by its larger form, more rounded wings and bolder orange markings that reach the wingtip. 

ABOVE FEMALE BROWN ARGUS BELOW AND BOTTOM MALE BROWN ARGUS

Although the the weather was similar to last weeks visit there didn't seem to be as many butterflies around until the sun made an appearance from behind the clouds. It was during one such appearnce I came across 2 Small Copper a butterfly I'd only previously seen at my visit to Bishop Middleham Quarry.

ABOVE AND BELOW SMALL COPPER

The last species I managed to photograph and another first for me was the Essex Skipper. I'd read that they could be seen on the reserve but hadn't found one on my first visit and it wasn't until I was almost ready to leave that I found what at first I thought was a Small Skipper. The two species are very difficult to distinguish unless viewed through binoculars or a camera as the antennae of the Essex Skipper has a black tip.

ABOVE ESSEX SKIPPER BELOW NOTE THE BLACK TIP OF THE ANTENNAE

ESSEX SKIPPER

All in all another great visit to the reserve with a total of 4 new species and a grand total of 10 species across the 2 visits and I'm sure there is more to be seen through out the year.

Aston Rowant NNR - 5th August 2010

I'd been working in Crowthorne and decided I had time to call in somewhere on the way back. Having dismissed the first two areas I found due to lack of parking or a long walk from the nearest car park to the reserve I came across Aston Rowant NNR and it wasn't even off my trip home. As I approached the area I found I'd been driving past the reserve for years being just off the M40 at Junction 6 and for those who used to watch the Vicker of Dibbley its the chalkhill cut section of the motorway in the opening credits, anyway I digress.
I parked up and took the path that I hoped took me down to the chalk meadows.

It was overcast but warm with sunlight showing through on odd ocasions but there were planty of butterflies flying. I hadn't come for anything special but had noticed on the reserve notice board Silver-spotted Skipper could be seen and for once my luck was more than in. Silver-spotted Skippers are only found at a few locations with here being the their most northerly one. Their habbitat is made up of short flowery turf on chawk downlands and this area of the reserve was ideal with c10 flying whilst I was there, I'm sure there were more if I'd looked.

ABOVE AND BELOW SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER

There were many blue butterflies flying across the meadow and on further examination I found Chalkhill Blue as well as Common Blue two species I found difficult to distinguish in the field.

ABOVE FEMALE COMMON BLUE

ABOVE AND BELOW MALE CHALKHILL BLUE

ABOVE AND BELOW A MALE AND FEMALE CHALKHILL BLUE DURING MATING

Other Butterflies in flight during my visit included a single Painted Lady, Small White, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. If you are in the area at the moment it is well worth a visit to see these beautiful butterflies.

PAINTED LADY THE FIRST I'VE SEEN THIS YEAR

Arnside Knott - 1st August 2010

First we headed up to Roundsea NNR to try and find the Raft Spiders, Adders and Slow Worms as Reece was keen to see all of the above. Well two out of three wasn't so bad and if you want to see Reeces superb photo's check out Spudds Nature

Next we headed over to Arnside Knott and after finaly finding the right car park we caught up with Mike on the hillside watching Scotch Argus. Even though there was a slight wind and slightly overcast but warm c20 Scotch Argus could be seen over the hour or so we were there.

SCOTCH ARGUS

Along the many stone paths Grayling were hard to pick out but present in small numbers.

GRAYLING