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