Grayling

Butterflying in the Pyrenees was a fantastic experience and I thought returning to the usual haunts would be something of an anti-climax. Not so - it was quite refreshing to add some of the regulars to my year list.

First up was a gentle walk around Houghton Forest where I added White Admiral and Silver Washed Fritillary - alas no Purple Emperor but it was good to record 16 species on a two hour amble. A nice Brimstone posed and was duly recorded.

Yesterday was a trip to Alners Gorse, the butterfly reserve in Dorset. Martin had Purple Hairstreak at the top of his photographic list and I had some success with them here last year. It is the only place I know where they reliably come down to nectar. They weren't coming down in their hundreds but at least we had some to record.

Today was a walk up Windover Hill, I noticed some wag on BC Sussex call it Col de Windover - nowhere near it mate - it's just a gentle uphill stroll. On the way up we recorded plenty of Chalk Hill Blues - most showing signs of wear and some making more CHBs. As we paused for lunch we had a good looking Small Copper and a fleeting glimpse of a Silver Spotted Skipper that I failed to relocate.

Living up to its name.

Yup - it's dog poo!

Has to be the last of the Dark Green Frits - year tick for Martin.

On to the top and it wasn't long before sharp-eyed Martin spotted our first Grayling, which unfortunately did a bunk before I recorded it. Never mind during the course of an hour we found several more and managed some nice record shots.

So, it's nice to be back in business - perhaps another outing on the downs for the missing Silver Spotted Skipper.

Silver-spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blues

 

Today's outing was a walk up Windover Hill in East Sussex, supposedly a search for Grayling, unfortunately they appear to be a little late this year. I diligently searched the area, where last year we found plenty on  a date nearly a fortnight earlier, with no success. Never mind there was still much to be found and photographed. I was very pleased when a Silver-spotted Skipper photo bombed the recording of a fresh Chalkhill  Blue. Plenty of other Skippers and Small Coppers on the wing, most of them looking fairly fresh too.
A strong south westerly breeze wasn't helping so I gave up early - hope the weather is better tomorrow.

A Large Skipper for comparison

Deep Dean - home of the Grayling

 When I took the Deep Dean photograph I was sat on a bit of an anomaly, Chalk Heath, a habitat that forms very locally when a shallow layer of sand or acid drift material overlies the chalk. Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and other calcifuges, plants that normally avoid calcareous soils growing in gay abandon.


It is so interesting that Miss M Cheveley Rayner published an article about it called "The Ecology of Calluna Vulgaris" in 1912.

 

 

   

 

 

Wild Strawberry, Fragaria vesca - delicious