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

High and Over

Up with the larks this morning and, with the weather set fair, I decided to make an early start. Martin and I had visited High and Over recently and we were so busy with the Chalkhill Blues that we didn't have time to investigate the whole site. So, having parked at amongst a host of camper vans occupying the National Trust car park, I gave the High and Over side a cursory glance and made my way across the road to Cradle Hill.

With temperatures rising lots of butterflies were on the move, Commas, Walls, Marbled Whites, Chalkhill Blues and Small Skippers were the main suspects. However, I did note that the number of whites is on the up. Unfortunately I didn't find a single Silver-spotted Skipper, conditions look to be ideal, perhaps they are a bit later on the wing here.

Below the hill is a huge wild flower meadow and it was teeming with Small Skippers and an unbelievably large population of Six-spot Burnet moths, many emerging and getting down to the serious business in hand, immediately.

Wild flower meadow looking east

Wild flower meadow looking west - to the north, a new vineyard - unfortunately they were spraying

 

I made my way back to the HandO side, sat on the plateau above the steep scarp and watched the world go by. It was nice to contemplate the Cuckmere Valley from another viewpoint. I was jerked out of my reverie by what I can only describe as "a gang" of Gatekeepers, at least 8, all flying in a spherical formation the size of a football. Central to the swarm was a mating pair and everyone else wanted to get in on the act.

There are still hundreds of Chalkhill Blues to be found, and a week after their frenetic emergence they have calmed down and are happy to be nectaring on the huge range of plants on the site.

On the way back to the car park I came across another Gatekeeper, ab excessa . This time a female but, unfortunately, she gave me the slip and I ended up chasing a male that buzzed through.

 

When I reached the car park I realised that it had to be time for home. It was full of mad hang gliders hurrying to throw themselves off the scarp. Something that I can rationalise as it is obviously a very exciting pastime. What I can't understand are those people who drive out on to the Downs and set up table and chairs to have a picnic in the car park. Just yards down the path is some seriously enjoyable scenery - is it me???

The Cuckmere Valley

A different view of the Coastguard Cottages

Nice to see Skylark plots  - this farmer gets my vote. (Skylark plots are undrilled patches created by briefly switching off the drill when sowing winter cereals.)