Marsh Fritillaries

I didn't have it in me to call this blog Great Spotted Cuckoo, as I only managed a couple of record shots on a day when I was expecting to nail the bird. It was a toss up between a bird and a butterfly or two butterflies. The bird won and we were on our way to Portland with an 0600 start to miss most of the traffic. Conflicting reports cost us a bit of time but in the end we staked out Reap Lane in Southwell where the bird had been spotted most days. We waited patiently but the optimism level was starting to wilt, then Martin saw a bird flying into the cuckoo's favourite haunt. A slight relocation and we had the bird, which was skulking in the bushes, in our viewfinders albeit at a distance. Unfortunately I think the bird was replete - stuffed with Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars  - and it remained on its perch for a good half hour before dropping down the hill to munch on even more caterpillars. Of course we tried to get clear shots but it remained obscured by twigs, then the inevitable happened - dog walker - and the bird returned to its perch in the dense bushes. We waited for another opportunity but we were keen to have a go at the Marsh Fritillaries of Cotley Hill.

 
Cotley Hill came up trumps though we had to walk a whole hundred more yards into the reserve than last time to find our first Marsh Fritillary. With some warm sunshine heating up the ground, plenty of butterflies were emerging, we counted between 20 and 30 sightings. Last time we visited we were later in the season and the butterflies were worn, you can't get them fresher than this.

 

 

 



As we left an obliging Wall popped up and posed for us.

Two freshly emerged Banded Demoiselles from the upper River Arun, today 17th May.

Finally some butterfly shots saved from previous outings.

Duke of Burgundy



Dingy Skipper



Two friendly Grizzled Skippers



Orange Tip

Pearl-bordered Fritillary