Today I thought was right time to try and bury the three years of drought trying to locate a Brown Hairstreak at Shipton Bellinger. I soon knew I was in the countryside as I walked up the incline from the Village Hall to see a Sparrow Hawk dispatch a Blackbird. As I turned left into the first ride in front of me was a Drinker Moth looking like he needed one and it made me laugh as the 3 Common Blue males that were scrapping were always bombed by Small Skippers as they tried to feed on the Alfafa. This is a good site for the Udea lutealis moth and it wasn’t long before one was nearly on my lens.The wind was blowing, so a sheltered spot seemed obvious to find my quarry, so I entered the ride that runs along the field away from the Ash master tree and located a spot with Spear Thistle at the base,the vegetation scalloped to form an opening and in dappled light with Blackberry blossom and just sat and waited. It took precisely two minutes before a male came down, as usual in an awkward position but in the next 4 times he came down it was on the Bramble I wanted. Drought over!! I decided I was happy with that so cut through to the field and walked towards the master tree. Another whizzed past me before I turned round to see a pristine female sheltering from the wind on ivy. In all I saw what was about 8 Brown Hairstreak of which two were females.
Everything else was on view from Common Blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown but the plethora of these summer butterflies was reduced due to ride clearing of the nectar flowers but it was an idyllic day, unless you were a Blackbird.
I came home absolutely buzzing with the most enjoyable two hours behind me, had a sandwich and looked into the garden to see a Purple Hairstreak feeding on the Buddleia. Talk about all or nothing!!!
Everything else was on view from Common Blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown but the plethora of these summer butterflies was reduced due to ride clearing of the nectar flowers but it was an idyllic day, unless you were a Blackbird.
I came home absolutely buzzing with the most enjoyable two hours behind me, had a sandwich and looked into the garden to see a Purple Hairstreak feeding on the Buddleia. Talk about all or nothing!!!
61.003 - Brown Hairstreak - Female - THECLA betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) - found her sheltering from the wind.Very fine specimen that has probably only emerged recently.
61.003 - Brown Hairstreak - Male - THECLA betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) he had possibly been out a while waiting for her above
61.003 - Brown Hairstreak - Male - THECLA betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) - Couldnt get the good view I needed but this ones not bad
61.003 - Brown Hairstreak - Male - THECLA betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) - one for luck
66.010 - The Drinker - EUTHRIX potatoria (Linnaeus, 1758) sitting up there in the sunshine you could do with a drink Mr.
66.010 - The Drinker - EUTHRIX potatoria (Linnaeus, 1758) - unusual is a fair description
63.033 - UDEA lutealis (Hübner, [1809])
59.010 - Meadow Brown - Female - MANIOLA jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758) - what would we do without our good old Meadown Brown in summer?
61.012 - Holly Blue - CELASTRINA argiolus (Linnaeus, 1758) this butterfly is the ultimate test both photographically and patience wise.
58.007 - Small White - PIERIS rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) - enjoys a face full of Spear Thistle
58.013 - Brimstone - GONEPTERYX rhamni (Linnaeus, 1758) her face full is Field Scabious
61.018 - Common Blue - POLYOMMATUS (Polyommatus) icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) - one of the three males beaten up by the Small Skippers,wimp!!
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