Butterflies in August

Posted on 24th August 2020 by Richard

Exploring around the Winchester area

Hampshire apparently has the highest number of Butterfly species in England; 46 out of 59.
Last year I managed 26 but doubt if I will achieve that many or improve this year, in fact I left deeper searching too late for many.

The Claylands Reserve here in Bishop’s Waltham has a good sloping south facing field and guaranteed to have Marbled Whites every summer.
Regrettably this year someone decided to cut the meadow grass at the height of Summer which led to a rapid decrease in species and numbers.

Marble White – Bishop’s WalthamI made a couple of journeys to known sites for Butterflies; Magdalene Hill Down and St. Catherines Hill, both on the borders of Winchester.
As I said, I left it late for some of the rarer species such as the Grizzled Skipper and more.
Magdalene Hill (100 acres and managed by The Butterfly Conservation Organization) certainly has more diversity and compared to St. Catherine’s hill is much less busy. Bearing in mind it was a hot summer’s day, I saw no more than a dozen people.

Here’s a few photos plus some Moths…

Small Copper – Brown Argus – Ringlet

Painted Lady – Chalkhill Blue – Cinnabar MothMany birders are very keen Moth Spotters and with 2,500 species in the United Kingdom I wonder who’s got closest to all of them !
I think searching for them all would definitely see me out !

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Posted on 30th August 2017 by Richard

Rare visit for the Hummingbird Hawk Moth

The last time I saw the Hummingbird Hawk Moth was at Nagergot in the Himalayan Foothills ! I’d heard from several people this year who said they’ve had them in and around their Gardens, so I was especially pleased to see this one hopping on and off the Buddle1a Plant sucking out the pollen with it’s proboscis.

Great Summer for House Sparrows

Out of all the species I’ve seen in the Garden this year, the House Sparrow is right up there with excitement.
At present and as I write, a quick run round the front and back Garden has shown 8 in the front, 11 in the back and 6 on the Roof !

This way outnumbering previous years, it seems that not many places either around the guttering or the outhouses has been left undone for nests.
I know of at least 5 nests.
With it’s fair share of nooks, gaps and crannies, the Mill House opposite has also entertained many nests.

In fact, it seems that all birds down the Lane have done well this year. The only one for which there seems fewer are Dunnocks, but I’ve noticed they tend to appear a lot more as Autumn and Winter sets in.

A Red Admiral Butterfly surprisingly all in one piece still for this time of the Summer

The end of Summer is nigh

Slowly but surely the leaves on the trees are getting heavier, my massive Virginia Creeper is starting to get more bronze and red in many places and the wildlife is having a good time foraging around the Blackberries and other productive Autumnal fruits and berries.

The Squirrels are active gathering (stealing) the Hazelnuts for winter storage and a Tawny Owl is giving the Lane a friendly spookiness in the middle of the night
The Tawny is now the only mainline Owl I haven’t a photo of so I’ve been scouring the wood opposite in an attempt to see it. Alas, they’re extremley good at their elusiveness !
[fblike]

The Colourful Fields

Posted on 12th June 2016 by Richard

Bit of a dodgy hip today so my walk down the Fields was mainly spent looking down rather than looking up, didn’t fancy a fall!

This turned out to be a more pleasant walk than I expected; the wildlife buffer around the fields seems to be attracting all sorts of flora which in turn is bringing the Butterflies and other Invertebrates. Even a few Midges aren’t too much trouble and they are at least supplying good food for many birds (mainly Skylarks there).

I’m still awaiting to see a Meadow Brown, there were quite a lot last year and I believe now is about the right time for them to show.
Compared to last week when I posted that I was worried about the lack of Butterflies, loads of Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admirals, Specked Woods, Small Blues and Peacocks have arrived in their multitudes! The Moths are also apparent, so nice to see one my and others favourites The Cinnabar.

Also showing are a few Dragon Flies; plenty of Four Spotted Chasers and now Demoiselles are hopping between the four feet high grass.

With a number of days of heavy rain much of the areas left to grow wild are becoming inaccessible. The good thing is they’re becoming inaccessible to human intervention and just left for whatever creature wants to show a presence.
All in all it’s making great sources of food for those who need and deserve it !

Over 60 pages of Garden Wildlife on the main Web Site here Nature on our Doorstep

Wildlife Diary

Recording wild life through the year around Hampshire, Kent and elsewhere

Tag Archives: Moths