Sunday 5th.July 2009

Bird survey at Down House was overdue , so I set off to do it this morning , but as usual made the first stop on the Common . The Ash tree was alive with Purple Hairsteaks , at the top only . After a while , I went to the other sites , where I got the underwing shots yesterday . No luck at the first , but some specimens coming down at the second , into a very large Bramble patch , on a steep bank . Some of the stems were like young trees , but I finally found a spot , standing on a fallen tree , with lots of Bramble stems below , to catch me if I fell . Sorry to disappoint you Warren , but I managed to stay upright , and eventually a male PH landed , then opened his wings to sun himself . Trouble was , I was down sun from him , so didn't get the best reflection of that shimmering purple topwing . A while later , a female landed in the right place for the sun , but behind Bramble leaves , so there I was stretched out , ready to overbalance , and really make Warren's day , but I managed to stay upright , even if the shot was a bit fuzzy . If you catch the light right , the whole of the male's topwing is this shimmering colour .

I finally got to Down House in one piece , and completed the survey . I was expecting to see young birds with adults , but didn't see any . 21 species were recorded , but mainly in ones and twos , with nothing more exciting than a continuously singing Chiffchaff and a pair of Pheasants , that I nearly stepped on in the long grass . It was as well that there were some butterflies about to record . 10 species , Meadow Brown (210) , Ringlet (46) , Marbled White (157) , mostly still dozing around the edges of the fields , , Large White (1) , Small White (2) , Comma (4) , Large Skipper (2) , Small Skipper (42) , Painted Lady (1) and Common Blue (2) .

After lunch , a quick look in at the farm lake found 'sorting out the next generation' going on as usual , be it a pair of Azure Damselflies .

Or a pair of Common Blue Damselflies ,

Or a female Emperor Dragonfly , that came and layed her eggs , right below where I was standing . Butterflies were few , but in one corner , I found another 8 freshly emerged Gatekeeper males . Whilst on site , I had two quick sightings of a Hobby , once low over the lake , then a stoop into a low pass over the cereal field , never anywhere near a shot . Just before leaving , I met the couple who are renting the cottage on the farm , who mentioned that they saw a Heron taking a chick the other evening , whilst they were walking round the lake . That and the obvious Fox , probably explains the dwindling Little Grebe youngsters .
I had a few other shots to post tonight , but I downloaded a new version of Internet Explorer this morning , and it seems to have mucked up moving pictures whilst compiling the blog , so I am leaving it here .

Saturday 4th.July 2009

Once again , the day started with a stop at the Ash tree on the Common . It was still 8.30 , but so warm and humid already . The Purple Hairstreaks were about , but none coming down to enable a top wing shot . They weren't even sunning themselves , and when they did move , it was into the shade , more sense than the one the other side of the camera . I estimated 25+ PHs on and around the Ash , and also recorded 4 other species whilst on the site . Frustrated , I moved on to a couple of other PH sites a short distance away , but sightings yes , top wing shots no . Eventually , I found one , sunning itself , with closed wings on some Bracken . Here you can see the hairstreak and orange markings on the underwing , but that male topwing in the right light is exquisite , I'll get it soon , 8 other species were recorded between the two sites .

There was a lot of mating going on on all three sites , and these two Strangalia maculata , were really putting in an effort . Very close by in the Brambles , a pair of Shield Bugs , which might be Forest Bugs , had nothing else on their minds .

From the Common , I headed off to High Elms , with the intention of relocating those fresh White Admirals . But first , I checked a Wych Elm on the edge of the Conservation Field , where I recorded White Letter Hairstreak last year . Still a bit early I know , but this weather has brought everything on early this year . I didn't get any WLH sightings , but as I walked the fenceline between the field and the woodland , 3 Silver Washed Fritillaries came past me at a rate of knots . They could be from the colony at Burnt Gorse , but that is half to three quarters of a mile away , could there be another in the woods beyond the field ? When things calm down , I'll check that area . As soon as I reached the top path , I started getting SWF sightings , and in the glade before Burnt Gorse I had 4 specimens arguing over the ownership . Once again , every glade/clearing provided sightings , and there seemed to be more females about , like this one . Sorry if they are getting boring , but it is their time now . I was finding good numbers of the migrant , day flying moth , the Silver Y , so I gave Burnt Gorse a good look over , hoping that a Clouded Yellow might have travelled over with them , but it wasn't to be . I did find a mating pair of Marbled Whites , and considering that the best record so far there is 3 , hopefully a better count will be forthcoming next year . The only other unusual find was a male Brimstone , and to say he was past his sell by date , was an understatement , but he was still flying , just . I headed home for lunch , and on the way , on the side of the lane , Chicory , a member of the Daisy family , provided a cooling blue .

I had a few pick ups to do after lunch , but it just happened that I had to pass Spring Park Pond , on my way back . Just Large Red and Azure Damselflies were recorded on the pond , and I took another 5 Emperor Dragonfly exuvia off as well . The water level has dropped dramatically and the Parrots Feathers are really strangling the whole water surface now . Around the pond , a Large White was nectaring contentedly on the Creeping Thistles , and , yes , the whole area was bathed in the aroma of honey . Also around the pond , the aptly named Pineapple Mayweed , another member of the Daisy family , that just loves well trodden places . The small sheltered meadow provided the most excitement , with a pair of Small Skippers mating , by the edge of the path . In all , I recorded 10 species , with Small Skipper being the most numerous (24) , but the last recorded butterfly was my first Gatekeeper of the year , a male , looking very fresh . The underwing is very similar to a small male Meadow Brown , but that shows black spots on the underwing , whereas the Gatekeeper shows white spots .

And finally , help please with a moth caterpillar , which hatches out and then demolished Yellow Flag Iris leaves ?

Friday 3rd.July 2009

It was almost mid afternoon , before any brightness appeared in the sky , and even then , it was in bits and pieces . Nevertheless , that first bright spell had me heading out .

A stop on the Common was my first stop , and at the Ash tree , 10/15 Purple Hairstreaks were recorded , but not a single one coming anywhere within camera distance . I shall try again tomorrow morning , if the weather is suitable . A couple of interesting things found in the glade , were specimens of either Crow Garlic or Field Garlic , identifiable until the flowers appear between the bulbils , pink for the first or white for the second , I shall keep an eye on them . The second , over near the car park were the caterpillars of a day flying moth that I have posted a couple of times recently , the Cinnabar moth , on their foodplant Ragwort . With no luck here , I headed off for Salt Box Hill , now that it is accessible again . I expected an increase in Marbled White numbers since my last visit , but a conservative 352 was beyond my expectations . They outnumbered the Meadow Browns and Ringlets by 3-1 , and if there weren't already enough , now that the females have emerged , well , you know the rest . The larger female with the brown underwing markings can be seen above the male , and also , the golden leading edge of the female's leading wing . As I said , 352 was a conservative estimate , and even as I was on site , fresh females , like this one , were emerging all the time . Mating was not just confined to the Marbled Whites , as the 6 Spot Burnet moths were doing their thing as well . Another day flying moth found in good numbers on the site was the small Pyrausta purpualis . I know I have posted several Commas , but I couldn't resist posting this one , the subdued light seemed to catch it just right . Another of the large Labiate family ( square stems ) , caught my eye whilst there . This one , looking very Orchid like , is Black Horehound , found frequently on waste ground and waysides . The full butterfly count was , Marbled White (352) , Meadow Brown (98) , Ringlet (106) , Small Skipper (10) , Large White (3) , Comma (3) Brimstone (1) , Large Skipper (4) and a very testosterone charged Dark Green Fritillary .

On the way home , I decided to do a quick visit back to High Elms , and , as usual , as I arrived , the sunshine departed . Even so , the Silver Washed Fritillary number has increased ,to an estimated 20+ , and , as I thought yesterday , the females have already started to emerge . Several times during the short visit , I saw males courting females , but I don't think any of them managed to mate , as the females were more interested in feeding . Last year , I didn't manage any shots of freshly emerged females , so I was pleased to get some today . As can be seen , the female lacks the four black bars that the male shows across the forewing , and is less vibrant in colour . Once again the estimate is conservative , as they are so mobile , but I did have four specimens in my sight on two occasions , well away from each other , and 2s and 3s in other glades . No sign today of the White Admirals , but the sunny periods were very short lived .

Thursday 2nd.July 2009

After two days sweating up on the Greensand Ridge , with just a fox , that should have known better than to be out with mad Englishmen in that sun , and a mink , flattened in the road , I won't post a shot of that one , but I was amazed to see how small it was , was the only wildlife encountered .

I was doing a mate a favour this morning , but managed to make a short visit to the Common before doing so . At 8.45 , it was already really hot , but I took up position , in front of the Ash tree and waited for movement . A few flashes were seen , but was it a Purple Hairstreak ? I couldn't be sure . I had one eye on the tree and the other on my watch , not wanting to be late , when , through binoculars , I sighted my first PH of the year . Once one was seen , a few more started moving , and a couple of minutes before I had to leave , one settled low enough to get a shot . I'm sure , now that they have started emerging , there will be better opportunities .

Having done the favour , I headed for Fackenden Down , as I was in the general area . I decided to lift tins , even though I didn't expect to find anything in that heat . As it happened , under the very first felt that I turned , there were a pair of sub adult male Adders . I can't understand why they were under the felt , with the temperature as high as it was . The rest of the 20 pairs of refugia , produced just three Slow Worms between them . The only other thing of interest found

under the refugia , was this Devil's Coach Horse , one of the Rove Beetles . Butterflies were not found in large numbers , even these sun loving insects were finding shady places to pass away the heat of the day . Good numbers of Small Skippers were recorded , they seem to be having a good year on several sites , and half way round , I had another year first , when I recorded a male Chalkhill Blue . Try as I may , it just would not open it's wings , so had to settle for this underwing shot . At the far end of the site , I recorded a few Marbled Whites , but too active to stop for a shot . Two of the reduced number of Meadow Browns recorded , were getting on with regeneration . All over the site , Common Centaury is in flower , and this specimen had the bonus of a 6 Spot Burnet moth caterpillar on it , just below the bottom left flower . On one of the umbelifer flowers , I found a lemon yellow Crab Spider , showing how it gets it's name with those long front legs , but when I got too close , it took up it's hunting position , behind the flower head , ready to grab any insect landing to feed . Birds were few and far between , with a couple of Common Whitethroats , and two Yellowhammers 'duelling in song' , this being one of them , showing that wonderful rust rump of the male . I tried to get closer , but he had different ideas . Just before leaving the site , I recorded my second Chalkhill Blue , and this one almost opened up his wings to show that pristine colour . Noticeably , all the fragrant Orchids have gone over with the hot , dry weather , but all have good numbers of seed pods in place of the flowers . The full Butterfly count was , Small Skipper (34) , Large White (7) , Dark Green Fritillary (1) , Small White (5) , Speckled Wood (1) , Marbled White (6) , Small Heath (1) , Common Blue (3) - 2 from fresh brood , Brimstone (1) , Meadow Brown (63) and Ringlet (59) .

Sweating profusely , I headed for High Elms to check on the Silver Washed Fritillaries and hoping for a White Admiral . When I arrived , cloud was starting to come in , as usual , but I still headed for the Burnt Gorse area . In the glade before Burnt Gorse , I started getting sighting of SWF in ones and twos . I saw two acting as if they were male and female courting , but , without seeing the topwings , I couldn't be sure . I was just about to leave the glade , when I saw something 'flop' down onto the Brambles . I carefully made way way over , and sure enough , it was a newly emerged White Admiral , nectaring on the flowers . With a longer period of sunshine , another came into the glade to join it . With cloud cover coming in again , they left the Brambles and headed high into the surrounding Beech trees . I headed off to check Burnt Gorse and the other glades , and found about the same total of SWFs that I had recorded the other day , but , once again difficult to be exact with them being so active . On my way back to the car , I had to leave via that glade again , and this time recorded a total of 4 White Admirals , but with the sun leaving the glade , they were heading treewards .

I headed home , feeling well happy with one year first at each of the sites visited today .

Monday 29th.June 2009

It's been niggling away all weekend . Was that positively a Silver Washed Fritillary that I saw at High Elms last Friday ? The only way to find out was to go back , now that things have returned to normal in the area .

I decided that whilst there , I would do the full two and a half hour butterfly transect , and so , put plenty of water in the car before setting off . It was obvious right from the start , that there had been an explosion in the number of Meadow Brown and Ringlet on the wing . Every blade of grass seemed to have one of either species on it , but by far and away the most productive areas were those that were not cut last Autumn . Having found Marbled Whites on Burnt Gorse last week , it was good to find 3 more here , well away from the originals . The main Conservation field , with the exception of a small area at the Cuckoo Wood car park end , was cut by tractor/mower , and the small area won hands down on numbers recorded . By the time I got to that area , it was good to get into shaded woodland , as the temperature was creeping relentlessly upwards . Along the track towards Burnt Gorse , I stopped to check on the 2 Violet Helleborines , and I'm glad to say they are doing very well , with the first found one beginning to unfurl it's flower head . Along the edges of the paths , the enchantingly named , Enchanter's Nightshade is in flower , a delicate little plant . Before dropping down to Burnt Gorse , I checked the small glade , at the far end of which , I had Friday's sighting . As soon as I got to the first Bramble patch , the unmistakable flash of large orange wings , confirmed that the Silver Washed Fritillaries are on the wing again . I didn't manage a shot of this specimen , as it had a quick check of the Bramble flowers , and swiftly moved on . At the end of the glade , there was no sign . I headed for the Orchid Bank , and immediately had another patrolling the unfenced area , where hopefully the White Letter Hairstreaks will appear soon . Another clearing , adjacent to where I recorded egg laying last year , produced 4 males , 3 in combat with each other , even though no females were seen , and the fourth , looking as if it had just emerged , was nectaring on Bramble flower . The diagnostic feature for the male are the 4 dark bars across the wings . Moving on to the glade where the majority of the egg laying was recorded , another 2 males were found . One seemed to think that the whole glade belonged to him , and drove off the other every time he entered it . Having driven off the other , the first then took up position on a branch , overlooking the area . On one return , he settled just in the right position to show clearly how he gets his name , as if someone had 'washed' the underwing with silver . Apart from good numbers of Small Skipper , Burnt Gorse didn't produce any surprises . At the far end , where it joins with Hang Grove , two members of the Mullein family were found . The first , Great Mullein , also known as Aaron's Rod , and , within a couple of metres of it , the less common White Mullein .

A favourite of mine , Vervain , was also found , and whilst checking up on it , found that it is the only British member of the Verbena family , which is a mainly tropical family , that also includes the huge Teak trees of tropical forests .

The full transect results were , Meadow Brown (378) , Ringlet (224) , Small Skipper (27) , Marbled White (6) , Comma (8) , Large Skipper (4) , Silver Washed Fritillary (conservative 12/15) , Small White (1) , Common Blue (1) , Speckled Wood (8) , Brimstone (2) and Red Admiral (1) .

Although the number of Burnet Companion , day flying moths , have reduced greatly , the Six spot Burnet moths were found in good numbers . The only birds of note found , were 2 juvenile Green Woodpeckers , Common Whitethroat , Blackcap and Chiffchaff . Blackbirds were very vocal , perhaps it's because they only have another couple of weeks or so before they stop singing . Carol read an article a couple of weeks ago , that they stop singing by 17th. July , we''ll see . I can't remember whether I have posted it before , but the pappus of the Goatsbeard- Jack -go-to-bed-at-noon , is truly a work of art in my mind .

Sunday 28th.June 2009

Went out for a quick look around the area , before the world descended on Biggin Hill again , and before we head up to the smoke to see 'The Boss' , Bruce Springsteen in concert in Hyde Park this evening .

A good half hour at the Ash tree on the Common , produced not a single sighting of Purple Hairstreak , having read reports of their emergence elsewhere .

A walk around Keston Ponds confirmed that now the fishing season is under way again , the amount of rubbish left on site has increased enormously . This was added to by a good sized branch giving way , and crashing onto the bank across the footpath , probably due to the stress the tree is under during this hot dry spell . Fortunately , being early , no one was underneath . Dragonflies and Damselflies are still poor in number compared to other years , probably due to swim clearance for the anglers . There were 9 Emperor Dragonflies on the wing , including one female egg laying . Red Eyed Damselflies - pictured are really down in numbers . A walk down to the Bog produced a very quiet scene with the pools dried up , I didn't record any Odonata . The two over-riding species on the site are Bog Cotton , and the Bog Asphodel , which still has a long way to go , before being in full flower . I know I posted it before , but I couldn't resist another close up of this delicate flower . My last call was at the farm lake , and already the Air Show traffic was building up , so I was glad to get there . Worryingly , I could only see 3 adult and 4 young Little Grebes , especially when they started off with 10 or 11 young between the two families . No such problems for the Coots , with their 5 from their second brood growing quickly . Black Tailed Skimmers and Common Darters are still emerging , but not so many seen on the wing today . It was the same for butterflies , but I did find a pair of Ringlets doing what a pair of Ringlets are meant to do . I almost dismissed a Comma , apart from recording it , when a second look had me reaching for the camera . Normally , the Comma has black/grey coloured underwing , but this specimen has golden brown coloured underwing . This form is called 'hutchinsoni' , at a guess first noticed by a guy named Hutchinson . They are produced by early Spring caterpillars . On the bank behind the lake , Nettle Leaved Bellflower , a member of the Campanula family is in flower . Whilst I was walking around the lake , the owner's dog came down for a swim , with the four Mallard youngsters .

And finally , for Warren , the normal colour of Musk Mallow as opposed to the pale form you found on your patch .

Saturday 27th.June 2009

After my visit two weeks ago to Ashdown Forest , today I made the return visit that I promised myself . Top of my list was female Silver Studded Blue butterfly , so I headed straight for the area where I found the two males on my last visit . Although it was only 9.30 , the car thermometer was reading 22 C. as I parked . It was easier to locate the species this time , as I would estimate that there were 8/10 males , very active , obviously searching for females amongst the Bell Heather and Cross Leaved Heath . I decided that they would find any females much better than I could , so I spent the next hour and a half , following the males until I lost sight , or when one rested , followed another . As can be seen from this shot , damage has been inflicted during the many aerial battles when two met . At the end of the time , I was sweating buckets , and not even a glimpse of a female had been seen . I headed back to the car , passing a very brown pond , as many are on the site , where a male Broad Bodied Chaser was standing guard over his patch . The Common Sundews , showing no sign last visit , have come into flower this visit . I then headed for The Reserve , managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust . On entering the site , most noticeable was the small amount of birdsong compared to last time , but not totally unexpected , given that the temperature had gone up another couple of degrees . First bird

recorded was a male Stonechat , but keeping a distance from the camera this time . All was quiet where I found the Woodlarks before , so I headed towards a series of small ponds on the down slope . The first produced two male dragonflies in aerial combat . One was the Emperor Dragonfly , which is found in a variety of habitats , but the other was a heathland specialist , the Keeled Skimmer , which gets it's name from the 'keel or join' , that runs the length of the abdomen . I believe that this species can be found at just one site in Kent , Hothfield Common . This species could be confused with the Black Tailed Skimmer , but the 'keel' and the lack of the black tip to the abdomen are diagnostic .The second pond once again produced a female Emperor Dragonfly , and once again egg laying . The other ponds provided more of the same , with the addition of Common Blue , Azure and Large Red Damselflies . I was hoping that two other heathland species , Small Red Damselfly , obviously smaller than the Large , but with red legs rather than black , and Black Darter , might have emerged , but it would appear it was just too early for them . I followed the track down the slope to the small stream that runs in the valley , a haunt that was favoured by Golden Ring Dragonfly in years gone by , but with ponies grazing the area , and damage to the bankside habitat where they go down to drink , I didn't find any . Coming back up the slope in that heat , without a breath of wind was tiring , but on the path a Green Tiger Beetle gave me a rest while I photographed it . My last sighting of this species was the day I photographed the Smooth Snakes in deepest Surrey . At the top of the slope , I spotted a brownish 'darter' sized dragonfly pass me and settle in the heather , some way off the track . I followed , and it turned out to be a female Keeled Skimmer , keeping out of the way of those male advances . Once again , showing the 'keel' along the back of the abdomen . Also on the path was a butterfly that you would expect to find in this habitat , the Small Heath . I deviated from the path on the way back , and I'm glad I did , for two reasons . The first was as I was walking through a large area of Bracken . I spotted a large dragonfly , hawking for insects , but it moved off before I could get a good look at it . Further on , I came across it again , this time it was perched . It was what I had been looking for at the stream , the aptly named Golden Ringed Dragonfly . I managed this shot , and as I took a second , it launched after a passing insect , and I never saw it again . Having said that , it could have been perched just over the Bracken plant in front , but it was so thick and tall , you couldn't see anyway . The second bonus for the deviation was a distant view of a Woodlark in a dead tree . I took this as a record shot , hoping to get closer , but the Woodlark had other ideas , and flew off almost immediately . When I got to the kissing gate to leave the reserve , I came across a reptile with the right idea . A Common Lizard was sat in the shade on the step , and I had to step over it , without it moving to get to the car park .

Other noteworthy birds seen/heard on site were , Willow Warbler , Redstart - fleeting glimpses of a speckled juvenile and an adult male , Tree Pipit , Nuthatch , Green Woodpecker , Common Whitethroat , Chiffchaff and on my return to the car park , Blackcap .

Other Odonata recorded were , Common Darter , Black Tailed Skimmer and Blue Tailed Damselfly . Other Butterflies recorded were , Meadow Brown and Small and Large Skipper .

And finally , an underwing of a moth that seemed determined to stay on a Pine . Even when it flew , it settled on the next Pine . Any ideas ?