Butterfly Forays.

It is rare for me to walk anywhere locally where I don't have to negotiate a fence or gate and there is always the anticipation of what may be found on the other side.

The semi-shaded track (above) is one route that takes me steadily upwards onto the chalk slopes of the North Downs where I recently spent a few hours in the company of hundreds of delightful black and white butterflies, the Marbled White (Melanargia galathea).

With Common Knapweed everywhere it wasn't too difficult, even with a gusty wind, to find a few obliging subjects and a seat conveniently placed to rest the weary legs and admire the wild Orchids.

Earlier this week on a dull, muggy day I decided to wander around the tracks and pathways within Horton Country Park. There are lots of fences here bordering the horse paddocks where the polo ponies and other breeds spend their time chilling out in between being ridden by their owners.

On the far side of one of the paddocks I again found the resident Little Owl (below), just discernible with the naked eye, perched on top of a fence post. [N.B. Original image heavily cropped].

The main purpose of my visit was to see what might be flying or perched in a meadow just beyond another gate and I wasn't to be disappointed. Despite the lack of sunshine there were good numbers of the expected grassland butterfly species with a few others perched on the field boundary vegetation.

Clockwise from bottom left: Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Comma.

Good numbers of the aptly named Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) were spotted dancing unhurriedly around the field margins and gateways often jostling with each other to find a sunny perch on the bramble leaves.

While back at home the first of the lilies, Lilium 'Lady Alice' are starting to open up and the resident Robin watches from his preferred fence perch.

I'll be wandering the tracks around Ashtead Common today in the hope of catching up with some other species that might come in range of the lens. FAB.

Linking to Good Fences hosted by Theresa.

Behind the Stile.

This old and weathered  ivy covered stile now joined to a relatively new fence marks the boundary between two totally different worlds.

Beyond the stile is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its diverse habitats and important role in the conservation of plants, breeding birds and invertebrates.
  




These images taken just two years ago show the landscape leading up to the stile as open, unfenced pasture with in some years a crop of wheat or barley with the odd stray poppy appearing.
The land usage has now drastically altered following a change of ownership with fences erected over hundreds of acres and the grass cut to within inches. I noticed last week that electric wires had now been added to the top of all the fences obviously to protect the valuable breeding bloodstock. 

Well I know which side of the stile I would rather be! Behind the stile the varied landscape of Bookham Common is a mixture of deciduous woodland, including many ancient oaks, wet low lying grassland meadows, scrub and twelve ponds. The five largest ponds were man made in the 17th century for fish production.

Just beyond the stile is one of the smaller ponds surrounded by trees and vegetation containing an abundance of wild plants plus a small area of reed much favoured by Azure and Common Blue Damselflies plus Common and Ruddy Darters later in the summer.

Azure Damselflies [mating wheel] (Coenagrion puella).

At one of the other larger ponds a small hide was constructed a couple of years ago with natural woven fencing to screen the watchers from the wildlife. The inhabitants include Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe plus regular visits from Grey Heron that nest in the nearby woodland.

 

Different areas of the common are fenced or with barriers in place to restrict access by horse riders to protect certain habitats.

As a dedicated conservation area the landscape is actively managed by the National Trust. 

It is one of my favourite places in the spring for warblers and the very tuneful Nightingale and from June onwards the range of butterfly species including the elusive Purple Emperor and various Odonata take centre stage. 

Just a few of the species I regularly encounter at this time of the year .. Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and Jay. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzards are also resident species.

Above a Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) soaking up some sunshine in one of the woodland glades this week and close by (below) there was a Black-tailed Skimmer, Silver-washed Fritillary, White Emperor and Common Blue Damselflies.

Despite all the recent sunshine in some places the conditions underfoot are still very muddy but at least that means from time to time I get to enjoy natures wonders all for myself including (below) a Longhorn Beetle (Strangalia maculata) looking for some pollen for a mid morning feed.

With so much to interest the 'Wildlife Watcher' who worries about getting their feet wet!  FAB.

Linking to Our World Tuesday, Nature Notes and Good Fences.

Changing Landscapes.

On the edge of Bookham Common this old wooden stile marks the boundary between to very different landscapes and over the past two years there have been dramatic changes to the view across the previously open countryside.

This is how it used to be ... open grassland with the occasional surprise hidden amongst the 'fodder' crop.

Now the view from the stile indicates a totally different land use. After a change in ownership it is now a Stud Farm with brand new fences everywhere and the grass evenly cut in every direction.

The reason for all this expansive fencing is to accommodate the livestock ... in this paddock it is mares in foal .. the owners no doubt hoping that one will produce the next racing champion!

Fortunately the landscape on the other side of the stile hasn't been tampered with and the flora and fauna is managed by nature itself. I will be sharing some of the interesting wildlife in a future post.  FAB.

Stroll Alongside the River Mole.

Last week having picked up reports that both Goosander and Little Egret had been seen on the River Mole at Leatherhead I decided to take a stroll and see what was still around. Soon after leaving the car a Kestrel zipped past me and disappeared into the woodland and it took a while before I heard the sounds of any other avian species.

Very occasionally the sun broke through the cloudy sky and the riverside vegetation took on a warmer looking hue but I was glad to be well wrapped up against the cold north-westerly breeze. At Thorneycroft Bridge I finally logged Canada Geese in a nearby field, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits plus Robin, Wren and Chaffinch but no sign of any Kingfishers.

A little further downstream couple of Mute Swan cygnets drifted over to check out the interloper. While high overhead there was the constant twittering from a small flock of Goldfinches hunting for the odd seed or newly emerged bud amongst the bare branches.

 

A Grey Wagtail perched briefly before continuing its journey upstream. After passing over Town Bridge and then under the railway bridges my route took me onto Common Meadow where my boots slowly got heavier and heavier from the accumulation of mud. Black-head Gulls twisted and turned overhead while the piercing screams from the local Rose-ringed Parakeets interrupted the silence but no sightings of any Goosanders anywhere on the river. I did however eventually get views of a distant Little Egret feeding but it decided to move on across private land before I could get close enough for any photos.

These two fellows provided an excuse to rest a while before I commenced my return journey and added Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling and Grey Heron to my day list.

When I arrived back at Thorneycroft Bridge the unmistakable short, sharp whistled 'zii' call of a Kingfisher got me searching every likely perching location .....
 

.... and I finally managed to focus on this very colourful fisherman as it patiently sat, partially hidden, amongst the Alders on the far side of the water. One day it will provide with an uninterrupted closer view .... until then this (heavily cropped) shot will have to do.

Have a good wildlife watching week .....  FAB.

Recent Local Sights.

Other commitments etc. have prevented me from posting as often as I had planned but I have still been lacing up the boots most days and taking a stroll in the fresh air somewhere fairly local to home. I have therefore built up a backlog of snaps of the local terrain and the visible wildlife.

At the end of last month a grey overcast day saw me heading into one of the far corners of Horton Country Park to relocate a stretch of scrub and brambles alongside the boundary fence of one of the horse paddocks. With rain threatening and a stiff breeze blowing I was not too hopeful but you can always be surprised with what may be found including a Six-spot Burnet Moth and a female Gatekeeper.  

 Taking a rest on the leaves were Large and Small Skippers.

As the first band of light rain moved in the horses slowly moved towards me and several leant over the fence apparently using the hedgerow to screen their faces from the precipitation while I tried desperately to keep myself and the camera gear dry.

I didn't have to search very far for more Gatekeepers resting in the hedgerow. The males are distinguished from the females by the dark sex bands on their forewings whereas the underwing patterns are very similar.

Leaving the paddock the boots trod through woodland with the occasional sounds of Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch plus a brief encounter with young Blackcaps, Great and Blue Tits. A fallen feather was perfectly cradled by some leaves. The boots pressed onwards along the cycle tracks with the foliage canopy protecting me from most of the rain as the front rolled onwards.

An unexpected find was a Holly Blue that always rests with its wings closed but far more common and widespread was the dark male Meadow Brown. 

With the clouds rolling away the boots headed into the open, skirting around the empty paddocks except for the sounds of Goldfinches feeding amoungst the large areas of wild thistles, to check out another scrubby area that produced an unidentified Hawk Moth, Bees actively feeding and a what I believe to be is a very young Bush Cricket (top left) with its very long antennae not very inconspicuous on the dry ground!  

During my leisurely stroll I saw many of the very colourful Small Coppers. Like most species the underwing colour and pattern is so different from the upper wings providing some measure of camouflage when resting or feeding. More coming soon I hope.   FAB.

Boots are made for...

"These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do".

The repeated lyrics of the well known song by Nancy Sinatra released in 1966, when I was somewhat younger, subsequently covered by many other artists including Jessica Simpson's own rewritten version. The rest of the original lyrics bear no relationship to my daily life but without boots I wouldn't have got anywhere. As a youngster I explored the local common and woodlands; as a teenager I hill-walked (often with my father in places such as the Brecon Beacons), hiked, rock scrambled and even climbed a bit with a close friend (Snowdonia, North Wales in the depths of a snow and ice filled winter was fun); I cycled a lot (even owned a tandem for a few years which won the heart of one young lady) and also canoed for a while; then car ownership enabled me to explore other parts of the UK testing the boots over mountains,  moorlands, valley floors, clifftops and beaches. In more recent times the boots now usually carry me over less treacherous terrain as I stroll here and there often stopping to watch our native wildlife or to just soak up my surroundings at a much more leisurely pace.    

[You can click all the images to enlarge]

 Are you ready boots? Start walkin'! ......and follow me as I tread the paths, tracks and bridleways around a very small corner of a local common. Starting from a clearing close to where Nightingales, Garden Warblers, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat etc. were singing a month or so ago I cross a bridge over a tiny dried out stream. A Common Whitethroat partly hidden from view warns its young that a 'watcher' is about. Tiny day flying moths flicker around my legs as my footsteps disturb the grasses; a Small Skipper rests on a Cat's-ear and the blackberries are in need of some rain to swell before ripening.....I'll be back for a taste when they are ready!
My ears as usual are  listening for any bird sounds but it is my eyes that are doing most of the work, constantly moving from right to left and back again as tiny fluttering shapes, some colourful and some drab, flit in and out of of my peripheral vision as they seek out their favourite nectar sources; chase away interlopers or hunt for a partner. On this occasion I have initially loaded the 18-75mm IS USM  lens so capturing a close up will no doubt present its own challenges.

Comma and a Skipper (far left) hidding deep in the greenery.

Further along a break in the hedgerow leads me over another small bridge and a style providing a view of the layered clouds above the recently cut field with all the bales neatly stacked up in box-like fashion. With nothing flying to hold my attention I return to my original route.

Green-veined White.

On the other side of the path another style leads into another field often frequented by Corvids and Pheasants but today it was silent with just the clouds drifting slowly overhead. The Elder berries are also looking a little limp from the lack of water and the aniseed-like fragrance of Sweet Cicely drifted to my nose on the slight breeze. The flower head was littered with Soldier Beetles and various other flies and tiny insects.

Silver-washed Fritillary (female).

Following tracks thankfully providing shade from the overhead sun it was generally very quiet apart from the constant mewing 'piiyay..piiyay' call from a Common Buzzard not too far away and the pleasant interuption as two chatty ladies passed by gently exercising their mounts. In fact my pace was so leisurely that they passed me by twice during their circuit! Close to the spot with the sign I heard a few bird sounds and then saw Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Blue, Coal, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, a young Chiffchaff and very fleeting glimpses of a Goldcrest. They were all grabbing a quick meal from amoungst the dense foliage and then flew on ahead much faster than my footsteps so I turned and retraced my steps between the hedge lined fields.

The hedgerows were full of Bindweed, their white and some pinkish tinged trumpets glowing like light bulbs inbetween the dark green leaves; a lonely fallen feather shed by its owner; plenty of colours other than green with blue, purple, yellow and reddish-browns provided by Bugle, Vetches, Clover, Grasses, Sorrel, Thistles and Ragwort; the Honeysuckle has already lost its flowers plus on the floor the recent remains of a very well plucked Woodpigeon.....someone had a good feast! 

Back out in the sunshine again I finally switched over to the 70-300mm lens. There was still a slight breeze and more butterflies were on the wing but fortunately some were resting briefly to catch the suns rays including (clockwise from top left) Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and  a Meadow Brown.

After two hours or so the boots are back at the bridge where a Peacock (the dark under wing shot made it look a bit like a bat) and several bright male Silver-washed Fritillary are enjoying an afternoon feast on the thistles and knapweed. I also had fleeting views of a fast flicking Common Blue, a lazy Brimstone plus a high flying White Admiral bringing the total count to 12 species of butterflies. Once again the boots have served me well and as I drive away the sweet call of a Yellowhammer rings out from the other side of the roadside hedge suggesting it's time for a 'little bit of bread and no cheese' so I head home for a well earned sandwich and a cuppa.

I make no apologies for the length of this post but do hope you will join me again sometime when the boots go walkin....FAB.

Thursday pm.

Continuation from Thursday am. Yesterday afternoon I headed to Riverside Country Park on the outskirts of Guildford.

The vegetation on either side of the Wey Navigation has grown so high I nearly needed stilts to get a clear view along the water and across the water meadows. There were a few gaps that enabled me to see what was going on on the other side.....

A horsey huddle.

Young foal keeps close to mum for protection.

I followed the path out to the main lake listening to the chattering of Reed and Sedge Warblers calling from deep within the lush marginal vegetation. A young Great Crested Grebe continually called to its parent as they drifted the other side of the reeds and always out of sight of the lens. I then sat for a while watching a male Black-tailed Skimmer (blue with yellow spots) patrolling and defending its territory while a female (yellow with black abdominal bands) oviposited nearby. Then a scurry of activity as two individuals fought

frantically in the air and flew away in tandem. When they eventually came to ground I managed a single shot before they moved off again but was totally surprised to see what appeared to be two males locked together in the courtship wheel! How unusual is that?

Resting on the muddy margin was a Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and I found it very difficult to get a really clear detailed shot of its pale blue, black spotted underwing so this will have to do for now.

A Damsel finds a small island to rest within the vast ocean! 

A flotilla of Egyptian Geese (15 in total) headed across the pond towards the watcher.

Presumably looking for a free handout!

Mute Swan silently drifted over and gave the watcher 'the eye'.

A Robin called to me as I walked back through the small area of woodland.

Walking back to the car along the towpath I spotted a few Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)  and eventually got a shot of this male, distinguished from the Banded Demoiselle by its broader wings but the iridescent dark brown-black pigment covers the whole wing although sometimes paler towards the tip and the base. The very striking metallic blue-green body is similar in both species.

Finally a 'summer' view of the iron bridge that I have posted throughout the different seasons. 

Wherever you are ...have a great wildlife watching weekend....FAB.