#beees

06/08/22-Shipton Bellinger: Part 1 of 2: The wildlife and story of the day 

We came to this rich bit of grassland and well vegetated habitat where we saw our first ever Brown Hairstreaks last year this afternoon on a hot and sunny day as we had seen they had been seen here the other day by someone we know on Facebook.  We didn’t see any today and will aim to try again. But it was something of a butterfly bonanza with a lot of species and individuals seen, possibly as many as eleven species in total which was nice.

This was headlined by a few Wall Browns in this fairly dry habitat that they like, getting exiting glimpses of this exotic and flamboyant species for a second Saturday running after Durlston last week. We heard this was a good spot for them last year but didn’t see any here then, they’re a species we’re used to seeing on the coast so this was only my second inland sighting of one after the River Breamish in Northumberland in 2019. It was great to be captivated by them today, strong summer memories. I took the fourth picture in this photoset a record shot of one. Meadow Browns were about in big numbers with some great views of this warm coloured stalwart of summer. I added up all my Big Butterfly Counts so far this year and ranked the species both in my Lakeside counts and overall towards the end of it and among many observations was that Meadow Brown a consistent star throughout is way out in front as the butterfly I saw most with over two hundred spotted in my counts. It dominated another Big Butterfly Count today with fourteen seen, alongside five Small White, a Common Blue, a Holly Blue, a Gatekeeper and a Brimstone. I got fabulous views of Brimstone as shown in the eighth picture in this photoset and Common Blue as shown in the fifth picture in this photoset I took today this afternoon, stunning and colourful butterflies to see.

One I recall seeing here last year Small Heath were out well today seeing lots of these coin sized species I have had a great year for bringing sunset orange colour to the afternoon. I also saw a Brown Argus and possibly another Purple Hairstreak this year. A Bird-cherry Ermine moth flew into me at one point an intimate moment with a moth year tick a fascinating one I saw for the first time ever here last year. Shining scarlet in the sunlight Seven-spot Ladybird as the second picture in this photoset shows, bees including Common Carder bumble bees which I took the sixth picture in this photoset of and hoverfly made great insect sights today too.

It was a good afternoon for birds headlined by extremely yellow Willow Warblers seen a shining gem today which was lovely to see, and possibly Chiffchaff and Blackcap. A Red Kite soared high in the blue sky above, with a smart Kestrel seen lower down. Magpies and Carrion Crow with their bills shining nicely in the bright sunlight providing a memorable corvid presence on the walk.

It was a great afternoon of flowers with species I hadn’t seen that much of so far this year common toadflax which the third picture in this photoset shows and harebell looking nice and me taking a nice chance to enjoy self-heal again one I have had a good year for. Lots of wild parsnip with their firm plants that the Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff perched on at times, ragwort and lots of pretty St. John’s-wort brought a great yellow theme. I also enjoyed seeing two that were stars here last year big bright purple woolley thistle I saw the carder bees on some of this and also wild basil which I took the first picture in this photoset of. Other highlights included scabious, mallow, knapweed, agrimony another nice yellow one, bird’s-foot trefoil which a Common Blue looked nice on, possible chervil looking nice together with pink wild basil behind I took the seventh picture in this photoset of this, beautiful viper’s-bugloss looking quite isolated in the middle of tracks at times a flower I do like that I’ve had a good year for seeing and hawksbeard.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Bird Cherry Ermine moth of the year, two of my favourite butterflies the Wall Brown and Brown Argus and possibly a third in Purple Hairstreak, one of my favourite birds the Red Kite, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Woodpigeon seen well including feeling and hearing the weight of one as it took off from a bush, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Willow Warbler, possible Chiffchaff, Blackcap I believe, Seven-spot Ladybird, hoverfly and bee.

I was excited to see a Meadow Brown in the buddleia of the back garden this morning in the bright sun as the ninth picture in this photoset shows, like the two Gatekeepers I saw emerging from the buddleia in the front garden a few weeks ago a from home butterfly tick and great to get during the Big Butterfly Count. I also enjoyed seeing House Sparrow, Starlings, Collared Dove, bright purple hebe looking nice in the sun, sedum, fuchsia, bright red and pink geraniums some red ones shown in the tenth picture in this photoset that I took today, dahlia just hanging on some mixing well with a white wilder flower also chervil I believe funnily enough, sweet William, sunflowers and the large black-eyed Susan I am enjoying lately in the back garden today. I saw a couple of nice moths in the living room tonight, a lovely Mother of Pearl identified thanks to the kind help of MOTHIDUK on Twitter a pretty one and our third Double-striped pug of the year a key one seen this year. I also enjoyed seeing a crane fly before bed in the kitchen in a top night of moths and other insects coming in the house a staple of late summer for me the last few years.