Surrey Butterflies & Orchids (24/07/21)

Finally made it to Sheepleas and Oaken Wood.

At Sheepleas I found a few Helleborines in a couple of patches but then I found a glade which literally had loads of Helleborines with a few scattered around in coppiced areas.  Despite trying my hardest to find Narrow-lipped Orchid, with one plant looking good, after consulting the experts online it turned out that all my orchid pictures were of Broad-leaved Helleborine - but still a new plant for me.

Most of the plants were not in flower, but here is a selection of those that were:

On one of the meadows were a few Chalk (Common) Fragrant Orchids, Gatekeeper butterflies were out in force and a new moth for me Shaded Broad Bar:

At Oaken Wood there was a good selection of butterflies and I tried to photograph as many whites as I could, however, most of them would not sit still long enough.  However, after a while I managed to see a butterfly which looked good for Wood White and I got some shots of it.  Eventually I managed to get a photo of the other white's I was seeing.  After getting home and consulting the experts if turned out that the other white I photographed, which I assumed was a Small White, was in fact a male Green-veined White - Bonus!

SHEEPLEAS TO BE ID'D (24th July 2021)

 To be identified:

Its gone purple at last

Finally a blistering hot day which brought the butterflies out in good quantities although they were very active.  I spent a good few hours at Alice Holt Forest where finally got some good views of Purple Hairstreak which I managed to photograph although didn't get shots of the upperwing.

A lot of tantalising views of Purple Emperor in flight and, when I was not there, flying at low level.

Eventually while strolling up and down the same path I got a shout from Chris Rose (who I keep bumping into) - behind you!!!

A butterfly shot past me and seem to disappear into the distance but then came back and landed on the path where it gave good views and we thought - its a female Purple Emperor, but when it turned its wings into the light the purple sheen showed brilliantly - it was a male!

At one point it took off and landed only a matter of feet from us where it started walking around on the path.

A wonderful butterfly.

Tantalising views of what may have been Green-veined White were had but they disappeared off into the distance.

At Four Marks the Violet Helleborine's were still not in flower.

At Winnall Moors, when I eventually found somewhere to park, didn't reveal the hoped for Green-flowered Helleborine but access was tricky and it didn't help that there was some massive garden party going on nearby.

 

Hampshire circuit (10/7/21)

First stop was in the consistent rain at Alice Holt - when there was a break a few butterflies came out including Silver-washed Fritillary and a couple of White Admirals but no Purple Emperor

Onto Four Marks and after a bit of wandering around various lanes I photographed some unusual purple plants which eventually turned out to be what I was looking for - Violet Helleborine.

None of them were in flower so I will go back next weekend to have another look as the weather looks to be improving.

Finally back to Greywell Moors to photograph the orchids again and this time the Marsh Fragrant Orchids were out and I got some photos.  They indeed have a fragrance and at close quarters it definitely smells like sweet cloves.

Success!!! (03/07/2021)

 Another day of local wildlife ramblings.  I started at Alice Holt Forest and despite some fleeting glimpses of possible Purple Hairstreaks, a few Silver-washed Fritillaries and White Admiral not much else.

I then went over to Broxhead Common for Silver-studded Blue and I didn't have far to walk to see them - they were on the heather by the reserve information board.

Fabulous little butterflies.  Also here were Woodlark, Tree Pipit and Stonechat.

Finally back to Greywell Moors where I photographed the Marsh Helleborines (including some white versions), Twayblade and Southern Marsh Orchid.