Pewsey Down, Compton Down, Greywell (22/05/22)

 Makes a change from last Sunday - this Sunday was a scorcher.

Great time spent at Pewsey Down for Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Burnt Orchid and lots of butterflies including Marsh Fritillary, Wall Brown, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue and Painted Lady amongst others.

Another Wheatear was also seen and a brief Raven, also a couple of Red Kites

At Compton Down I managed to see the Glanville Fritillary (maybe 2 specimens) despite their origin being dubious

At Greywell Moors lots of Ragged Robin but no marsh orchids yet.  My first Swifts of the year here.

Chappett's Copse, Hants (15/5/2022)

 I had grand plans but then that went pear-shaped.

Started well with lots of Sword-leaved Helleborine's at Chappett's Copse as well some leaves of a Broad-leaved Helleborine and a new plant species for me.  Then the skies opened and it threw it down with rain.  I was hoping, as per the weather forecast, that it was a shower but it was not to be - it lasted most of the rest of the day.

My plans for visiting Old Winchester Hill were, therefore, scuppered and I returned home doing some shopping on the way.

Pewley Down / Tice's Meadow

After help from someone on Twitter I was able to get over to Pewley Down on a glorious day.  He gave me a map but my print out of it wasn't very helpful so I had to get online to Twitter via my iPhone - what a chore that was.

Before that, however, I walked all over the place and saw quite a few pink flowers on the chalk download which turned out to be Sainfoin.  I couldn't find the orchids I was looking for the life of me.  As I was passing a corrugated hut, presumably for cattle, something caught my eye - it was a male Wheatear, presumably a migrant.

After reviewing the map i got on my iPhone I saw I had been looking in the right place but, as usual, I was expecting large orchids and they weren't!

After careful scrutiny of the slopes I found c50 (in fact I counted 48) Man Orchids.

I then switched to butterflies and the best were Holly Blue, Common Blue and a Green Hairstreak which I nearly trod on.

It was then over to Tice's Meadow but there wasn't a lot here - the highlight being a couple of Orange Tip butterflies

A new year and a new set of challenges (23rd/24th April 2022)

After returning from Costa Rica (blog entry to follow) I had my first UK trip out in earnest for orchids and butterflies.  The main object on Saturday was Early Spider Orchid at Castle Hill NNR which I missed last year, not knowing where the actual site was in East Sussex.

After some long walking in a very stiff wind I eventually found the place and after some small numbers of Early Purple Orchid were seen another orchid hunter found a single Early Spider Orchid.  Once you get your eye in they can be seen quite easily.  Despite not searching around for too long (my Dad wanted to get back for his dinner) I eventually saw c40 specimens.

Butterflies also seen included Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.  I didn't realise that Wall butterflies were out and the site was good for them or I would have tried harder.

On Sunday I walked locally with my father to Littlehampton and Crossbush Forest where the Bluebells were impressive.  A male and female Green-veined White was seen as well as Brimstone and a brief view of a Raven.

Here is a selection of photos of the orchids and others: