Beacon Hill, Alice Holt, Buckler's Forest (26th July 2020)

Two new sites for me were visited today as well as a final attempt for Purple Emperor at Alice Holt Forest (which was a wash out because it started raining and I only saw a few butterflies).

Beacon Hill was alive with butterflies especially Chalk-Hill Blues and good numbers of other blues.  No sign of any Silver-spotted Skippers but I think I saw Small and Essex Skippers.

Buckler's Forest is near the old TRL testing station in Crowthorne and is still in development but I did see a small selection of dragonflies but no sign of the Lesser Emperor although it was fairly overcast.

10-12 July 2020 (Alice Holt, Thursley, Martin Down, Bentley Wood)

When the weather eventually improved went to a number of sites - actually Alice Holt twice in the hope of seeing Purple Emperor but no luck there.

At Alice Holt I photographed what I thought was a Migrant Hawker when in fact it turned out to be a Southern Hawker.

A nice selection of butterflies over the days with the highlight being a couple of fritillaries and purple hairstreak - the hairstreaks were playing hard to get to photograph - but no Turtle Doves at Martin Down.

A few new flowers as well.

2nd July 2020 (Burley Mill Lawn / Ober Water - New Forest)

Although the weather looked changeable I decided to go for some dragonflies in the New Forest.  It was very hard work but did eventually see Southern Damselfly and Keeled Skimmer.  Butterflies were only represented by a Meadow Brown and some unidentified blues.  New plants included a Heath Spotted Orchid.  Best of the birds were 4 Crossbills over Blackwater Arboretum.

Wargrave / Dinton Pastures (21/6/2020)

No sign of any Clubtail dragonflies at Wargrave, highlights being a Comma butterfly, Kingfisher and Rose-ringed Parakeet.

While dodging loads of families etc. Dinton offered up Common Spotted Orchid and a couple of Brown Hawkers

Basingstoke Canal (Fleet) & Fleet Pond (14/6/2020)

Started as a pleasant day but the clouded over making watching for dragonflies useless.

Highlights being some new flowers to add to my list, a fly-over Cuckoo, Little Egret and Roe Deer

Tundry Pond, Thursley, Warren Heath (7/6/2020)

More meanderings - I was starting to look at interesting flowers more so I photographed what I thought was Deadly Nightshade when it is actually Bittersweet.

A small smattering of Odonata, the best being an ovipositing female Blue Emperor and another Brilliant Emerald.

Nothing particular noteworthy from the birds apart from a couple of Red Kites and 3 Buzzards at Thursley.

Thursley is a right mess - all the best parts are now not really accessible for the dragonflies - the boardwalk is completely destroyed.  I hope that the fire has benefited some species but I tend to think that the Dartford Warbler's have lost some prime habitat by the car park - although I did hear one calling.

End of May walks (after allowed out after lockdown reduction of movements)

Spent some quality time out and about in a couple of locations [Lakeside Nature Reserve, Woolhampton, Moor Green Lakes], mainly for Odonata but kept eye open for other things as well.

Best were Downy Emerald, Brilliant Emerald and a few Hairy Dragonflies none of which decided to perch.  Also had a perched Scarce Chaser which I didn't photograph.

An undentified skipper at Moor Green Lakes with a Hobby overhead was really nice.