Last Butterfly Trip of 2020

The weather this past week has been Shite but that is not unusual for Devon in August.

On the morning of Monday 17th August I checked out the moth box in the back yard but there was little of note other than a smart Yellow-barred Brindle and a Square-spot Rustic, both with a slight area of damage to their wings. The forecast overnight had been for rain so I had rigged up the moth box again with the clothes airer and golfing umbrella but it hadn't rained very much at all and so the trap was relatively dry.

 Yellow-barred Brindle

Square-Spot Rustic

There were no Hobby sightings this time on my commute to work for a night shift on Tuesday 18th but I did see a nice Peregrine flying over Mutley Plain on my journey which lightened my pre-work mood. The night was wet and windy and the next day was a good day for sea watching off Devon and Cornwall but unfortunately I was in bed in the morning and mooching about the house in the afternoon.

Thursday 20th was very windy still but with clear skies and so we headed out to Rame Head for a walk and a look around. I spent an hour scanning offshore from The Chapel in strong winds, choppy seas and harsh light and only managed to see Stuarts Big 4 sea watching birds - 1 Fulmar, 1 juvenile Kittiwake, loads of variously plumaged Gannets and 4 Manx Shearwater.

The weather overnight was again horrendous with gales and rain but I had to work on Friday 21st so missed out on more sea watching excitement with Long-tailed Skua, Puffin, Storm Petrel, etc, all being seen from Rame Head - never mind.

Saturday 22nd and I had an early start for a trip to Fontmell Down in Dorset to look for Adonis Blue and Silver--spotted Skipper. The weather forecast wasn't ideal with strong winds and sunny intervals predicted but having switched plans twice already due to unfavourable weather forecasts on the 15th and 17th August and with my target butterflies being seen at Fontmell on both those days I decided to just go for it and I'm very glad I did.

I arrived on site at around 9am and it was cool, cloudy, humid and windy but within a few minutes of starting my walk I disturbed an Adonis Blue from the grass. More were seen throughout my walk especially in the brief sunny spells and in the more sheltered spots including a very obliging individual who appreciated being warmed up on my hand following a heavy rain shower.

 Adonis Blue

 Adonis Blue

 Adonis Blue

 Adonis Blue

 Adonis Blue

 Adonis Blue

Adonis Blue

I met a family from Plymouth looking for butterflies too (and who were much friendlier than 2 photographers who made it quite clear that they didn't even want to acknowledge me yet along speak to me) and they quickly found a Silver-spotted Skipper resting on the ground quickly followed by another. I only managed to get a few rubbish record shots of them before they flew off but at least I had seen one.

Later I found my own Silver-spotted Skipper which dashed off before I could get a photo and with the skies darkening more, the wind picking up and the temperature dropping I wasn't hopeful of seeing any more but in the last hour before I had to leave the sun appeared and I found another 3 individuals including a very confiding one that again appreciated being warmed up on my hand and allowing some good photo opportunities.

 Silver-spotted Skipper

 Silver-spotted Skipper

 Silver-spotted Skipper

 Silver-spotted Skipper

 Silver-spotted Skipper

 Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Large White, Common Blue, Small White and my first Painted Lady of the year were also seen along with a probable male Chalkhill Blue which dashed across the Down in a skirmish with a male Adonis Blue never to be seen again.

Painted Lady

A few birds were noted with a juvenile male Kestrel, 4 Raven, a juvenile Wheatear, Swallow, a Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap and a female and a winter plumaged male Redstart all seen with the Redstarts unfortunately chasing off the Spotted Flycatcher.

 Dwarf Thistle

 Autumn Gentian

 Harebell

Harebell

It was a long and tiring but successful trip despite the weather and I finally managed to get some fantastic views of Silver-spotted Skipper on what will be my last Butterfly Trip of 2020.