karen's country calendar

I heard that sometimes its better to visit a reserve earlier in the morning before its too hot so decided to try Woodwalton Marsh again in the hope of finding some green hairstreaks.   There actually was less butterflies flying than before, with just one common blue, small heath, brimstone and atortoiseshell.   I noticed a couple of people who had entered the reserve after me staring at one particular spot so made my way over to them see what they had found - it turned out to be a grizzled skipper which I hadnt seen before.  Unfortunately it had partly closed its wings but I could see enough detail to identify it. I then made my way over to Monks Wood with the idea of a longer visit than last time and hoping to see some black hairstreaks.  It was a good sign to see a few cars already parked so I walked up the main ride to where a few people had gathered.  It turned out they were also on the look out for black hairstreaks and someone had already seen  a few.  It wasnt long before seve

One advantage of lockdown is that I currently have no afternoon or evening commitments so my field trips are not restricted to the morning or a time to be home in the afternoon. Another warm sunny day tempted me to look for some more meadow butterflies and I had read that there was a small reserve at Woodwalton just north of Huntingdon.  I parked in a layby opposite the reserve which merely comprises a 2 acre strip of grassland sandwiched between a road and a railway line. On entering I saw that the reserve was a mass of wildflowers with a few narrow paths that had been made amongst the grasses. I wasnt long before I saw a common blue and small heath and then I noticed a pair of Brimstone flying very close to each other before settling a number of times providing  an ideal photoshoot which is not always easy with Brimstones.  I also saw a tiny brown butterfly which when it landed,  I could identify as a Brown Argus.  I had heard there were skippers here but I didnt see any despite

Today I visited a part of Therfield Heath I hadnt been to before on the hunt for Adonis blue butterflies which I had read were found there.  I parked on the roadside just further up from my normal carpark and walked 10 mins through a woodland before it opened up at the top of Church Hill.  There were quite a few people enjoying the weather and speaking to a couple of people with tell tale cameras round their necks I soon found what I was looking for.    It was hot and sunny so not great for photographs as they didnt land much but there were both Adonis and Common blues present, the Adonis very obvious by the brighter colour.  I managed a couple of shots with wings closed. I read that they are around till July with another brood in August so may have another look when I hope to visit the area looking for marbled whites or chalk hill blues. This area is known for its abundance of Pasque flowers around Easter and  the seed heads were still clearly visible.  I think I may have to see

Having read that there were a few butterflies to be seen at Twywell Hills and Dales I decided to make the 25 minute drive down the A14 to see if I could locate any of them.  It was sunny but slightly breezy and there were quite a few cars in the park, mainly people walking their dogs. Not much to see along the path edges but once in the grassy field I soon spotted quite a few small heaths which were a first for this year.  No skippers visible but at the far end of the field, just before I turned round a small blue butterfly flew across in front of me, I waited a few moments to see if it would return which it did, and I was able to confirm it was a common blue,  another tick for this years list.  One brimstone and probably a large white were also noted but no green hairstreaks although the habitat looked quite suitable with the warm sun on hawthorn bushes and brambles.   small heath  common blue