The Admiral at Brampton

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Today was my first visit to Brampton Wood this year.  The wood has been closed all winter due to muddy footpaths, it then remained closed at the start of lockdown before opening just the wood not the carpark.  Of course that meant that only the locals (though wood is about 2 miles from nearest house) could visit but it was soon found that people were merely parking all down the grass verges so the car park was then opened to the public a couple of weeks ago.

On arrival I found that there were already half a dozen cars in the car park  I had heard of one sighting of a White Admiral so was hoping maybe I would see it though not to optimistic.   There were not as many butterflies flying as I expected despite the warm sunshine,  a couple of speckled wood, small whites, large skippers, a small tortoiseshell and several meadow browns.   I went to the site where black hairstreaks are normally seen but could not find any but asking a couple who were also searching, if they had seen any they, their reply was no but they had seen a white admiral further up the ride nectaring on some bramble flowers.    I had noticed them standing in one spot further up before I turned off to the hairstreak sites so I back tracked and walked on up the ride to where I thought they had been standing.

Sure enough, after a couple of minutes, I spotted it - a beautifully fresh white admiral - not that close but it came slightly nearer and I was able to take a few photographs.   I was delighted as although I had seen one white admiral last year, it had flown past me,  landed momentarily on the ground in front of me and  then flew off before I could work out why my camera had failed!   Thankfully no such problems this time.

Whilst in the wood I decided to try and find the two small ponds in the hope of spotting a dragonfly or two,  following the map I soon found them and managed to see a four spotted chaser but then the sun went behind a cloud and I didnt see any others.

My next visit will probably be in a few weeks when there are silver washed fritillaries about plus purple emperors and purple hairstreaks if I can find them! 

 small white

 large skipper

 White Admiral




Four spotted chaser

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