British Butterflies – tonydavisonphotography.com

A Few Days in North Norfolk

2021, Birds, Birds of 2021, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Trips, Year No Responses »

May 312021

We decided to spend a few days away in North Norfolk, basing ourselves at Blakeney. The first three days were pretty dreadful, with heavy rain on and off and a very cold North Westerly wind. These conditions made photography and birding extremely difficult. Fortunately there were a few birds hanging on from the previous week and we managed to see Common Crane, Temminck’s Stint, plenty of Spoonbills, a Great White Egret and a few Red Kite to kick start the week.

A few Short-eared Owl were hunting the marshes between Cley and Salthouse and after some patience we were rewarded with some reasonable views once the rain stopped. I found a Greenland Wheatear at Salthouse and one of the abberant “White-rumped” Common Swifts that have been seen along the North Norfolk coast at various sites. This was was over the marshes at North Point Pools, near Wells. I must admit it got me going for a few moments.

The 26th May was by far the best day – A walk out to Blakeney Fresh Marsh produced a few feeding Sandwich Terns and Little Terns, several Marsh Harrier. Later in the morning we had a Red Kite over Blakeney to Morston coastal path and excellent views of a male Cuckoo. I found 2 Spoonbills roosting out on the salt marsh. We decided to spend a few hours parked up along the beach road at Salthouse, whilst eating our lunch of Crab & Prawn sandwiches. I decided to check the RBA news and noticed a report of 2 Bee-eaters over Overstrand heading west. Right we will stake this one out and keep fingers crossed that they will head our way. Sure enough at 14:33 I picked up on the distinctive sound of a calling Bee-eater. I had a job to locate it in the bright blue sky and sunshine but as it got closer I managed to get my bins on the bird, which was quickly followed by the second. I watched them hawking in the sunshine over Walsey Hills at some distance. What a fantastic few moments, it is experiences like this that makes birding so exciting and enjoyable. About 15 minutes later I picked up on a Hobby, heading in the same direction following the streams of Sand Martins and Swallows that were all heading west along the coast.

With booming Bittern and several Cuckoo waking us up each morning we were reluctant to leave for home. A great few days away and we managed to see around 96 species without too much effort.

Alexanders – THE Norfolk spring wild flower.

Record shot of the Common Crane at Holkham Fresh Marsh

This rather Grey headed Yellow Wagtail was at North Point Pools near Wells.
I watched it drop into this hawthorn bush as though freshly arrived.

Goldfinch – several were along the coast path from Blakeney to Morston.

Hobby – over the beach road at Salthouse on 26th May 2021.

This male Kestrel was hovering right above our heads at Morston.

Lapwing displaying over the water meadows at Blakeney. Oh for a blue sky.

Redshank – these birds love to call from fence posts

Rook – not often one gets close to a Rook.

Sandwich Tern over the shingle beach at Salthouse

This very obliging Sedge Warbler was at North Point Pools, near Wells.

Shelduck over the fresh marsh at Blakeney

Short-eared Owl – one of three that were hunting the dunes between Cley East Bank and Salthouse.

Skylark – above two images – get a load of those hind claws – immense

Wall Brown – the only butterfly we saw during our few days in Norfolk – Titchwell 28th May 2021

Greenland Wheatear – photographed in heavy rain at Salthouse

Wren – this obliging individual was belting out its song in the reeds at Blakeney Fresh Marsh.

A Day in North Derbyshire

2018, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year No Responses »

Jun 182018

Along with my good butterflying buddies, Barrie and Anita, I spent some time yesterday at Derbyshire’s first Butterfly Reserve at Hoe Grange, an abandoned limestone quarry on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The site has already recorded 26 species and also hosts several rare plants and a variety of insects. The rare Blotched Emerald moth was trapped overnight and also two Wood Tiger moth were seen, but unfortunately the weather was not so kind and few butterflies were on the wing. We did manage to see Common Blue, Small Heath and Large Skipper.

Bee Orchid – North Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Common Blue – Hoe Grange Quarry, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Common Cudweed – North Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Heath Speedwell – Hoe Grange, North Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Large Skipper – Hoe Grange, North Derbyshire

Moonwort – North Derbyshire – Tony Davison© – Virtually restricted to the North West area of the county.

Ox-eye Daisy – Hoe Grange, North Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Wood Tiger Moth – Hoe Grange, North Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

A Day with Waders at Frampton

2016, Birds, Birds of 2016, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year No Responses »

Aug 092016

In recent weeks the RSPB Reserve at Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire has been a haven for waders, with several notable species being recorded. So we decide to head off there for the day on Saturday 6th August. It was a hot day and not altogether conducive for photography. Anyhow, there was a good selection of waders, as our visit coincided with a 7 metre high tide. The lagoons were covered in Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit. Mixed in were several Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a White-rumped Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Ruff, Snipe, Avocet, Curlew, Lapwing, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. A single Spoonbill and plenty of Little Egret. Also many migrant Painted Lady butterflies.

Later in the afternoon we decide to head off to another reserve at Freiston Shore, near Boston. The lagoon here was covered in Redshank and Dunlin. Once we had figured out where the “Reservoir” was located, we soon discovered the Pectoral Sandpiper that had been present for several days. All in all a successful day, back with the A Team, for the first time since returning from Alaska. The year List had now moved on to 211.

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Black-tailed Godwit – Moulting adult – Frampton Marsh – Tony Davison©

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Black-tailed Godwit – Moulting adult – Frampton Marsh – Tony Davison©

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White-rumped Sandpiper – Above 2 images – Can you spot this American “Peep” amongst the Dunlin? – Frampton Marsh – Tony Davison©

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Lapwing – Above 3 images – Often called “Peewit” or “Green Plover” – Frampton Marsh – Tony Davison©

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Spoonbill – Immature – Note colour of the bill – Frampton Marsh – Tony Davison©

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Moorhen – Above 3 images – Intimate moments with this Moorhen family – Frampton Marsh – Tony Davison©

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Painted Lady – Good numbers of this migrant butterfly around Frampton Reserve – Tony Davison© – Taken with a 1DX and 500mm & 2x extender, not the ideal set up!

Derbyshire “Hot Spot”

2014, Birds, Birds of 2014, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year No Responses »

Apr 282014

After Saturday's Red Letter day at Willington Gravel Pits, Derbyshire, (Drake Garganey; Avocet; Marsh Harrier, Whimbrel, Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean Gull), it was not so much a "Hot Spot" this morning, Sunday 27th April. A Greenshank, a near adult and an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Little Ringed Plover,13 Common Tern, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and 5 species of Butterfly on the wing. So a few year ticks this morning moves the Year List on to 169.

Adult Common Tern – Willington GP, Derbyshire – April 27th 2014 – Tony Davison©

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Adult Common Tern – Willington GP, Derbyshire – note black tip to bill and translucent inner primaries – 27th April 2014 – Tony Davison©

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Lapwing in Display Mode – Willington GP, Derbyshire – 27th April 2014 – Tony Davison© Note the white primary tips to 8,9 & 10, something you don't always notice in the field.

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Grey Lag Geese – Willington GP, Derbyshire – 27th April 2014 – Tony Davison©

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Mute Swan – non breeders – Willington GP, Derbyshire – 27th April 2014 – Tony Davison©

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Brimstone – male – Willington GP, Derbyshire – 27th April 2014 – Tony Davison©

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Above two – Speckled Wood – Willington GP, Derbyshire – 27th April 2014 – Tony Davison©

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Green-veined White – probably a male – note the little black triangular patches at the end of the veins near the outer-wing edges, not shown on Small White – Willington GP, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

2013, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year 1 Response »

Aug 112013

For a young 15 year old lad, today a dream came true. As the saying goes – Every Cloud has a Silver Lining, especially over the Chilterns on Sunday 11th August 2013. Elliott (ELS) has been photographing butterflies since he was six years old and by the age of eleven, he had seen all the regular British species. One of his ambitions since then has been to photograph all of the regular British Butterflies and to-day he finally did it. The one butterfly that had been eluding him for over two years was the Clouded Yellow. A difficult species to see in Britain, let alone photograph. Fortunately, we stumbled across one or two at the National Nature Reserve of Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire and Elliott's dream became a reality.

The weather on arrival was grey & overcast with some breeze, not really what we wanted, but things soon changed for the better. During the day we saw 26 species of butterfly, a truely Red Letter day and only the second time we have ever achieved this total in a day. We visited just two sites and at Aston Rowant we had 19 species. It was simply stunning to see so many butterflies skimming over the flower rich meadows of this Chiltern Reserve. The recent hot weather seems to have turned the tables for our butterflies and so let us hope that their numbers begin to improve and species return to healthy populations once more.

Well done Elliott, keep up the interest in your photography and in Butterflies, there is lots more to see and photograph and many more years ahead to enjoy this wonderful hobby.. Also thanks to mum and dad for a great day out…

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A Silver Lining over the Chilterns – Tony Davison©

The chalk rich meadows of Aston Rowant hold a rich population of some rare and localised species of British Butterfly. August is really the last butterfly month and Silver-spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blue are at their best at this time of the year. With a few unexpected Clouded Yellow zapping about and showing off their distinctive mustard yellow and black wing pattern, it was a special day.

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Above four images – Silver-spotted Skipper – Tony Davison©

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Above three images – Chalkhill Blue – male – Tony Davison©

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Above two images – Chalkhill Blue – female – Tony Davison©

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Above two images – Clouded Yellow – Aston Rowant – Tony Davison©

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Small Copper – Aston Rowant – Tony Davison©

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Small Heath – Aston Rowant – Tony Davison©

We finished our day at another Oxfordshire Butterfly reserve that is a special place for the rare Brown Hairstreak. Here we saw a further seven species including Brown Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral.

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Brown Hairstreak – female – Often the first view one gets of this species as it basks in the sun, high up in the tree canopy. – Tony Davison©

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Brown Hairstreak – male – With patience and a little luck, one can get rewards – Tony Davison©

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Southern Hawker – Tony Davison© – Many hundreds of dragons flying about this afternoon.

Rare Butterfly on my Doorstep!

2013, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year 1 Response »

Jul 272013

A phone call this afternoon from my good friends Barrie, Anita & Elliott, was to tell me they were watching White-letter Hairstreak and literally only five minutes in the car from home. Needless to say I grabbed the cameras and made a dash for it, as the weather forecast for late afternoon was none to good.

The White-letter Hairstreak is on the wing during July and is becoming a scarce butterfly in Derbyshire. The Elm & Wych Elm, which the butterfly requires in order to lay its eggs, are rapidly disappearing and when present they only seem to last for a few years before they succumb to Dutch Elm disease.

It is due to Dutch Elm disease, that many of the Elms & Wych Elms that inhabit our hedgerows and woodland edges have disappeared. The White-letter Hairstreak is easily overlooked and the colonies that are now found in Derbyshire are few and far between but nevertheless this amazing little butterfly continues to hold on in our county. Where Elm exists, then this butterfly can be found but once the food plant dies out, often the Hairstreak colony goes with it. The White-letter Hairstreak sometimes occupies a favourite tree and a small colony can survive for a number of years. They often fly from the colony tree across to a nearby Oak or Ash to feed on the aphid honeydew, which is the White-letter Hairstreak's principle food.

What a great way to finish off the day and just before the thunderstorms hit.

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White-letter Hairstreak – probably a female due to the pale grey brown of the underwing – South Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

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Comma – South Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

A Royal Appointment with the Emperor of the Woods

2013, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year 1 Response »

Jul 202013

A visit to Fermyn Woods in Northamptonshire is really a must during June – July. The reason, an encounter with his Imperial Majesty, the Purple Emperor butterfly. If one has never seen this butterfly before, then your first sighting is usually high up in the tree canopy, as they chase each other around the tops of Oak trees. When one or two enventually come down onto the path to take minerals and with patience they do, your encounter really begins and a male Purple Emperor will take your breath away.

Fermyn Woods is probably the most northerly site in UK for the Purple Emperor. On arrival, Saturday 20th July, with my good freinds Barrie, Anita & Elliott, the weather was really not suitable for butterflies but we hung in their and eventually a break in the grey and overcast weather around lunch time, we got our reward. During the day we saw at least 15 Purple Emperors but only one came down on to the footpath and really did put on a show. When perched in the leaf canopy they can easily be mistaken for White Admiral but their distinctive underwing pattern and the eye in the centre of the under-forewing helps with the identification. Also at Fermyn we saw 1 White Admiral, several Purple Hairstreak, plenty of Ringlet & Meadow Brown, several Small Skipper, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Gatekeeper, several Large White and Green-veined White. Later in the day we paid a visit to a small Limestone Quarry in nearby Leicestershire and saw many Marbled White.

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First encounters of the Purple Emperor kind – Fermyn Woods – Tony Davison©

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First encounters of the Purple Emperor kind – Fermyn Woods – Tony Davison©

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Male Purple Emperor – The before – Tony Davison©

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Male Purple Emperor – The after – Tony Davison©

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Purple Emperor – Fermyn Woods – They can get mistaken for White Admiral when higer up in the leaf canopy – Tony Davison©

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On The Hunt for Rare Butterflies

2013, British Butterflies, Butterflies, Year No Responses »

Jun 302013

During this time of the year there are usually a number of good species of Butterfly that are on the wing for a few weeks. Most butterflies are late emerging this year, mainly due to the cold spring, in fact some species are around 3 -4 weeks late. The recent warm weather has certainly helped but these fragile creatures are certainly in short supply so far this year. After a disasterous year for butterflies during 2012, they can ill afford another one..

Along with my good friends Anita & Elliott, we decided to target Wood White and Black Hairstreak to-day. Both were seen exceptionally well and Wood White were in very good numbers with around 20 being seen this morning. At a local reserve in Northamptonshire, around 7 Black Hairstreak were on the wing, with some showing very well indeed. Also a Brimstone, several Large Skipper, a Comma, a Meadow Brown and numerous Speckled Wood were added to the day list. Considering the views we have had in previous years of these two species, today was a very memorable one.

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A Dippidy Doodah Day

2012, Birds, Birds of 2012, British Butterflies 1 Response »

Nov 182012

Missed the Hoodie – drat… but a new tick – an Ivy Bee – NOT – Miss Identified !!

You can't win em all, as they say. We missed out today (18th Nov) on the Hooded Merganser at Pagham Harbour, apparently seen to fly off late afternoon on Saturday 17th November. Well it had done this before, so we saw no reason to think it had gone or worse, may be the local Peregrine took it, well, we will never know.

One of the most interesting observations at Pagham was a small colony of Ivy Bees (Colletes hederae). I'd not seen this species of bee before. A recent colonist to the south coast of Britain, with the first sightings coming from Dorset in 2001. The bee has now spread across Southern England and into South Wales. Easily identified, as it is on th ewing well into October and November. The banding on the bees abdomen has a distinct orange hue but this fades with age. These bees were frantically pollenating on Ivy Flowers in the warm sunshine and a nest must have been close by.

UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE RE-IDENTIFIED THE SPECIES AS JUST HONEY BEE – (Apis mellifera) WITH THE HELP OF BWARS.

Honey Bee – Apis mellifera

Several other good birds were in the area. So after several hours at Pagham, we decided to cut our losses and head off to Farlington Marshes for a Red-breasted Goose. After a hell of a walk out along the tidal foot path, we eventuall got good but distant views of the bird amongst a huge flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Stacks of birds in the area as it was high tide. A pair of Marsh Harriers flew high over the area and there were many Red-breasted Merganser in Langstone Harbour, along with vast numbers of roosting waders. What a superb area. Also three Black-necked Grebe from the car park.

Adult Red-breasted Goose

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

On our way back north, we called in at Gosport for the adult Ring-billed Gull that has returned to spend yet another winter on a small lake in the area. Also here an adult winter Mediterranean Gull. Plenty of opportunity for some good pictures. The year list has moved on to 247.

Adult Ring-billed Gull

Adult winter Mediterranean Gull

Adult winter Black-headed Gull

Finally – the Last One! – 28th July 2012

2012, British Butterflies No Responses »

Jul 282012

My quest to photograph all the resident breeding British Butterflies finally came to an end this afternoon.

Holly Blue was photographed along a local Nature Trail in Stretton, Staffordshire, called the “Jinny Trail”.

During the past week I was sure that second generation Holly Blue would emerge in the warm sunshine. Sure enough, Anita & Elliott Staley managed to find one along the “Jinny” in mid-week. Panic set-in and I searched on several days at various local spots, near to home but without success. So this afternoon in the warm sunshine the search began along the “Jinny”, at least I knew they were here. Along with Anita, Barrie & Elliott, we eventually found several and I managed to photograph the last of the resident breeding British Butterflies.

I must thank Anita, Barrie & Elliott for this afternoon and for the many trips we have spent together searching the British countryside for Butterflies.

I look forward to many more trips together in the future.

All I need to do now is to help Elliott find a Clouded Yellow for his set and he is only 14 years old!!..

Holly Blue feeding on White Bryony – Bryonia cretica – Jinny Trail, Staffordshire 28th July 2012.

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