A Week of Bits and Bobs

A strange week for me, lots  of failures (as per), but some good moments as well. A week when we had a Greenshank drop in at Loddy, and pose around the mudflats. I'm not going to moan that it wasn't close enough for good pics, because it was just great to see one there. I've not got very many Greenshank shots,,,, in fact not one good one. I did my best with my 'walkabout' bird gear, but only record shots really.
   I tried the East Weares again, with Dennis, to try for better Chalkhill Blue shots, but they were far too busy really. That failure was negated a bit by the terrific views of a Raven family squabbling with crows, and the sighting of a Jersey Tiger moth.
   Today (after mum duty) i had an hour out at Triple 'H', and noted that a few Grayling were about, along with all of the seasonal things HHH is known for, some good looking Emerald damselflies, and really red male Ruddy darters in particular.
  Great to meet a young naturalist Tori there today too.

Creech Pond, and Small Red Damselfly

First Chalkie and the Horse Fly Death Race.

Sunday was a nice breezy day on the coast, but flippin' 'ot inland. Dennis and myself had a trip out to Portland, to try and get better pictures of the Lulworth Skippers. This is not easy, as the little blighters have first to be identified, and then photographed in a nice high position, to get a good background. We have both got quite a few shots of them, but we wanted better ones....  So with that failure behind me (Dennis probably got loads of great ones), we ventured on to a local quarry, and he,,,, yes he (of the cataracts) spotted our first Chalkhill Blue of the season. (Soon be loads on Portland). Our pictures are similar, and are featured on Flickr.
   Tuesday was a stormy day, so i went out alone with my umbrella to get some local landscape shots.I will post a few on this BLOG soon,,,, but not too many, because i'm not John Fanning (link on the right), and am quite inadequate at that discipline. A shot of Creech Pond is featured on Flickr.
   On Wednesday Dennis and myself braved the horrors of 'horse fly heaven', (Alners Gorse,, go prepared to be bitten). We were both bitten several times, and we were both sporting swollen limbs and digits the following day. Was it worth it??? Only just... We both got good shots of Purple Hairstreaks and a few of White-letter Hairstreaks, with a lot of Frits thrown in.
   Thursday was a bit of a FLOP, because we didn't locate the Dorset Purple Emperors, but we ended up at White Mill, where a Scarce Chaser was posing.
   Today we are both knackered,,,, just a typical week in the life of a retired DWP (Dorset Wildlife Papparrazzi), and if i spelt it wrong, don't tell me.

Dark Green in Wilts

This week, along with two mates, Dennis and Radar, i ventured over the border, and into Wilts. This had mixed blessings, because as many people know i get constipated if i go outside of Dorset. However, we did get a bit of joy, in that i managed some decent shots of our quarry, the Dark Green Fritillary, at Martin Down. This big and fast butterfly can be exhausting if you try and chase them, so at my and Dennis's age, we decided to opt for the 'lie in wait by their food source' tactic. This being the only tactic we can manage now. All the best shots we achieved were males scoffing, as the females are hiding down in the sward more, doing their egg laying. I did manage one, but she was too tatty for my collection, maybe next season i'll get one. After two visits i was pretty pleased, because i had only achieved a couple of shots previously.
  Later in the week Mark, Dennis, and myself had a couple of hours chasing Lulworth Skippers at Portland Bill. Mark spotted a mating pair, and we all took loads of shots of them, actually something i had never seen before. So not a bad week really, i just wish i hadn't celebrated last night. Its Friday now, and the week's not over, but i thought i'd do the blog on my 'day off'. LOL.