In this greyest of English summers there are still some butterflies and dragonflies that have yet to be featured in this journal. Locally the only butterfly business still to do was checking out second brood Adonis Blue at my “home ground” Aston Rowant NNR (N), Oxon. I had resolved today to get on with some much needed gardening at home, but when yet more gloomy cloud settled upon Garsington in the early afternoon my noble intentions were defeated. It looked more cheerful over towards the Chilterns escarpment but the grey stuff seemed to follow me along the M40, to settle upon the reserve when I reached it.

On arrival I met fellow Oxon naturalist Chris Bottrell and a couple from Newark, Notts and they had not seen any Adonis. So a collective decision was taken to relocate to Yoesden Bank across the county boundary in Bucks. It still looked sunnier in that direction but guess what: the grey stuff followed us to that new location too. Chris decided to head home, leaving me to search this BBOWT reserve with Nick and Amy, the visitors. They had already seen their first Brown Hairstreak and Silver-spotted Skipper in God’s own county (Oxon) today and now hoped for the third lifer Adonis Blue, since none of these species occur in the East Midlands. Not only that but they had referred to this blog to help research their day out – nice people!

Adonis Blue (male)

So a chance encounter with other enthusiasts reminded me again how fortunate we are in Oxford to be within easy range of so many butterfly species. Yoesden Bank (SU789980), a steep sided stretch of flower rich chalk grassland to the east of a village Radnage, is England’s northernmost location for Adonis Blue and notable in also supporting Small and Chalkhill Blue in one place. The pursuing cloud decided to go no further east once we were on site here, but in a brief sunny interlude three male Adonis Blue (pictured above) showed themselves.

Nick and Amy from Notts

After leaving Yoesden Bank I returned to Aston Rowant hoping things might have brightened. In the event conditions were still overcast but it was too early to go home. So I followed the top footpath from the car park then trod directly down that part of the hillside above the M40 where I expect to find Adonis Blue. After disturbing two possible females I found a third perched on Marjoram, motionless in the cool early evening temperature. Then further down the hillside I came across two males, the first of which posed in a similar way to the female while the second buried itself deep in the sward. So maybe this cloudy afternoon had a silver lining, since I would not have captured these images (below) had it been sunny.

Adonis Blue (male)

Adonis Blue (female)

During the previous two afternoons I visited the RSPB’s Otmoor reserve just north of Oxford to catch up with two hitherto late summer absentees from 2015’s Rn’S dragonfly records. Both Southern Hawker and Migrant Hawker were seen at this reliable location for each species, along with some ever unco-operative Brown Hawker and many Common and Ruddy Darter.

Migrant Hawker (male)

Addendum

7th Sep: After just over a week mostly of more oppressive murk the last two mornings have dawned cold and sunny. Cue “England set for Indian summer” headlines in the national press. Well, kids have just gone back to school. Following a report on RBA of a Red-backed Shrike on Otmoor I went out for a mooch around from 8am today, but no-one else was looking. But here was an opportunity finally to capture male Migrant Hawker for the autumn. This one (above) was warming up for the day along one of the Blackthorn hedges.

This is another bird I have observed just once previously. I do recall the old Wiltshire sighting in the summer of 1989 and that it was fairly distant. Several of these attractive vagrant Falcons have been reported in England in 2015. I was first tempted by one at Wareham, Dorset back in the spring but didn’t bother to go for it in the end. Next I read of one near Stoke-on-Trent being enticed with food by batteries of 50 or more photographers, to hover above their heads while they competed for the perfect shot. To my mind, the unnaturalness of such a contrived situation meant that Falcon might as well have been in a zoo or brought out to perform for evening classes at a birds of prey centre somewhere.

Then a couple of weeks ago today’s little number turned up in the Lincolnshire fens. After going to north-Norfolk a week ago for an Icterine Warbler (see here) I realised that this latest Red-foot was well within my preferred range at a mere 110 miles. This was the one to go for and a very hot Saturday was an apt time to re-acquaint myself with the species.

Arriving on site just before 11am, I turned into a car park full of birders one of whom pointed out a hazy blob in his scope. By the time I set up my own scope the Red-footed Falcon had moved, so I followed the main track into Willow Tree Fen then turned left along the top of a dyke. Apparently, prior to my arrival the bird had posed for an hour on a fence post along this access track and hovered over people’s heads. When I caught up with the RFF it was hunting from a favoured tree, perched into the sun looking away from its audience most of the time.

Distant, hazy Red-footed Falcon

Red-footed Falcon is similar in shape and flight to the more familiar Hobby, but hovers like a Kestrel though with deeper wing beats. A slate blue grey in tone with striking red undertail and legs in the adult male, they hawk mainly for insects from bushes, overhead wires or fence posts in a Shrike-like manner. I watched this one for some time in the heat haze before wandering off to explore some more of the reserve.

Willow Tree Fen (TF181213) was purchased by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in 2009 since when the site has been restored from arable farmland back into the region’s largest area of natural fen habitat. The reserve comprises a mixture of reed beds, shallow meres, seasonally flooded pastures and hay meadows. This is part of an ongoing conservation programme to increase the county’s wild fenland by 200%.

Willow Tree Fen

After a lunch break I went back with my digiscoping collar to try to gain some at least half decent images. The Falcon had remained faithful to the same spot and the light was now better as cloud gathered ahead of a forecast showery breakdown. But as in the morning my efforts didn’t bear consideration. Then at some time after 3pm the bird began to move around the reserve more. Someone alerted me to a growing cluster of birders along the access track and I headed there. The situation had turned full circle from that time before my arrival, with the RFF hunting from fence posts to one side of the track.

Red-footed Falcon (1s male)

Now I was rewarded for my uncharacteristic devotion of more than four hours to this bird. It’s admirers, most of whom had only just arrived, were being treated to displays of aerobatics, hovering and fairly close perching on fence posts. What a stunner! The expression “cracking bird” could have been coined just to describe it. With acceptable pictures taken and cumulo nimbus building up it was time to head home after a day well spent.

This was a nice and easy twitchette for a Nearctic wader that I had seen just once before. But I retain little recollection of that sighting somewhere in Cambridgeshire in 1993, and was abroad when much more recently a Spotted Sandpiper spent a few days at Oxford’s Farmoor Reservoir. Hence the appeal of a 30-mile drive today to the outskirts of swingingest Swindon.

Use of the bird hides at Coate Water requires a permit and key obtainable from the country park activity centre here. That meant a walk the longer way around the Y-shaped lake, but on reaching the LNR I was greeted by some birders one of whom said the visiting attraction was showing well. This Spotted Sandpiper was active in a muddy area to the right of a cramped and dingy hide that on my arrival held several other birders. But views of it were spoiled by an untidy protective fence (pictured below).

At a distance the adult individual at first looked like a Common Sandpiper but once I had it in my scope the dark breast spots, yellowish legs and bold supercilium all stood out. This was indeed a cracking bird. It now remained to wait for the Spot Sand to come closer to the hide and offer better photo opportunities. Eventually it did and these images (below) were the best I could obtain. The bird moved around the muddy area throughout my stay, feeding constantly as a steady trickle of people entered and left the hide to observe it.

Though a north American breeder, Spotted Sandpiper is a fairly regular vagrant to Great Britain with annual records mostly in late summer and autumn. The species is closely related to the slightly larger Common Sandpiper but distinctive by virtue of its breeding plumage and jerky flight style. I was pleased to get a fresh record of a vaguely remembered wader that had become just a name on my life list, and now hope it might hop across the county boundary into Oxfordshire. The May 2014 Farmoor bird was a county tick for quite a few high (ie 250+) listers but I was otherwise engaged in Portugal at that time.

Spot Sand watercolour

A fall of Eurasian drift migrants across eastern England on Friday prompted my first out-of-county birding twitch of the autumn passage. The outstanding candidates for me were two Icterine Warbler, a lifer on the north Norfolk coast. One of these birds was reported at Blakeney point, of 3-mile (each way) shingle spit walk fame. The second was about a mile from the nearest road at a spot just west of Holkham Pines, near the village of Burnham Overy Staithe. As usual I went for the easier option.

During the three hour outward drive Oxonbirders Tezzer and Andy kept me informed of relevant news on RBA, and when I got to my destination mid-morning plenty of cars were parked beside the A149 by a track out to Burnham Overy Dunes. That looked promising, then a man walking back told me the “Icky” was showing well and I picked out a cluster of birders some way off. The bird was pointed out as soon as I arrived on site and that was another of the more regular drift migrant warblers added to my British and life lists.

The “Icky” site from a distance

It being a first winter individual I expected a paler looking bird than I was actually observing. In the event the lemon yellow tone of this fairly large warbler was plain to see and the big orange bill also stood out. Other diagnostics are a pale wing panel, long primary projection and grey legs; but I expect lots of you know that because you’ve seen them before and I hadn’t until now! Today’s bird was quite showy to begin with, treating its audience to displays of feeding and preening at fairly close range. Then it relocated to the far side of the watching group and put on an even better performance.

Large head, long wings, short tail

Like last winter, these images of a small passerine are as good as it’s likely to get with my equipment and show how the bird was seen. As the morning progressed and the number of birders grew the Icky became more skulking, offering less frequent views. So I checked with Norfolk people present whether there was anything else of note in the area, and on being told not began to meander my way homeward.

On the walk out and back to this site today I came across several Wall Brown, a butterfly that is more numerous in England around coasts during it’s larger August and September second brood. This species has the most intricate underwing pattern of all the British browns, as these pictures show. Grayling and Dark Green Fritillary were also active in the dunes and along the sea wall, adding a nice bonus to a successful twitch.

A warm day being forecast I opted to pay a repeat visit to the heathland wilderness of Ashley Hole (SU228167) hoping for a better look at the Common Hawker dragonflies. Overnight murk was lifting on my arrival at Telegraph Hill and once I set out from there it was wall-to-wall sunshine for the rest of my stay. As I trod a familiar route to the boggy valley of the CH hotspot Grayling butterflies escaped my footfall, while Stonechat clicked and whistled amongst the heather and gorse. There is presently a family of these birds close to the parking area here and today the juveniles made a charming sight atop one bush.

Stonechat siblings

View down the valley towards Ashley Bottom

I have to say that the fair weather conditions did not produce significantly greater numbers of flying odonata than a week ago (see here). But the Common Hawker were definitely more active with at least four males and two females seen. A year ago I spent about three hours watching two males patrol the same route around the bog in Ashley Bottom without settling. This time observing two more males hawking around the bomb craters for long periods was an interesting experience, but one of these perched for just a few seconds in which today’s only photo opportunity came and went. At the crater where I had disturbed a female last weekend, another or maybe the same one was egg laying in the pool-edge vegetation but she remained largely concealed whilst doing so.

Bog habitat in Ashley Bottom

Female Common Hawker laying eggs

As much as I like the wildness and beauty of this place there is a frustrating side to things here because Common Hawker are so difficult to photograph. It had taken four previous visits to gain a passable flight shot of a male, now would I ever capture a perched image of either gender? By early afternoon I decided to explore an area in the lowest part of the valley, then go on to Latchmore Brook to try to photograph Goldenrings. That relocation was rendered unnecessary because at least three male Golden-ringed Dragonfly were lazily patrolling the stream that flows though the valley floor, chasing each other away whenever their flight paths crossed. These perched frequently but didn’t like to do so against uncluttered backdrops.

While I was prospecting for these pictures (above) another observer appeared, the first time that has happened in my five visits here, but when I eventually walked in his direction he hurried away. He had the air of an expert but I suppose I cannot pick and choose when I wish to be sociable. As on last weekend’s visit I didn’t find any Black Darter here which seemed strange. But at the first pool further up the valley as I walked away from Ashley Bottom I did come across just one of these bog specialists. The very acidic looking patches that they favour always make for interesting pictures and today was no exception.

Upon leaving here I was suffering a little from wilderness fatigue and all too aware of the onset of another insect season’s end. Whether I will re-visit Ashley Hole in future years I cannot say, or perhaps it would be better to seek out Common Hawker in northern locations where they might be more plentiful. But whatever I decide this so evocative corner of the New Forest will always hold meaningful recollections.

Goodbye to Ashley Hole for another season

On the southern flank of Watlington Hill on the Chilterns escarpment, a trail runs along a valley side where the great richness of the wild flora is matched when conditions are right by the insect life. The location (SU705934) is sheltered so in windy conditions butterflies funnel in here from the more exposed hilltop and western facing slopes of this National Trust site. And in a plentiful year such as 2015 for second brood chalkland butterflies this can be a place par excellence in which to observe them.

Site plan (click to enlarge)

The trail begins from the NT car park at the top of the hill, emerging from woodland just before the steep open slope in the centre of the site plan (above). Around the base of that slope and in other more open areas good numbers of Silver-spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blue were active. SSS are such photogenic little charmers when the sun is shining, and these pictures (below) taken today show how they should be experienced.

I was struck today by the size variation in the hundreds of Common Blue present here. Collins Butterfly Guide says that in both genders appreciable intra-seasonal differences occur and this demonstrates the ecological adaptability of the species. In the left-hand picture (below) the male Common Blue is smaller than the Brown Argus that has settled next to it. The right-hand specimen was so tiny that I wondered if I was seeing a first ever Small Blue at this site, until it revealed the underwing pattern of Common. The central picture shows a more usual size differential between male and female Common Blue.

Then there’s the stunners that are Chalkhill Blue

Lastly, here is a grasshopper du jour. I have now invested in a series of A5 laminated ID plates published by Peregrine Publications. These explain that grasshoppers cannot be identified reliably by colour since this varies tremendously between individuals of the same species. So there’s the explanation why I always have difficulty in matching my own pictures to field guides. I am pretty sure this one (below) is a Field Grasshopper that is widespread and common from July to October in dry short grassland.

Field Grasshopper

I went out this afternoon thinking in terms of filling in time but was given a reminder that something more can always be squeezed out of any butterfly season. This was how things should be: a peaceful site, only manageable numbers of dog walkers and joggers, no traffic noise or light aircraft doing aerobatics overhead, no tourists or in-your-face paparazzi: just spectacular wild flowers supporting a wealth of fascinating wildlife to be enjoyed.

Until recently classed as a rare migrant from mainland Europe, the Blue-eyed or Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly has in the last few years colonised sites along the Thames estuary in Essex. Large numbers of odo enthusiasts have visited Basildon Borough Council’s Wat Tyler Country Park to see them in that time, and when reports appeared on the BDS web site again this year I decided to give it a go.

At the Wat Tyler Centre I met education officer Neil Phillips who has been responsible for releasing information on this rarity (see here). He directed me to the exact location where the SMH are being seen and one other observer was there already. Before long two male SMH appeared, one of which commenced to fly around our heads and hover in front of our faces. The species has a stronger blue colouration than the frequently seen Migrant Hawker, with no yellow markings. The males’ vivid blue eyes and largely green sides to the thorax stand out, suggesting an Emperor dragonfly in miniature.

I’m starting to get the hang of these flight shots

It was a slightly surreal experience that an insect I had travelled 90 miles to see appeared to be taking a good look at me. SMH favours almost dried out pools that are choked with bulrushes and conditions here are perfect for them. When this individual settled he revealed a distinct kink in the lower abdomen that would have been caused during emergence. Late morning is the peak time for sightings apparently, and more observers duly arrived.

“The sky is calling, the wind is at my shoulders, mama I’m bent to fly.” (Lyric © S Hudson / M Kennedy)

Southern Migrant Hawker (male)

As a site WTCP has the ambience of a public park rather than a nature reserve. When a guided tour party turned up at 11am I displayed remarkable tolerance in helping to ensure that all the children picked out the pretty blue dragonfly. There’s hope for me yet! It would have been good to see a straight SMH but things were a bit crowded here for my liking and I didn’t linger.

There are various other marshland nature reserves along this stretch of the Thames estuary. Upon enquiry I found that the RSPB’s neighbouring Bowers Marsh (TQ755867) is a site for Scarce Emerald damselfly. In the afternoon I did a reconnoitre there, seeing two Emerald types but not well enough to PI them. But I now know a location for the only regular English damselfly I have yet to observe, and expect to be back. The SMH fly throughout August.

The odo Mecca of Ashley Hole is a one-time munitions testing site characterised by flooded bomb craters that play host to some acid habitat specialists, most notably Common Hawker. The 2½ mile walk out to it begins from the B3078 road at Telegraph Hill (SU228167), a Forestry Commission parking area. After about a mile my route continues south-west from a small pond via minor tracks to the head of a boggy valley, and from that point on it is all off-piste. I am always stirred by the wildness of the place and visit every season at around this time.

There are a few pools along the valley floor that today held less water than on previous visits. At the first of these I came across Common Darter and what turned out to be the day’s only Black Darter. The latter fact was surprising since I expect to find good numbers of this heathland species here. I have excellent pictures from  previous seasons taken at this site, so it was good to get something a little different this time. Who’s the dude in the shades then?

Black Darter

At the next pool a few Keeled Skimmer were active, being a common species here. While I was trying to photograph these a large Hawker came in from the surrounding heather and flew fairly slowly around the flooded area, hovering at times. The flight shot (below) revealed that I had indeed captured a male Common Hawker after three seasons of trying at this site. That was a huge result since the males very rarely settle, if at all. This is a familiar dragonfly in the north and west of Britain but occurs only locally on southern and eastern heaths.

Common Hawker (male)

Elated by this it was time to head for the business end of the valley, Ashley Bottom with those bomb craters (SU203148). This lies amongst some clumps of trees, the ground between which is filled by a bog. Conditions had now become overcast so not as much was seen here as on previous visits, but with searching there was still interest to be found. The most frequent damselfly is Common Emerald and the New Forest speciality Small Red Damselfy is also present. A male Broad-bodied Chaser made a welcome addition to the day list as I had not photographed one previously this season. With a shortage of subjects to capture I spent more time experimenting with camera settings, which was welcome practice.

Broad-bodied Chaser (male)

At one pool I was concentrating on an Emerald (centre above) when a female Common Hawker burst out of the vegetation beneath my feet. That explained why I wasn’t seeing any since in the dull conditions they must all have been tucked away. After flying around the pool a few times this one shot back in from whence she had emerged. When I flushed her again she expressed her disapproval by flying off to nearby tree cover. Serves me right I suppose!

On the walk out to Ashley Hole I always stumble across Grayling butterflies here and there. These either flop up from the track or out of the heather before moving a short distance and blending into their surroundings, as Grayling do. In the boggy valley there were also Silver-studded Blue in small numbers. Two of these obliged with the top wing shots that I had not managed at Yateley Common a week earlier.

Lastly I have been paying a bit of attention to grasshoppers of late. In southern Europe these are mostly big and have the pleasing habit of flying for some distance in front of me as I walk. Here they are much smaller and involve a hands and knees job with the macro lens. In both cases I have difficulty matching pictures I take to the field guides I possess. I believe this one (below) at Ashley Hole is a female Large Marsh Grasshopper – confirmation please anyone?

Large Marsh Grasshopper (fem) ?

So this was another superb day in the New Forest at one of my absolute favourite odonata locations. A remarkable thing about Ashley Hole is that in four visits, despite the site’s importance for these insects, I have yet to meet another person there.