It is an oft-repeated mantra among wildlife enthusiasts at present that whatever the plight of the human populace, the endless rhythm of life in the natural world continues. In this period of national lock-down to counter Covid-19 I have on most days been walking the local right of way network between my own and nearby villages. Despite living here for 20 years I had only done that in part previously. The past three weeks since emergency measures were announced have seen me explore it all. Now, having identified the better looking wildlife corridors, I may attempt to patch watch them for as long as current restrictions continue.
As of this Easter Sunday I have recorded all 10 of the common butterfly species that can be expected by this time of the new season. Upon coming across my first Orange Tips four days ago my priority at once became to acquire better portraits of a very difficult subject to capture well. Surely this exquisite symbol of annual renewal in nature is one of our most delicately beautiful butterflies. But they are typically very restless, and fly a long way between settling if doing so at all, especially in the full heat of the day.
Resting male Orange Tip on Garlic Mustard
On this once again sunny morning I set out to walk the Thame valley north of the next village of Chiselhampton. On reaching a wooded feature known as The Jenet (SP606004) at some time before 10am I noticed a resting Orange Tip on vegetation by the track side, and more soon appeared. Perhaps this is a roost site. In any case the wild plant-rich margin of the tree belt, carpeted with flowering Nettles and Garlic Mustard, looked very butterfly friendly. The day was just beginning to warm up and my quest were perching on flower heads while keeping quite still. This is in my experience a not too frequent opportunity to achieve what I was seeking, and I was clearly in a good place at the right time.
The Jenet, near Little Milton, Oxon
I have already referred to the constantly on the move character of male Orange Tips, that are a familiar springtime sight across much of the British Isles along hedgerows and woodland edges, as well as in parks and gardens. Thomas and Lewington describes them as “a patroller par excellence“, wandering the countryside through much of the day searching every shrub and tussock for mates. The less conspicuous females are more elusive, concealing themselves in bushes for hours on end.
That reference book also cites males as being “fine examples both of warning colouration and camouflage”. The distinctive wing tips in flight alert predators that this butterfly is distasteful, their bodies containing quantities of bitter oil accumulated during the larval stage from Garlic Mustard, the principal food plant. Birds will rarely take them more than once. When at rest the upper wings are lowered and blending in becomes the best form of self protection.
The Orange Tip’s wandering lifestyle takes it into a great variety of habitats and they are widespread in gardens from April onward. There they are attracted by cultivated plants such as Honesty, Sweet Rocket and Lady’s Smock. But these consummate nomads rarely linger in any place for long. Numbers peak during May and flight continues into June, with a second brood occurring in the earliest flight seasons.
Females have grey rather than orange wing tips but share the attractive underside patterning of males, the hind-wings being mottled delicately with lichen-like green. Old fashioned, colloquial names for them included “Lady of the Woods” or simply “Wood Lady”, those being possibly a little more evocative than the modern day equivalent. I found one (pictured below, right) in another small woodland along my Easter Sunday morning route at SP608007.
The other butterflies seen so far on my new patch are the early season staples Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Small, Large and Green-veined Whites; Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue. I have been especially impressed by the numbers of Peacock everywhere I tread, the newly emerged hibernators seeming quite widespread after the mild winter just past. As Orange Tip is perhaps one of our most delicate, surely the Peacock (below, top row) is one of our boldest butterflies. The other two new season’s hibernators are in the bottom row.
My own lock-down routine is mostly to exercise in the mornings then spend the rest of the day in the garden at home. The local footpath network may be accessed from selected points on my way back from visiting local convenience stores, or else I walk from home. I prefer to go out early as the only people I need to distance from then (as they do me) are just a few joggers, dog walkers or other hikers. Almost everyone I pass is pleasant and friendly, being out for the same reasons as myself, though for much of the time I barely see a soul.
The present situation is altering my outlook in different ways. Not least when I recall the tranquillity I sought and found butterflying in the south of France last July, I now realise I can achieve that within a short distance of my doorstep. I was wondering how to motivate myself in the coming local wildlife season, so if needs must patch working could be the answer. Importantly, my near three-stone (19 kg) weight loss in just over 12 months and continued high protein diet appear to be giving me boundless energy.
A year ago I was experiencing joint pain from walking just short distances. Now I enjoy the local countryside for up to six or seven miles at a stretch, drawing on seemingly re-found reserves. On that note I’ll end with an image of my season’s first blooming Cuckoo Pint (below) also from this morning’s walk – perhaps another symbol of spring-time renewal in nature.
“Rise today and change this world” *
* (Lyric © Alter Bridge, 2007) Were I a photographer, as I often stress I’m not, I might perhaps find all kinds of fault with the half decent Orange Tip images this post contains. Likewise I might not have made too much effort to capture them pictorially in more usual butterfly seasons, and so have just a small number of previous studies in my collection. But the opportunity to witness and record the re-emergence of the precious jewel that is Orange Tip has never seemed more uplifting, refreshing and welcome than now.
Ramblings and Scribblings 