Monday 11th. April 2011

A day planned in the depths of Winter , whilst searching for the elusive New Hythe Bitterns , came to fruition today , When I met up with Phil (Mr.Bittern) Sharp/Sharp by Nature , up on the Downs , to see what we could find , with reptiles and butterflies at the top of the list . I arrived a bit before the arranged time , and although the sun was only just casting it's warmth over the site , without much breeze , the temperature was already rising , but managed to find two Adders , one Grass Snake and several Common Lizards , so I knew Phil wouldn't be disappointed . He arrived in a tan worthy of someone who had not long returned from the Carribean , which in fact he had , and made me feel very palid . Fortunately , the first Adder was still in situ , so we got off to a good start . The Grass Snake proved camera shy and made off before a shutter actuated , but 3 Common Lizards posed nicely for Phil's camera . The second Adder also did a runner before Phil managed to get a shot . With the warmer temperature , animals were not in their expected locations , which made finding subjects for Phil's camera even harder . We did finally find a specimen laying out , but then came quite a long time without any Adders , but we did find an Adder slough , the shed skin of the animal and still the occasional Common Lizard or Slow Worm .Since my last visit , Common Milkwort/Polygala vulgaris , has come into flower to add more blue/violet colour to the Common Dog Violets , and also joined by the yellow of Crosswort/Cruciata laevipes , a member of the Bedstraw family . By now , butterfly numbers had increased , the most numerous being Brimstones , including many females , looking for , finding and laying their eggs on the just opened , tenderest leaves of the Buckthorn . The lozenge shaped egg seen here at 2 o'clock . Shortly afterwards , we found our first Green Hairstreak of the day , once again down in the grass , and this was only the start , as along the bottom track , another specimen , unusual in that it only had one spot forming it's 'streak' , and blending in wonderfully with the green of the Ivy that it was resting on . Of interest , the green on the underside of the wing , is produced by the effects of light on the tiny scales of the wings , resulting in only the green colour of the spectrum reaching the viewer's eye . Also it is the only British Hairstreak which does not have small 'tails' on the hind-wings . Further on , a fast moving insect caught our attention , which , when it finally came to rest , proved to be our first Grizzled Skipper of the year . Just time to get a record shot , and it was off again . Getting back to where I had seen the Grass Snake before Phil arrived , we both set about looking for it , and Phil spotted not the one , but two Grass Snakes , in what could only be described as 'a bit of hanky panky' , what appeared to be the lighter coloured male , trying to assume the same the same position as the female . Phil whispered something about 'spoons' , whatever that meant ! I think Phil , who was further to the left got some clearer shots of the pair . After a while , they realised that we were there and moved off , so after finding a male and female Adder together , we thought we should leave them to it , and headed off for a look at the Early Purple Orchids , which have come on well since last visit . On the way back , yet more Green Hairstreaks , and by a stroke of luck , two males , as usual arguing about ownership of an area , were caught showing top , plain brown , and underwing colours in the same shot . Shortly afterwards , we were both bemused watching a Bee , collecting varying lengths of dead material and bringing it back to the nest it was constructing in the grass . Hopefully the lengths of material can be seen in these two shots . It kept our attention for about half an hour , I just hope no one was watching us ! We had a walk to another site , but that was very quiet apart from a couple of Peacock butterflies . Walking back to the cars , Phil spotted a Common Buzzard , soaring high above us , which become 2 , 3 and finally 4 , too high to get a decent shot , especially as a couple of times two of them 'touched talons' . Almost within site of the cars , Phil heard a rustle in the roadside vegetation , and looking down , we saw a male Adder , not in the browns and blacks , but in black an white , full fighting/mating colours . Phil's camera was in the bag , mine was still set on manual focus , having tried to get a shot of the Buzzards , and by the time either of us were ready to take a shot , the Adder had departed , so no shot , but a really good sighting to finish a great 5 hours , in great weather and very good company . Brimstone numbers must have been 20+ , Green Hairstreak 6+ and Orange Tips 5+ , along with the odd Green-veined White , interest was maintained throughout the visit . And finally , three shots for the detectives , a caterpillar , Thanks to Dean/DDD for identifying it as that of The Drinker moth . a tiny moth with very long antennae - not the usual one with the gold flash on the wings , Once again thanks to Dean/DDD identified as Nematopogon sp. possibly swammerdamella . small moth , about the size of Pyraustra purpuralis , with a striped abdomen .Unless of course , Phil has already identified them .