18 May 2008 - Goring Bridge

A morning visit to Goring Bridge to get fellow Bearded Baldie a hoped-for Club-tailed Dragonfly, found us heading to Goring Bridge this lovely Sunday morning. A closed footpath meant that clambering over a fence or two and wandering through a couple of wet fields was all in order.

The day had been chosen as the Hot News on the Dragonfly website had mentioned that a couple had been seen already this year.

Immediately on arrival we found one insect, right under the bridge - half out of its exuvia with wings only 15mm this poor specimen had clearly died in the final throws of attaining adulthood. I decided to take pictures later after we had found some live specimens. (We later returned to this specimen only to find that it had flown off!! Further nymphs, still wet, were clambering up the brickwork to finally break free and fly off for a life of copulating before succuming to the local Hobby).

Ten minutes later I wasn't feeling quite so comfortable about my choice of day. One minute after that, the first of 20+ Club-tails were located in the riverside vegetation.

During the searches a few other bits were found, including one insect species that I couldn't even say what order it was in.

A successful day, made all the better by following the footpath as far as we could, only to realise that it wasn't closed along the stretch to the car so our wet feet earlier had been completely unnecessary.

Finally got home at noon - to find the wife still in bed - perfect...

6-11 May 2008 Abbotts' Wood, Sussex & Kent

A few lunchtime trips to Holly Hill produced my first pictures of Dingy Skipper and Holly Blue. A sunny afternoon trip to Abbott's Wood in East Sussex was great for the sheer volume of Pearl-bordered Fritts, but all were far too flighty given the above average temperatures.

5 May 2008 Bonsai Bank & Westbere, Kent

A return journey to Bansai to improve on my photos to the Dukes proved a rather wasteful time when, after arriving home, I realised one of camera settings had been left on while I'd been mucking around with the dials the evening before. Post bonsai, a quick return to Westbere got me a few dragonfly year ticks (Variable Damselfly) and a rather cooperative Speckled Wood which was just pleading for me to take a few portraits of it.

4 May 2008 Elmley RSPB

With news of two Black-winged Stilts on the Isle of Sheppey, a continuation of the morning's orchid trip found me driving along the access track to Elmley RSPB. With the photo competition in mind, I used the car to stalk a few birds and then a couple of mammals - most surprising of which was a Hedgehog running across the road at break-neck speed (well, fast for Hedgehog anyway).

4 May 2008 Stockbury Wood, Kent

A quick drop in to Stockbury produced a nice selection of Lady Orchids and a few Early Purple Orchids (together with the usual selection of weirdos sat in their cars).

3 May 2008 Bonsai Bank, Nr Canterbury

An 'us' visit to Bonsai Bank eventually found me at the correct carpark - an achievement that had taken so very much longer when on a previous visit with the 'bearded one' (but then again, his map reading is cr*p even with his glasses on).

A short search provided us with the clue we needed to find the Dukes - someone else who had just seen them in a different area of the wood. Only two were found but thankfully they were extremely confiding - even he 'bearded one' may have been able to get a few blurry snaps.

A few Lady Orchids nearby were not quite as advanced as some locations in Kent this year - but nice all the same. Early Purple Orchids in full bloom provided me with a rare opportunity to get an OK shot or two - something that I've been too late for in previous years.

30 April 2008 The Kent Countryside

Found another nice male Orangetip which brightened up the day.

26 April 2008 Hamstreet Woods, Kent

Spring sprung. To catch this event in all its wonderful glory, we headed to Ashford and the nearby Hamstreet Woods. A nice selection of flutterbys, two species of reptiles, Nightingale, Swift and the Good Lady found a Tawny Owl.

24 April 2008 The Lakes, Larkfield

A short walk after work to clear my head of work and to have a walk, produced a confiding Nightingale singing its nackers off. So many walkers passed by, completely missing this treasure of their local country park. Oh well.

23 April 2008 The Watercress Beds, East Malling

To build up a thirst, that brief bit of activity between ending work and entering the King & Queen Public House, the good lady Wiff and I partook of a short walk to the watercress beds. Upon arrival, a quick glimpse and a brief scurry had me thinking that the local Water Voles were up to their old tricks again. After tracking one beast, a bit more hope: a bit more patience and I was nearly eyeball to eyeball; nose to snout with a very confiding Water Vole.

The return walk back to the pub (er car I think I meant) produced a rather lethargic looking Water Shrew. Clearly one of the lazier specimens of the species, this specimen took no notice of us as we stomped by. Had it been a bit more awake it would of been a new mammal tick for me but I am determined not to tick sleeping individuals.

8 March 2008 Nimmo's Pier, Ireland

After a painful trip to Ireland some years ago, Crew Intrepid once again embarked on their quest to add an irish gull on to their lists. With a first winter and an adult American Herring Gull both being seen in Galway for the the past few months, the whole thing would be a piece of cake - wouldn't it?

Captain Guildford arrived the evening before - followed by an early start with the Bearded One (looking as beautiful as ever) joining the vehicle at a time when the youth of today are just going to bed. The flight from was Stansted uneventful; arrival at Shannon and drive to Galway, equally so.

Searching for said gull proved more difficult than expected - indeed, it was only at the eleventh hour (about 5.32pm) that our quarry was properly sorted out from a dark juvenile Herring Gull of the sub-species 'Gysi'.

Good stuff for the day included Surf Scoter x2, Little gulls, Black-throated Diver, 15+ Iceland Gull, Rook (!), er Mute Swans, Grey Heron, and one certainly, possibly two, American Herring Gull(s). Tick!

25 July 2007 - Stockbridge Down, Hants

Having seen all the Britsh Breeding butterflies (bar Mountain Ringlet), new species were going to be few and far between. News of a Black-veined White a few days ago was intruging - news of it being refound and showing again, was too good not to go for it.

After collecting John Clements we headed out West in glorious Kent sunshine - spirits were definately high - this was going to be easy. M20, M26, M25 - and then it started to cloud over... By the time we passed Dougal's house at Guildford the wind had got up and it was starting to drizzle - damn it! Still, the weather finally persuaded Doug not to come along for a trip that wasn't going to produce anything.

In for a penny, in for a pound - we carried on until reaching Stockbridge Down. The drizzle then turned to rain, then drizzle again - we got wet, then wetter still as we aimlessly and somewhat pointlessly, mooched around kicking up the occasional Meadow Brown and white spp - but no Black-veined White.

Captain Clements gave up and left me to get wetter as I searched the site with two guys from Exeter - dejection. After bloody ages of searching the herbage I searched one last small patch of vegetation and there hanging upsidedown deep in the undergrowth was a very distinctive looking butterfly - a Black-veined White!

The Exeter boys were called over to enjoy the finding and start the celebrations while I ran back to the car to gather up John who by now had sucessfully managed to get the car windows all steamed up - hmmm. It is fair to say that John didn't believe my, "Get out the car now, I've found it", claims - until I insisted. Sure enough he was able to stagger out the car and witness this highly amusing relocation.

Black-veined White

Before leaving, I stuck two branches in the soil 6 feet either side of the roosting butterfly. A call through to Dougal finally convinced him to hit the road - in the drizzle.

I would really loved to have witnessed Doug's arrival at Stockbridge Down an hour or so later - he pulled up, parked up and walked up to a Doctor and his family as they, very sodden, were finishing their unrewarded searches. Asking if they'd had any joy, he was rather unsurprised at their complete lack of success - then, he looked around and saw two branches 12 feet apart. "Follow me", he surprisingly announced and led the family party over to a small clump of vegetation where a short search of the correct plant revealed a perfectly peaceful, Black-viened White.

7-8 June 2007 - Scotland & Northern England

News of a White-tailed Plover at Caerlaverock was a dream - the last species of bird that my father had seen (Packington, 1975) that I hadn't. Back in '75 Dad had got the news whilst working at The Lodge (RSPB) and had gone up to see that bird with colleagues. For me, things weren't quite so easy...

Unable to head north with Doug and friends any earlier, I booked a flight to Newcastle for 7 June. Hire car collected I did the easy trip over the Pennines to Southern Scotland and Caerlaverock WWT.

Alas, though the bird had been seen earlier, it had now gone to ground - I was even pointed to the ant's nest that it had last walked behind... By dusk things were really bad and I had to resort to wlkking out on to the marshes to flush the bird - no success for such a naughty act... Night fell - I'd dipped and faced a drive back to Newcastle for my late night flight back to Stansted.

I phoned the Good Lady Wiff who thought I should stay up north, change flights, see it in the morning and then fly home - good idea, why didn't I think of that?!?!? Thankfully 'er indoors, was able to change my flight and somehow I managed to pursuade work that things were OK.

A night spent in the car was not great (did see three badgers though which was nice). At 4.30am I was back in the hide for more waiting - but not much as soon after arrival news filtered though the double-story hide that it had been refound - phew. Sure enough, shortly afterwards I was witnessing this long-distance traveller as it wandered around the pools.

White-tailed Plover

With many hours to go before my flight - where next? It was at this point that my enthusiam took over me and I decided to head for Lancashire and the Lady Slipper Orchid which I'd heard was in flower now. Following Adrian's directions I arrive at the right carpark and was able to go striaght to the plant.

Lady Slipper Orchid

Two down - what next? I decided to have yet another attempt at Mountain Ringlet above the slate quarry at Honister Pass. Now I've don ethis walk several times, and each time I've been knackered with the walk - not knowing exactly where to head for... This time things were better, the sun even came out and there, over to the left of the footpath was a butterfly.... a Mountain Ringlet. In total I found six ringlets before heading back down the hillside and off on my drive to Newcastle Airport. White-tailed Plover, Lady Slipper orchid and Mountain Ringlet - not a bad collection?

Mountain Ringlet

Just have to grapple these wee beauties!

13 Feb 2007 - Near Rye, East Sussex

News of a Camerberwell Beauty just down the road in East Sussex was interesting. A few calls later and I was speaking to the guy looking after the beastie.

His neighbour had been clearing the flower border and noticed, amongst the Crocosmia, some movement - a butterfly walking out of the left litter.

This represented one of the very few cases of a Camberwell Beauty successfully overwintering in the UK.

Yes, I will go and see another one in the UK when the opportunity arises.

Camberwell Beauty - Nr Rye, East Sussex

18 June 2006 - Various, Northern Ireland

A special day today - my first flight to see an insect. Today's destination was Northern Ireland with the hope of seeing one damselfly and a butterfly. Either of those under my belt would be quite acceptable - both, would be a real result.

Up at 4am for an early morning flight from Stansted to Belfast the first stages were completed without problem for me the captain or the aeroplane - car hire collected, my next challenge was to find the Montiaghs Bog NNR. Now in theory this should only have been a short drive from the airport. However, for me it was endless frustration as I couldn't work out where to stop and start looking...

For 10 minutes I stood at a quiet cross-roads trying to work out which direction I should head, according to the hand-drawn map I held. Eventually, a local farmer stopped and offered help. My questions brought a wry smile to his furrowed head - the pools I was driving around in search for were less than 30 metres away over a fence and behind some bushes!

Irish Damselflies

Next stop for me was the Peatland Country Park for Real's Wood White - again trying to navigate around NI on my tod whilst driving was anything but easy. I tried several likely looking locations for arriving at my chosen destination. Thankfully on arrival, locating my first Real's Wood White was easier and 6 or 7 individuals were seen with relative ease.

One RWW was very confiding - even allowing for some sought-after close ups. Phew!

Real's Wood White

Sarracenia purpurea

Oval-leaved Sundew

Other bonuses on the trip were the Pitcher Plants at the Peatlands and numerous sundews at various locations.

With both target species UTB and several hours to spare I travelled clockwise round Loch Neigh on the A31 up to Coleraine and on to the Giant's Causeway - that fantastic geological formation.

The return trip to Belfast and flight back to Stansted was followed by a return drive to Kent. At 11.30pm I arrived home for bed - knackered! Still - some good insects on the old list!