Friday 15th April 2022

 Species: Brimstone (13) Comma (2) Orange Tip (6) Peacock (14) Small White (2) Speckled Wood (2)

Brimstone butterfly laying eggs on Buckthorn - Midford 15-04-2022

The first really warm day of the year for my trip today. Good amounts of sunshine and a temperature of around 19c greeted me as I emerged from the Combe Down tunnel at 2pm.

I headed off towards Midford without pausing for too long. I would return more slowly through the afternoon counting what I saw along the way. 

The cycle path near Midford station

The section of the path as I approached Midford Station was starting to come into its best, with a mixture of Bluebells, Wood Anemones and the yellow of Celandine mixing with an early sprinkle of  Wild Garlic (Ramsons). 

Robin - Midford 15-04-2022

I paused at the bench near the derelict platform. Here a Robin paused also, to watch my every move before flying into the shrubbery that covers the steep embankment. A noisy outburst from it's hungry chicks followed only to stop as soon as it reappeared. I  moved swiftly on.

Speckled Wood - Midford 15-04-2022

Also along this stretch of the path I saw the first butterfly of the trip. A freshly emerged Speckled Wood was sunning itself, low down next to the path.

Brimstone butterfly laying eggs on Buckthorn - Midford 15-04-2022

At my furthest most point along the path, I usually stop to examine the straggly Buckthorn bushes that seem to like this spot. Buckthorn is the foodplant of the Brimstone butterfly.

The path at this point is like a woodland ride with tall trees both sides, with a diversity of shrubs growing beneath. About three of these are Buckthorns, a species that is not common along the stretch of cycle path I monitor.

Today, a female Brimstone was flying attentively around one of the Buckthorns alighting occasionally to deposit a single, skittle like egg. (See picture at the top of this post). The shrub was only just coming into leaf, and most of leaf buds only just starting to open. This doesn't deter this butterfly as they typically lay their eggs on, or near these buds.


Flowering Wych Elm - Midford 15-04-2022

I return along the path towards Tucking Mill and pass the flowering Wych Elm trees near Midford Castle where I hope to see White-letter Hairstreaks later in the year.

Wood Anemones - Tucking Mill 15-04-2022

I leave the cycle path and take to the footpaths that weave amongst the surrounding woods. The Wood Anemones are showing at their best along various stretches of footpath.

I cross two steeply sloping fields that run alongside part of the cycle track, where I pause and searched for early Dingy or Grizzled Skipper butterflies. I have seen both here during the past three years. I saw none today... probably a little early.

Comma - Horsecombe Vale 15-04-2022


Peacock - Horsecombe Vale 15-04-2022

Next I take a walk along Horsecombe Vale where I came upon a Peacock and Comma. Each butterfly had its own perch on their respective fence posts a couple of meters apart. They duelled with each other several times, before returning to their respective perches to rest and bask in the sun.

Talking of Peacock butterflies, they beat the Brimstones as the most numerous species on my cycle ride today. I counted 14 and 13 respectively. Not a bad tally for this trip.


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