Saturday 27th August 2022

Species: Brown Argus (2) Comma (2) Common blue (1) Green-veined White (1) Meadow Brown (6) Peacock (2) Silver-washed Fritillary (1) Small Copper (1) Speckled Wood (10)

Brown Argus - Tucking Mill 27-08-2022

The weather was fine and sunny as I emerged into the light from the Combe Down tunnel on the 27th. The temperature was on the wane but was still around 23c at 3.30pm in the afternoon.

I headed out towards Midford, stopping briefly at the embankment that borders the fields owned by Wessex Water. There were few butterflies to be seen.

Midford Viaduct as it was in May 2022

I headed on towards Midford and continued across the Viaduct, which had been cleared of vegetation since my last visit. This is both a shame and understandable. A shame because it removes the nectar sources that attract a range of insects to this warm and sunny spot. Understandable because the larger shrubs that take hold here are likely to damage the 150+ year old structure if left.

My destination, a few hundred meters past the viaduct, is the location where Silver-washed Fritillary gather during July and August. Sadly, there were none to be seen today.

Male Silver-washed Fritillary - Horsecombe Vale 27-08-2022

I headed back and, leaving my bike, I took a walk along Horsecombe Vale. It was quiet with few insects to be seen, but as I retraced my steps a single, tattered, male Silver-washed Fritillary swooped past me and alighted on a bramble long enough to be photographed.

Chrysotoxum bicinctum Hoverfly - Horsecombe Vale 27-08-2022

With few butterflies to be seen, I turn my attention to other, smaller insects. A brightly coloured hoverfly took my attention, Chrysotoxum bicinctum is an impressive little insect and one of the easier UK hoverflies to identify. 

Eristalis Nemorum hoverflies - Horsecombe Vale 27-08-2022

There are around 283 species of hoverfly to be found in the UK, and many can be challenging to accurately identify. As I walked up the hill towards the fields, I noticed a small group of hoverflies flying around the flowers of a umbellifer plant growing at the side of the path.

They appeared to be Eristalis Nemorum hoverflies. The female, perched on the flower-head had two males hovering above her. This behaviour is an identification feature of this otherwise difficult to identify species.

Eristalis Nemorum hoverflies - Horsecombe Vale 27-08-2022

My final stop of the day was at the fields above the cycleway. Here too, there were few butterflies to be seen. 

Common Blue - Tucking Mill 27-08-2022

A single, worn Common Blue settled on one of the desiccated grass stems. Two Brown Argus butterflies were seen nearby and a single Small Copper was nectaring on Ragwort flowers a little further up the slope. 

Small Copper - Tucking Mill 27-08-2022

With the the clouds setting in and the time nearing 5pm, I decide to call it a day and head home.

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