The Two Tunnels Nature Blog

Butterfly Species:  Comma (1) Green Veined White (2) Small Copper (1) Small White (2) Speckled Wood (6) The butterflies are disappearing fast. A total of just twelve were spotted on today's trip with the perennial Speckled Wood coming out on top. Six were seen fluttering in sunny sheltered spots along the path. Their condition was variable. Some were worn and faded (such as the one above), others were relatively fresh as if defying the coming Autumn. I had reached the Pub at Midford before seeing a single butterfly. There I found the first of two Green-veined Whites of the trip. Further along the path my brain was triggered by the characteristic shape of a Comma butterfly sitting on a hazel leave, wings closed mimicking a ragged Autumn leaf. It was its shape and contrasting dark grey colour that drew my attention. This butterfly will soon hide itself away for the coming winter when its camouflage will hopefully be more effective! Small Copper - Wellow 10-09-2018 Nea...

Butterfly Species:  Comma (1) Green Veined White (1) Large White (1) Meadow Brown (1) Red Admiral (1) Small White (3) Speckled Wood (2) Red Admiral - Midford 31-08-2018 The last day of August and a quiet day along the path. The weather was pleasant with broken cloud and spells of warm sunshine (20c). There are now very few butterflies to be seen along the path. The most common species today was Small White. They could still be seen fluttering along the embankments when the sun shone. As I entered the Devonshire Tunnel a solitary Peacock butterfly was flying gently into the tunnel ahead of me. These butterflies, along with several other 'Vanessid' species hibernate in the adult stage. This made me wonder just how many of our overwintering butterflies have already entered hibernation despite the warm conditions and how they would fare over the winter. The Buddleja bushes were still showing some flowers and this is where I met a freshly emerged Red Admiral. These are ...

Butterfly Species: Brown Argus (1) Common Blue (2) Green Veined White (1) Red Admiral (1) Small Copper (1) Small White (11) Speckled Wood (7) Small Copper - Tucking Mill 24-08-2018 A much cooler and cloudier day today with temperatures peaking at around 16c. This is quite cool and falling short of ideal temperatures for butterfly spotting. The weather has entered a generally cooler and cloudier period with occasional rainfall. The grass in urban areas are showing their resilience by greening rapidly after the long summer drought. But despite the weather there was one welcome surprise along the path near Tucking Mill. A freshly emerged Small Copper butterfly busying itself on the steep embankment. This is the first of this species I have spotted this summer and brings the species total this year to a pleasing 26! Bumblebee - Near Tucking Mill 24-08-2018 The Buddleja is still blooming in patches along the path and this is attracting a number of bumblebees. Interestingly th...

Butterfly Species:  Brown Argus (1) Common Blue (4) Green Veined White (5) Holly Blue (2) Large White (1) Meadow Brown (3) Small White (5) Brown Argus - 13-08-2018 The long drought of the summer had finally past as I headed off along the path. The weather was warm at 21c but with a lot of cloud there were few butterflies to be seen. Following the weeks of hot sunny weather the insects seemed exhausted and lethargic. There is definitely a sense that the butterfly days of summer are beginning to draw to a close. Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Tucking Mill As I passed over the Tucking Mill viaduct it was nice to catch a glimpse of a migratory Humming-bird Hawkmoth nectaring of the last of the Buddleja flowers. Further along the path I saw the first of two Holly Blue butterflies and the first of five Common Blues.  The 'Whites' (Small, Green-veined, and Large) were still relatively common. As I have said before on this blog, these species are frustrating to count. T...

Butterfly Species:  Comma (1) Common Blue (16) Gatekeeper (3) Green Veined White (6) Meadow Brown (5) Painted Lady (1) Red Admiral (1) Silver-washed Fritillary (2) Small White (2) Speckled Wood (5) Painted Lady butterfly - Midford Viaduct Another sunny ride along the path today. Although the temperature has now cooled to a 'modest' 24c I was expecting a good number of butterflies to be on the wing. But alas no. The Buddleja bushes along the Tucking Mill section of the path were weirdly quiet with barely a butterfly (or bee) to be seen. This was mid-afternoon but even so! Common Blue Butterfly - Tucking Mill The most common butterfly of this walk was appropriately the Common Blue. These are now in full flight and can be seen almost anywhere along the path where flowers are still providing nectar. A total of were 16 spotted along the way. This included the wooded sections which are completely unlike their normal open, grassy habitats. Meadow Brown Butterf...

Butterfly Species:  Brimstone (1) Small Tortoiseshell (1) Comma (1) Holly Blue (1) Small White (4) Green Veined White (7) Large White (1) Common Blue (7) Meadow Brown (6) Red Admiral (2) Silver Washed Fritillary (4) Gatekeeper (11) Clouded Yellow (1) Brown Argus (2) Silver-washed Fritillary (var. Valezina) - Midford Viaduct 01-08-2018 Today's Trip did not get off to a promising start. As I set off the clouds were filling in the blue sky and the temperature was hovering around 20c. The overcast sky meant I did not see a single butterfly by the time I entered the two tunnels. Holly Blue - Tucking Mill 01-08-2018 Happily, although the clouds did not disperse significantly, things began to improve once I got to the Tucking Mill section of path. Here I spotted a solitary Holly Blue butterfly nectaring on a tall flower. This is only the third of this species I have managed to positively identify here this year. Small Tortoiseshell - Midford Viaduct 01- 08-2018 The...

Butterfly Species: Speckled Wood (3) Comma (2) Small White (8) Green Veined White (6) Large White (3) Common Blue (6) Meadow Brown (10) Red Admiral (2) Ringlet (2) Silver Washed Fritillary (8) Gatekeeper (20) Brown Argus (1) Worn and battered Ringlet Butterfly - 24-07-2018 The weather was warm (24c) and sunny with broken cloud for my walk today. Only one new species was identified today, a solitary Brown Argus near the Tucking Mill end of the path. This was the same grassy embankment where earlier in the year I spotted a pair of Marsh Fritillary. As the summer is progressing and the weather keeping the butterflies active, it is now noticeable how many are showing a considerable amount of 'wear and tear' such as the Ringlet above and Silver-washed Fritillary below. Talking of the Silver-washed Fritillary, This has been one of the 'star' species of this summer along this stretch of path. A total of eight were seen during this walk. Although the path is b...

Butterfly Species: Speckled Wood (1) Small White (4) Peacock (2) Green Veined White (1) Large White (1) Meadow Brown (8) Red Admiral (1) Silver Washed Fritillary (5) White-letter Hairstreak (1) Gatekeeper (7) Clouded Yellow (1) Tucking Mill Viaduct A shorter visit to the path today and fewer butterflies recorded. This was a cooler day temperature wise than of late and increasing levels of cloud. The Buddleja shrubs growing along the path were attracting a few species including Peacock, Silver-washed Fritillary and a lone White-letter Hairstreak. Silver-washed Fritillary on Buddleja - Tucking Mill Silver Washed Fritillary are a common sight along the path between the tunnel and Midford. A total of five were counted on this trip. Both males and the slightly more elusive females were seen. Fewer White-letter Hairstreaks were seen on this trip. The mature Elms near Midford Castle were quiet with only one seen in the canopy. However a Buddleja growing at the begin...

Butterfly Species: Brimstone (3) Speckled Wood (9) Comma (16) Small White (7) Peacock (7) Green Veined White (11) Large White (4) Meadow Brown (20+) Red Admiral (1) Small Skipper (3) Marbled White (7) Ringlet (16+) Silver Washed Fritillary (10) White-letter Hairstreak (4) Gatekeeper (19+) Peacock Butterfly - Summer Brood 10-07-2018 A mid-morning start today with the weather cloudier and slightly cooler than of late. With temperatures forecast to reach 23c later in the day I was not expecting the numbers of butterflies seen on recent visits. Faded Marbled White - Tucking Mill 10-07-2018 The Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns and Ringlets were still common but the Gatekeepers are beginning to outnumber them. The first of the summer broods of Peacock and Brimstone are starting to make an appearance.  Freshly emerged Brimstone Butterfly, Midford 10-07-2018 With the Bramble blossom now fading the Buddleja dotted along the route are proving a useful lure for man...

Butterfly Species:  Small Tortoiseshell (2) Comma (1) Small White (4) Green Veined White (1) Meadow Brown (11+) Marbled White (2) Ringlet (18+)Silver Washed Fritillary (2) Essex Skipper (1) Gatekeeper (4) Gatekeeper Butterfly -  04-07-2018 An earlier start today for my trip along the path. Seeing the White-letter Hairstreaks on my last trip I decided on a morning visit to the Elm trees along the Tucking Mill section of the track. There were two reasons for this. Firstly I wanted to search for them at a time of day when the sun was warming a different side of the trees. Secondly, I remembered from my youth that this butterfly was far more likely to descend from the canopy early in the morning, or late in the evening. Alas they did not oblige. I did however spot some Hairstreak butterflies on trees between the Two Tunnels. Again, they were flying high in the canopy so I can't be sure of the species but I am thinking White-letter Hairstreak given the amount of Elm here...

Butterfly Species: Small Tortoiseshell (2) Comma (8) Small White (2) Green-veined White (1) Large Skipper (8) Meadow Brown (30+) Marbled White (17) Ringlet (19+) Silver Washed Fritillary (2) White-letter Hairstreak (5+) Its a week since my last walk along the path and the weather is still fine and sunny with temperature reaching the high 20'sC. Last week was a high in butterfly numbers and the species list is lengthening as the summer progresses. Last week I spotted a number of Hairstreak butterflies high in an ash tree canopy, so this week I was primed with a pair of binoculars and a determination to pay more attention to the tree-tops! The stretch of path between the end of the Two Tunnels and Midford Station proved to be the most interesting once again. The Marbled Whites, Ringlets and Meadow Browns were seen in profusion massing around the Brambles as before. These were joined briefly by a single female Silver Washed Fritillary which glided along the path and into ...

Butterfly Species: Small Tortoiseshell (2) Speckled Wood (6) Small White (1) Large Skipper (8) Meadow Brown (31+) Painted Lady (1) Red Admiral (1) Small Skipper (1) Marbled White (31+) Ringlet (27+) My first walk along the path today for nearly three weeks. Poor weather and a holiday in Switzerland has kept me away and in my absence much has changed. A total of 102 butterflies counted on this trip but this doesn't do it justice! Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) 22-06-2018 Marbled Whites, Ringlets and Meadow Browns are numerous now. The Brambles are in flower and are alive with bees and butterflies. The flowers attract large numbers of Ringlet and Meadow Brown with an occasional Marbled White joining in. Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) 22-06-2018 With numbers of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Marbled White so high I was forced to adopt a different strategy for counting these species. I selected a good vantage point and in the space of a minute I counted as man...

Butterfly Species: Orange Tip (1) Meadow Brown (1) Brimstone (1) Green-veined White (4) Large White (1) Speckled Wood (8) Large Skipper (2) Common Blue (3) Five-spot Burnet Moth A warm day with broken cloud and three new species were noted. The first Meadow brown of the year was spotted on the steep embankment near the Wellow end of the walk. Two fresh large Skippers were also spotted. A Five-spot Burnet was flying on the grassy embankment near Tucking Mill. The Silver Y Moth In another first, two Silver Y Moths made an appearance. The first was spotted nectaring on Valerian on the Midford Bridge.This is a migratory species that arrives from the continent in varying numbers each year. Further along the path past the Midford bridge, I visited the Buckthorn bush where Brimstone eggs were found on a previous walk. These are now small larvae. I also managed to find several Orange Tip larvae on Garlic Mustard plants along the same stretch of path.