Above: Gatekeeper © David Hall
Leader: Glen Maddison
With the third heatwave of the year firmly established across our region, nine members plus the leader met on the main track to the Monument at Savernake Forest. We had high expectations of everyone getting a good sighting of the enigmatic Purple Emperor butterfly, but, unbelievably, we picked the only morning that dawned grey, breezy, and dull. It never improved all day!
Ringlet © David Hall
Emperor Dragonfly © David Hall
A few seconds of sunshine here and there had us hoping for the expected brightening, but it never materialised. We spent nearly all of the meet hanging around the monument, logging what we could actually see and identify.
The birding was confined to listening out for calls. We managed to identify Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Stock Doves, and Siskins. We also saw some butterflies, with good numbers of Meadow Brown, Ringlet, and Gatekeeper, along with singles of Small & Large Skipper, Large White, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, a fly-past Painted Lady, and a couple of Red Admirals. Some of the group photographed a freshly emerged Emperor Dragonfly and a Lesser Stag Beetle, but to be honest, it was quite a disappointing day.
Five of us decided on a butterfly walk around Wiltshire the next day, Wednesday, taking in three sites: Groveley Wood, Perham Down, and Shipton Bellinger. We managed to see a stunning 30 species, echoing the words of the ’70s song: “What a difference a day makes”!
Glen Maddison
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