Chalkhill Blue

There are a number of disused Quarries on the Isle of Portland which have now been turned into Nature Reserves.

One of two visits to Portland this week was to the Tout Quarry, which revealed a species of butterfly that I am familiar with, having photographed it on numerous occasions in the past where I previously lived.

The Chalkhill Blue is quite unmistakable when you see it for the first time.

Tout Quarry is some 360 feet (112 mtr) above sea level.

One moment you can be in brilliant sunshine.

Then while you are concentrating on the search for butterflies, this below can happen.

You find yourself in low cloud.

Footnote: Some books and websites refer to the species as,

'Chalkhill Blue' and some refer to it as 'Chalk Hill' Blue.

I have no idea which is correct.

A Butterfly Walk

Images of a variety of Species taken on my recent walk.

Ringlet

Green-veined White

Gatekeeper

Peacock

Comma

Essex Skipper

Red Admiral

Small Tortoiseshell

The Scarlet Tiger

The Scarlet Tiger Moth

(Callimorpha dominula))

Moths are not a subject that I photograph very often.

However, I was walking around Radipole Lake Weymouth when this flash of bright red attracted my attention. It was the Scarlet Tiger moth flying over a bramble bush. It is quite striking in the sunlight and just had to be photographed.

The species habitat is damp meadows, marshes, fens and cliffs adjacent to the sea. 

There is only one brood per year flying between May and June. 

Stonechat in the Forest

On a recent visit to Puddletown Forest I observed a bird that I least expected to find. At the edge of an area that was fenced off from deer and full of young trees and tall foliage I observed a female Stonechat. 

Below a view from a high point in the Forest.

iPhone Image

It was the only one of its species I could find in the area. 

From its appearance I believed it to be a first Winter female.

Of course being a Stonechat it was able to find a post and some wire fence to perch on.

Emperor Laying

I was observing the movements of the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly which had set up territory at a small corner of Radipole lake Weymouth for some days.  

At one point just below my position this female Emperor dragonfly arrived and began ovipositing (laying eggs) on surface foliage.

Meanwhile this male Norfolk Hawker below had been perched on a low branch about two metres away. 

Although guarding this little corner area of water as his territory, he seemed unperturbed about the Emperor's presence.