Should've taken some step ladders
Grafton Wood is a bit of a hot spot for the tiny Brown Hairstreak, but they are usually very hard to find at ground level. This year has been exceptional, in that the males, which usually spend their time in the treetops, feed on honeydew up there and are hardly ever seen low down, have been coming down 'in numbers' to nectar on Angelica and Hemp Agrimony, which would indicate a dearth this year of honeydew and the aphids that produce it, perhaps washed off the trees in the heavy showers we have been having. The females do come down to lay eggs low down in young blackthorn shoots, but are usually slightly later emerging than the males which have been out here for about 10 days now. I only saw 3 yesterday, but on Thursday, 16 males and one female were spotted in one short length of ride.
It was a long hot day with an 87 mile drive there and back and the light wasn't great: brash and often the butterflies meant shooting into the sun, but great to see these little jewels. Once seen they could be watched for ages creeping around the huge umbelliferous flower heads, seeking and drinking the nectar. You had to, to get the photos in the right position! They rarely open wings when settled.
Thanks for your faves and comments
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