Black Hairstreak

Mark 8 Comments

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It was almost like Glastonbury yesterday in Glapthorn Cow Pasture – a huge crowd (of eight of us – but that is huge for there) and muddy underfoot.

By Charlesjsharp (Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Charlesjsharp (Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography), via Wikimedia Commons
The Black Hairstreaks were performing very nicely – and the eight of us had about a half a butterfly each on average.

You can always tell where the Black Hairstreaks are by where the people are, and where they have been if nobody is around, by where the grass is trampled. But it looked as though Cold Play had been starring on the Dewberry stage last night, the ground was so churned up and trampled and wet.  But it was the Black Hairstreaks who were the stars.

Appearing, on sunny, warm, fine days, for only a few more days (I guess). Seeing Black Hairstreaks is one of my annual natural rituals, and I missed out last year, so I was glad to see them yesterday. They are a local speciality and they are very special.

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8 Replies to “Black Hairstreak”

  2. Its one of those butterflies I’ve still not seen. Perhaps one day I will join you Mark.

  3. Only Purple, Green and White-letter Hairstreaks in our neck of the woods. Always a great pleasure to see them though – in part because they are so easily overlooked.

    It’s a bit of a shame though if viewing them causes the vegetation to get quite so trampled.

    1. Jonathan – all of which are lovely, I agree. I don’t see Purples as often as I did when i worked at The Lodge. In some years they were quite numerous on sunny lunchtimes in the flower borders.

      Don’t worry about the trampling – it’s all on the paths and this year was very unusual because of how wet it has been.

      1. Not sure I agree with ‘Don’t worry about the trampling’, in many woods the ride flora is as important as the woodland flora. Is damage to a habitat worth a few people seeing a (admittedly rare) butterfly, or any other species for that matter?

  4. Pingback: Tim Melling - Black Hairstreak - Mark AveryMark Avery

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