Lycaena phlaeas - a photo on Flickriver

Lycaena phlaeas

It had been a couple of years since I saw a Small Copper in Kent, so seeing this at Sandwich Bay was a real treat.

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Jools woke up with a cold. Sneezing and coughing, so she would be going nowhere, and as for me, my knee was not as bad, needed some phys, but probably not up a down.

We had a coffee and breakfast of fruit, and I then lollygagged around waiting for quarter to ten to tick by, so I could go to Tesco for Jools to get some medicated tissues.

And then go on to Sandwich.

Tesco isn't that mad on the middle Sunday of a Bank Holiday weekend, though those having to work have that thousand yard stare of those who have been in combat for some time.

I go in, get the tissues and am out in two minutes.

I drove out of the car park and onto the Sandwich road, pretty empty at this time of day, and pretty good to be out.

I am now a paid up member of the reserve, so no need to pay, so flash my pass at the estate gate and am allowed in, though only allowed to go to the observatory, though I heard later people drive all over with a pass.

I park up, check in with the desk, and then go out to cross the meadow on my way to the golf course and The Strand beyond.

In comes my friend John, who tells me about a colony of Man Orchids to see, and we catch up with news of each other's lives.

We are both retiring next year: he from being a tour guide and running his shop, and me from any kind of meaningful work.

We shake hands and I go out, recent rains had left past of the path pretty muddy, but no issue.

I quickly tick off a Small Heath and Small Copper butterfly, snapping them both, but the Small Copping apparently paler than I am used to.

There are two Southern Marsh spikes in the meadow, but none on the path to the ringing cages, so I double back to cross the golf course.

Despite my comments about the be-Pringled, they are good sorts, I wait for the first group to finish their tee shots, they then wave me on, all civilised stuff.

I see my first spikes of Lizard Orchids, none in flower, but nearer to the Strand they are.

Also I see large numbers of one of our rarest plants, Bedstraw Broomrape, a hemi-parasitic plant that smells faintly of cloves, thus giving its more common name, Clove-scented broomrape.

I make it to the Strand, and walk down a few hundred yards, taking shots of the Lizards in flower and the broomrapes, at one point an orchid and broomrape growing next to each other.

On the way back I found the colony of Man Orchids, about 8 to ten spikes, going to seed at the bottom, but the top looking good. I get shots before turning to the gate back across the golf course.

Back in the observatory, I meet back with John who tells me of a colony of Bee Orchids, which just happens to be on my way home. So that's settled.

Back to the car and off towards Deal before turning off, and just where he said, I find about ten large Bee Orchid spikes around a new housing development.

As I get my shots, an automated announcement tells me I am trespassing and should vacate the area, but I was on public land and no bother to anyone.

Back home through Deal, with all parking spaces full what with it being: the seaside, bank holiday and sunny. But I go on, turning back along the coast road to home where Jools is coughing whilst waiting.

There was time for lunch before the afternoon's play off final between Leeds and Southampton: Leeds's manager was a previous Norwich manager and Southampton's was our previous captain.

Both play attractive football, so I really didn't mind who won. But was a poor game, so much at stake, and many mistakes made. But Southampton scored the only goal, and although Leeds pushed hard, and hit the bar, they were second best on the day.

For the evening I spent an hour uploading shots to BlueSky for #wildflowerhour.

As you do.

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The Small Copper is a fast flying butterfly that, once settled, is unmistakable with its bright copper-coloured forewings. It is a widespread species and a familiar and welcome sight for many naturalists throughout the summer months. This butterfly occurs in discrete colonies throughout Britain and Ireland, but is absent from mountainous areas and far north-west Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Most colonies are fairly small, with just a few adults being seen on the wing at any one time.

This sun-loving butterfly is often found resting on the ground, vegetation or flowers, as it absorbs the sun's rays. Males establish small territories and fly up to intercept any passing insect in the hope of intercepting a passing female. When egg-laying, females are easy to distinguish from males, as they fly low across the ground searching for suitable foodplants on which to lay. Both sexes roost head down on grass stems.

www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=phlaeas

Taken on: May 26, 2024

Tags:

Lycaena phlaeas

Small Copper

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Sets appears in: • Butterflies, moths and insects • May 2024

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