Buttlers Hangings chalk grassland

18/07/2024

A few from the past few days on Buttlers and adjacent areas...

18/06/2024

Grass vetchling, Pyramidal orchid and Bee Orchid.

12/06/2024

I couldn't not paint the balls of fluff...

05/06/2024

A fantastic evening helping with BORG(Bucks Owl and Raptor group) ringing Barn Owls.
A fantastic voluntary group who are superbly organised and trained and certificated in handling and ringing these fantastic birds.

03/06/2024

02/06/2024

Following on from a great garden tick last month, I thought I'd put it to paint...
Yellow Wagtail...

02/06/2024

I found a further 3 Chalk Fragrant orchids on Buttlers...across two separate locations...

02/06/2024

Bee Orchids

29/05/2024

Buttlers Hangings chalk grassland
Green Hairstreak, Bee Orchid, Chalk Fragrant Orchid, Common Blue, Common Spotted Orchid and Fly Orchid.

29/05/2024

Another Orchid species for Buttlers Hangings chalk grassland Chalk Fragrant Orchid.

08/05/2024

A new bird observed for Buttlers Hangings chalk grassland
A Yellow Wagtail on the lane leading up to the site.

14/04/2024

The first butterfly transect of 2024...not much to talk about, a few orange tips, Brimstones and Peacocks...no Green Hairstreak yet, 2 weeks later than 7 years ago, but they didn't show until late April in 2023.
Some Slowworms under the iron sheets I put down, I'm a bit peeved that people who look under them don't put them back, surely that's basics...3 Hares on the site and I've located the lone Fly Orchid(that I know about). I've marked it with a little square of twigs so I don't spend ages looking for it.
Bird wise, a Whitethroat singing at the entrance to the footpath off Slough Lane, some Stock Doves calling, Yellowhammers, Goldcrest, Skylarks and the normal expected t**s, Robins etc etc...
Primroses and Cowslips all over along with violets...not long until the first skippers and the GHS appear...good times...

24/03/2024

Spring is well and truly here, a first Willow Warbler singing this morning is always the sign...Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps start earlier and many over winter, not that the over wintering population stay here in the summer.
Wheatears, Sand Martins, Swallows, House Martins and Little Ringed Plovers are being reported across the county. The other spring migrants will soon be here too.
Around Buttlers the Skylarks are singing, the Yellowhammers are returning and the Primroses are out. A bit of warmth has brought the Peacocks and Brimstones out and it really isn't long until the Orange tip will emerge. The remnants of the winter birds can still be seen, Redwings and Fieldfares gather and move on north. The heat traps are worth a check when the sun is out as there are Common Lizards, Grass snakes and Slow worms on the hangings and that first bit of heat is a necessity for these cold blooded reptiles.
Fabulous time of year as the changes are so visible and for me...it recharges my batteries...

21/03/2024

Belting it out this morning...

19/03/2024

The lovely new sign and information board for Buttlers Hangings. Chiltern Rangers CIC Chilterns CCC John Shaw West Wycombe Village Happy to have been asked to paint it to show off the fabulous site.
All images painted from photographs taken on Buttlers Hangings.

10/08/2023

Today's transect...importantly 76 Chalk Hill Blues which looking at previous transect records is a very good recent count. Many in good order too. First 2nd brood Adonis male this year also seen. 194 Butterflies including a Silver washed Frittilary and an almost transparent Dark Green Frittilary too, plus a fair few common lizards. The Marjoram is abundant and is the major nectar source for most insects seen today.

17/04/2023

First walk on Buttlers of 2023...just the two Peacocks...seems about 2-3 weeks behind this year...a slow worm under the heat trap was nice..

05/12/2022

Winter on Buttlers, a quiet time, but there's plenty going on if you wait. Redwings and Fieldfares are busy feeding on whatever berries they can find, groups of them fly off, startled...the fieldfares deep rattle and the Redwings 'tseeee' alerting you to their presence...The pheasants and Red legged partridge use the site as a temporary refuge away from the shotguns...I just ask them..."why don't you just stay there?"...I frightened a Hare within the fence...usually seen in the surrounding fields in small numbers, this is the first I've seen on site..always nice. Finches are gathering in mixed groups with t**s and its worth stopping and checking for a Brambling amongst them...sadly not this time. Overhead I hear Skylarks flying over in small groups steadily and frequently. Red kites and Buzzards and a pair of kestrels are present above the reserve..as always, but ever appreciated.
But as I walk around I'm thinking more and more of what is happening under the ground or within the thickness of the Chalk grassland...and, as I ever do, I look forward more and more to the spring...

25/11/2022

Buttlers looking resplendent on this gorgeous morning. Fencing is all up and there's been alot of work clearing areas to encourage the Chalk grassland plants to thrive...
I'm no detective, but I have an idea who did the work.....
Cattle soon, not sure if anyone saw the post from Harriet, but if anyone has the time or opportunity to keep an eye, occasionally, on the cattle and report any issues on here..I shall be checking regularly.
Thanks all

25/07/2022

A sketch of a Dark Green Frittilary on Buttlers.

18/07/2022

First Chalkie out on Buttlers this morning

15/07/2022

A Brown Hare in the field adjacent to Buttlers

15/07/2022

This evening...gorgeous light

12/07/2022

Some disturbing human behaviour on the hangings recently...1st someone camping at the top, 2nd a water trough full of litter from a bbq, it would appear. In this kind of weather the idea of a bbq and the damage it could cause is frightening. If people fancy a picnic, fantastic, bit take your rubbish home for goodness sake...

11/07/2022

Silver washed Fritillary(first of the year for me)and Comma in the garden. I'm only a 5 minute walk away from Buttlers so I will expect to see the Silver washed on site.

09/07/2022

A hot day on the hill. No Chalkhill blues as yet...some more flowering plants and butterflies, including my first Brown Argus of the year for the site.

06/07/2022

I thought I'd have a look at some of the common wildflowers we have on Buttlers Hangings.

16/06/2022

Some beautiful sights in the local area...

11/06/2022

Just down the valley we have Bradenham. Beautifully kept and managed farmland....

08/06/2022

Sketchbook study of a Green Hairstreak seen on Buttlers Hangings