Upper Wardington: Butterfly snowstorm

Whilst out for a run on Friday I was stopped in my tracks by a huge gathering of white butterflies along the edge of a field of Oilseed Rape.  Quite a spectacle - there must have been hundreds if not thousands of butterflies dancing around the field margin, together with some considerable numbers across the field itself.  I returned this afternoon armed with camera to investigate further and take some photos.
This turned out to be a good example of how nature can suddenly become abundant, even alongside intensive arable farming.  In this case, the presence of flowers of the cabbage family (presumably sown deliberately) and a liberal scattering of Phacelia (also known as the bee flower) plants had created very attractive conditions for white butterflies to nectar and egg lay, and great opportunities for bees to feed and gather pollen.  Most of the butterflies were Small Whites, but most of the eggs and caterpillars present on the plants were of the Large White.  Some of the caterpillars were being eaten alive by parasitic wasp larvae.  I also spotted a single, well worn, Green-veined White.

Small White

The field margin and associated white butterfly "snowstorm"

Large White eggs

Large White caterpillars - a parasitic wasp has laid its eggs in the caterpillar and they have been eaten alive! 

Phacelia and bee

First thing in the morning a trip down to Bicester Wetland Reserve was very enjoyable, with great views of Greenshank striding across the muddy pools, with beautiful reflections.  Green Sandpipers, Snipe and Water Rails were also showing well.  Later, in the afternoon, Alan Peters found that the Greenshanks had increased to three and Green Sandpipers to 13!

Green Sandpiper

Greenshank

Finally, it was great to catch-up, at long last, with close views of Brown Hairstreak butterflies at Otmoor on Saturday morning.  Especially as I managed to walk past a female sitting right next to the path!

Female Brown Hairstreak

Male Brown Hairstreak looking down from a favoured spot on an Ash leaf.