Photo 1 - Blackthorn Scrub Favoured By Brown Hairstreak

Highlights

Strongest site for Brown Hairstreak in the county.

Many common species as well as occasional sightings of Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue and Dark Green Fritillary due to proximity of chalk downland.

Unusual site on Crown (MoD) land comprising a network of tracks with thick hedgerows, scrub and woodland edge, making for easy walking and pleasant vistas.

Site seems to do well for butterflies despite lacking protected status (e.g. as nature reserve) or visible environmental management programme.

Description

The village of Shipton Bellinger is tucked into the far north-west corner of Hampshire, close to the Wiltshire border. It is also situated close to the rolling chalk downland expanses of Salisbury Plain and its large military training area. Indeed the site described in this feature is on Crown (MoD) land just to the west of the village and consists of a network of tracks with thick hedgerows, scrub and woodland edge bordering arable farmland. The site does not have any special conservation designation (e.g. such as a nature reserve) nor a specific boundary, nor obvious environmental management programme, which, in a way, enhances its appeal. 

Shipton Bellinger is one of two main locations in Hampshire where the elusive Brown Hairstreak can be found, and is presently the strongest site in the county for this species. Indeed Brown Hairstreak (or at least their ova, laid on blackthorn) are reported from several locations in this area of the Hampshire-Wiltshire border stretching from Tidworth, down though Shipton Bellinger to Cholderton. The best time to visit for this butterfly is during August, starting with the first males early in the month, followed a few days later by the first females. Egg-laying activity commences during the second or third week and runs on until at least the beginning of September. The flight period tails off during mid/late September when faded individuals can still be seen.

The track (arrowed) running due west from the village and the scrub areas which it leads to are good locations to look for Brown Hairstreak. There is parking in a small car park at the beginning of the track (opposite the village hall) where there are some recycling bins. I use the word 'track' here rather loosely since there are actually two parallel tracks, the main one and a subsidiary one, with a wide, thick hedgerow between them.

Along the main track there are occasional trees or groups of trees, including a few ash trees which are especially favoured by Brown Hairstreaks. They spend most of their time here, just perched on a leaf, feeding on aphid honeydew or on sap around the buds, occasionally flitting around the boughs, usually well above eye level. The ash trees are also usually where mating occurs. Waiting patiently below one of these ash trees will often produce a few sightings of Brown Hairstreak activity, although they do occasionally use other trees as perches. On the other hand, by taking the subsidiary parallel track (photo 2 below) provides a better chance of seeing individual hairstreaks low down (well the odd one if you are lucky!) especially towards its far end, close to where it rejoins the main track. The subsidiary track, branches left from the main track after ~ 300m, rejoining it after a further 400m. Look also along the hedgerows around this junction which is close to a row of Ash trees, in the nearby paddock. Adults occasionally nectar on bramble and females look for egg laying opportunities amongst the blackthorn in these hedgerows. Along both main and subsidiary tracks common species such as Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone and Whites can also be seen. 

Photo 2 - The Subsidiary Track Is Separated From The Main Track By A Thick Hedgerow

Continuing up the main track, one reaches a T junction, notably with a tall ash tree at the junction, overlooking an area of scrub, again with plenty of blackthorn and brambles. This scrub area (shown in the top photo and location arrowed here) is a good place to search for nectaring Brown Hairstreaks or egg laying females. The hedgerows in front of tall trees running along the western boundary of the scrub area (both north and south from here) should also be searched, especially where there are plenty of the brambles or blackthorn. This wooded margin marks the county boundary which thankfully is not respected by Brown Hairstreaks - the woodland edge and hedgerows just on the other side of the border from this area are therefore equally favoured!

Other species which can be encountered, particularly in the scrub areas, include Common Blue and Brown Argus. The chalk dominated geology of the area means that Chalkhill Blue, Dark Green Fritillary and even Adonis Blue can occasionally be seen, but it is not clear if they are breeding on the site or represent strays from the nearby downland of Salisbury Plain. Dingy Skipper and Wall Brown have also been recorded as singletons recently.