Hi Neil,

I knew I went to the wrong spot today! Sadly it will be a week before I can get out again.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Heyshott Escarpment, 12 August 2011 It was either Steyning Rifle Range, in the hope of a Brown Hairstreak, or Heyshott Escarpment, in what seemed the more realistic proposition of finding a 2nd brood 'Duke' or Dingy Skipper, especially as the latter had been reported from there last week. With the ...

Hi Lee,

Great report and pics as ever. I feel a European trip in the making!

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

145 species AND you "would love to re-visit the area in spring to find some of the earlier flying butterflies"!

Just how many butterfly species are there in Switzerland?

Great trip report.

Keep up the good work.

Kind regards. Mark

Noar Hill, 10 August 2011 Having climbed for what seemed like miles (I’m sure it wasn’t really that far and probably more likely to be associated with my level of fitness) I finally emerged from High Wood Hanger and arrived at an entrance gate into High Common and one of the disused pits located on...

Hi Michael, Thanks for your post and I'm glad you like the shot. It took a while to get and I think I was very lucky in respect that it was a fresh specimen and didn't immediately fly off like most of the others. It was found and photographed at the bottom of the slope just as you enter the site. fo...

Chantry Hill, 9 August 2011 A very brief and my first ever visit to Chantry Hill this afternoon produced a good variety and number of species. Chalkhill Blue were very abundant but what surprised me most was the number of Meadow Brown, many of which appeared to have just emerged. After a bit of hun...

Stedham Common, 8 August 2011 Whilst on route to Midhurst late yesterday afternoon I had an hour to spare. Not expecting much, I decided to take a brief look around Stedham Common. After only fifteen minutes or so of looking around, I saw what at first appeared to be a pair of brown butterflies fly...

Thanks Guys,

I'm glad you like the shots as they didn't come easy, particularly the first one.

Wurzel wrote:Is it just me or do they look much lighter this year than last - really greeny?

I can't really comment on this as it was my first outing looking for them.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Aston Rowant NNR, 8 August 2011 To say today was a struggle is a bit of an understatement. I had one target, the beautiful and localised Silver-spotted Skipper. Weather conditions looked good. The sun was shining, there was intermittent cloud cover and the temperature was just right ... but the win...

Very good Mike

I think The Two Ronnies are safe however!

Oaken Wood, 6 August 2011 I arrived at Oaken Wood at around 3.45pm today. It was overcast but warm and a pleasant relief from standing in the burning heat of yesterday’s sunshine. The site appeared quiet at first but after several minutes I found my first Wood White, a male. Further investigation a...

Hi Lee,

Glad you got close to some Sussex Grayling ... a rare sight indeed!

I just love those Chalkhill Blues. I don't think I'll ever get bored at looking at photos of them.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Friday, 5 August 2011 Today was spent in the company of my son and Neil Hulme (Sussex Kipper) searching for the illusive Brown Hairstreak at Steyning Rifle Range. Despite ideal habitat and weather conditions and a thorough search of all key areas, only two brief glimpses of fly past males were obse...

Thursday, 4 August 2011 Not being able to get out yesterday and with heavy rain forecast and arriving today, I needed a plan! It’s been many years since I first dabbled with moths. The mid to late seventies and early eighties found me sugaring trees and lampposts, running a Robinson MV trap in the ...

Hi Neil, Glad to see you're getting out with the camera. I've been stuck in the house all day today and the weather is forecast for heavy rain tomorrow (when I could get out)! I particularly like the Brown Argus shot. I think they're fabulous creatures and quite often overlooked. Keep up the good wo...

Hi Lee,

Glad to see you've been out practising with the new camera. I particularly liked your 2nd Gatekeeper shot and the fabulous female Common Blue. I had one identical at Kithurst Hill on 23rd July.

Keep up the good work.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

EricY wrote:the first copulating wood white photo is a classic with exceptional symetery, deserves a wider audience.

Thanks Eric,

That's very kind of you.

Kind regards. Mark

Botany Bay (2 August 2011) continued … I don’t mind a bit of competition but my 13 year old son is getting a bit too close for comfort! He took these and several others with my old 6 megapixel Canon Ixus 65 whilst with me this afternoon! My apologies to Wurzel for posting these. :wink: IMG_5493.JPG...

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate your comments. Some great shots of Wood White - I am disgustingly jealous as this is a species I just can't seem to get round to seeing. Do get out and see them Wurzel. They're around in good numbers in my local woods at the moment. PM me if you're in the Chiddingfol...