Hello David, my tonsils are back to normal thank you. Up until they went wrong I'd never have known they were there! A day off work and plenty of sunshine. I saw a Clouded Yellow while taking my dogs out this morning so a good start to the day. Dungeness by 11am and the Coppers were getting busy IMG...

After two weeks of Tonsilitis I needed cheering up : IMG_6975.JPG A bright new Small Copper met the bill perfectly IMG_7008.JPG It's my first day out of quarantine and I'm not yet up to strength so I took a shorter walk than usual at Dungeness. I noticed how lush the plants now look IMG_7030.JPG Suc...

Cheers Goldie, they are doing really well : I counted 74 yesterday, although overall condition is in decline. But I expect there to be a small fourth brood if the weather stays ok. I've seen them drinking up juice from the ripe Blackberries in the past but it's not something I've come across very of...

The third brood of Small Copper at Dungeness is still going strong IMG_6913.JPG But has past its best IMG_6856.JPG I noticed worn individuals now outnumber the fresh IMG_6864.JPG IMG_6853.JPG Here's a Copper with her drinking-straw out enjoying some Blackberry juice IMG_6927.JPG IMG_6932.JPG Another...

Autumn at Dungeness means busy times at the Ragwort IMG_6836.JPG Conditions there today were perfect for Coppering IMG_6789.JPG IMG_6777.JPG It seemed that every flower had at least one Small Copper IMG_6814.JPG IMG_6807.JPG And the brambles had their own attractions IMG_6821.JPG I counted 128 Small...

Hi Allan, really nice markings on the Small Copper ( on the yellow flower )

Good find!

Hoggers

Cheers for the comments Trevor and Allan, much appreciated. With reports of a poisonous gas cloud coming in off the sea at Eastbourne yesterday, it was with some trepidation that I ventured down to Dungeness this morning. Fortunately all was well IMG_6743.JPG My brother was able to come along with m...

Hello Allan, yes the chap with the scale issue did appear to have its dots joined but he was so flighty I just couldn't get a decent look at him! And the remota is where you say (again a very active little Copper!) Hi Maximus and EssexB,the contrast between this year's second and third brood has bee...

Many thanks for your comments, much appreciated. The first day of this August Bank Holiday weekend dawned very warm and calm but overcast. I took my usual walk at Dungeness and immediately began finding Small Coppers IMG_6449.JPG IMG_6515.JPG I was interested to note that the number of "Blue ba...

Gorgeous photos, Allan! I've never thought of going butterflying in the evening - it's clearly very productive. I guess it must have been a wonderful experience for you to be there with all those roosting Blues.

I might go to Dungeness one night and see if the Coppers glow in the dark..!

Hoggers

Cheers David : by repeatedly visiting Dungeness over the years I've been able to watch male Small Coppers hold territories and some become familiar faces! Today I counted 101 Small Copper IMG_6425.JPG The rain came and revitalised the Sorrel just in time for the second brood caterpillars IMG_6409.JP...

Thank you all for your kind comments, much appreciated as always. The second brood of Small Copper at Dungeness was abysmal. Numbers were far below normal. I've spoken to a number of people about this including AllanW (who I bumped in to there this morning) and David Walker (the reserve warden) and ...

I went down to Dungeness today and was delighted to discover that the third brood of Small Copper has begun! IMG_6110.JPG My Copper-O-Meter detected 30 IMG_6201.JPG All but two were fresh IMG_6116.JPG IMG_6222.JPG A female doing the "Turkey Strut" had a confused male Brown Argus for a suit...

A Copper on Ragwort IMG_6043.JPG A rare sight at Dungeness this Summer, sadly IMG_6049.JPG Plenty of fine Ragwort but precious few Coppers IMG_6067.JPG So I made the most of it today IMG_6081.JPG I counted 15 Small Copper IMG_6057.JPG Most of them tired looking IMG_6053.JPG IMG_6085.JPG And dented I...

Hi Goldie, Clouded Yellows have been seen this week at Dungeness in ones and twos. I didn't see any there this morning but clearly worth a try. I live in Ashford and so far I've seen 3 Clouded Yellows in the last week on waste ground when I walk my dogs (all were quick fly pasts) so there's a slight...

Friday and a day off for me so I nipped down to Dungeness. It was bright, warm (about 19C) with a lively breeze. I took my usual walk and counted 9 Small Coppers IMG_6004.JPG Very low in numbers IMG_5989.JPG IMG_6018.JPG Most were rather worn IMG_5977.JPG IMG_5998.JPG But one fresh female nectaring ...

Dungeness this morning was very warm (about 20C) and calm but overcast, so the butterflies were rather subdued. I walked my usual route whilst on the look out for Small Coppers and soon came across the odd one here and there IMG_5906.JPG Most looking rather worn now IMG_5912.JPG IMG_5954.JPG But non...

On my morning walk with the dogs I was passed by a Clouded Yellow, my first of the year. It was seen in Ashford, Kent, so a fair distance from the coast.

Hoggers

I thought I'd visit Dungeness today before it got too hot. There are many flowers in bloom but they look sadly vacant without the usual throng of Small Coppers that I'm accustomed to seeing. I stood gazing out over a rich bouquet of Ragwort and the like, magnets for Small Coppers, yet saw not a sing...

Hi Goldie, I've no doubt that you'll find plenty of Small Copper when you visit, but it's a pity that this year's second brood has been much smaller than usual and this is the reason IMG_5829.JPG It has been so dry that many plants, including Sorrel,have struggled Today at Dungeness was very warm an...