Hi Allan, if I look back at my notes, on 27th June 2015 I saw 81 Coppers and 118 on 4th July. In 2016 on 30th June I counted 67 then a whopping 141 on 2nd July (and these are just an idea of the numbers present). This year 59 on 21st June and 42 yesterday. I'm no botanist but even I've noticed how p...

There was plenty of cloud today at Dungeness today but also sustained periods of very warm sunshine, although it was very breezy. I followed my usual route, counting Coppers as I went along IMG_5645.JPG It was quickly apparent that numbers were going to be modest. I'd hoped for an increase on my las...

Many thanks for all the comments,as always they are much appreciated. Because of the size of the Small Copper population at Dungeness I'm able to enjoy a wide range of variation amongst them,to the point where I begin to wonder whether there really is such a thing as a "typical" Copper! Ce...

According to my car dashboard it was 23C when I arrived at Dungeness this morning: it felt more like 32C to me! Boy, it was HOT! Even the Coppers looked about ready to melt IMG_5399.JPG IMG_5354.JPG My Copper-O-Meter overheated at 43 IMG_5380.JPG A superb count for the time of year IMG_5366.JPG IMG_...

Blazing sunshine made for Molten Coppers today at Dungeness IMG_5223.JPG They were whizzing about so fast trying to follow them made me giddy IMG_5265.JPG (That and the heat and sorting them out from the hundreds of Small Skippers!) But I was delighted to note how much easier they were to find than ...

The weather down here in Kent has been glorious. I took my usual walk at Dungeness this morning and amongst the hundreds of Small Skippers I counted 16 Small Coppers IMG_5203.JPG IMG_5199.JPG IMG_5205.JPG Two males were particularly well marked IMG_5168.JPG IMG_5177.JPG I came across a fine male sho...

Hi Goldie, we've had some very stormy weather down here too over the last week but today was warm and sunny. The first thing I noticed when I arrived at Dungeness this morning was that the Small Skippers have emerged en masse: last Saturday I saw just one, but now they are pretty much everywhere. I ...

There's nothing finer than a fresh Dungeness Small Copper IMG_5033.JPG I saw three today, two males IMG_5047.JPG IMG_5056.JPG And a female IMG_5011.JPG IMG_5015.JPG Just the one surviving member of the first brood IMG_5040.JPG But beautiful newcomers joining him IMG_5072.JPG I was impressed by this ...

Leaving work in Canterbury yesterday I saw a Magpie pounce on something then repeatedly pick it up and dash it down hard onto the pavement as if trying to crack a nut. I walked closer and could see that the "nut" was in fact a very large beetle. The Magpie flew off as I approached leaving ...

Hi Trevor and Wurzel, thanks for your messages : the Tiger was a new one for me! Very attractive indeed. As for the second brood of Dungeness Coppers, not long to wait at all : last year it began on or around 19th June; this season has been running 12 days early, so if that runs true ( big "if&...

July will be perfect for Coppers, Goldie! I returned to Dungeness this morning where it was very warm and sunny indeed. It's wonderful to see all the Valerian in full bloom (although I'm slightly concerned at the absence of Viper's Bugloss - hopefully it will be coming along soon) There were Painted...

Hi Trevor, Dungeness is well worth a visit: should be lots of second brood Small Coppers later in June. I went there today and saw 2 Small Coppers and a thunderstorm! It was about 20C when I arrived this morning, blue sky and full sunshine. Valerian in abundance but no Viper's Bugloss as yet. It sti...

It's not often I allow anything blue in my diary IMG_4839.JPG But with the emergence of fresh Common Blues at Dungeness I couldn't resist IMG_4854.JPG IMG_4874.JPG Just as I photographed this pair IMG_4902.JPG They separated IMG_4904.JPG The female flew away pursued by the male (not something that h...

Walking the dogs this morning I was delighted to be joined by a Small Copper which flew past me along the footpath. Seeing a Small Copper before breakfast was inspiration enough to head down to Dungeness. The whole estate is in bloom and there were plenty of butterflies including Painted Lady IMG_48...

David Walker (the warden of Dungeness Nature Reserve ) has just emailed me this photo of a stunning Small Copper found by him just outside the reserve As I'm stuck at work I don't know if to thank him or throttle him!

Hoggers

Hi Goldie, thanks for your comment - The in-flight photos are a favourite of mine. I can really see what's happening in those very fast duels! I found my first Grizzled Skipper at Dungeness in early April and I know about 6 were spotted over the last weekend, so I'd say the sooner you can visit the ...

When I arrived at Dungeness today I was greeted by my first Painted Lady of the year IMG_4775.JPG And later saw a second individual As for Small Coppers, I counted only 26 IMG_4783.JPG They're in the sort of numbers (and condition) I associate with the last week in May IMG_4762.JPG The males battere...

Thanks for you kind comments Allan and Simon - much appreciated. I always enjoy watching these sparring matches and try to get some photographs. Most come out completely blurred (or I get a beautiful shot of the pebbles!) but now and again I'm lucky and can see what they're doing. It opens up a whol...

Thanks for your comments David, much appreciated. I remember visiting Dungeness in the Spring of 2010 and the Blackthorns were absolutely covered in Small Coppers! It was amazing and made a lasting impression on me. I love to watch the male's aerial displays but it's so fast it's just a blur. When I...

Mess with a Small Copper IMG_4647.JPG And there'll be trouble IMG_4601.JPG IMG_4659.JPG IMG_4665.JPG IMG_4730.JPG IMG_4731.JPG Here's typical behaviour of one male goading another into a punch up IMG_4672.JPG The one sitting quietly but the other pushing him IMG_4674.JPG then fluttering on top to pr...