Today at Broxhead between 9 and 10 am there were 90 SSBs in the lek of which 9 were wing-rolling (8m and 1f). It was overcast with a very slight breeze but the temperature was 18 degrees C. Many of the butterflies were quite active despite the lack of sun. 7 pairs in the lek were mating for example.

essexbuzzard - Just one of the local affects of global warming I imagine.

Alice Holt Woodland - 18th June 2018 DSCF0333.JPG Still no Purple Emperors yet, but good views of White Admiral, Red Admiral, Large Skipper and Meadow Brown. One of the White Ads was nowhere near the three I saw the other day so there must now be four. White Admiral with Meadow Brown.jpg Non-butterf...

Janet - Thanks. I don't want to give the impression I am always out at 6.15 am. Sometimes I have a lie in and don't get out until 6.30 am. :lol: Dave - Glad you like my posts on White Ads and SSBs. Of course while looking for the White Ads I also looked for the Purple Emperors on one of their master...

CallumMac - Nice underwing shot of the Ringlet. I can't understand why I have not seen any yet. It must be the first year I have ever seen White Admirals BEFORE Ringlets!

Also - I like the side shot of the 5-spot Burnet. Not to mention those moth pictures you got a few days ago.

Cheers

Two overcast days on the trot here - so here is my last instalment of the Broxhead Blue study to date. Roosting preferences At the Broxhead lek around 8.30 am one day in late June 2017, I counted 11 females of which 9 where roosting together on heather in the space of a 5 metre square; four of them ...

Wurzel. Thanks. Yes finding a pair is the thing to do and now is probably the time to do it.

Just need a sunny day that's all.

Dave - its amazing what you have clocked up recently in quick succession. Heath Frits, Black Hairstreaks, Large Blues, even a reasonably early White Ad and a fantastically coloured SSB. You must be well chuffed!

Another overcast day in Hampshire so its time for another of my posts on the results of my study to date on the Silver-studded Blues of Broxhead. Today it is all about... Mating Once connected they may stay together for about an hour. I saw one pair linked for 50 minutes but did not see them meet or...

Thanks Janet - I usually switch to fungi when the butterfly season is over. Some of them are just as colourful as many of our butterflies and can be just as interesting - and they don't move about quite as much when trying to get their picture.

I visited the Broxhead Silver Studded Blue colony today which is reaching its max count but I was not there to count them. It was overcast, a bit cool at 15 degrees and with a slight breeze between 10 am and 11 am. I stayed in the lek area and found about 50 males. Some were in their roosting positi...

Beautiful, just beautiful.
Neil, your pictures are fantastic. I love them all but you got a couple of great side shots and even one from underneath!
Brilliant.

Alice Holt Woods - 15th June 2018 This afternoon found me strolling along the paths of Alice Holt looking for White Admirals. I had not seen any so far this year and today I saw three. One male just would not stop patrolling back and forth. Another was flitting about an oak tree. He would fly right ...

Wurzel - Yes its great to watch them when they get to this stage. Its like watching a butterfly soap-opera unfold.

Broxhead - 15th June 2018 A quick update on how the Broxhead Blues are getting on. I have been doing almost daily surveys of the lek and its surrounding area and on occasion a quick survey of the local satellite communities of SSB's. Note this is only a small portion of the entire reserve. The long ...

Goldie - I pity the mouse!

... and what interests me is that the wings are supposed to make a sound when the Peacock rubs them together. I wonder if others that rub their wings together are also making a warning sound?

Mike - Yes its great they are still there. I went to Hutchinson's Bank in Surrey (which is actually a bit of a trek for me) twice last year but could not find any there, so its nice to have some virtually on my doorstep. Janet - Thank you for your kind words about my account and we should both thank...

I have just been skipping through one of my butterfly books, more or less at random and came across this for Peacock Butterflies. Quote: "Adults flash their wings at potential enemies, using its "eyes" to warn them off. It can also rub its forewings and hindwings together to generate ...

Jack and Goldie - I just love all this too-ing and fro-ing of ideas. I think its great fun trying to suss out why any animal does any behaviour. I love your scratching thing, Jack. In the Broxhead Silver-studded Blue lek there is always a lot of scratching going on amongst them! :lol: I like your id...

This morning is pretty bleak here in Hampshire so I thought I’d post more on my study of the “Broxhead Blues”. Territories (or the lack of them) The Broxhead location just the other side of the metal bar gate appears to be a lekking area for the Silver-studded Blues. I have seen dozens of males stru...