14th September 2019, 9.45-11 am, Old Winchester Hill, 14-16 degrees, Full Sun

My last visit here for the year I think. Certainly it was winding down. Did see over 30 M Brown and 12 Small Heath, a few S&L White and 3 Adonis Blue (2m & 1f). The two males were very tatty.

Thanks, all. Garden Centres do seem to be good for butterflies at this time of year although it is not guaranteed of course. I took Gloria to yet another one near us yesterday. One Small White flew through but that was it - and there were loads of Hebes there for them too!

10th September 2019, 2-4 pm. Kingsley Garden Centre OK, so Gloria wanted to go to another garden centre today but this time I went armed with my camera! So while she looked at plants, I chased butterflies. I think I may have got some strange looks from other customers and even stranger looks from th...

Wurzel - I am coming round to the idea that Garden Centres are the place to be at this time of year. Our garden is a bit of a trial to find plants for. We have two mature Beech trees in our back garden with a Sycamore and Chestnut tree across the road from us and a Wellingtonia on our south side. We...

David - Great open-wing pics of Grayling.

Re the male. He was behind you. Rest assured, if you turned around - he would still be behind you!!!

David, Wurzel - With a warm spell coming up there may be a few more Small Heaths (and many others) yet. Yesterday I went to Frensham garden centre with my wife. This time I didn't zoom off for a quick butterfly session but stayed with her choosing plants. I am no gardener so I was surprised to find ...

1st Sept, 9.30-11 am, Noar Hill, 14-18 degrees, Full to 90% sun MB&G, S&L White, PLady, loads of S Heath, Com Blue, S Tort, S Copper, Silver-Y and 2 more Brown Argus to increase my annual record count to 112. One was doing a wing-roll. The sun was low-ish so backlit shots possible. P1120850....

David - I was wondering when the Clouded Yellows were going to appear. I've only seen one this summer so far. Wurzel - I don't know why a hill so far from Winchester is called Old Winchester Hill. I don't think there is anywhere near it called "Old Winchester" either. I shall have to look ...

You sure get some great Common Blue abs round your way Wurzel.
I also just looked back to the previous page and saw those great Large Blues too.

Love those Brostreak pics Dave. All three are perfect but the way you have captured the glow underneath in pic 2 is amazing.

29th Aug 2019, 9-11 am, Old Winchester Hill, Full sun, 14-18 degrees AT LAST! This is a good site for Ad Blues, SSSkips and Clouded Yellows flying all at the same time and all in the same place, along the path on the lower slope below the car park. I was last here two weeks ago and saw only 3 SSSkip...

David, Wurzel - That Footman moth was my first ever. I saw something tumble from the sky and land and thought first of all it was just a birch leaf. As I got closer it looked less and less like a birch leaf but I still couldn't make it out. It did not move. I took a picture and then got close enough...

24th Aug 2019, 9.30-11 am, 15-19 degrees, Full Sun Broxhead 1 Sp Wd, 2 PLady, 3 BArg, 1 S Heath, MB&G, L White, Yellow Shell very faded and tatty - it looked more like a Pug Moth of some kind. No S Coppers though and this is a late brood site usually. Maybe they will show soon. But the highlight...

23rd Aug 2019, 9.30-11.15 am, Noar Hill, Full Sun 19-22 degrees

1 BArg, 2 SWFrit, 3 RAd, 3 PLady, 3 Brim, many SHeath, Com Blue, M Brown, S&L White

A Tawny Owl hooted.
3 Spotted Flycatchers in a family group.

Thanks, Neil - I've had a few highlights this year so I am well pleased in the run down toward the end of the season. Don't laugh but I visited a garden centre the other day - they were packing away the garden furniture and barbeque stuff and starting to put out Christmas decorations!?!

22nd Aug 2019, 9.15-10.30 am, Magdalen Hill, Full Sun, 16-18 degrees Seen today, Ch Blue, Com Blue (6m, 2f), 4 PLady, S Heath, 4 Brown Argus, S&L White, M Brown The Chalkhills were very much down in number now - certainly past their peak but with many females still about. The Brown Argus were in...

Dave, Wurzel - Thanks. I was pleased to find the Adonis here. I only learnt last year they were at this location, now I have seen them here in both their early and late broods although only in low numbers. Also, even though they were on the same side of the hill, it's a big hill and the early and la...

21st Aug 2019, 9-11 am, St Catherine’s Hill, Misty sun clearing to 80% sun, 14-19 degrees For one reason or another I haven’t been able to get out butterflying over the last few days but I have rectified that today. Seen today: S&L White, MB&Gkeeper, CH&Com Blue, 1 Red Ad, 2 Plady, S Hea...

Wurzel, Dave - Thanks, guys. It's been great with the Silver-spotted Skippers this year, both in numbers and getting in close.

15th Aug 2019, 9.15-11am, Old Winchester Hill, Mostly Sunny, 16-17 degrees A few days ago I reported how I witnessed about 3000 Chalkhill Blues at this location suddenly taking to the air when it got to around 17 degrees. It wasn’t a fluke. I got here just as it got up to 16 degrees today and whilst...