Hi David and Michael, Sorry to hear about those winds, little is more frustrating :roll: even when the rain eases up the winds start...take heart - your both heading for sunnier climes shortly!!! The High Brown Frit's will be waiting for you when you get back home all tanned and re-charged 8) Bill :D

I've read there's a few Bee Orchid (varieties?) currently on the hill that they've called Wasp Orchid It's var. trollii of the bee orchid, and you're right - it's commonly known as the wasp orchid. That would certainly be worth getting a pic of if you're able. :D Piers. Yes indeed Piers, I'll do my...

Hey Bill / David, I'd love to join you on Sunday at Collard Hill, but seeing as I still need to see High Browns at Ewenny before I go on holiday at the end of next week - I'm going to see how I get on today before making plans. It's been chucking it down all night here, so it doesn't look hopeful y...

Thank you Goldie M, were they Dwarf Buddleia?

Lovely image by the way!

Bill

I hope to stop off at Ham Wall NNR for an hour or so on the way to Collard Hill. Should be at the hill for most of the day (weather allowing), it's a super place, not just for Large Blue, there are so many other interesting critters just waiting to be found, and then the Orchids near the NT car park...

Agree wholeheartedly with all the other commentees, a fascinating insight, I'm learning so much from the efforts of members such as yourself Vince. Superb images to compliment the different stages, look forward to emergence days now.

Bill

Browsing around a local garden centre today and my eye caught sight of a newly arrived batch of Dwarf Buddleia , now my wife has occasionally prompt me to send for some from her weekly magazine, you get a special offer of three colours for £15, trouble has always seemed to be delivery times, earlier...

There DOES seem to be hope for Sunday. It can't carry on like this indefinitely (can it?) The next couple of weeks are probably going to be the prime ones in the entire year, so it'd better improve. Hi David, BBC still says that Sunday is set fair for sunny intervals, I really hope this holds true,...

Excellent assortment of species Dave, complimented by some smashing images. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Bill

The 'waste' fluid looks very much like meconium Bill, indicating that your specimen was freshly emerged (and she certainly looks like she was as well judging from her immaculate condition (probably in all senses of the word)). Meconium is a discharge of waste material which is redundant from the la...

Hi Bill, Great report and lovely photos. I think you were probably already scratching your head over this one (reference your musings), but your Hairstreak is actually excreting cream-coloured waste fluids rather than egg-laying. Neil Thanks Neil, That's the type of information that I need. Scratch...

Hi Michael , Glad you managed at least a little time at Alun yesterday evening, things are starting to happen there now. We shall have to see what can be arranged for a weekend meet at this wonderful location. David , Your spot on, numbers are certainly on the up. We have still got time on our side,...

Piers wrote:I really like your compositions Bill, especially one to four above...

Piers.

Thanks Piers,

Nice comment, much appreciated.

Bill

Managed a few hours back at the Alun Valley, Near Bridgend yesterday. It was decidedly warm in comparison to many of our other flaming :x June days, reaching 22.5c at it's peak, and these kind of temperatures can really get the Frits flitting. I hardly had time to get to my cars boot on parking up t...

I'm guessing that the heavy rain has washed the aphid honeydew off the leaves of the trees and bushes, so they are resorting to nectar for sustenance. Dave That's a valid point Dave, it had rained very heavily throughout the night and into dawn, there is still so much to learn about Black Hairstrea...

Absolutely wonderful picture report from a superb location, thanks for sharing it with us all Guy.

Bill

That's a very comprehensive and informative report Wurzel, seems you had a great day out. That lime pickle sandwich sounds tempting too, I must try one myself

Bill

FAO; David M & Michaeljf, Hi Guys, it's getting funnier by the day, 'extreme butterflying' can now be officially associated with our High Brown's at the Alun Valley. It seems only right and proper that a species of such esteem are no soft touch, but David could easily diversify into 'safari guid...

Top notch quality Phil, cheers me no end on a grey and wet evening to see such inspiring shots, thanks for sharing them.

Bill

David, thanks - but that route sounds a bit more like an undercover SAS mission than the route to a half-official butterfly clearing! :lol: Michael Love it... :lol: :lol: :lol: Also thought both David's and your saturday reports from Alun Valley/Ewenny were highly informative, there's now't like go...