...is there a correlation on weather patterns that could explain their arrival either now or a gravid female 30-40 days ago? Looking back, the unprecedented September heatwave started during the first week of that month, which is about six or so weeks ago. Part of the weather picture then involved ...

During a brief sunny gap at lunchtime today (27th) on my local patch, a Small White, a Speckled Wood, two Red Admirals and two Holly Blues appeared. The female Holly was nectaring near the top of one of the ivy clumps... HB2 271023.JPG ...but the male was initially doing the same more accessibly dow...

Wow - that is a gorgeous butterfly. :) It looks brand new - could it be locally hatched, as I heard several have been seen on the islands and could therefore perhaps be progeny of a single female that arrived unnoticed a couple of months ago? On the other hand, I suppose the fact that migrating butt...

On the plus side, there was quite a bit of sunshine this afternoon locally. On the minus side, other activities meant I couldn't go out on my local patch until after three o'clock, which at this time of year leaves very little time before the sun gets low and it cools off. Consequently, I only found...

Indeed, Wurzel, the Coppers have been out in force this Autumn round my way. Though the population density is low (more than two in any one spot is highly unusual), they can be found almost anywhere on the whole site. They demonstrate perfectly the strategy of males setting up compact territories qu...

A great selection of shots, Wurzel - finding one with both tails intact takes a bit of doing. Scarce Swallowtails always remind me of Corfu and my first holiday abroad (aged 15). They looked incredibly exotic after my childhood diet of British species!

Cheers,

Dave

After yesterday's rather dull day, a sunny afternoon today lured me out again. Fewer butterflies, but still eight species flying locally. They included some notable sights considering the date, such as a new male Green-veined White making a change from all the Small ones seen lately. GVW1 241023.JPG...

That Small Copper is VERY dark and contrasting, very eyecatching :mrgreen: Yes, with the lack of bright sunshine it particularly stood out - almost a luminous shining red against the green of the grass. A beautiful insect. 25th and 26th September were very similar days - goods spells of very warm s...

This species appears to have had an exceptional season in the haunts where I usually find them. On 7th August, I was at Bookham, and there were males and females almost everywhere you looked. Consequently, it is tricky to pick favourites, but here goes with a full set from that day. BrH7 070823.JPG ...

The first one of the year is always special. Here is mine for 2023 - 16th May on my local patch. BA1 160523.JPG Amazingly, they are still going strong, with this one seen yesterday. BA1 221023.JPG In between these two, I've counted well over 500 on my local walks: a definite success species here. Dave

There is no lengthy musing and choosing needed for me this year - one particular Chalkhill Blue rather stands out in the memory...

Denbies Hillside 20th August. These don't come round very often.

Dave

...Holly Blue was always one of my favourites when I grew up in east Norfolk... Jack Quite possibly my favourite now, Jack. I still get a buzz from seeing fresh ones (though I must have seen hundreds over the years). That looks abnormally well marked for a Small White, Dave. I don't suppose you man...

Cheers, Wurzel. :) Those third brood Common Blues started a month ago and they are still going strong (one or two of them anyway...). I also spotted a very possible/maybe/probably not Small White today (posted in the October sightings thread). If 23rd was a Common Blue day, then 24th September belon...

That's a terrific butterfly, Trevor! Considering how many everyone has seen this year abs of any kind are hardly ever reported, so that one is a true rarity. Back in Victorian days, you'd probably have got a hundred guineas for it!

Cheers,

Dave

What a beautiful individual. :mrgreen: We've started to get additional brood Common Blues round here. I'd very much like Hollies to follow suit! Thank you, David - she was rather a lovely thing to find. :) I seem to remember that you have a couple of excellent Holly Blue sites near you - the way th...

Cheers, Wurzel! :) I try and get shots of as many Small Whites as I can, but for most of the year they are almost impossible to get close to. There are also rather a lot of them most of the time. Who knows - one may turn out to be something different one of these days, and you certainly made me wond...

During another very brief sunny spell in my part of the world today (there were a few of these between showers, but almost all barely long enough to get your boots on), I had a look at one of the remaining local ivy patches. There was a Red Admiral, plus perhaps more surprisingly three Holly Blues. ...

A very similar day on 22nd September - sunny spells and more seasonal temperatures. I saw fewer butterflies locally, but still managed to connect with some of them, probably because the lower temperatures made things a bit easier. Both female and male Small Whites. SW1 220923.JPG SW2 220923.JPG A ni...

Despite a great deal of rain last night, enough to make the River Colne overflow a little in places, another brief warm and sunny window this afternoon stirred a few butterflies into life almost immediately on my local patch. Five species appeared: Red Admiral 5 (one of which was egg-laying) Holly B...

Going back to the Monarchs and Plain Tigers, David (worth a :mrgreen: or two) - do they have similar foodplants (I'm guessing they do since they are closely related species)? They look very well-established there. It's a pity those plants can't flourish in the UK - if they did, even just in the summ...