A shame you didn't find that rather special Chalkhill, Pauline, but it sounds as if you found plenty of other interest. I think I spent 3-4 hours there yesterday, so coming away after 50 minutes is amazingly self-disciplined! Great wasp spider shots: though their preferred diet is grasshoppers they ...

Hi - that looks like a Brown Argus, probably a female by the size of the orange spots.

Cheers,

Dave

Allan.W. wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 4:02 pm Brilliant Dave ! once in a lifetime find ! Allan.W.

Thanks, Allan. Believe it or not, I found the same aberration in a Silver-spotted Skipper about six years ago, but it's not as spectacular as it is in a blue butterfly species.

Cheers,

Dave

I don't usually flash forward in time to the present in my diary, but I'll make an exception. 20th August : Same venue, a month later... Still lots of Chalkhills at Denbies, but mostly worn now - and in among them was one that was different. ChBab5 200823.JPG I'll say no more for now and plough on w...

I went down to Denbies today in the hope of seeing a few more Adonis Blues and Silver-spotted Skippers. I was successful on both counts, but came across something much more interesting. I spotted what from a distance looked like a mating pair of Chalkhill Blues, but when I came closer, it turned out...

The Festoon is a real standout butterfly, Wurzel - great shots. I also rather like the yellow Orange Tips, so you can have a for them as well. And the Cleopatras - you can actually see in those shots that their wing shape is not the same as a Brimstone's.

Cheers,

Dave

Nice one, Paul. I wonder if either of those butterflies reappeared the following day when I was down there, or whether they were another two? Good to see so many down at Chiddingfold again.

Cheers,

Dave

Thank you, Allan - I went with radiata as there were still tiny hints of orange one the hindwings, but as with a lot of these variations you can find the extremes and everything in between as well. :) 20th July continued... Having braved the M25 to get to Bookham, I avoided the issue now and headed ...

I did pop out to the nearest part of my local patch on the afternoon of 19th July, but it had clouded over, and I was limited to enjoying the multiple Commas, Peacocks and Red Admirals on the nearest buddleia. C+RA 200723.JPG Peacocks 190723.JPG RAs 190723.JPG 20th July started very sunny, and I dec...

After the catch-up with my local patch I headed out and about again. On 19th July , I returned To Aston Rowant wondering if anything by way of a Silver-spotted Skipper had joined the Chalkhill Blues. None had, but the Blues were in fine fettle. ChB3 190723.JPG ChB5 190723.JPG ChB6 190723.JPG ChB11 1...

That's a stunning butterfly Allan - absolutely gorgeous - and your photos certainly do it justice :mrgreen: . To my mind, there's nothing worse than the image of a striking butterfly marred by poor photography. Agreed about that photo of Allan's. :) To my mind, there is nothing nothing more frustra...

Great photos, Pauline. What is the time period for this sequence?

Cheers,

Dave

Yes, Wurzel, a group of like-minded folk having a good old chat and supping at unusual liquids... :) Thank you, Goldie - I'm pleased you've also been seeing lots of Holly Blues too. :) They often come down to damp bits of path here, but I've never seen quite so many doing it at once as I have this y...

Good to see what was flying on your visits to Kiplingcotes, Jason - I usually mange at least one visit each year when I'm up in East Yorkshire, but haven't made it so far in 2023. In past years I've seen Essex Skipper, Wall Brown and even a Clouded Yellow on August visits. It's a great little spot -...

I've rarely had a problem photographing Wall Brown; the whites and hairstreaks on the other hand never seem to sit still to allow for photos. This is almost the opposite of my experience! :) It may well have something to do with how we photograph our targets: I usually need to get within a few inch...

Thank you, aeshna.

Filed away with appropriate labels in the moth drawer...

Dave

Cheers, Wurzel. I reckon there's a fair bit of so-called established lore about a whole raft of species that needs a bit of a re-write! Some of it will be because the species' phenology has indeed changed over time, but some will be down to one Victorian's observation on a sunny Sunday in 1867 being...

That was a great curtain-raiser for my Emperor season, Paul - I'm glad you spotted the butterfly before you trod on it! Even so, my abiding memories of the visit to Bookham were actually the unexpected DGF and that scale-perfect Purple Hairstreak. He really was a corker.

Cheers,

Dave

The weather for my stay in Yorkshire was mixed, to say the least. The first day was chilly and wet, and the next was stormy, but a bit warmer when the sun came out. We took a chance on the weather radar, which seemed to show that a dry and sunny interlude might happen if we drove up to Flamborough H...

A trio of moths for ID, please... Thank you!

Dave