I went back to the Chilterns today. I spent 3 hours around Sharpenhoe then moved on to Sundon. No sign of any Fritillaries. I bumped into another enthusiast who had not seen any this year. the highlight of the walk was finding ripe wild cherries... a perfect Midsummer Snack 8) 53806575101_5a5d4510d7...

I wonder if your plant might be Red Bartsia? I've never seen one this colour but the general form looks right. Managed my first Ringlet yesterday morning while on a flora survey in Richmond Park. Otherwise small numbers of Meadow Browns & Small Heaths plus a female Brimstone in the car park as ...

at Sundon this afternoon. No more fritillaries sighted despite plenty of sunshine.

I found this faded DIngy Skipper enjoying a discarded piece of cardboard
i was wondering what this chalk loving plant might be ?
Charles

thanks for these two quite different expedition accounts Pete.

your German Skipper was ganz gemütlich

i made the most of some sunshine & went down to Sundon. this time my Fritillary Quest was not in vain. I saw a handsome male Dark Green Fritillary. he was very energetic & i only managed to get a record shot 53797916655_c6bd787507_c.jpg the Small Blues are still plentiful. i am very pleased ...

A great read Stevie ! i especially liked the Turtle Dove pic

Charles

I did a PhotoShop fiddle with the image to make the butterfly a little darker. That confirmed Common Blue, but certainly is a pale specimen. But of course a pale subject like that butterfly against a much darker background plays hell with auto exposure. Jack thanks for your explorations Jack ! the ...

bugboy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2024 7:44 am I agree with Dave, there's nothing else it can be

thanks bugboy !

Hi Charles - my guess is that this is indeed a Common Blue. The colour of the underside hindwing lunules varies quite a bit - from orange-red through to very pale lemon-yellow - and your one looks as if this has gone to the extreme of them not being coloured at all! Everything else looks like a Com...

i went down to Sundon SSSI in the hope of spotting an early fritillary. i had a possible nearby the other day... unfortunately i had removed my glasses to do the crossword :roll: no fritillaries showed up today, but i saw a few tatty Small Blues and a single Dingy Skipper, as well as the Mystery Blu...

i came across this Blue in the Sundon chalk quarry today. Is it just a Common Blue or something else ?

the underside was very silvery. i did not get a clear view of the upperside.
thanks in advance

Charles

i took a chance with the weather today. by the time i arrived at Totternhoe it was improving, and there were long spells of sunshine after that. i was pleased with this Mother Shipton pic, and also the Common Blue on a rattle plant 53778025814_0c48087980_c.jpg 53778025574_acd0482971_c.jpg apart from...

i have been intrigued for a while by a site called Sunbower Pit near Sewell in Bedforshire. The name itself made me want to go there. as you can see from the satellite pic it is covered in a mixture of scrubby trees/bushes with open areas. sunbower.png so today i took the plunge. i found a nice plac...

Only two Grizzled Skippers at Little Paxton today... but i did see my first Brown Argus of the year

i had a busy day today i) car boot sale at Huntingdon Racecourse.... left 1100 ii) fete at Clophill, Bedfordshire....arrived 1215 left 1300 iii) butterfly hunt at Totternhoe.... arrived 1330 left 1700 there were lots of Dukes of Burgundy doing energetic things in the Chalk Pits. i had a look round M...

a thrilling read Pete ! well done on tracking down all five of your targets. the bizarre hotel incident is most peculiar

A pleasant morning pottering around the chalk quarry at Sundon Bedfordshire.

I was hoping to spot an early Small Blue, but had to settle for Dingies
i had the vast site to myself, apart from this curious fox

the Grizzled Skippers are out at Little Paxton Nature Reserve 53693976828_80b075505e_c.jpg 53693765026_cea75735b2_c.jpg i saw about 6 there was some sunshine, but mainly cloud + high humidity Hmm, I looked to see where this was. 85 miles away from me. Have Grizzlies, will travel. you can have a lov...

the Grizzled Skippers are out at Little Paxton Nature Reserve
i saw about 6

there was some sunshine, but mainly cloud + high humidity

it is quite hard to take a satisfying picture of an Orange Tip. this one today was quite pleasing ( Barton churchyard Bedfordshire ) although at maximum distance.
there are plenty of lovely Pasque Flowers out on the chalk