Maximus

[Wurzel]

I reckon you could be right - I couldn't tell if it was that cracker or the Small Heath with slightly unusual spotting and dew on the wing edges plus I checked and double checked for a Hedge Brown

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

One of three male Grayling seen on 6th July, it's amazing how the year is speeding by!

[Pauline]

Lovely! That's what I'm hoping to see today

[Maximus]

Great Pauline, hope you see some soon.



Silver-studded Blues are now beginning to fade away very fast. We photographed these fairly recently at our local SSB heathland site, while they were still looking fresh. They're stunning little butterflies and are one of our all time favourites, the female has particularly lovely blue studs on her underwings!

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots with some stunning colours on the female SSB Mike, not so much of a little boring brown job when the light refracts like that
Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

I agree, great photos and the colours are really intriguing on the open wing shot

[Willrow]

Some super portraits of a beautiful blue Mike

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Great set of SSB's there Mike, you've almost got a full house! All you need is a mating pair, having said that you've probably got a photo of that tucked away in your archives already.

ATB

James

[Maximus]

Thanks Wurzel, I agree SSB's are definitely not boring, particuarly when the females upper wings catch the light just right

Thanks Katrina, I'm glad you like the female SSB open wing shots

Thank you Bill, the SSB is a very beautiful blue

Thanks James, the mating pair is tucked away in last years archives




I've not posted for a while due to other commitments, so I have some catching-up to do



A recent trip to Denbies hillside looking for Chalk hill Blues produced the goods. Numbers seen were low when compared to previous years, but it was just great to see them again. Most were male but we did spot two females, perhaps more are yet to emerge?

Chalkhill female

Other species seen...

Common Blue

Small Copper

Dark-green Fritillary

Gatekeeper with no apparent hindwing spots

Denbies

[Goldie M]

Cracking shots Mike, but i like the Small Copper shots the best I think all though it's hard to choose they're all so good Goldie

[Maximus]

Thanks Goldie for your kind comments I like the Small Copper shots too, because it's only the second SC I've seen this year


Several recent walks around our local area, have given us some great butterfly sightings and all just five minutes from home.

Female Ringlet

Male Comma

Male Gatekeeper

Female Large Skipper

Stunning Female Red Admiral - several seen

Three male SSB where we least expected them

Ovipositing Small Skipper

[Katrina]

Fantastic closed wing Red Admiral. I have not noticed all the different colours before!

[Wurzel]

Stunning shots as always Mike, especially the closed wing Red Admiral

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Willrow]

Too many well taken images to decide on a particular favourite Mike, lets just say I like em' all, but especially those Chalkies...there I go!...I've gone and picked a favourite now

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Maximus]

Thanks Katrina, I'd also not noticed the beautiful array of colours on the Red Admirals underside before.

Thanks Wurzel, the Red Admiral is a stunning butterfly, wings open or closed

Thanks Bill glad you like the Chalkhill Blues




Our local area continues to surprise us with some great butterfly sightings.

Mating Small Whites

Small Skipper

Meadow Brown

Brimstone

Our garden count is also going well, with visits from some species for the first time.

Essex Skipper - first sighting in our garden

Gatekeepers have been common in our garden this year

Large White on Bindweed flower

Small White

Beautiful pristine Peacock

[David M]

Essex Skipper in the garden!!!!

That's a great spot, Maximus. You lucky boy!

[Wurzel]

I second that Mike, I did have a Small back when I had a garden but never an Essex

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Yes David, the Essex in the garden was a lucky lucky sighting indeed

Thanks Wurzel I'm sure you didn't have too small a back when you had a garden Glad you had a Small Skipper though



In praise of the Painted Lady


A toss of the coin set us on a course to Magdalen Hill Down. There are many other sites in Hampshire which can provide rich pickings at this time of the year, but MHD it was. Walking up to the site it was obvious that, as usual, the wind was stronger than forecast. Reaching the top of the site the first butterfly we spotted was a beautiful Painted Lady, which we'd come here hoping to find. We soon found several more looking much fresher than ones we'd seen earlier this year. Getting a photo was not that easy, the bright sun and strong breeze made them difficult to approach, and even when they settled for any length of time it was mostly on the Field Scabious which was swaying wildly in the wind. However, with perseverance we managed a few shots...

[millerd]

Lovely Painted Ladies, Maximus. The first one especially is beautifully marked.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Beautiful images Mike, that last one in particular is mighty fine

Have a goodun

Wurzel