Thank you Goldie. Chance loves cuddles and you can be sure he is getting plenty of them right now
Thank you too Wurzel - I had no idea about that; I'll be sure to take care if I trap any more
Isn't it just David! For such a brightly coloured moth it certainly blends in well.
Today I was undecided as to where to go. I had 2 places in mind - both for very different reasons. In the end I almost didn't go to either because of the strong wind which I knew would ruin a lot of my shots. I eventually opted for Noar Hill knowing that it might be my last visit here this season. I walked up the lane checking out likely areas on the way without any luck but almost as soon as I went through the gate at the top I spotted my target. At first I thought she was a Gatekeeper as she flew up from the ground, flew a couple of yards and landed low down in the vegetation again, giving plenty of photo opportunities. Unfortunately, a group of about 20+ walkers chose this moment to go past and although they were careful and quiet the butterfly did not like it and took off soon after. I had managed a couple of shots first and almost got my open-winged shot but just as soon as she opened them the wind blew them shut:
![P1630064ad.jpg (155.31 KiB) Viewed 640 times P1630064ad.jpg](./files/thumb_1095_6958c8439dc86741bab6001c2df85f59)
![P1630098ad.jpg (166.23 KiB) Viewed 640 times P1630098ad.jpg](./files/thumb_1095_43482b6a132987d05dd4f41a130ae786)
She hadn't flown up and I quickly managed to relocate her but she seemed intent on giving me the run-around, going up and down a bank of hemp agrimony:
She then flew across the track and round a couple of bushes onto another patch of Hemp Agrimony. I quickly followed her and that's when it all kicked off. I was just about to take another shot when I realised about 18" away there was not one but 2 more BH nectaring on the plants - a tatty male and another female!!!!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
I didn't know which to aim at first
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Where was Hazel? Where were Mike and Cathy? I desperately needed another pair of eyes! In my panic and confusion the first female took off in the direction from which she had come, shortly followed by the second female who went in the opposite direction. I could have followed them but 'a bird in the hand' so I took a few shots of the male who was in quite poor condition:
I decided to head in the direction the second female had taken and I was standing by a patch of Hemp Agrimony, scrutinising it to try to spot her when another BH landed on a plant beside me:
Well, this was unreal! 4 BH and I hadn't even reached the Triangle!!! As I watched and wandered around I saw another 3, all of which seemed to be in a bit of a frenzy, quite frantic to get as much nectar as they could. They totally ignored me as they hopped from plant to plant, at times coming so close I had to step back to get a photo. Most were males in various states of wear. I took a number of snaps just to try to capture the moment and illustrate the activity as it is not something I have ever witnessed at Noar Hill.
The wind was certainly hampering the butterfly activity as they were being blown about considerably; however, they didn't seem too bothered by it.
With all the running back and forth, up and down, I was hot and thirsty so decided to call it a day and stop of at the local pub for refreshments. Just before I left I checked the Triangle again and I think those eggs might be starting to hatch. Moths? Surely someone can hazard a guess at what they might be given the sheer numbers?
I did see quite an attractive moth close by:
together with some lovely ST and a gorgeous Clouded Yellow. It didn't stop for a photo but I suspect it was the one seen by Hazel a few days ago as it was the lovely dark colour she described.
As I reached the bottom of the lane I took my car keys out of my pocket and who should walk around the corner but Mike and Cathy!!!! Just as we stopped to say hello another lovely fresh female BH flew over our heads, across the road and landed on some Cow Parsley. I was just about to take a shot when a wasp buzzed her and she flew over the other side of a hedge, bringing my total for the day to 8 - the most I have ever seen down low at Noar Hill in one brief visit.
I guess for now I shall just have to be satisfied with open-winged shots taken in a previous season: