Hoggers

[Wurzel]

Everything is now on track as Hoggers has started seeing Coppers

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

A joy to see - it really is spring!

Dave

[trevor]

What are the chances of getting a ' blue badge ' Copper as a first sighting. You should do the lottery.

Best wishes,
Trevor.

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Great to see the Coppers have begun Hoggers! With the sun heating up all that shingle I expect even more will be along very soon.

ATB

James

[Neil Freeman]

On a wet and dreary evening after a day of almost constant rain your first Small Copper of the year has cheered me up no end. A lovely example, a blue spotted female no less

Cheers,

Neil.

[Hoggers]

When I got to Dungeness this morning there was a chilly wind blowing and it felt decidedly cold, especially when cloud got in the way of the sun. I'm usually in shirt sleeves and sun hat when I go Coppering but today it was wooly hat, coat and scarf!

So today it took awhile but I managed to find some Coppers. Two males were sheltering from the wind close by each other

One of which had a pale and damaged right fore-wing

(something I see quite often)

Cold though it was, these are tough little butterflies and I was surprised by how active they were despite the conditions

I came upon a female with minimal markings

and even though we were only getting brief periods of warmth from the sun , she was actively looking for a suitable place to lay eggs

and i saw her go through the motions of egg laying.

I'd reached a count of 6 Coppers

all snatching their moments in the short periods of sunshine

when it grew dark, very cold and looked just about to rain.

I'd set off back to the car when I chanced to find my final Copper of the day - a gorgeous fresh male

He perched on the Gorse flowers for a minute then headed off on the cold wind, doubtless hoping to find a more sheltered spot to set up a territory

[Goldie M]

Lovely Coppers Hoggers, to warm up a very cold day, I've been looking forward to your posting, Goldie

[David M]

Delightful stuff, Hoggers.

Right now, I'd love a Small white to roll by, let alone a Small Copper!

[bugboy]

Looking at your pics makes me feel like summer has arrived , shame walking out the front door doesn't have the same effect at the moment!

[Hoggers]

The sun was shining when I arrived at Dungeness this morning making it pleasantly warm. Within minutes of leaving the car I began seeing Small Coppers

These two were busy jousting with each other

Fresh newly minted Coppers

This was the only slightly faded Copper that I saw

jealously guarding his territory.

Out of the 22 Small Coppers that I counted today three were blue badge holders

A lovely pixelated effect

And I was impressed with this boldly marked (though damaged individual)

There's such a variety of markings amongst these little butterflies, they never ceases to fascinate and delight.

[David M]

An excellent showing, Hoggers. Still not seen my first phlaeas this year, but with warmer weather on the way everywhere, that should be corrected very soon.

[Jamie Burston]

Just caught up with your diary, I'm so pleased you've seen your first Small Coppers, what a joy! I can't wait to see what you discover and find this year
All the best,
Jamie

[Goldie M]

Hogger's! what can I say you've just made my day, what gorgeous Copper's.
I went to Hall-Lee-Brook today and it was still a bitter cold wind we were glad to get back in the car, where the snow had melted it was just mud, horrible! Nothing was seen but the birds were singing, I'm not sure why because they've had it rather rough lately, any way thanks for your lovely posting. Goldie

[Hoggers]

Many thanks for all the kind messages; they are much appreciated.

Today was one of those rare days that Dungeness permits us occasionally when all is warm, calm and gentle. I hope May has come in just as she means to go on!

I wanted to see a male Small Copper perform the exotic and mysterious "Stalk Dance"!

I located this fine looking fellow and watched him for an hour

Here he is in situ

I saw him make frequent patrol flights around his patch. He intercepted a Ladybird and a trespassing male Copper.
And amidst these activities he performed three Stalk Dances during the hour I spent with him

Tap dancing across plants that grow flat to the pebbles

Then up to the tops of grass stalks and a tap dance down, head first

Wonderful to see again!

Here are some other Coppers from today's visit

And here are some NCCFO's ( Non Copper Coloured Flying Objects )

Such a contrast between these two Grizzlies but I love the Owl Eyed one!

I also encountered a non-lepidopterean

As a resident of Dungeness just think of the conditions he/she has seen!

But May Day was Copper Day for me!

[bugboy]

Nice pictures as per usual, that first Grizzlie looks like an ab.

[Padfield]

The first grizzly is male and the second female. Fresh males do show a lot of bright scaling like that. I can't say whether yours is within normal variation or not but it is certainly very striking.

I love the young fox too!

Guy

[Pauline]

Now you've got my attention Hoggers Great shot of what appears to be a young vixen - probably late cub from last year. Very well caught

[Hoggers]

Thanks for the ID on the Skipper. As for the fox, Pauline, I kind of sensed that he was a she,if you see what I mean, (something very feminine in the face) but I wondered about her colouring, as she looks rather pale.

Another glorious morning at Dungeness with plenty of Small Coppers ( I counted 33 ) and lots of Coppery activity!

I watched a gladiatorial battle between two rumbustious males

Then a failed courtship between an amorous male and a stunning Lady of the Blue Badge

She went straight into the Turkey Strut and I knew the poor chap had no chance with her

He flew off leaving her in peace

I spent almost an hour watching one male. He performed three Stalk Dances for me, and I was surprised at the number of different plants that he used

It may look from some of these photos that he's perching but he's not - those little legs of his are dancing away with vim!

I also came upon a mating pair of Grizzlies

Another fascinating day with the Coppers & Co of Dungeness

[Pauline]

You're spot on Hoggers! The vixens have a much finer bone structure and narrower heads giving them that 'feminine' look (much the same as in badgers where the boars have really broad heads). The coat looks roan in colour as many do in the spring (bit like
chestnut horses at this time of year!) but by the end of the Autumn she will no doubt have her winter coat which will be a more typical rich red colour - and she will have lost that innocent baby expression and will look a lot 'sharper'.

Sorry I don't comment on your diary too often but having searched for a 'blue badge' for about 4 years now there is not much I can say about your lovely images except that your dedication to the species and your observations are impressive

[Hoggers]

Thanks Pauline.The quality of contributions to this priceless website is so high that it's nice to be able to add something others may enjoy.

When I booked this week off back in March I thought I'd be in with a chance of seeing some fresh Coppers.

But then along came April which was beastly cold and I feared my holiday would be spent huddled around the fire and butterfly-less!

What a stroke of luck that my week off work has been day after day of warm sunshine!

Thank you "Jet Stream" ( whatever you are )!

I think it got to around 16C at Dungeness today.

I did my usual walk. Coppers were easy to come by

I visited a male who has held the same territory for at least 5 days

A female with a striking hind-wing pattern caught my eye

I saw several males perform the fast-paced foot tapping Stalk Dance

I counted 43 Small Coppers today

Only one tired looking Copper

All the others newly minted