Thanks, Wurzel. I've had a look at the "blue" you pointed out and there is no spot at all - and that's the crucial one to tell if it's a Common Blue or a Brown Argus. However, I've just noticed it's also missing a spot on the forewing which the books say makes it a Brown Argus for sure. The beauty of instant photography - you could never work all that out in the middle of a field.
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Thank, Goldie - I was really chuffed to get such a good selection of mostly fresh butterflies at this stage of the year.
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Saturday 24th September. A good forecast and a free day - a chance to set out on probably the last major expedition of the year and also a good chance to clock up species no.49 for the season. I always struggle to see Walls - there are none anywhere near me, and the sites I visit elsewhere either don't have them at all or they hide when I'm around. So, I drove down to High & Over where others had seen the species earlier in the week.
It was getting quite windy when I arrived late morning, but it was a warm wind and the sun shone. Along the path from the car park were Red Admirals and Speckled Woods, but as I came out into the open at the top of the scarp, the Walls appeared. Over an hour or so, I probably saw at least half a dozen - they were all males, quite worn or very worn for the most part, and compared to previous experience were amazingly obliging. Given the right background, they are almost as well camouflaged as a Grayling. Since the weather remained good, I decided to take a walk inland through Frog Firle and onto the ancient trackway known as the Comp. Passing through the car park, I found another Wall nectaring on a dandelion. Along the sheltered (and mostly shaded too) path along the top of the slope down to a massive vineyard, I found frequent Speckled Woods, a few Red Admirals and a single Holly Blue. However, there were also more Walls: I counted four altogether in different spots, all males once again. A successful day. It will be worth returning in spring when the first brood are fresh and the downland has other interesting species to offer. Dave