July 2018

[Allan.W.]

A few random shots taken in July ,the male purple hair was taken mid-month when the Hairstreaks were coming down low in some numbers in the local woods . And three weather related shots . The Copper taken at Dungeness seems to be staring at all the prematurely dropped flowers from the Vipers Bugloss ,the other Copper (also Dungeness )is posing amongst the already hay like grasses ,and the last a couple of days back was taken along the back dyke of the Royal military canal at Kenardington ,I,ve never seen a Purple Hair feeding (or drinking ) like this before ,I actually noticed two others flying low along the canal itself …………. it was a very hot day (32.5 c) !

Regards Allan W.

[walpolec]

My first Wall Brown for over ten years, seen last week on the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall.

[Greenie]

Further to my posting last Saturday ( 28th. )
After another heavy shower this morning , I waited for things to get better and arrived on the Chalkhill Blue site near Biggin Hill in sunshine and a warm breeze . I repeated my search of Saturday , finding 134 males and 11 females , including 3 paired , on my walk from the car to the far side of the site .
On the return to the car , I counted 140 males . I didn't count females on the return .
Given that my first double figure count of 47 males was on the 14th. , I don't think that the loss ( 234 down to 133 ) could be put down to ' old age ' .
To my mind , the loss of about 100 Chalkhill Blues must go down to the thunderstorms of the 27th.
In the last couple of days I have also noticed reduced numbers of Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper , but on my Down House transect this afternoon ,
Common Blue - 104 ( up from 38 last weeki )and Brown Argus - 34 ( up from 9 ) seem to have bucked the trend .

[Allan.W.]

This evening at my local downland site near Crundale ,Kent . I was very pleased to find 6 2nd brood Adonis mall males ,6 (min ) Wall ,
40 + Small Heath , Chalkhills ,probably 50 + ,Common blues 30+ ,a few faded Browns and a single 2nd brood Dingy Skipper ,and about a dozen
Brown Args.
Regards Allan.W,

[MatthewRoss]

Hi all,

A few phone snapshots from the other day (Friday 27th). I spent my lunch hour in Coombs Dale, a lovely little limestone dale near Calver (not far from Chatsworth). Lots of Dark Green Fritillaries about (15+), including this one - looks a bit more darkly marked than usual, or is that just me?

Plenty of Brown Argus about too, at least 20 seen. Some of the Peak District Race seen had white spots, looking very like Northern Brown Argus. Also found a pair.

Peacocks had freshly hatched, all beautiful vivid colours, and many doing battle with the Dark Greens!

Also seen:
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood
Ringlet
Gatekeeper
Large White
Small White
Green Veined White
Brimstone
Comma
Red Admiral
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Small Copper
Small Skipper

Matt