essex buzzard

[Wurzel]

What a cracking way to spend the last morning of your holiday

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

That Desert Orange Tip is a new one on me, a really lovely Butterfly, well done.
Good luck if you visit Sussex.

Trevor.

[essexbuzzard]

Canvey Island, 1 October.

A good selection of autumn butterflies were seen on Canvey. There is a good colony of Walls, mostly they were showing signs of age, but I found this fresh male. Clearly they are still emerging. Just one female was seen, basking between bouts of egg laying.

I was pleased to find several Speckled Wood, including this nice specimen.

Several Small Coppers and third generation Common Blues were found.

[essexbuzzard]

But the day really belonged to the Clouded Yellows. Several were present, and gave a cracking display. This one was nicely perched.

While this fresh male was unusually co-operative.

The star was this gorgeous helice female, watched for several minutes as she fed on flowers.

Later, after lunch, I found this Comma, just before it clouded over.

[millerd]

Good to see third brood Walls are showing well somewhere other than Sussex, and those Clouded Yellows are terrific. A definite for the shot of the helice in particular!

Cheers,

Dave

[Andrew555]

Love the Desert OT Mark, well done. And a cracking selection from Canvey Island, love the Cloudies.

[David M]

Wonderful Cloudies, Mark, especially the helice. Great you're seeing Wall Browns and Common Blues too.

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots of the Cloudies Essex especially like the Helice, I've still to find one of those

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks everybody. That Helice was a real beauty, let me tell you!

Mill Hill, 3 October part one-the Nymphalids.

With Trevor, Katrina and others posting photos from Mill Hill recently,I have been waiting for the chance to join in the fun. That chance came on Wednesday. The forecast was a little unpredictable regarding sun amounts, but in fact it turned out better than expected.

I soon found a good patch of flowering hemp agrimony, and at one point this had two Red Admirals, four Peacocks and a Painted Lady feeding on it! I have seen precious few of these butterflies this year, so I enjoyed every moment. Here is a Red Admiral.

Next, a couple of Peacock.

And lastly the Painted Lady. The underside is surely as beautiful as the upper side.

[Wurzel]

She's a very dusky Painted Lady Essex I totally agree the underside is just as beautiful as the top, if not more so

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

That area of hemp agrimony is a real treat at the moment, and those are lovely Painted Lady shots, Mark. Another locally hatched individual I would say.

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

You hit the jackpot spot at Mill Hill, Mark !.
Like you I saw species there that I had not seen for months,
better still they weren't at all bothered about the people present.

Great stuff,
Trevor.

[bugboy]

Good to see yet another UKBer enjoying the late season hotspot that is Mill Hill

[David M]

Mill Hill is definitely the place to be, it seems! That Peacock positively glows, Mark. It must have momentarily made you think it was August!

[Goldie M]

That does it for me essex, all the Butterflies have moved South, love the Helice, Goldie

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks everyone. Goldie, you are seeing more Red Admirals than me at the moment, so don’t loose heart just yet!

Dave, Bugboy, Trevor,I thought it was high time I got a slice of the Mill Hill action, after all your brilliant photos the previous week.!

David, Mill Hill is a brilliant site, both early and late in the season, and that patch of flowers makes it even better!

Wurzel, that PL was a cracking find, as were the Peacocks!

Mill Hill pt2.

After enjoying those wonderful butterflies on the hemp agrimony, I had time to walk elsewhere on site, seeing several other species. Common Blues were indeed, common, and I found a Small Copper. I was also pleased to find a Brown Argus, a most welcome October butterfly.

Several Clouded Yellows were patrolling the slope, as was a Brimstone. I was hoping to find a Meadow Brown, and I saw several.

However, this mating pair was a surprise.

I also saw Small White, lots of worn Walls, Small Heath and Speckled Woods. A super day down there.

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Essex especially the 'two spot' Meadow Brown and a mating pair they're leaving it a bit late aren't they

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel. I have to say, not for the first time, that I’m a bit confused by Meadow Browns. Both the adults in that pair were worn and tattered, and I can’t believe they were mating for the first time. I’ve heard it said, that perhaps these late pairings are to transfer nutrients, allowing the female to lay her last few eggs.

[millerd]

That's an interesting theory, Mark. Meadow Browns do persist here, and in some other places, well into October, and there do always seem to be mating pairs. It's fascinating behaviour for a species whose single brood first emerges at the end of May, nearly five months earlier.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

...I was also pleased to find a Brown Argus, a most welcome October butterfly...

Quite an understatement, Mark. I'd be pretty pleased to see one myself in late May!! They have been very scarce in south Wales this year.