October 2018

[Jack Harrison]

If I were a male Common Blue, I’d undoubtedly prefer one of those blue females over the brown form

Is there any indication that the blue females have any greater breeding success?
In other words, might the brown form eventually become relatively more scarce?

Jack

[David M]

Thanks for posting that fabulous image of the female Common Blue, TM.

Very possibly the most attractive example I've ever seen.

[Deborah]

Nothing near as beautiful as Testudo Man's Common Blue. But I was happy to see this Peacock looking to shelter in my cellar today. Plus a couple of Small Whites and a Speckled Wood.

[Testudo Man]

Thanks for posting that fabulous image of the female Common Blue, TM.

Very possibly the most attractive example I've ever seen.

Cheers for that comment David(and also Deborah too).
Yes, a stunning fresh specimen for sure...i shot many images of her too.

Heres another photo of the beauty. Image is cropped some, cheers Paul.

[Testudo Man]

If I were a male Common Blue, I’d undoubtedly prefer one of those blue females over the brown form

Is there any indication that the blue females have any greater breeding success?
In other words, might the brown form eventually become relatively more scarce?

Jack

Im afraid i cant answer your question Jack, i dont really have enough observational knowledge/data between the colour forms/types.
Perhaps a forum member(with far greater experience than me) may offer a more informed answer to your question.
Cheers Paul.

[Testudo Man]

Thanks Paul ,yes we had a pretty good (and unexpected !) session with the Small Coppers at Hothfield this afternoon .
Like yourself I,ve been lucky with "blue" females this season and have taken some pleasing (for me !) shots of several , that said
I,ve only seen 2(females ) in this brood ,love it when the Common Blues are flying ,and I,m building a fair collection of pictures of variant females,
along with Small Coppers and Grizzled Skippers ,my three favourite British butterflies.
Regards Allan.W.

Its difficult for me to pick butterfly species favourites Allan...but after this season/2018, the Common Blue has certainly been one of my favourite species, to capture some pleasing images of.
Cheers Paul.

[David M]

Gorgeous, sunny, cloudless autumn day here in Swansea, so I paid a quick visit to Oystermouth Cemetery in Mumbles.

Sadly, butterflies were again conspicuous by their absence, with just half a dozen Speckled Woods and a Red Admiral seen.

Vanessids are almost invisible right now here in south Wales. I'm beginning to worry about how many there'll likely be around next spring - very few if recent numbers are anything to go by.

One positive however was the Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the Bowles Mauve on my front terrace after I got home, the first I've seen in the UK this year (and probably the last).

[essexbuzzard]

In Harlow, Essex today, a Small Tortoiseshell! Also Comma x 1.

[NickC]

I saw a red admiral in a field immediately west of Heathrow airport yesterday. Like others, I've hardly seen any this autumn.

[Medard]

Shapwick Heath NNR and Ham Wall RSPB.
Yesterdays sunshine gave the butterflies a chance to enjoy a little exercise, Red admirals ,Specked woods, and a Brimstone that looked as if it had just emerged it looked so perfect,a pair of Common Hawkers in cop and a great show for the birding fraternity, Bitterns, G-w-Egrets, Marsh Harriers and many more a most enjoyable visit.
View From Noah`s Hide.

[Jack Harrison]

I can't see a single butterfly in that picture. But you are excused. It's a lovely photo. Superb and very atmospheric light.

Jack

[David M]

I can't see a single butterfly in that picture. But you are excused. It's a lovely photo. Superb and very atmospheric light.

LOL! Yes, I echo Jack's sentiments. That's quite an evocative scene, Medard.

[CallumMac]

Per Twitter, there was a Long-tailed Blue yesterday at Crayford Marshes, Bexley. Too far for me to travel but others nearer might like to take a look!

https://twitter.com/zimmer_donna/status ... 77696?s=21

[bugboy]

Per Twitter, there was a Long-tailed Blue yesterday at Crayford Marshes, Bexley. Too far for me to travel but others nearer might like to take a look!

https://twitter.com/zimmer_donna/status ... 77696?s=21

The excitement of waking up to this post on a sunny day off was short lived. The train service to this part of the country is having a weekend off and there's a bus replacement service running instead maybe next time...

[millerd]

And just as annoyingly, I'm in Yorkshire!

Dave

[David M]

An hour spent on the south Gower coast early this afternoon didn't produce much.

Two Speckled Woods, a Red Admiral and (surprisingly) a Painted Lady:

[Allan.W.]

Very little to report just lately in my part of Kent ,probably some of my last pics for 2018 ………….but it has been a good year ! a visit to Dungeness on Friday afternoon ,produced very little ,a couple of well worn Common Blues ,3 Red Admirals a Peacock (and a Clouded Yellow at Dengemarsh ) , surprised to see a Speckled Wood ,along the power station front wall ,a stones throw (literally ! )from the sea, best find was a Painted Lady ,which I managed a couple of poor shots ,looking at the pics at home ,I see its AB; Ocellata and a nicely marked one at that ,if I,d realized I,d have made more effort to follow it. But no Coppers !!
A family meal at the Brittania ,at Dungeness ,on Saturday ,it would have been a shame ,not to have at least walked along the power station fence !
So a very quick look produced 1 Common Blue ,1 Brown Arg , another Speckled wood ,a couple of Whites ,a Red Ad ; a Clouded Yellow ,
and the star of the show …...a single 4th brood male Small Copper.
On an afternoon Sloe picking expedition this afternoon to a Butterfly site ,close to home ,I managed to find 2 Small Coppers , both females ,and spent a very pleasant half hour watching one getting down to the business of egg laying .
Regards Allan.W.

.

[Essex Bertie]

second brood Chalkhill Blue at Devil's Dyke near Newmarket today. There were a few about, and a female was seen. Other species - Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone, Common Blue, Brown Argus

[Rivoldini]

There are plenty of Small Coppers still flitting about at Washington Tyne & Wear this weekend. I have not seen them so late in these parts.

[Allan.W.]

An interesting butterfly in a local birders garden here in mid Kent,yesterday afternoon ,a Geranium Bronze ,not seen today ,but his site has an excellent photo. If you don,t mind twitter ,its on Pete Burness (twitter ) and as far as I,m aware nowhere else .
Regards Allan.W.