Lee Hurrell

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Thu Apr 18, 2019 8:37 pm

Wurzel wrote:More cracking shots Lee - those Blues are pretty special, the markings on the Grass Blue are subtly beautiful - cracking shot I'm most envious of the Mallow Skipper - 8 days in France and 7 in Lisbon and not one seen Here's hoping for this year

Thanks, Wurzel

Good luck for your Bath Whites and Mallow Skippers

Best wishes,
Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Thu Apr 18, 2019 8:39 pm

David M wrote:Yes, Lee, that last vista is something special. I would never have guessed it was southern Spain had I not known.

The range of butterflies is good too, with some that won't be seen anywhere outside of Spain.

It is definitely worth a visit, David. I do wonder if it is normally that green, but it is stunning!

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:54 pm

Cheers Lee, I reckon this could be the year having already put in so much leg work on two previous visits abroad

I'll keep you posted on the Marshie situation - should only be a couple of weeks until the first is seen

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Tue May 07, 2019 10:38 pm

Fairmile Common, 18th June 2016

I visited Fairmile Common, a small but reliable site for Silver Studded Blue. The males were showing nicely, with 20 seen.

: Silver Studded Blue, male, Fairmile Common, Surrey, 18th June 2016

: Silver Studded Blue, male, Fairmile Common, Surrey, 18th June 2016

: Silver Studded Blue, male, Fairmile Common, Surrey, 18th June 2016

: Silver Studded Blue, male, Fairmile Common, Surrey, 18th June 2016

: Silver Studded Blue, male, Fairmile Common, Surrey, 18th June 2016

: Silver Studded Blue, male, Fairmile Common, Surrey, 18th June 2016

A Red Admiral was the only other species seen.

David M · Post by **David M** » Wed May 08, 2019 9:26 pm

From certain angles, the shade of blue resembles mazarine. These are gorgeous insects, and I suspect they'll be on the wing very soon again, in a month or so. Certainly a contender for Britain's most photogenic species.

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Wed May 08, 2019 9:41 pm

Fantastic shots Lee of a stunning species.

It's interesting that you only saw a Red Admiral as well; it's like that when I visit Slop Bog for my Silver-studs. I can see over 50 odd butterflies during the course of my visit but invariably they will all be Silver-studs minus one or two Large Skipper. I suppose they are habitat specialists

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sat May 18, 2019 7:14 pm

Thank you, both.

I agree, David, they do have a hint of Mazarine about them.

As for habitat, Wurzel, I rarely see many other species at my local Silver Studded sites, with the exception of Grayling and perhaps Green Hairstreak.

Best wishes,
Lee

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Sat May 18, 2019 7:38 pm

As you know, Lee, Fairmile Common is one of my favoured spots for seeing SSB too. Interestingly (as well as a single second brood male) last year I discovered it has a healthy Brown Argus and Small Copper population - I can't say I'd ever noticed this before!

Some of those butterflies are a really deep blue - nice shots too. They seem to vary quite a bit, and you often see some that are more silver than blue.

Cheers,

Dave

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sat May 18, 2019 9:05 pm

Thanks, Dave. Fairmile Common also holds Green Hairstreak and I've seen Small Copper there, although not Brown Argus. Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet are present too.

The last couple of years I have been to Dawney's Hill near Pirbright for Silver Studded, which also has Grayling. Let me know when you're coming down and I'll show you

Best wishes,
Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sat May 18, 2019 9:59 pm

Lingfield, Surrey, July 2016

I spent a little time in Lingfield in Surrey in 2016, where there is a lovely nature reserve. The following were seen on a walk near the village though.

: Ringlet, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

: Ringlet, hind-wing detail, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

: Comma, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

: Gatekeeper, female, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

: Small Skipper, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

: Large Skipper, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

: Beetle love: Rutpela maculata mating pair, Lingfield, Surrey, 16th July 2016

The following photos were taken at the nature reserve on a series of late evening walks in high summer.

: Lingfield Nature Reserve, Surrey, 18th July 2016

: Comma, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 18th July 2016

: Meadow Brown, female, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 18th July 2016

: Holly Blue, female, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 23rd July 2016

: Peacock, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 23rd July 2016

: Speckled Wood, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 24th July 2016

: Peacock, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 24th July 2016

: Small Skipper, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 24th July 2016

: Comma, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 24th July 2016

: Gatekeeper, male, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 24th July 2016

: Gatekeeper, female, Lingfield, Surrey, 30th July 2016

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Sat May 18, 2019 10:30 pm

Hi Lee - I particularly like the Ringlet shot. Beautifully fresh.

I know Dawneys Hill well - my closest reliable site for Grayling with a good population of SSB to boot. Also Small Coppers (again!) and a selection of small brown butterflies throughout the summer months.

Cheers,

Dave

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Sun May 19, 2019 5:37 pm

Those Ringlets shots are lush Lee - not long now until they're flying again

Love the view of the 'tunnel'

If you managed to make it to the Hill I hope it panned out and the butterflies put on a good show

Have a goodun

Wurzel

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun May 19, 2019 8:21 pm

The Holly Blue female and the Ringlet really stand out there, Lee. The underside of the Blue is practically pure while. She must have been extremely fresh?

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Tue May 21, 2019 9:53 pm

Thank you all

I think you're right, David; she was fresh out of the box! I do recall that she seemed very white.

Best wishes,
Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Tue May 21, 2019 11:00 pm

I struck lucky on the way home from work on the 3rd August 2016. Taken with my phone, and just cropped, this stunning Red Admiral was soaking up the sun at 17.50 in Shoreditch, London.

: Red Admiral, Shoreditch, London, 3rd August 2016

: Red Admiral, Shoreditch, London, 3rd August 2016

: Red Admiral, Shoreditch, London, 3rd August 2016

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Tue May 21, 2019 11:07 pm

A few more photos from Lingfield Nature Reserve in Surrey, taken in August 2016.

: Lingfield Nature Reserve, Surrey, 6th August 2016

: Speckled Wood, male, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 6th August 2016

: Gatekeeper, female, Lingfield Nature Reserve, 9th August 2016, soaking up the last of the evening sun at 19.57

: Lingfield Nature Reserve, 9th August 2016

: Lingfield Nature Reserve, 9th August 2016

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Thu May 23, 2019 7:28 pm

Brilliant stuff Lee

I can't wait for the this time of year to roll round again, there's something about the light at this time, which you've rally caught with the Hedgie - it glows

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Thu May 23, 2019 10:06 pm

Thanks, Wurzel.

She did indeed glow

There is something special about butterflying at 8 pm in high summer!

Best wishes,
Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Thu May 23, 2019 11:02 pm

Santorini, Greece, August 2016

In August of 2016, I visited Santorini, a stunning Greek island in the Cyclades island group. It wasn't specifically a butterfly holiday, but I did manage to find some.

Geranium Bronze were found in most locations, including the patio of the hotel!

: Geranium Bronze, Firostefani, Santorini, Greece, 15th August 2016

: Geranium Bronze, Firostefani, Santorini, Greece, 15th August 2016

: Geranium Bronze, Episkopi, Santorini, Greece, 15th August 2016

: Geranium Bronze, Episkopi, Santorini, Greece, 15th August 2016

: Geranium Bronze, Firostefani, Santorini, Greece, 19th August 2016

There was a little reminder of home at Oia, in the north of the island.

: Painted Lady, Oia, Santorini, Greece, 16th August 2016

Seen on Santorini were: Geranium Bronze, Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Large White.

A boat trip to the nearby island of Ios for the day found a colony of Plain Tiger, which I hadn't seen for a while. I'd seen these in Spain and Turkey in the past but there were a large number of them here; I saw at least 30.