Goldie M

[David M]

Never seen one of those before, Goldie. That must have given you palpitations at first?

[Pauline]

Just seen your squirrel M. They're as rare as hens teeth so you must be pleased as punch. There was one used to come round here about 10 years ago and I managed a few shots. Hope you don't mind me showing you on your diary:

[Goldie M]

Hi! Dave, it's my first too, I will look for it again though when I go back to the wood

Hi! Pauline, I don't mind you showing it in my Diary at all, you got a far better photo than I did, mine was all over the place Aren't they pretty!!! .

Nothing to report for the last couple of days, we've been out for lunch in Canterbury and taking a look at the shops, we're off to the Athletics in London tomorrow, the weather looks awful so I won't be missing much and with the coming forecast for a heat wave plenty of time for more butterflies Goldie

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Goldie,

Glad to see you have been catching up with some nice butterflies down in Kent

That white Squirrel is a lovely looking critter, I have seen black ones but never a white one.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Neil, Yes I'm seeing lots of Butterflies and really enjoying myself here Can't wait until the warmer weather arrives to see more.
Yesterday I took a Panoramic shot of the Olympic Stadium where I went with my family yesterday to watch the Athletics
All my family are into running ( didn't get that from me) Today was Cricket day, I went to watch my Grandson's play, of course I always look for long grass to venture into during the interval that's when I found this very dark looking Gate Keeper and before i ventured to the Cricket I went across the road to the edge of Blean woods where I found this Comma that seemed to have two round marks on both wings, other Butterflies spotted was Peacock, Gate Keeper's, Meadow Brown , Red Admiral ,Brimstone, Ringlet.

I also took shots so that in the Winter Months I can look forward to the Summer Goldie

[Wurzel]

Lovely set of shots Goldie That Comma is an interesting looking beastie, those marks look like eyes and seem to follow me round the screen Hope the cake at Tea was good, that's the only reason I ever watched village Cricket matches

Have a good

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, the only reason I watch the Cricket when I'm in Kent is because my Grandsons play My Husband used to be a keen Cricket fan though and watched it all the time.
I was surprised when I saw that Comma Wurzel, I've not seen one with eyes before, I'm going to go back across the road today to the entrance of the Wood, passed experiance has taught me Comma's seem to have their own spaces and you can usually find them again , (hope fully )Goldie

[Wurzel]

Good luck with the Comma search Looking at those eyes again I'm wondering if something has pierced the wings when they were closed together - it kinda looks like someones poked a knitting needle through though what could cause that I don't know? Maybe if you can catch up with it again all will be clear

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...All my family are into running ( didn't get that from me)

LOL! Love your sense of humor, Goldie. Yes, right now I guess running is the last thing you wish to pursue.

Good to hear you're seeing lots of butterflies though.

By the time you're back up north there'll be Scotch Argus to look forward to.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I went across the road into the lane again looking for the Comma on Monday, I couldn't go until the afternoon and although I saw a Comma flying it went straight into a bush and never came out It was actually too warm for them
even the Meadow Brown's were hiding so I'll have to try again when the weather cools down bit.
I did wonder when I saw the photo on the computer if somebody had actually had it and pinned it then let it go It's certainly strange looking, any way I'll keep looking for it.

Hi! David, I've got rid of the Boot at the beginning of the week and it feels great not to lug it about It's a good job I've a sense of humour, these last few months have been rough, at least there's light now at the end of the tunnel
I don't think I'll be driving to the Lakes though, the foot I injured was my left and I've been told I can drive but only short distances for a while until it gets stronger. I'll just have to wait for next year to arrive

I've not been too Idle looking for Butterflies, Tuesday morning we took the Dog into the woods and I saw this lovely Peacock Butterfly, also with it being warm the Ringlet's were slow and I managed a few shots of them plus a few of Large Whites of which there was loads. Lot's of Brimstones too.

In the afternoon although it was roasting we took the car ( hood down ) and went to a Wye, we'd been told about this Nature Reserve which was on the slopes of the Kent Downs, we found it hard to find at first but when we did ,discovered a small car park as well, it was very hot but a lovely breeze cooled us a little.
I must say it was a fantastic place and I'd love to go back there when the weather is cooler before I go home, don't think I'll manage that though, anyway it was great and we even ended up at Samphire Oh! for late lunch Butterflies were hiding again but I did manage a Marbled White here as well as the Wye NR.Also got my first Small Heath at the NR. Goldie

[Allan.W.]

Hello Goldie ,
You found the Devils Kneading trough on Wye NNR. ,a place I know very well ! an excellent butterfly site ,all the usual downland species are found there ie; Adonis ,Chalkhill s, Dingy Skips ,Brown Argus and I have seen Duke of Burgandy on a couple of occasions ,also home to some exceptionally rare moths ,and good numbers of Orchids ,but be a little aware of where you tread ,as it was used as a practice area in WW2, and they do warn of possible unexploded ordnance ! from the little car park (Brook end ) you pass through a little bit of downland ,before reaching the Kneading trough,
and this area is particularly good for Common Blues ,especially as they go to roost .
Regards Allan.W.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Allan, you've just put my Daughter off the place for good When we got there we went through the field from the car park, when we got through the gate of the next field I looked for her and she said I can't go down there, it's a shear drop has you can see from the photo isn't it, the path though is good so she walked very slowly down and we kept a way from the edge

I didn't realise you could see all those species of Butterfly there, i'll chalk that one up for next Spring If I can see the Dukes there that will be good , I don't fancy going to Gait Barrow on my own the Dukes are quite a walk from car park.

Today we went once more to Dover, on the cliffs it was lovely and cool with the sea breeze just right, I'd my last cream tea there has I'm going home on Friday, my Daughters coming with me for the week-end so that will be nice.
I looked once more for the CHB's and I was pleased to see Common Blues, Brown Argus, Small Skipper and even a Large Skipper there.
My big surprise was this small Butterfly which I took to be a Brown Argus because of it's size and Marking's which was a lovely blue, I followed it and watched has it opened its wings , I could be wrong and it could be a CB Female but if it was it was tiny.Goldie

[Allan.W.]

Hello again Goldie ,
It looks like you entered the Kneading trough from the top , a much easier route is at the bottom of the valley ,with a small (hidden !) car park,
when you,re down again I,ll give you a grid ref for this car park and where to enter the area from the bottom , so you actually enter the trough at the base of the valley! Wall Brown ,Small Copper and even the occasional Silver Spotted Skipper are also found (though I,ve never seen them there myself )
Although Dukes are present ,they,re hard to find ,I reckon you,d be better off (next season ) visiting Bonsai Bank (Denge wood ) to be more or less certain of seeing them. Regards Allan.W. ps; Although you do see warnings for unexploded ordnance ,I,ve been stomping around the area for 30 odd years ,and never had any problems ,and I haven,t heard of any incidents either .

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of shots of the Blues and all Goldie- good to see you out and about in style I reckon your Ringlet is an aberrant arete? Keep up the good work

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Allan, that would be much better an entrance into the bottom of the valley would help so my Daughter wouldn't get too nervous I did notice a lot of the Butterflies were coming up from there so I'll keep in touch about that.
Do they get Grizzled Skippers there? that would be a bonus

Thanks Wurzel, I didn't realise I'd got an ab I was just pleased to get a decent shot of a Ringlet all my other shots were of rather weary looking Ringlets Only one day to go before I go home now so I just hope some of those Painted Ladies are there in the garden when I get there.Goldie

[David M]

You've seen some good stuff lately, Goldie. You must be in your element?

I love the shot of Devil's Kneading. The name might sound off-putting but it looks like a butterfly paradise!

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, I would find the place just before I went home Considering I've only just got rid of the Boot and I've not been able to Drive, I've done okay all down to my Daughter driving me about when I was in Kent and my Garden here, I say here because I'm home now but the Butterflies keep coming

I arrived home yesterday, the weather was very warm and Sunny, this was about 3.30 pm, the garden looked great and Butterflies were all over the place, Large White's, I counted loads, Small White's, Peacock's, I even saw a Holly Blue and a Tortoiseshell, my big surprise was a Speckled Wood on my Hose Pipe I didn't manage shots of the HB or the TS and although the Peacock's were in the shade I did manage a shot

I didn't unpack until much later Today it's raining and with rain forecast for tomorrow as well, looks like the camera will be quiet for a while. Goldie

[Neil Freeman]

... Today it's raining and with rain forecast for tomorrow as well...

Same here Goldie, it didn't stop all day yesterday (Saturday) and is dull and drizzly today.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

It's still raining here Neil, UGH! hope fully tomorrow will be better Goldie

[Wurzel]

Fingers crossed the weather improves for you Goldie It was okay here today but I was trapped at home, I'd already packed my camera which was a bit of a mistake Still hopefully it'll be worth it in the next few days

Have a goodun

Wurzel