essex buzzard

[Wurzel]

Crikey Essex a Silver-spot already Great shot Mind you the first of the last was recorded today with Brostreaks at Alners Gorse so we better start making the most of it

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Nice find with the Silver Spotted Skipper, Mark. I'm hoping Small Tortoiseshell summer brood isn't on the wane near me yet.....I've barely seen any!

[essexbuzzard]

It’s now late July so, on Sunday, it was time for a trip down to Denbies hillside to see the Chalk Hill Blues, and hopefully a few other species too. Numbers of Chalkhills was rather low, in the hundreds rather than tens of thousands that I sometimes see here, but they were still lovely to see.

A few females and mating pairs were observed.

A couple of nice Common Blues were also seen.

[essexbuzzard]

Then off to Botany Bay, for second generation Wood Whites. I saw around twenty.

It was also nice to see good numbers of Silver-washed Fritillaries, as I haven’t seen many this year. They constantly flicker their wings, making photographs difficult. This is the best I could manage.

[essexbuzzard]

It was nice to witness the well-known courtship display, a rather attractive scene.

Sadly no White Admirals, but still a successful day!

[David M]

Nice work, Mark. Looks like I'll miss out on UK Chalkhills so I'll have to live vicariously through your images (and others').

[essexbuzzard]

Perhaps so, David. I wonder if perhaps you may have seen one or two more exotic kinds of Chalkhill Blues in the last week or so, though...

On Sunday, we headed down to the excellent Lydden Temple Ewell reserve in east Kent. This was to see two of my favourite summer butterflies, the chance to fill my boots with Chalkhill Blues, and to see if the Silver Spotted Skippers have started to emerge. Chalkhill Blues were certainly around in good numbers, and it was a great pleasure to see them at another site.

East Kent, being near the coast, is slightly cooler, especially in spring, than inland sites. So although this is an excellent site for Silver Spotted Skippers, they often emerge a few days later here. But they are definitely emerging now, and will peak later in the month.

Full day list was, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstones, Clouded Yellow, Large Skipper, Silver Spotted Skipper, Small Copper, Small Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Chalkhill Blues, Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Marbled Whites, Wall, Meadow Brown, Gatekeepers and Small Heath. Six kestrels were on site, as well as buzzards and ravens. I will return at the end of August, to see how things are getting on, as the downland season reaches its grand finale!

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of images Essex - especially like the Silver-spot I've been hoping to catch up with them but the weather doesn't look great over the next wee - now when I'm in Wales the week after of course...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Perhaps so, David. I wonder if perhaps you may have seen one or two more exotic kinds of Chalkhill Blues in the last week or so, though...

Yes, a couple, Mark. I think you are familiar with them too!

[essexbuzzard]

Good luck with finding them, Wurzel. Still a bit of time left...

Yes David,I filled my boots with exotic Chalkhills last year. I’m looking foreword to more images, though!

I love Silver Spotted Skippers, and August is a busy month, as I try to see as many as possible. They are cracking little butterflies, full of character. So when I had a spare afternoon earlier this week it was a no brainer-another trip to Aston Rowant was in order. There were plenty of males, probably many hundreds, and most in excellent condition, suggesting they are just a few days from their abundance peak. Some females were around, too, but not that many. From the front, all have cute teddy bear faces!

Chalkhill Blues were abundant here, and I can’t get enough of them, either. Some of the males were showing signs of wear, the fresh appearance of the newly emerged male lasts only a day of two. Numbers are now probably at or just past their peak, and I had too check through them before I found this glorious fresh male.

[Wurzel]

Brilliant shots of a really charismatic butterfly Essex - the cuddliest butterfly in the UK, at least that's what my younger daughter used to say

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I agree about Silver Spotted Skippers, Mark. Not only are they full of character but they turn up at a good time of year - when virtually everything else is withering away.

[essexbuzzard]

Your youngest daughter is spot on, Wurzel!

Totally agree, David. August is a great month, the grand finale. And we still have the second generation Adonis Blues to come and, for you, Brown Hairstreaks. And SSS will continue throughout! A great way to end the summer.

[essexbuzzard]

It was too windy for butterflies on Sunday, so I decided on something different-a visit to the Minsmere nature reserve in Suffolk. Although quiet at this time of year, as the breeding season has mostly finished, there were plenty of migrant waders, and of course, lots of avocets. I was also pleased to see a spotted redshank, a species which has eluded me for many years.

By the sandy paths, bee-wolves have made their home. These wasps capture honey bees, paralise them with their sting, then take them to the nest, a small tunnel in the sand. When they have collected five bees, they lay an egg,then seal the tunnel. The larvae then hatch, eat the bees, and pupate, to hatch as a wasp next summer. Isn’t nature fascinating,if a little grotesque!

Up on the Heath, to heather was in full bloom. A splendid late-summer sight.

[essexbuzzard]

With limited time, and weather, on Monday afternoon, I headed back to Aston Rowant. Things have moved on significantly in the warm week since my last visit. Chalkhill Blues were fewer than last week, suggesting they are coming to an end and, for the first time, I probably saw more female Silver Spotted Skippers than males. This is not an entirely legitimate comparison, though, as I visited the south side this time, having been to the north side of the M40 last week. The weather was porrer this time, too. But I still feel that Aston Rowant is now past it’s best.

[Goldie M]

Wow essex, what a list of Butterflies, I'm down in Kent end of September hope fully, I will probably miss some of the Butterflies at Temple Ewell but I must certainly try to to go there Goldie

[millerd]

Lovely fresh Skippers! One of these days I shall bump into you at Aston Rowant, Mark - I visit fairly often at this time of year. I suspect you're right about it having past its best, though the Adonis should be appearing on the north side about now, and if there are any Clouded Yellows around, this hillside invariably attracts them.

Cheers,

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Goldie, yes late September is getting a little late, but there could be a few Clouded Yellows around, so worth a look.

Thanks Dave. I have only occasionally found Adonis there, though I know you have been more successful. I will certainly be trying to catch up with Adonis somewhere in the next couple if week-if the weather ever relents!

[essexbuzzard]

After near absence in the last month, new, second generation Small Tortoiseshell are now emerging. At my local garden centre on Tuesday, three fresh Torts were on Buddleia, and another two on Echinacea flowers. So at least some have mad it through the immature stages.

Painted Ladies were also present, and are now common in my area. Probably offspring of the migrants that arrived in June.

With it’s exquisite pattern, the underside is surely as attractive as the upper side.

[Wurzel]

Congrats on the Spotted Redshank - they can be right pains to catch up with Great news about the Small Torts - I had five today on one bush so fingers crossed the good times keep rolling

Have a goodun

Wurzel