millerd

[trevor]

Good to see your local patch performing so well, Dave.
With nearly all specimens crisp and fresh!.
Send that Small Tort over this way, and my count for East Sussex will increase to five, so far this year.

Keep busy,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

A cracking array of butterflies and some impressive numbers from your local patch Dave - that's the gift that keeps giving Hoefully get some Brostreaks tomorrow

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Trevor and Wurzel! Three weeks down the line and looking back, that was probably the peak day in terms of overall numbers on my local patch (the peak for number of species was a few days later). It is interesting that a bright (rather than properly sunny) day produced the goods.

A Grayling Day

19th July was wet, and I didn't venture out, but on Saturday 20th July the forecast was more encouraging despite heavy showers being threatened. I headed for Dawneys Hill near Pirbright, parked, and set off along the eastern edge which is lined with some particularly healthy-looking oak trees. I hoped to see Purple Hairstreaks, but the sky suddenly darkened and abruptly I was subjected to a major drenching. It wasn't cold, but I headed back to the car and sat it out with the heater on full blast (it made little difference in fact). The downpour lasted another fifteen minutes or so and was then replaced with sunshine, so I set off again, dripping gently and squelching through the puddles. It was odd to see this invariably dry piece of heathland looking so wet, and I wondered whether the Graylings would be discouraged by it. Definitely not - they were soon out and about, paddling on the wet ground and behaving generally as they normally do.

The rain had clearly not discouraged this pair - it is likely the courtship took place before the shower of course.

Dawneys Hill is a Silver-studded Blue site as well, and the two species usually overlap a bit. However, there were not many left today and very few were in any way new. The best of the bunch:

One curiosity today was finding a dead Adder. This reptile has only been seen at this site a couple of times, apparently. It is difficult to imagine how it met its end, as most creatures tangling with a venomous snake tend to fare badly. There was no obvious damage (from a bird of prey for example).

Finally, not one, but two opportunities to play "Spot the Grayling"!

On the way home, I had a look at another Grayling site, but that'll be a separate post.

Dave

[millerd]

My route home on 20th July avoiding motorway traffic took me close to Chobham Common, so I popped in to see how the Graylings were faring there. This site is much more open and exposed, and there was quite a breeze blowing. I was only able to find a handful of the target species...

...and as with Dawneys Hill there were a few ragged Silver-studded Blues around as well.

Also seen were three different skippers (I think number two is Essex)...

...and a very sandy-coloured Small Heath.

Back at home, there was still enough time to be entertained by an evening Red Admiral or two.

Dave

[bugboy]

I's say that second Skipper is a Small with that scent brand

[millerd]

I stayed on my local patch again on Sunday 21st July, heading out early for a change. I saw around 150 butterflies of 16 species before eleven o'clock, without covering the whole area by any means. Many of those I saw were very new, including the Holly Blues. All those seen were male, and were found puddling in a muddy area left by recent rain. Despite four or five fluttering around the same spot, no more than two ever landed together, though the pair made for some interesting shots.

Between puddling bouts, they flew up to the nearby brambles and basked a little.

Gatekeepers were everywhere, including several pairings.

One particular female Brown Argus had prominent white surrounds to the forewing spots, making it virtually indistinguishable from the Northern version I'd recently seen up at Arnside.

There were Common Blues of both sexes...

...new GVW...

...and new Large Whites as well.

Amongst many others, a brand new shiny Small Copper also stood out, sporting particularly prominent tails.

This really is a great time of year here.

Dave

[millerd]

I's say that second Skipper is a Small with that scent brand

I think you could be right ... It's not the best of photos, but I can now there is just a hint of orange just at the tip of one antenna. However, what deceived me was the fact that the scent brand is apparently divided, which usually means it's Essex...

Dave

[millerd]

On Monday 22nd July, I did a quick local circuit again to start the day. More new butterflies...

However, the main event today was a trip up to Aston Rowant to see if the first Silver-spotted Skippers were flying. I was greeted with good numbers of Chalkhill Blues and it was noticeable that the Marbled Whites had already virtually disappeared.

There were a few new Small Coppers...

...and a couple of Small Tortoiseshells

- plus a good few other species. Eventually, right over on the far side of the main slope, in the shelter of the hedge that runs directly down the hill, I found a single new male Silver-spotted Skipper. Initially down on the ground warming itself, it flew up onto a bit of low hawthorn scrub and posed nicely.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Where to start Dave? At the beginning...cracking twofer shot (in cop and in the hand) of the Graylings A very continental looking Small Copper (most of them had tails in Portugal) and an absolutely sublime Silver-spot Fingers crossed tomorrow is as productive

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Some lovely butterflies there, Dave, but that Small Heath in you latest post is particularly striking.

[millerd]

I think I caught that Small Heath just as it was preparing to take off, David, hence the large amount of forewing visible.

Cheers, Wurzel - interesting observation about the Small Copper. I know they are darker in warmer climes (and in hot spells in the UK), but I hadn't picked up on the prominence of the tails. Always something new to learn. Yesterday did turn into a productive day, though it was hard work for a while!

Tuesday 23rd July - the weather was seriously heating up now, with 34 degrees reached at Heathrow this afternoon. I ventured out before it got too uncomfortable (plus an early evening foray), and recorded the highest number of species seen on my local patch on a single day - 20. The overall total wasn't as high as on the 18th (only around 250), but I wasn't out for so long today. The 20 species were:

Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Small Heath
Speckled Wood
Ringlet
Peacock
Small Tortoiseshell
Red Admiral
Comma
Brimstone
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Small Copper
Common Blue
Brown Argus
Holly Blue
Purple Hairstreak
Small Skipper
Essex Skipper

Only a few photos - the brilliant sunshine made things really difficult.

a single puddler

However, I did manage a couple of shots of Red Admirals in the fading light at around half eight in the evening.

They continued to fly into early twilight, presumably as it remained in the high twenties until nearly midnight.

Dave

[millerd]

Wednesday 24th July - fractionally less hot (only 33 degrees at Heathrow today), but fewer butterflies seen on my local patch. More puddling on the rare muddy spots - Holly Blues again, and a Peacock.

One other highlight was a pair of Common Blues - I wonder whether there will be a third brood again this year.

Also seen today was a Jersey Tiger moth, breaking cover along the shaded path next to the lake with a flash of brilliant red-orange.

Dave

[millerd]

On Thursday 25th July, my son and I were headed north to my sister's place in Wilberfoss just east of York. We set off early, knowing it would be very hot, and managed to escape the record temperatures notched up today (38.7 degrees at Heathrow apparently). It was a bit cooler in Yorkshire (still an unbelieveable 35 degrees when we arrived though). Butterflies were not high on the agenda today, but the garden buddleia hosted a few.

There was also a mating pair of Small Whites.

Dave

[bugboy]

Last month was a hectic one wasn't it Seems like a very long time ago now what with today's washout of a day !

[Goldie M]

I like that Small Heath shot has well Dave in your post for the 22nd July , it's surprising really how a distant shot can stand out occasionally from the close up ones, "lovely" Goldie

[David M]

Great to see the odd vanessid within your posts, Dave. It's hard to imagine temperatures of 33c in the UK for me, as here in Wales we only reach 30 once every Preston Guild. That said, I'm sure it elicits unusual behaviour in our home-bred butterfly population, so tales of mud-puddling are not surprising.

[Wurzel]

More cracking reports Dave Interesting to see the Red Admirals flying into the evening - mind you with those temperatures it must have felt like midday at midnight That Jersey Tiger is such a striking moth it should be an honorary butterfly

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

An interesting report from Dawneys, Dave, in your recent posts. Nice Grayling shots including the mating pair, and the one on the picnic table It's sad that you found the dead Adder as we've not seen one there since the site was 'refurbished'

Mike.

[millerd]

Glad you liked that one, Goldie - you're quite right, the more distant shots often have more "atmosphere" and you get a better all-round feel for where you found the butterfly.

July was pretty full-on, Buggy! Out nearly every day - lots of sites, lots of species to see.

Here in the southeast, David, the thermometer seems to top 30 degrees quite regularly every summer, and at least one day a year gets close to 35. Things really do seem to be warming up.

Red Admirals tend to be most active in late afternoon around here, Wurzel, and it's common to see them still flying towards dusk. After sunset is a little unusual though! I agree - Tiger moths all deserve to be associate members of the butterfly club!

Cheers, Mike - not exactly a picnic table, as I susect you know...

The next few days in Yorkshire were a bit cooler and less settled, but my sister's garden did as usual provide some interest (28th and 29th July).

There were a couple of trips out as well, which I'll post separately.

Dave

[millerd]

My first side trip up in east Yorkshire was to Kiplingcotes on Friday 26th July. It was still pretty warm, but not particularly sunny. I remember that at the same time in 2018, I had seen Wall Browns here, but the two seasons have run differently and none were seen today. For one thing, there were still a few worn Marbled Whites left.

In fact, I think there were more butterflies generally and a greater variety than a year ago. GV and Small Whites

Various Browns

An ageing Common Blue...

...but new Brown Argus and Small Copper

A Comma...

...and good to see several Small Tortoiseshells

There were quite a few Small Skippers, mostly females

This included one that appeared to be playing peek-a-boo behind a grass stem.

It became clear it was laying.

With Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood in addition to those depicted, it was quite productive despite the absence of the Walls.

Dave