millerd

[millerd]

On Monday 29th July, I popped just down the road from Wilberfoss to Calley Heath. I came across a couple taking an interest in the butterflies too (though they were principally there to count the Hebridean sheep grazing part of the reserve) and it turned out they knew Callum. The small world of UKB! They told me of a major emergence of Painted Ladies just up the road at Allerthorpe Common, and also directed me to an area of Calley Heath I had not hitherto explored - a meadow beyond the trees to the north. Apparently Marbled Whites had been seen here - a further expansion of their range. However, I couldn't track one down amidst the myriad of white butterflies flying in this area.

As ever with this site, Small Coppers were the stand-out species...

...with Brown Argus not far behind.

Bearing in mind Callum's recent post about Purple Hairstreaks here, I set about peering up at the many oaks around this site, and before too long spotted a female reasonably low down.

A selection of some of the other species on offer...

Always worth a visit here!

Dave

[millerd]

Also on 29th July, back in the garden, I noticed the large numbers of eggs laid on the nasturtiums by both Large and Small Whites. The clusters of Large White eggs stood out in particular.

I then became aware of a bit of movement under one of the larger leaves, and in the shade this afforded a female Large White was laying.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Great sequence of the egg laying Large White Dave something I've not witnessed before Also the Painted Lady from before is a cracker - a real stand out butterfly and about a million miles away from the state of the ones I've been seeing So going back to what we were discussing the other day are those Brown Argus or Northern Brown Argus?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Very nice, Dave. Those Brown Argus are a real delight. Good to see that Large White ovipositing too....hopefully they will recover in numbers in 2020 because they have had a shocking year in my area.

[millerd]

The butterflies from both these Yorkshire sites are standard Brown Argus, Wurzel, not the Northern version. They are very much double-brooded and appear to have spread from the south relatively recently. I'm not sure where you first encounter NBA going north from here - it may be County Durham. Brown Argus do seem to be doing well up here.

It's the first time I've successfully pictured Large Whites in the act of laying - when I've tried before, the butterfly has always made its escape. It does seem that they haven't done very well this year, David - maybe the usual top-up from the Continent hasn't arrived. It could perhaps be widesppread use of insecticide both here and abroad, especially on the acres and acres of fields of rape that must tempt this species into laying.

Home again on Wednesday 31st July, a catch-up with my local patch was required. The major event was that the expanse of grassland between the M25 and the River Colne had been mowed flat. This basically had put an end to the season for Small and Essex Skippers, and severely curtailed the activity of Brown Argus, Common Blues, Gatekeepers, Small Heaths and Meadow Browns. Aside from the skippers, all were seen but in much reduced numbers.

However, the Holly Blues do not depend on this habitat, and their numbers had increased while I'd been away. All appeared to be males

New Speckled Woods had also appeared, and had already found the ripe blackberries.

Peacocks were disappearing into hibernation, but there seemed to be more Red Admirals, as well as a Comma or two.

Dave

[millerd]

On Thursday 1st August, I started the day at Bookham, once more meeting up with Bugboy. The possibility of early Brown Hairstreaks was there, but they didn't materialise. However, I finally encountered a couple of their Purple relatives low down - but at this stage of their season, they were far from new.

The Silver-washed Fritillaries were past their best too...

...but there were still fresh Large Skippers.

Bugboy somehow managed to find his way to the shaded honeysuckle where he had found tiny White Admiral caterpillars.

At least one was already preparing to hibernate.

Next stop would be Box Hill...

Dave

[millerd]

Continuing my day on 1st August, I arrived at Box Hill and headed for the slopes at Dukes, a good area for Silver-spotted Skippers. They didn't disappoint.

There were certainly well into double figures. There were also a few Common and Chalkhill Blues, plus the odd Brown Argus and Small Copper.

Of course, if you are at Box Hill, it would seem silly not to go to Denbies as well.

Dave

[millerd]

The final stop on 1st August was therefore Denbies Hillside. A few Silver Spots were flying here too, but much more spread out than over the other side of the Mole Valley.

In fact, the first butterfly seen was a Brown Argus.

However, Chalkhill Blues were in charge today, the males beginning to fade but fresh females appearing in good numbers. At least at this point in the season there is no confusing them with Adonis females, which have yet to appear.

Variations in the light made big differences to the appearance of an individual, with degrees of iridescence on this particular new butterfly.

This one also had quite noticeable "silver studs" on its hindwings.

Finally an aberration, though a congenital one rather than genetic I think.

Another varied and interesting day.

Dave

[Goldie M]

Lovely shots Dave, I thought the Adonis might all be out by now, I did wonder if they'd still be about in late September, I don't think I've mentioned this before Goldie

[Wurzel]

Thanks for the info on the BAs Dave - I wonder if the powers that be in the butterfly world will come up with a new geographical boundary for this species? More cracking reports with a fantastic collection of butterflies. I don;t know how you mange to fit so many trips into one day Those Pups are still nice to see despite their vintage appearance and those Silver Spots are cracking

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[bugboy]

Those WA cats came out pretty good in the end (with the help of your makeshift flash diffuser)

[David M]

It's a funny time of year, Dave, with fresh and faded often side by side. Nice work with those larvae, although perhaps Bugboy should get a mention for his detective work!

[millerd]

The second brood Adonis seem to be a bit slow in coming out, Goldie, and a bit thin on the ground - my post was back at the start of August too.

Cheers, Wurzel - just the start of the Silver Spots, and they seem to be doing pretty well in contrast. More to come...

Yes, David, Bugboy did all the groundwork with those WA caterpillars! I just waved a camera at them... As he mentions, my improvised method of reducing flash and intensity glare seemed to do the trick.

Another decent day on Friday 2nd August, so I went a bit further afield, starting with Steyning Rifle Range for the possibility of Brown Hairstreaks. I did actually see one, briefly down on the hedge along the path up from the bowling club before it was disturbed by someone coming the other way and flew up into the trees. However, I saw none either in the mass of blackthorn and bullace at the bottom of the main area, nor along the blackthorn hedge at the top (aside from a possible male flying around the top of an ash tree). However, along the path by this second hedge, there was a constant stream of patrolling Wall Browns - perhaps half a dozen males all told. They were typically problematic to photograph, and my best effort in the end came with a fairly fresh female that joined them and caused much excitement later on.

With lack of success on the hairstreak front, I carried on down the road to Mill Hill.

Dave

[millerd]

2nd August - continued.

Mill Hill was characteristically alive with a variety of butterfly life. New Adonis Blues were sprinkled amongst the more worn but more numerous Chalkhills...

...and there were Common Blues and Brown Argus too.

I came across two species I'd never seen on this hillside before - a female DGF hiding in the grass...

...and several Silver-spotted Skippers, one of which posed rather nicely.

There were Wall Browns here as well, no more cooperative and mostly considerably more worn than those at Steyning.

Finally, there were a selection of newly emerged Painted Ladies, looking resplendent in deep salmon-pink.

Another worthwhile excursion to the Sussex countryside.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Brilliant stuff Dave Cracking Silver Spots I'm starting to panic now as I've still not seen them and I don't think I'll be able to get out until the weekend ahhhh

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Lovely Adonis Blues Dave, and quite a good collection of Butterflies Goldie

[David M]

Those are great images of the Silver Spotted Skippers in particular, Dave. The Adonis and Chalkhills are pretty impressive too.

[millerd]

Cheers, everyone. There were still plenty of Silver-spots up at Aston Rowant a few days ago, so you should still have a chance elsewhere, Wurzel.

On Saturday 3rd August, it started off fairly cloudy so I stayed local initially. A good choice as around 150 butterflies of 15 species were seen in around 90 minutes. Despite the depredations of the mower, the grassland butterflies had bounced back a bit - goodness knows how many there might have been... In that context, here is a rather ironically incongruous bit of signage.

I plan a separate post relating to Heathrow expansion and its effects on this and other green areas owned by the airport.

Brown Argus in particular were still doing well today.

A few others. Painted Ladies are reappearing now...

...a few Common Blues...

...and of course, there were the Holly Blues.

Jersey Tigers continue to burst alarmingly brightly from cover and then settle again less ostentatiously.

The sun started to appear at lunchtime, so an excursion seemed in order for the afternoon.

Dave

[Goldie M]

Hi! Dave , great shots of the SSS, I've never seen a Jersey Tiger moth, they look fantastic, that's another moth for me to look out for. Goldie

[trevor]

That's a very fine female Wall, a couple of posts back, Dave.
Holly Blues seem to follow you around too.
I eagerly await the results of your trip to Shipton Bellinger with Wurzel,
double figures of BH I understand. The Sussex ones are a little scarce this year.

Some great images lately !,
Trevor.