Goldie M

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, the weather here has been awful, lots of rain and the wind has been cool, not really Butterfly weather, they've been few and far between in the Garden.

Over the week-end I managed a few shots of Painted Lady, Red Admiral,Small White, not too many were in good condition, this morning was quite warm and Sunny up till about 1pm then we were enveloped once more into the cloudy weather a waiting the the forecast rain I did manage a few shots of PL, RA and Small Torts, they were mostly on the Buddleia apart from the Small Tort's who were in the back Garden on the Mauve, I did see another dark coloured Small White but this one was the usual size , slightly nibbled though
I've been having trouble with my internet communication the Broad band going hay wire so I hope this post gets through. Goldie

[Wurzel]

More great shots Goldie Your garden came up trumps again All of the country will be back in school in the next few days and so the weather will probably improve drastically then

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

I don't think the weather will be too good here Wurzel in the next week, we keep getting the rain, I do manage to get a couple of shots before it arrives so I'm happy with that
The Spiders have started to come in the house now, so that's a sure sign of Autumn Goldie

[Wurzel]

It's not been brilliant down my way but hopefully nipping out between showers will keep paying off. I've seen a few massive spiders this week, they suddenly appear in the middle of rug. I had one the other night as big as my fist trying to bite me through the glass I was using to transport him out!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I used to trap them and carry them out, I still do if their ground level, certainly not if their over my headUGH!
just fancy if they fell on your head I let this one get a way but I know where they hide, so I'll wait until it's gone to ground

I expect if you've seen the cricket so you'll know what our weather's like In-between the showers yesterday and today, I saw a painted Lady or two, one in a bad way the other one looked really good, also two or three Admirals holding up inspite of the weather but clinging like mad to the flowers from time to time, they were really blown about, they may look fragile but their tough let's hope the week-end is better. Goldie

[Wurzel]

That is a cracking Red Admiral Goldie, really silky I hope the weather was okay up there for you this weekend it's been a bit hit and miss so far down here but at least it's not raining

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I'm encouraged to see that you've got Painted Ladies and Red Admirals visiting you, Goldie.

Here in south Wales, we have plenty of the former but precious few of the latter. It's very strange why RAs are so scarce this year; normally they're very common at this time of year.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, we'd nice weather for a couple of days although on Sunday in the afternoon it disappeared, very cloudy at times.
I went out all day Saturday with my Sister-in-Law so didn't see much but Sunday the Butterflies were out in force again Red Admirals every where

Hi! David, we've had loads of Red Admiral's here, I counted five on my Buddleia and my Neighbour had quite a few has well, we don't seem to get many in early Summer but usually come September and well into October they arrive here, this seems to happen every year, the most unusual thing about this year is the fact they all seem to have arrived at once.

Yesterday I saw Painted Ladies, a very fresh Peacock with the wiggly blue line on it's wings, really standing out, fresh looking Red Admiral's and quite a lot of Small Tort's, my Neighbour even had a Comma on his Buddleia and I took some shots of that Not forgetting the Small Whites, today we're back in the rain, although it has stopped now but still cloudy and I believe the next two days will be rough Goldie

[millerd]

You're getting more garden variety up there, Goldie - Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells have long since disappeared down here in the south. Good to see them!

Cheers,

Dave

[Goldie M]

Hi! Dave, We've been lucky this year with the Butterflies although, saying that, they usually arrive in September at this time, I think maybe because we're a little behind the South with the weather, we've certainly had loads of rain so maybe that's why they're showing themselves now. Better late than never!!!!

I must say today has been lovely, but in the Garden strange things were happening!!!! I saw this Small White, ( hope fully it is a Small White and I'm not wrong) actually mating with a Large White. I couldn't believe it and still don't maybe the shots I took will prove it, other wise I'm going to be showing lots of red next post

Besides those there were, PL, RA, ST's, and a Comma in my Garden this time and not my Neighbours Goldie

[Wurzel]

That is a really interesting sequence Goldie You're right the male isn't a Large White as they don't have the black spot on the fore wing which this one does and the female is a Large White. I can't tell what's caused it but it looks like the male seems to be having a go, although the female isn't having any of it Perhaps it's mixed messages, the males just wants the nectar and the female is hogging it and she's got the idea that he's after a bit of the other

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I thought the Large White was interested because her abdomen was raised I always thought this was a come on to the Male I've seen it loads of times with different Butterflies, at least I got a shot of the Large White with open Wings for a change Goldie

[millerd]

That is a fascinating series of photos Goldie! As Wurzel says, the raised abdomen is a rejection sign to tell amorous male butterflies that she has already mated. The poor male Small White looks very confused though, and must have thought his luck was in with that splendid Large White female!

Cheers,

Dave

[Goldie M]

Hi! Dave, every time I think I know lot's about Butterflies, I find, I learn some thing new. I was so sure they were mating There's loads of Butterflies out again today although it's very windy, I wonder if any thing else will happen Goldie

[Goldie M]

After lots of rain yesterday morning, the afternoon was fine and Sunny at times and the Butterflies tried their best to hang onto the flowers and Buddleia bush's that were being blown about by a fairly strong wind, at least the wind was warm

I was surprised at the amount of Red Admiral's that arrived, I counted 14 on the Buddleia at one point, the Small Tortoiseshell were also having a good day, it seems the better the weather gets. more of them or seen. Painted Ladies are fewer now but some are still very fresh looking, my big surprise was finding a Small Speckled Wood on the Autumn Glory plant, although it's wing was damaged and was blowing about in the breeze it didn't stop it flying about but the poor thing was certainly being tossed about.
I'm afraid my photos are getting repetitive but I do like taking shots every time I go into the garden, I'll breeze through them when the weather is colder and start sorting then. Goldie

[Wurzel]

Lovely set of shots Goldie especially like the 'two species' one Don't worry about the shots becoming similar that's just a sign of the time of the season - mind you there's still at least a few weeks left

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Love the images of the Whites, Goldie. Really impressive. I'd pay a ransom just to see a Large White in isolation right now, let alone a pas des deux with its close cousin!

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I hope to see a few different species when I go to Kent in a couple of weeks, meantime, I'll enjoy what arrives in the Garden weather permitting and I'm glad you liked the shots thank you, I've put one or two more in from Yesterday

Hi! David, I've put a shot of one I saw briefly yesterday in, they're not long in settling like the other Butterflies, they just fly in and out very quickly, this one didn't open it's wings until it flew a way.

I have four Buddleia's and they were all covered yesterday in Butterflies, I counted 10 Small Tort's, 12 Red Admiral's, 1 Speckie, 2 Peacocks, 2 Large White's ( I lost the count on Small White's ) 3 Painted Ladies. I got some good exercise going a round from one side of the house to the other.

I must say my favourite shot was the Red Admiral that landed in the front garden on my Rose, it didn't nectar, just soaked up the Sun and avoided the rain drops still on the Rose Goldie

[Wurzel]

That is a cracking sequence of the Red Admiral on the rose Goldie It couldn't have chosen a better background to contrast so beautifully with it's livery

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Good that you're seeing increased numbers of Red Admirals, Goldie. I agree there are lots of butterflies around at the moment, especially Painted Ladies, which are extremely common near me right now.