June 2020
Re: June 2020
As well as the first Small Skipper of the year, today was the day the first summer hutchinsoni Commas appeared. I found three altogether.
Dave
Again, this is pretty early - they often don't appear until Midsummers Day.Dave
Re: June 2020
Great work with those High Browns David!
I wish I could have been there!
The cooler weather over the last few days helped make the butterflies I was seeing more approachable. I was particularly happy to capture a Meadow Brown with wings open.
Below are Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Dark Green Fritillary male, Meadow Brown male, Speckled Wood female and Large Skipper male.
All taken at Friston Forest, East Sussex. Didn't see any myself but a gentleman passing by on Wednesday told me he had seen a Silver-washed Fritillary earlier in the day.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
The cooler weather over the last few days helped make the butterflies I was seeing more approachable. I was particularly happy to capture a Meadow Brown with wings open.
Below are Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Dark Green Fritillary male, Meadow Brown male, Speckled Wood female and Large Skipper male.
All taken at Friston Forest, East Sussex. Didn't see any myself but a gentleman passing by on Wednesday told me he had seen a Silver-washed Fritillary earlier in the day.
Re: June 2020
Lots more lovely photos to look at. Thank you everyone. The day I have Large, Small and Essex Skippers all in my locale at the same time is a bit daunting for me. So long as they all sit up for a photo and I can identify them later at home (with help possibly) I will be ok.
I too saw a Comma a week ago and I didn't know if it was one from Spring or a new character. It was close to a place where a really old, frayed, battered Peacock still guards its piece of pathway it has claimed. It makes me sad to see it.
The Dark Green Fritillary taking off photo from Testudo Man is a lesser captured pose (because it is so difficult presumably). The butterfly appears quite eagle like and a spectacular photo it is too.
I too saw a Comma a week ago and I didn't know if it was one from Spring or a new character. It was close to a place where a really old, frayed, battered Peacock still guards its piece of pathway it has claimed. It makes me sad to see it.
The Dark Green Fritillary taking off photo from Testudo Man is a lesser captured pose (because it is so difficult presumably). The butterfly appears quite eagle like and a spectacular photo it is too.
Re: June 2020
It is early, Dave, but still nice to see (I haven't encountered a Comma since the beginning of May).
This cooler spell of weather ought to slow things down a little. The season was in danger of burning out in all honesty, with emergences a good two weeks in advance of normal.
-
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:25 pm
- Location: Near Gatwick
Re: June 2020
Popped into Chantry Hill at Storrington, Sussex to see if any Dark Green Frits had emerged yet.....nope.North side of the Downs here,always a bit later,but this year they'll probably be about right,another week I suspect.Last of the Dukes still fighting the good fight.
Then moved onto Southwater woods to see if any White Admirals were up yet......nope,another week I reckon.
First new Commas appearing though in Marlpost. Thanks
Dave
Still some good looking Grizzled Skippers around.
Also,Small Blue,Common Blue,Brown Argus,Large and Small Skippers(2),Painted Lady up top.No DG's yet, looking forward to them.Then moved onto Southwater woods to see if any White Admirals were up yet......nope,another week I reckon.
First new Commas appearing though in Marlpost. Thanks
Dave
Regards
Dave Browne
Dave Browne
-
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:25 pm
- Location: Near Gatwick
Re: June 2020
Spotted the window of opportunity with this mornings sunny start,6th June,a bit windy,but I know the Silver studded Blues are starting to emerge at Iping Common,Sussex, breezy but got there before the breeze turned into gales and rain came down,all done by 9.30 am.....
Good numbers starting to appear,could do with a lesser breezy day to do some kind of count. Weekend made just a few hours in
Thanks
Dave
Good numbers starting to appear,could do with a lesser breezy day to do some kind of count. Weekend made just a few hours in
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Thanks
Dave
Regards
Dave Browne
Dave Browne
- P.J.Underwood
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:04 pm
- Location: S.W.Surrey
Re: June 2020
Did anyone spot this last week. It was photographed on Thurs 28th May in the Storrington area. It was photographed by the daughter of a reliable friend who lives in the Storrington,Sussex area. It was in her garden. Did anyone else see it?
Re: June 2020
A few pictures of bits and pieces from a few days back ,the weather looks to be changing , and we,re finally getting a bit of rain !
Had two visits to pay my yearly respects to the wonderful (and very rare !) Late Spider Orchids at two fairly local sites , one I have been familiar with for 30 + years ,and the other ,a first time visit ……………...Little Stunners all !
At one of the sites I found this moth ,whose name is ………………………………. funnily enough ,the Black Veined moth !
The Small Heath and Large Skipper were both from my "new" local circuit .
Regards Allan.W.
Had two visits to pay my yearly respects to the wonderful (and very rare !) Late Spider Orchids at two fairly local sites , one I have been familiar with for 30 + years ,and the other ,a first time visit ……………...Little Stunners all !
At one of the sites I found this moth ,whose name is ………………………………. funnily enough ,the Black Veined moth !
The Small Heath and Large Skipper were both from my "new" local circuit .
Regards Allan.W.
Last edited by Allan.W. on Sat Jun 06, 2020 7:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 393
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:15 am
- Location: Mid Sussex
Re: June 2020
As Eric Olthwaite might have put it, it were a bit over-cast this afternoon.
However that didn't stop a good few Meadow Browns bobbing about around our local fields. Very little else though bar Large Skippers and a few moths. Swallows were having a field day though.
I did spot a bit of interesting behaviour from a pair of Large Skippers flying closely together. I thought they were about to mate as they paired up and one repeatedly was bending its abdomen toward and over the other. The other seemed less interested in that sort of behaviour, but they stayed very close together for ages and didn't mind me taking close-up snaps.
I went for several circuits round the fields and each time I came round they were still together.
The underwings are a bit different, but they seemed to be both male based on the sex brand. Albeit they didn't open their wings in unison very often !
Might be related to the weather ? Definitely good pals whatever !
However that didn't stop a good few Meadow Browns bobbing about around our local fields. Very little else though bar Large Skippers and a few moths. Swallows were having a field day though.
I did spot a bit of interesting behaviour from a pair of Large Skippers flying closely together. I thought they were about to mate as they paired up and one repeatedly was bending its abdomen toward and over the other. The other seemed less interested in that sort of behaviour, but they stayed very close together for ages and didn't mind me taking close-up snaps.
I went for several circuits round the fields and each time I came round they were still together.
The underwings are a bit different, but they seemed to be both male based on the sex brand. Albeit they didn't open their wings in unison very often !
Might be related to the weather ? Definitely good pals whatever !
Re: June 2020
Wonder if Erics still got the shovel with three brass rivets ??
-
- Posts: 393
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:15 am
- Location: Mid Sussex
Re: June 2020
No one does wide-eyed innocent excitement tinged with wonder and a hint of jealousy over something like Howard Molson's new shovel quite like Palin.
All to line up the killer line about where Howard's going to put it.
Mind you, I'm getting a bit like that when talking about my new hobby of butterflies. I can see a few eyes glassing over. No one in the family has yet feigned being french to avoid me talking to me though.
All to line up the killer line about where Howard's going to put it.
Mind you, I'm getting a bit like that when talking about my new hobby of butterflies. I can see a few eyes glassing over. No one in the family has yet feigned being french to avoid me talking to me though.
- Trev Sawyer
- Stock Contributor
- Posts: 849
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2006 8:37 am
- Location: Cambridgeshire
Re: June 2020
Oh, quelle journée au bas de la terre. Je suis très fatigué demain, Vera.
Anyway... Back to the butterflies...
Anyway... Back to the butterflies...
Re: June 2020
June 2nd - finally saw my first Painted Lady of 2020 at Alun Valley, Glamorgan:
Re: June 2020
That's a faded sort of dusty looking Painted Lady David.
I missed that mention of a continental Swallowtail (plus photos) visitor. Thank you for sharing. Do these visits happen often?
I missed that mention of a continental Swallowtail (plus photos) visitor. Thank you for sharing. Do these visits happen often?
- Roger Gibbons
- Posts: 1118
- Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:29 pm
- Location: Hatfield, Herts
- Contact:
Re: June 2020
Has Eric got a hundred shovels? That'd be good.
Roger
Some time ago I made a post on UKB in haste and didn't notice until later that I had spelt my name starting with a T instead of an R. Sort of changed the meaning.
Roger
Some time ago I made a post on UKB in haste and didn't notice until later that I had spelt my name starting with a T instead of an R. Sort of changed the meaning.
Re: June 2020
A Swallowtail reported today at Dengemarsh ( near Dungeness ) ,and over the last couple of days ,a Rose coloured Starling
and a Red footed Falcon ……………………. don,t know if they,re still about . Lots of Rose coloured Starlings being reported around the country at the moment …………………… Definitely worth checking through any Starling gatherings !
Regards Allan.W.
and a Red footed Falcon ……………………. don,t know if they,re still about . Lots of Rose coloured Starlings being reported around the country at the moment …………………… Definitely worth checking through any Starling gatherings !
Regards Allan.W.
-
- Posts: 393
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:15 am
- Location: Mid Sussex
Re: June 2020
No Swallowtails in our fields today unfortunately.
As well as the ones shown below, there was a Brimstone, lots of Small Heaths and a single Brown Argus looking a little worn but very active.
As well as the ones shown below, there was a Brimstone, lots of Small Heaths and a single Brown Argus looking a little worn but very active.
Re: June 2020
First I've seen, PJ. Winds were briefly from the SE during that hot spell at the end of May so it's not surprising a few migrants got in.P.J.Underwood wrote: ↑Sat Jun 06, 2020 5:54 pm Did anyone spot this last week. It was photographed on Thurs 28th May in the Storrington area. It was photographed by the daughter of a reliable friend who lives in the Storrington,Sussex area. It was in her garden. Did anyone else see it?
Must be something of a shock to see one of these during your normal daily routine!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
-
- Posts: 393
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:15 am
- Location: Mid Sussex
Re: June 2020
This was the Brown Argus from yesterday. Shame to leave it out just for being a bit worn (*reminder to slot self-deprecating line in here*).
It brooked no nonsense from passing skippers, heaths, browns, bees or flies.
It brooked no nonsense from passing skippers, heaths, browns, bees or flies.
Re: June 2020
An hour at my favourite thistle patch didn't disappoint
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)