June 2020

[David M]

Seems a bit strange to be looking at images of Silver Washed Fritillary & White Admiral prior to midsummer's day. I've never known them so early!

[David M]

About two dozen roosting and torpid Silver Studded Blues seen at Prees Heath, Shropshire, on Mon 15 June:

[Bertl]

A few meadow brown’s and ringlets out in force on Auchtermuchty Common today

[zigzag_wanderer]

Took another walk on the Weald side today (OK, technically yesterday again).

Plenty about, but bar Meadow Brown, Golden Skippers and Marbled White everything else was in single figures. Working backwards in numbers seen: Comma, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Small White then one each of Ringlet, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue, Cinnabar and my first Painted Lady of the year.

Slightly disappointed to be back to just the one Small Tort after last week's bonanza - but on my walks in 2019 i probably totalled 4 for the year - already up to at least 6 times that this year.

Beautiful day but could really do with some decent rain to get all the champignon rings going. I've not had any wild mush yet this year.

[David M]

Monday 15th - over 200 Large Heath seen during a two and a quarter hour visit to Whixhall Moss on the England/Wales border in Shropshire:

The only other butterflies seen on the moss were around two dozen Small Tortoiseshells and a couple of Large Skippers, although there were a handful of Meadow Browns, two Brimstones and a Speckled Wood in the ride on the way in.

[Jack Harrison]

I'm sure David that you would have stayed within five miles of your home in South Wales.  So tell me: what impressive telephoto did you use to photograph those Large Heaths at Whixhall from such an enormous distance?  

I admit that last Tuesday I had to use a telescope (from the edge of my five mile limit) for the Small Blues near Lossiemouth.  At that range it was very difficult to distinguish males from females so it is with little confidence that I claim that the males seemed to outnumber the females by two-to-one.

Jack

[David M]

Lol! It's getting absurd now, Jack. In a few days you'll be able to catch a flight to Spain, but the advice (and it IS only advice, not law) remains not to travel more than five miles!!

The Welsh Government has said that the limit is a "general rule" rather than law...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-53077418

I had to do an airport run the other day. In the absence of public transport it really was essential. You can't make something illegal if you have also eliminated all the possible alternatives.

[kentishman]

A pair (probably males) of Purple Emperors jousting above the master oak at Dene Park, Kent, at midday yesterday. This first sighting at this site is 4 days earlier than my sightings in previous 10 years. Before you ask i live about 1 mile away

[Medard]

I believe your beetle is Strangalia maculata, and your caterpillar is a Peacock larva.
All the best.

Thanks Pete.I took a look in my insects folder and note that I have met the critter before including another similar, do you know if its a different species or is there a male and female.

03-07-2011

03-07-2011

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[aeshna5]

Medard- Strangalia has been Rutpela maculata for many years now; the other longhorn is Leptura quadrifaciata. Beautiful beetles.

[Medard]

A few  highlights from yesterday's visit to the Sweet Track, Shapwick Moor, 22-06-2020 and a painful experience, as I was taking photos of a pair of amorous ringlets, I was attacked by a very irate number of ants, I was standing on their nest ! despite the discomfort I nevertheless managed a pleasing photo of the Ringlets

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Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

[petesmith]

as I was taking photos of a pair of amorous ringlets, I was attacked by a very irate number of ants, I was standing on their nest ! despite the discomfort I nevertheless managed a pleasing photo of the Ringlets

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SEP_8036 3x2.jpg
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Lovely stuff Jim. I share your pain! I have often been bitten by ants whilst going in for those key butterfly shots. Also, stung by nettles, and experienced many other discomforts such as tick bites, cuts, bruises, near-death experiences on scree slopes and cliff edges....
It's the price we pay for our art!

By the way, your "Small" White is a Green-veined (check the triangular wing edge marks)
All the best!
Pete

[CallumMac]

I share your pain! I have often been bitten by ants whilst going in for those key butterfly shots. Also, stung by nettles, and experienced many other discomforts such as tick bites, cuts, bruises, near-death experiences on scree slopes and cliff edges....
It's the price we pay for our art!

In 2018, on my first ever visit to Daneway Banks; I had seen a number of Large Blues around and taken some closed-wings shots of the underside. Finally I spotted an open-winged, perching individual, and carefully stalked her. Just as I was lining up the photo, a very substantial clegger (horse-fly) landed on my left hand, right on the webbing between thumb and forefinger. I knew at that moment I had a choice - flick the clegger off, but probably disturb the butterfly and miss my shot; or...

10/10 worth it, would make the same choice again!

[poppymcclenaghan]

Highlights of a trip to Lord's Wood, Somerset on Sunday...

[Stevieb]

An unexpected White-letter Hairstreak whilst watching Purple Hairstreaks (Green Lane Wood)

[Charles Nicol]

Went for exercise at Fermyn Woods today. the Purple Emperors are out, as well as Silver Washed Fritillaries & White Admirals.

One Emperor took a fancy to the sock of a gentleman who was also taking exercise:

[David M]

Highlights of a trip to Lord's Wood, Somerset on Sunday...

Nice combo, Poppy. Two species that are usually at war with one another!

[David M]

Saw my first Marbled Whites of the year at Bernwood Meadows on Fri 19th, as well as several Meadow Browns, Large and Small Skippers and a very unexpected Black Hairstreak!

[Bertl]

Some common blues and meadow browns out in Aberdeen tonight. It was a balmy 17.5 degs for a change!!!

[Medard]

By the way, your "Small" White is a Green-veined (check the triangular wing edge marks)
All the best!

Thanks Pete, somehow i didn't think of the possibility of a second generation, I find Whites very confusing.live and learn.
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