The weather yesterday
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
I'll let Pauline comment on weather conditions in her part of the world - this is her diary after all - but it's worth mentioning that a bit further east, there has been mostly calm weather since the end of July, throughout the heatwave and the relatively dull and sometimes thundery days since. Whatever the mystery factor is, it therefore most likely isn't the wind, but it has encouraged males to nectar down low and has kept the females largely out of sight.David M wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:44 am As for female BHs, I haven't had the chance to look for them myself yet (and it may be a week before I do given the dreadful weather forecast). However, one thing I've learned is that this species hates wind, so if you've had, like we have, a series of blustery days then that may explain why the females have been reluctant to descend.
That's particularly true with Brown Hairstreak, Pauline. For instance, ours in west Wales are never seen nectaring, even though there are plenty of thistles which seem to attract the species in southern England at many sites.Pauline wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:44 pm...The same butterfly species will sometimes behave differently on different sites, presumably making the best of its environment. For example, the male BH at Noar Hill have (in the years I have been observing them) been very reliable in coming down low, mostly nectaring on Hemp Agrimony. This never used to be the case at Steyning and was, I believe, the reason Trevor visited NH a few years back.
It's not in any way scientific, just what I've noticed from the best known sites over the past few years. Tbh I wouldn't include Noar Hill in that simply because I don't generally see as many reports from there as some of the others, mostly just from you. As always we can say general things but there will always be an exception to the rule.Pauline wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:06 pm Thank you for your thoughts Buggy but I am afraid as far as Noar Hill is concerned I have to disagree. There have not been many males this season and those that have been seen have mostly been between 8.00am and 9.30 am. I would be interested to know why you think otherwise. As previously stated I cannot comment on other sites as I don't visit frequently enough. I do hope you are not relying on the times from my camera as it is a 'new' one and the clock hasn't been set properly.
Thanks Pauline. From your earlier posts, you can add another 'herb' to that number