Goldie M

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel and David, the Whites have been out in force here, I'd to laugh today even when the rain had stopped and it was still gloomy the flowers still heavy with rain, they were out in the garden they certainly cheer up a miserable day we're suppose to get high winds etc , August has been rubbish up to now lets hope we get some settled weather soon. Goldie

[Wurzel]

I hear you Goldie - it would be great if we get a bit of a late Summer/early Autumn heat. I remember a couple of years ago walking round in shorts and t-shirt at the end of October I just hope that when things do settle the butterflies that are left aren't too battered

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, we got one good day of Sun yesterday, today we're back to square one The Small tort's were out in force, I counted six at one point on the Boules Mauve I'd to go out in the afternoon and was a way for at least two hours when I got back they were still enjoying themselves on BM and other plants
This was on the front garden for a change, I still say they know when the weathers about to change and and make the most of it before it does

I love to see the Small White on Lavender, I took the shot on the 18th between showers Goldie

[millerd]

Lovely to see all those Small Tortoiseshells, Goldie - I haven't seen one down here for weeks now and may not until next spring.

Cheers,

Dave

[Neil Freeman]

...we got one good day of Sun yesterday, today we're back to square one ...

Same here Goldie. Yesterday was pleasant if a bit windy but today has been blowing a hoolie with some sharp showers thrown in.

Nice Small Tortoiseshell shots, especially the one on the rudbeckia

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Dave, One thing we seem get loads of up here are the Small Tort's, in the Spring it's usually the first Butterfly I see every year and to see so many on the one day was really up lifting.

Hi! Neil, I love to see the small Tort's on the yellow flowers, they really contrast nicely with their colours but looks like we're back with the bad weather Monday, it feels a bit cooler here, one thing we can't control, the weather!! Goldie

[MikeOxon]

Hi Goldie. It seems as though Small Torts may be responding to climate change by moving northwwards. Peacocks are the dominant Vanessid here. In my garden, I have had more Red Admirals than usual. When the sun finally came through one afternoon, after rain, A Red Admiral was behaving rather strangely - flying round and round the same course quite slowly and occasionally pausing very briefly, always on the same leaf. Perhaps it didn't like getting its feet wet
Mike

[Goldie M]

Hi! Mike, We've had lots of Peacock 's this year as well, mostly in Spring, Red Admiral's , not too many up to now but usually we see lots in September,
with the weather like it as been up here up to now only the White's seem to be enjoying it , wet feet or not

I took a couple of shots of one I saw yesterday in-between the showers Hope your keeping well, Goldie

[Wurzel]

I totally agree with you Goldie - the butterflies always seem even more frantic before a break in the weather - Panic Buying almost
Lovely shots for the Small White - interesting marking on the fore wing I'm still hoping for an Indian Summer

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I've put another shot of the Butterfly up, could be A for Angel Lets hope we get that Indian Summer Goldie

[Goldie M]

Yesterday was a lovely day for most of us, it was also a Small Tortoiseshell day in most of the Gardens around me, my neighbours who normally don't comment much about Butterflies were astounded at the a mount they'd seen in their gardens. At one point I counted twelve ST's in the front garden and ten in the back garden plus a Red Admiral and a couple of Peacock's, only saw one Admiral. The Peacock's were rather worn compared to the ST's .

I think they must be getting ready to settle down for the winter, ether that, or they knew the storm was on the way

Lots of White's, I managed to get a shot of one with opened wings Goldie

[David M]

Wow, that's quite a Tortoiseshell-fest, Goldie. Good to see them having a decent year. They're about in strong numbers round my way too.

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Goldie, what a sight that must have been. Tortoiseshells have been virtually absent down here since June, but are clearly doing ok up there!

[Wurzel]

That is indeed a cracking sight Goldie - I generally see ones and twos at this stage of the year with the double figure sightings coming during the spring so that is a welcome sight to see

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, Glad your getting lot's of Small Tort's as well they were back again today even after the Storm

Hi! essex, it was great to see so many, I hope the storm didn't get too many of them they were back again today but in reduced numbers

Hi! Wurzel, they seem to be doing well up here, today was no exception, they landed on the flowers and just shook off the drops of rain and dried off in the Sun

The storm was really bad here, we seemed to be in the eye of it at one point, because it went very still and the Sun came out and then we were plunged back into it again, then it rained here until midday today but when the Sun did appear so did the Butterflies Goldie

[Wurzel]

A fantastic set of Small Torts again Goldie Really like the 3rd and the shots - you can almost see the mirror

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Many thanks Wurzel, not sure about the mirror but certain about the rain drops it made them shine in the Sun

Raining again here, but just seen the news and the weather in Whitstable looks great, I'll have to give my Daughter a ring and send her a Green Goldie

[bugboy]

Lovely Small Torts, it's been a while since I've seen one, might have to wait til next year now!

[Allan.W.]

Hello Goldie ,
Pleased to see that you,re seeing plenty of Small Tortoiseshells where you are ,although numbers certainly aren,t like they were in the 70,s and
80,s i,m also seeing reasonable numbers down here in Kent .
On the Clouded Yellow front ,i,m now getting sightings regularly at one of my local sites (2 yesterday ,and 1 today ) and they are regularly turning up
at Samphire Ho! and Reculver (but curiously enough ,not to many ,as yet at Dungeness ) and at various other sites around the coast.
Shame you weren,t down here for The Silver-Spot season ,they,re having an exceptional year ! at Temple Ewell ..............still theres always next
year ! Keep up the good work ! Regards Allan.W.

[Goldie M]

You never know Bugboy, just when you think you won't see them again, they've been known to turn up

Hi! Allan, glad the Clouded Yellow's or showing up, you never know I may be back to see them next year all being well, also all the Butterflies I've missed.
Nothing like being optimistic

This morning was very sunny but much cooler, it didn't put the Small Tort's off though or the Whites, I managed to get a few shots before the clouds arrived which I've done nothing with yet hoping the cloud will lift, tomorrow's supposed to be a much better day, I keep hoping for a Painted Lady but no signs of one yet although I saw another Red Admiral on the Butterfly Bush, I didn't manage a shot but at this time of year when the Admiral's come we usually see one, ( fingers crossed )Goldie