Cheers, Wurzel.
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Maybe if they come our way with increasing frequency (as they seem to be doing), the LTB will advance on a broader front and make landfall further west along the south coast and further north up the east coast. It would need the population size on the continent opposite to prompt them to cross bigger stretches of water combined with suitable weather patterns. The obvious factor which gets in their way is that they run out of summer every year. They are simply not equipped to survive the lower temperatures of a northwest European winter at any stage of their life-cycle.
Thank you, Trevor
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- you're right, they were relatively easy this year, though it does appear that they do have favourite spots which they regularly aim for (as well as Brighton, I believe they found their way to the clifftop at Kingsdown in Kent again for example). Of course, this does mean we tend to stop looking for them elsewhere, and encounter them elsewhere by chance rather than design.
It's difficult not to be delighted to find them more frequently, and see their status on the British list evolve from "rare migrant" into "regular migrant". I have probably seen more LTBs this year than Painted Ladies in fact (though not in so many places). The alarm must stem from the reality that this is another symptom of the changing climate, which has potential downsides which are not in any way balanced by the arrival of a single attractive insect in increasing numbers.
I don't actually mind the walk up and down the hill, Trevor, and the fitness benefits are a bonus of course. I'm not sure about doing it four times though, Buggy...
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In fact I drove down to Southwick and caught a train to Brighton from there (unlimited free parking along the road above the harbour a few minutes walk from the station). I did notice that the No.2 bus runs all the way from there right up to Whitehawk, but goodness knows how long that might take...
11th September (continued).
Returning to Southwick, I had a good look along the harbour to see if the BLEP had hatched any LTBs here, but it appeared not to have done. I spotted a few Common Blues and a Small Copper, but not much else.
As there was still some time and sunshine left in the day, I drove the short distance up to Mill Hill. One or two worn male Adonis Blues were still flying on the main slope (plus females, but these were more difficult to pin down).
. Three or four (maybe more) Clouded Yellows were patrolling back and forth, rarely stopping (so in all probability male butterflies)...
...though the one I got closest to may well have been a worn female.
I came across a couple of Walls, one male nectaring on buddleia...
...and one female hopping from hollow to hollow, probably looking for spots to lay.
The grass roots overhanging the edge of the scrape in this second shot are a typical site I believe.
However, the main feature of the visit was the spectacular number of fresh Common Blues. The timing of this emergence clearly makes this a third brood, but some less-than-obvious factor here has prompted dozens to appear and possibly outnumber both spring and summer broods. The majority were along the path that runs along the hilltop between the car parks and in the meadow areas at the northern end (though there were quite a few on the lower slopes too). With such numbers, the shining males were joined by a variety of lovely females, from nearly brown to bight blue.
Quite a sight.
All in all, not a bad end to a very successful and full day.
Dave