July 2021

[Allan.W.]

A few pictures from our yearly visit to West Sussex ,we managed to fit quite a bit in ,in a short time ,and stayed pretty close to probably my favourite wildlife site away from Kent ,Fairmile Bottom ,which backs on to Rewell Wood , i had a couple of targets ,namely to find the Frog orchids again ,and look around the area for possible Frog/Common Spotted Orchid hybrids and to find a roosting Dark Green Fritillary ,i was on site at 5.45 Am in thick fog ,hundreds of Orchids to search through ,but i reasoned that the hybrids (if any ) would probably be found close to the Frog orchid area ,i found around 15 Frogs in all ,and 1 very unusual possible hybrid ,need to get it looked at .
After finding the orchids i was looking for ,i started looking for a Roosting Dark Green Frit ,and after a few false starts (Marbled Whites ) i noticed one at rest on a St.Johns wort head ,really pleased to find this one.
We also managed a visit to Stedham Common for the Silver -Studs ,and wasn,t dissapointed with many on the wing ,plus two pairs . On the way home we managed a flying visit to Ditchling Common ,wrong time of the day really ,but did manage to find a couple of Black Hairstreaks ,and my first Purple Hairstreak of the season.

Regards Allan.W.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Few recent odds and ends.

I'm making a call on the moths....happy as always to be corrected. There was a mini-explosion of "mint moths" (or allies) at work on Thursday. I snapped two, who I think are both Pyrausta purpularis.

In the local fields yesterday there were more Small Skippers than I've ever seen at one place anywhere before. There will be some Essex in amongst them I'm sure but they were everywhere. Plenty of Large Skippers too. Marbled White however did not show the same explosion from last week, Numbers here just about the same as last Saturday. Maybe they didn't like the weather as much, as I could see some staying deep down in the grass.

Plenty of brown bobbers too, including my first Ringlets of the year. No Gatekeeper spotted yet. No Purple Hairstreaks either yet.

There was a massive drop-off in Small Heath - I only spotted one. Similarly only one Common Blue seen - a camera shy female. But she's in much better fettle than the "old faithful" chap I see at work every day who sticks to the same small area. I hope he's made it through the weekend.

First Comma I've seen outside of rare garden visits for months. Is it a full blown summer brood Hutchinsoni ?

Walking home from work on Friday I saw two pairs of Small Tortoiseshell. My numbers of these are shooting up.

[Testudo Man]

The 1st of July, saw a return trip (ater work) to see if any female DGF's had emerged.
At least 3 females were sighted, one had a large part of wing missing (possible bird attack?).
Location Kent. No images are cropped. Cheers Paul.

One of the female DGF's.

[David M]

Friday 2nd - Lower Woods, Wickwar, Glos:

Meadow Brown 200+
Ringlet 100+
Silver Washed Fritillary 30-40
Large Skipper 10-15
Small Skipper 5-10
Red Admiral 4
Small Tortoiseshell 3
Marbled White 2
Comma 1
White Admiral 1

[P.J.Underwood]

Two of the best from Chiddingfold on the 2nd,as well as meeting Trevor and Katrina. This must be the week of action now?
P.J.Underwood

[millerd]

I visited Arnside Knott this morning, amazingly in a window of a couple of hours of sunshine between heavy thundery showers. Seen flying:
Small Pearls - rather worn but decent numbers in all areas;
DGF & HBF - lots of fresh large Fritillaries, with both species well-represented;
Grayling - all over the scree slopes, and some nectaring on thyme;
Northern Brown Argus - a smattering of slightly worn individuals;
The more mundane species included Large and Small Skippers, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Small Heaths, Common Blues and a Small Tortoiseshell.
There will be photos in my PD at some stage, but after a six hour drive home through several downpours, I have yet to sort these. However, I'd recommend the Knott to anyone who can get there at the moment.

Cheers,

Dave

[Old Wolf]

My trip to my local patch (The Pinnacle, Sandy, Beds) on 1st saw the aerea explode into action, Marbled Whites are now emerging with approx 15 seen. Orher species included 3 Commas, countless Large and Small Skippers, a solitary Small Tortoiseshell, many Meadow Brown and some Ringlet. Really made a change from the lack of anything in my area as of late.


A trip to Fairmile Common, Surrey on 3rd looking Silver Studded Blues (a lifer for me). Saw approx 20-30 with approx 5-8 females. Two mating pairs were seen and the first flight of a freshly emerged male.

The only other species seen were two meadow brown and a small heath.

[P.J.Underwood]

Whist going through my Hungarian photo's ( Farm Latour) I came across this creature. Can anyone help me with its identification?
P.J.Underwood

[badgerbob]

An early morning hunt on Friday morning for roosting Dark Green Fritillaries came up trumps with a stunning aberrant form which I am reliably informed by the Sussex recorder is an ab. cadmeis Lemp.

The under-side was normal, although covered in dew, but when he opened his wings he was superb. After flying off I found him again some 30 minutes later.

Downland around Wilmington in East Sussex.

[Kip]

had the pleasure of the company of a couple of WLH in my wildflower patch today (N Yorks), totally amenable to photography (same one in both photos)....

[bugboy]

Another day at Bookham. Lots of craning necks watching at least 3 Emperors playing in the tree tops during the sunny spells. Nothing was seen at ground level so this is as close as I got to one!

SWF numbers building nicely with the first females (and a mating pair) seen and lots of White Admirals including a couple of 'black' Admirals

[David M]

An early morning hunt on Friday morning for roosting Dark Green Fritillaries came up trumps with a stunning aberrant form which I am reliably informed by the Sussex recorder is an ab. cadmeis Lemp.

Incredible, Bob. What a find!

[sifenn]

Whist going through my Hungarian photo's ( Farm Latour) I came across this creature. Can anyone help me with its identification?
P.J.Underwood

Don't think I saw any opinions on this. I'd suggest it is a Glanville Fritillary, M. cinxia, based on the spots of the lower hindwing.

I had a fantastic trip to Farm Lator in 2018, 70 or more butterfly species in huge numbers, Pallas Fritillary and Camberwell Beauty were among memorable firsts for me, amazing birdlife and brilliant hosts

[P.J.Underwood]

Thanks. A Glanville is the overwhelming opinion. I have never seen one as white as this.
P.J.Underwood

[Stevieb]

Caught up with Purple Hairstreaks plus plenty of White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries yesterday at Green Lane Wood, Wiltshire

5th July

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Then on to Beacon Hill for Dark Green Fritillary with plenty of Marbled Whites too

5th July

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[Deborah]

Nothing like the numbers Stevieb has seen, but in the hour and a half of sunshine before the rain set in (again) I saw my first White Admiral, Silver Washed Fritillary and Small Skipper(?) as well as a Comma, Red Admirals, Ringlets and Meadow Browns. No Purple Hairstreaks or Emperors yet.

[millerd]

Hi Deborah,

You seem to be keeping pace with us over in the UK! By the way, that is a male Large Skipper rather than a Small one.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

Caught up with Purple Hairstreaks...

Nice work, Steve, Wish I could get them posing like that.

[Stevieb]

Plenty of fresh Small Torts on the common today. Bewley Common, Wiltshire.

6th July

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[Deborah]

Thanks Dave - glad I put the question mark in the post .
Here’s the Comma and Ringlet that I should’ve included: