August 2021

[millerd]

That Speckled Wood ab. from Chambers Farm Wood is a stunning insect - what a great thing to have seen.

Denbies Hillside continues to entertain, and even surprise, despite me having visited it countless times over the last 15 years or so. A somewhat eclectic selection from this afternoon (23rd), when the sun finally emerged. Chalk downland afficionados first:

a typical pose from one of decent numbers

there's a female under that pile of males somewhere...

one of a dozen or so seen

A "can turn up anywhere" group:

brand new, with slightly limp wings

moving rapidly around between scabious flowers

gloriously coloured, perfect, locally hatched example

Finally, the surprise appearances:

one of two ragged females spotted

a pretty well unblemished female going about egg-laying

A full report of the day will emerge in my PD - hopefully before the end of the season!

Dave

[Adiroyle]

A few more photos from Chambers Farm Wood Lincolnshire 23.8.21 Brown Hairstreaks and the amazing Speckled Wood aberration found by Phil Bowler, plus a well worn purple hairstreak.

[David M]

A few more photos from Chambers Farm Wood Lincolnshire 23.8.21 Brown Hairstreaks and the amazing Speckled Wood aberration found by Phil Bowler, plus a well worn purple hairstreak.

That's quite a gallery, Adiroyle.

[David M]

Friday 20th - Gower coastal path, Llanrhidian:


Small Tortoiseshell 8-12
Large White 5-10
Red Admiral 5
Common Blue 5
Meadow Brown 2
Brimstone 2
Small White 2
Green Veined White 1
Painted Lady 1
Comma 1
Peacock 1
Silver Washed Fritillary 1
Small Copper 1

[Deborah]

I revisited the spot (Heathland NW Brittany) where I’d photographed a single Short-tailed Blue a couple of weeks ago.
I didn’t see many, but was very happy to have two pair right under my nose and didn’t care that I watched for a while.

[Jack Harrison]

First garden Comma in north Scotland (near Nairn) but did have an ex-hibernater in the spring. Amazingly, today's example (24 August) was form hutchinsoni.

Jack

[David M]

I revisited the spot (Heathland NW Brittany) where I’d photographed a single Short-tailed Blue a couple of weeks ago.
I didn’t see many, but was very happy to have two pair right under my nose and didn’t care that I watched for a while.

A nice species to have close by, Deborah.

[David M]

First garden Comma in north Scotland (near Nairn)...

Great to see, Jack.

I know you've been hoping (maybe expecting) this moment for a while. Nice that it has finally happened.

[Matsukaze]

First garden Comma in north Scotland (near Nairn) but did have an ex-hibernater in the spring. Amazingly, today's example (24 August) was form hutchinsoni.

Jack

I also had a hutchinsoni Comma nectaring on buddleia in the garden today.

[David M]

Sunday 22nd - West Williamston, Pembrokeshire, in largely cloudy conditions between 10am and 1pm:

Speckled Wood 8-12
Hedge Brown 6-10
Small Tortoiseshell 6-10
Large White 5
Silver Washed Fritillary 5
Red Admiral 4
Peacock 3
Green Veined White 3
Brown Hairstreak 3
Small Copper 2
Common Blue 1

[Old Wolf]

Poor weather in Bedfordshire has meant that trips out have been on hold for a while until I can get further afield (hopefully Saturday, fingers crossed).

This grounding has meant I could monitor the garden visitors more closely between the showers and have been pleasantly surprised at the visitors to my postage stamp of a garden. Daily counts are as follows:

20/08
Red Admiral - 3
Small Tortoiseshell - 1
Peacock - 1
Small White - 1
Holly Blue - 1

21/08
Red Admiral - 1

23/08
Small White - 1
Red Admiral - 2
Peacock - 1
Small Tortoiseshell - 3
Comma - 1
Holly Blue - 2
Large White - 1

24/08
Small Tortoiseshell - 5
Red Admiral - 3
Peacock - 2
Small White - 1

I only count the multiples if they are in the garden at the same time so it is possible that more individuals visited but were not counted. In the case of 3 Red Admiral on 20/08, all three were on my washing I assume taking moisture and on 23/08 six of the seven species seen were in he garden at the same time. On the 24/08 there were 5 Small Torts, 3 Red Admiral and a Peacock on the Buddleia at the same time. A most welcome sight especially for the size of my garden. The Buddleia has been good to me this year.

[Andy02]

Brilliant Small White action at Rainham today

[Padfield]

Brown hairstreaks at two sites in south Ipswich today, about 1km apart:





I was too late at the second site for pictures - all the individuals were seen in flight, though one dived deep into the blackthorn, presumably to lay.

These are my first ever Suffolk brown hairstreaks. They've been seen for a few years now - probably introduced - but I didn't get a chance last year or the year before to go looking. If they can make the jump across Ipswich to Rushmere, I think they should be able to spread quite happily in East Suffolk, where there is masses of blackthorn.

Guy

[David M]

Brown hairstreaks at two sites in south Ipswich today, about 1km apart...

..I was too late at the second site for pictures - all the individuals were seen in flight, though one dived deep into the blackthorn, presumably to lay.

These are my first ever Suffolk brown hairstreaks. They've been seen for a few years now - probably introduced - but I didn't get a chance last year or the year before to go looking. If they can make the jump across Ipswich to Rushmere, I think they should be able to spread quite happily in East Suffolk, where there is masses of blackthorn.

Good for you, Guy. A late summer without Brown Hairstreaks is too unbearable to think about!

[millerd]

Graylings still out in good numbers at Chobam Common in Surrey today (26th), despite largely cloudy and relatively cool conditions. There seemed to be some fresh females among them, and I saw courtship, mating and egg-laying. A couple of lucky shots during courtship: one in the air...

...and one from the ritual on the ground.

A full report in my PD eventually...

Cheers,

Dave

[aeshna5]

Good to hear there are still plenty of Graylings at Chobham-hope to go there tomorrow. It's been such a frustrating month in the south-east with so few sunny days. Looks pretty cloudy next week too.

[David M]

Graylings still out in good numbers at Chobam Common in Surrey today (26th), despite largely cloudy and relatively cool conditions. There seemed to be some fresh females among them, and I saw courtship, mating and egg-laying. A couple of lucky shots during courtship.

Nice work, Dave.

Incredible to think I saw Graylings two whole months ago and they are still on the wing (and looking in good condition) on the cusp of September.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Back by popular demand - from no one but myself - is the weekly ZZW odds'n'sods round up.

[aeshna5]

Would agree with H. trivittatus Zig-zag.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Would agree with H. trivittatus Zig-zag.

Thanks very much for that aeshna. I really appreciate your take as always.

In fact I did see a very pale-looking Aeshna mid last week at work. It stopped but I missed out on a snap before it was off and over the back hedge (where we have a small reservoir for watering the plants). Its wings made a lot of noise. It looked like a hawker but I can't be sure.

It could have been a youngster maybe and possibly the light made it look paler than it was. Probably a Migrant or Southern Hawker but I wish I'd got that snap ! Still, the ones that get away keep us coming back for more....