essex buzzard

[Pauline]

That's a lovely shot of the WLH on the bramble flower Mark. This season I was lucky enough to be shown a wild pupa but for some reason, sadly , after a great deal of monitoring, it appeared to have died. I wonder how often that happens in the wild?

[Wurzel]

Apologies Essex some how I've missed catching up with your PD So first of all - that Late Spider Orchid, what a cracking flower that is. The Bee Orchid always reminds me of a cheerful gnome but the LSO looks like the superhero gnome, not so much the Dark Knight as the 'Dark Gnome' As for teh Heaths and the Whitters brilliant

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Pauline, I’m guessing an awful lot of them don’t make it, even at that late stage. Parasites, birds and the weather all take their toll.

Thanks for your comments, Wurzel. Yes, late-spider orchids are excellent, one of my favourites too.

In mid July, we were Dorset bound. On our first day, we had a look for Lulworth Skippers on the hill above Corfe castle, where there were also many Marbled Whites.

We then had lunch in Swanage, and headed up to Old Harry Rocks, where a few more Lulworth Skippers were found, in afternoon.

[Neil Freeman]

Cracking Lulworth Skipper there Mark.

That's some threatening looking sky over Corfe Castle. I have noticed before that the Purbeck Ridge can form a dividing line between poor weather on one side and better conditions on the other, all depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Lovely looking female Essex I've not looked that side of Corfe for them before so it's interesting to know that they're about there

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

That's a beautifully fresh looking female Lulworth Skipper, Mark.

I suppose one advantage of venturing out when skies are overcast is that the butterflies, once found, are much easier to study.

Your Essex Skipper on the previous page is excellent too, whilst the White Letter Hairstreaks are envy-inducing for me as you know.

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Neil, yes you’re right. The Purbeck ridge often has a line of cloud over it, especially from summer to winter, when humidity is high, and west or north winds meet sea breezes over the hills. Hills the world over, create their own weather, of course. I have seen the same effect in Kent, and elsewhere.

Thanks Wurzel. We only found a few, but I have seen them there before, so there is clearly a colony on these slopes. Given better weather, we may have found more.

Yes, you’re right David. One advantage of this years wet summer is that some butterflies have been easier to observe closely. Also, this years lush grass growth should provide plenty of egg laying sites for the Skippers.

[essexbuzzard]

The next day, the weather had improved. We headed down to Lulworth cove, to look for Skippers up on Bindon Hill, and get some nice views of the cove. Dark Green Fritillaries were here, too, and some were warming up in the early sunshine.

Male and female Lulworths were common throughout the area.

Not all were in good condition.

For afternoon, I went for a swim, and enjoyed the scenery at Man-o-war Cove and Durdle Door.

To finish, there was a glorious sunset. Here, over Melbury Downs.

[Pauline]

Those last 2 views are glorious Mark. Really makes me wish I was there

[David M]

Not been to LC for quite some while now, Mark, so your images have brought back memories.

Interesting to see the stark difference in the relative condition of some of the skippers. I presume that's down to the protracted emergence they have at this site (and others)?

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Pauline. I agree, it’s a lovely area to spend some time, at any time of year. The butterflies are a bonus, of course!

Thanks David. The Lulworth Skipper flight time continues to puzzle. They are probably still emerging now! When you think of all the species that have come and gone since the adults started to appear, this year probably in early June

The next day, the sun came out in late afternoon and evening, so we headed to Durlston, next to Swanage. Here we concentrated on more Lulworth Skippers!

The scenery here wasn’t bad, either!

[essexbuzzard]

Our last couple of days in Dorset were cloudy, with rain and showers. We were joined by family, and visited Sherborne, where I had never been, and was enjoyable. On the last day were had a Dorset cream tea at the pottery in Corfe Castle. But no more butterflies.

[Wurzel]

Brilliant set of images Essex I always think Durdle Door looks more like a Sea Monster The Lulworth and DGF shots are cracking, especially the first one form Thursdays post - absolute cracker that one!
I hope you used the correct etiquette when you had the cream tea - Devon and Cornwall argue about which goes on the scone first - jam or clotted cream - whereas in Dorset we don't care so long as you use a shovel to put the clotted cream on

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[kevling]

Cracking shots of the Lulworth Skippers Essex. My only visit to that area was one year in late May, so a little early for them.

Kind Regards
Kev

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel. A lovely place to spend a few days.

Cornwall and Devon argue about all sorts of stuff. All friendly of course! But, true to me heritage, it’s Cornwall all the way for me. Despite that, you could argue that you can get more cream onto a scone if you put it on first.

Hi Kev, you should try to get down there again in summer. Though perhaps best avoid the school holidays late July and August, when it can get very busy.

[essexbuzzard]

The Fleam Dyke is an ancient chalk dyke that runs across the flat arable lowlands of Cambridgeshire. Recent conservation efforts have opened up the site, and butterflies, especially Chalkhill Blues, have responded magnificently. We often think that clouds of butterflies are a feature only in Europe,or as a thing of the past. But it’s here!

Many other species breed on site. Here’s a Brimstone.

Painted Ladies are having quite a good year, with ones and twos being seen just about everywhere.

[essexbuzzard]

This female Chalkhill has a hole in her wing.

Whites were at their peak, and were abundant. Interestingly, the ratio was around 85% Small Cabbage Whites, 10% Large Whites and Green-veined, 5 per cent. Despite their numbers, they are not always easy to photograph.

Lastly, here’s a habitat picture.

[Pauline]

Another lovely landscape Mark. What do you think made that circular hole in the wing? Someone showed me a very similar one recently and we couldn't figure out what it could be.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Chalkhill shots Essex Interesting evaluation of the Whites - it echoes my own sightings - Green-veined Whites seem down this year That hole in the female Chalkhill wing is a bit of an oddity - could it have been the slightest of beak punctures? Total guess that

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[millerd]

Great Lulworths from my favourite bit of coastline, and then some lovely Chalkhills from an area I never think of as having any hills to speak of, let alone chalk ones! Chalkhill Blues seem to have done very well in a lot of their haunts this year and clouds of butterflies have become a reality again in some spots. A wonderful sight.

Cheers,

Dave