Pauline

[David M]

The Small Heath and Painted Lady are both beautifully marked individuals, Pauline.

The colours in your image from Chapel Common are glorious too. I wouldn't be at all surprised if SSBs were present. Looks like perfect habitat for them.

[Pauline]

Thank you Dave. I am working hard to find BH as you will see. I am so busy checking my Red Admirals (following Katrina's post) that I never noticed my Painted Lady might be similarly affected. I think it might be classed as ab. ocellata but is nowhere near as prominent as the one you posted in 2016! Well spotted

Thank you David. It is 4 mins away by car and I shall definitely be visiting it again - even if it is just for the solitude.

Another struggle today to find Brown Hairstreaks - only one and she was a little worn but depositing her eggs across the site:

A Small Skipper and very blue female CB also caught my eye:

[Katrina]

I like your ab ocellata - I will be on the look out for these now.

[Pauline]

Thank you Katrina. The one Dave took a photo of in 2016 is much more striking and in the Albums on this site.

A friend of mine allowed me to run my moth trap from her garden last night (thank you Alex) so I was interested in what I would find this morning. My favourite moth of the morning was the first one, which just shone in the early morning light. I have tried to identify it and as many of the others as I am able ............... but you all know I'm not great with moth ID's. Still, if it gives you a good laugh ............. Could this possibly be a Golden Twin-spot?

Coxcomb Prominent:

Maiden's Blush:

Black Arches:

Lime-speck pug? Pity it was on the trap when I took the shot:

Green Carpet - another one that I couldn't remove from the carton without it flying:

Knot Grass? Lychnis? Alex has lots of that plant in her garden:

Ruby Tiger just before it flew away:

Really don't know the rest:

[meiga]

Hi Pauline

My thoughts on the moth i.d.'s

First is a Gold Spot. Golden Twin-spot is a rare immigrant.
Knot-grass, Lychnis..a possible Flounced Rustic

Penultimate might be a Dun-bar, I can't tell from the side view.
The last is an Oak Lutestring.
Cheers

Maurice

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Pauline,

..a possible Flounced Rustic

...Penultimate might be a Dun-bar,

I would agree with these.

A nice selection of moths there.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Good work finding the Brostreak Pauline - it was hard work in the breeze yesterday It's looking slightly morehopeful that there'll be some Brostreaks there next season, fingers crossed!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Thank you so much for those ID's Maurice - that Gold Spot was gorgeous. I didn't realise the Golden Twin-spot was rare. The photo just seemed to fit and I still can't quite see how to tell the difference.

Thanks for the confirmations Neil - much appreciated.

I'm afraid none of these sightings are from Noar Hill Wurzel. I have visited NH 12 times during the BH season and have only seen one BH there whose eggs have been destroyed. I am not at all hopeful for next season.

[Pauline]

Just playing catch-up as time is rapidly running out. All 5 Commas I reared from garden eggs were released as butterflies but I am pleased that I caught the first one emerging as numbers 3, 4 and 5 all emerged overnight and departed without so much as a thank you. Only these shots to remember them by

My Red Admiral larva are doing well - the last photo taken:

My Fox moth larva are also well (thanks Martin).

An update on the other immatures will have to wait (until next season probably).

For my own record I would just like to note that a couple of days ago I had my first Small Tortoiseshell of the season in my garden but for the first time ever I had all 5 hibernators in the garden at once:

I have been chasing round trying to get a shot of a Vapourer moth (I think that is the one that pretends to be a BH!) without any success then found a lovely fresh male waiting for me in the duck shed:

and the flame shouldered moth (I think) that I forgot to include earlier.

Not too many more outings this season I suspect.

[Maximus]

Glad that you managed to find at least one female Brown Hairstreak at Noar Hill this year, Pauline At least SB came up trumps for you and others Nice shots of butterfly early stages, and some nice moth images too

[essexbuzzard]

Nice that you have got your Garden Small Tortoiseshell, Pauline. Had a good season over my way, with plenty of second generation cats and adults seen. Perhaps they benefit from cool, wet summers?

Yes, I suspect the season will soon be drawing to a close, with not much chance of any extra generations or exotic migrants this year.

At least you got your Brown Hairstreaks. They will elude me again this year, the dodgy weather has put paid to my chances!

[David M]

Good work with the Commas, Pauline. That final one's underside really does resemble an old bit of wood.

Well done on the garden 'Royal Flush' too. My neighbour has regularly had 4 of them but never the full set at the same time this summer.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Commas Pauline and you actually managed to get a shot of a Vapourer - I've seen loads of those while looking for Brostreaks
"I'm afraid none of these sightings are from Noar Hill Wurzel." - were you looking at Shipton or a different site Pauline? Philzoid and I were at Shipton on Thursday and managed to find a few females all of which were away from the back Hedge and all were in sheltered spots out of the wind

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Cheers Mike - I was outraged that I only found One BH at Noar Hill this season and her eggs were then destroyed!! Do you really wish you were here???!!

You've been posting some great shots Mark so it is a shame you didn't manage BH. Where is your closest colony?

Thanks David - it is just a pity they weren't all on the same buddleia at the same time. (So typical of me, always wanting more! )

Cheers Wurzel -I wasn't at Shipton (doesn't leave you with very many more options now, does it? )

[Wurzel]

"Cheers Wurzel -I wasn't at Shipton (doesn't leave you with very many more options now, does it? )" I can think of several sites still Pauline

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Great Comma photos, I have never noticed the green before.

[millerd]

I do like your home-hatched Commas, Pauline. Every one is different! You never know - you may meet them again next spring...

Cheers,

Dave

[Pauline]

You're clearly better informed than me Wurzel . Send me a list and I'll tell you if it's in there

Thank you Katrina. One of my Red Admirals emerged today whilst I was out. I didn't get a photo before it left but it was one of those with the white dot on the red stripe - can't remember what it's called

Thank you Dave - I do hope so. I have seen a fresh one in the garden so perhaps he was one of 'mine'. There still seems to be a lot going on out there. Had a great time today with our very own Neil F. It started off dreary and drizzly but the sun eventually came out and we saw a reasonable selection of butterflies. His shots will be much better than mine so I'll just stick to a few SSS. Thanks for your company Neil - may see you tomorrow but if not enjoy the rest of your stay:

Also watched a couple of females egg-laying but always in the wrong place for a decent shot :

[Katrina]

Extra dot on the Red Admirals is ab bialbata .

[Neil Freeman]

His shots will be much better than mine so I'll just stick to a few SSS.

Not sure about that Pauline, you got some decent shots there especially considering how skittish they were.

Many thanks again for a great day and for showing me around.

It will be next week before I get chance to go through my photos and write any reports, the little netbook type laptop I have with me is just not up to it.

All the best,

Neil.