millerd

bugboy · Post by **bugboy** » Tue Jun 07, 2022 5:59 pm

Crikey, had a less experienced enthusiast seen that last one they might have thought they were looking at a Large Tort!

kevling · Post by **kevling** » Tue Jun 07, 2022 6:10 pm

Dave, catching up on your diary. Cracking shots of the Small Heath in flight. Not images you see very often.

Kind Regards
Kev Ling

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Tue Jun 07, 2022 8:40 pm

You're probably right, Paul - it took me a few moments to work out what I was watching. I was very grateful to be able to get close enough for a whole series of shots - it was a memorable insect.

(I see there is a similar one in the aberrations part of the species folder, but with no particular name for it.)

Cheers, Kev - I was pleased with the Small Heath images, blurred though they are. Worth another try, and it just shows what hidden qualities there are to a distinctly overlooked and underphotographed species.

For once, the favourable weather forecast for Friday 27th May had been almost unchanged all week. Sunshine was promised, reasonable temperatures, and a bit of a breeze. I had seen the publicity Butterfly Conservation had recently given to the (worst-kept) secret location of the reintroduction of the Chequered Skipper in Fineshade Wood on the eastern extremes of Northamptonshire, so decided to head over for the day. Guided tours at 1100 were advertised, so not knowing the site at all, I decided to join.

Nearly 40 other like-minded folk had had the same idea, all spurred on by the good weather window, and nearly swamping our guide (Ellie) who had not had more than a dozen on previous days. The logic to the guided aspect was clear - to try and keep people from wandering randomly around this sensitive site and potentially ruining the habitat. Since the location was effectively public knowledge anyway, people would have been turning up in unorganised fashion.

Somehow, this large group of souls was managed along the hard track around the perimeter of the introduction area. We were in luck - Chequered Skippers were seen in two separate spots on the route. However, getting photos was tricky, and unfortunately some of the better positions were monopolised to some extent. After the walk had ended I returned to the first "hotspot" to find some folk still in the same location as an hour or more earlier.

I did my best from a distance within the limitations of my camera, its zoom facility and my ability to hold the thing still.

I had one bit of luck when one butterfly landed very briefly right in front of me, so there were a few acceptable shots of a brand new UK species for me (my second this year after the surprise Large Tortoiseshell). They are very fond of bramble flowers!

Other species seen: Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Orange Tip.

A very worthwhile day out, and our guide was excellent. Hopefully the precautions taken to safeguard the large areas of the wood from public footfall will help the continued rise in butterfly numbers, and lead to the eventual re-colonisation of adjacent parts of Rockingham Forest, this species' former stronghold in England.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Thu Jun 09, 2022 7:58 pm

Non-butterfly activities on Saturday 28th May, involving a trip into London to meet friends and making use of the new Elizabeth Line to do so. I found this very impressive: quick, quiet and spacious, and once the whole thing is linked together, it will make trips into town for me (from my nearest station at Terminal 5) much easier.

On Sunday 29th May was fairly sunny and warm, and I decided to visit Bedfont Lakes Country Park, realising that I had almost overlooked a spring visit this year. I wandered round the quieter southern part of the park, and came across a bit I had not seen before. This was a small stretch of scrubby grassland, left largely to grow wild (though it must have been cleared at some point in the past). There were wild flowers (including BFT) and unsurprisingly some predictable butterflies.

I remembered that Green Hairstreaks are found in the park, but thought I'd probably missed them this year. However, I was wrong - but I think I just made it in time for this one...

Dave

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Thu Jun 09, 2022 9:45 pm

Cracking shots of the Chequered Skipper (my favourite Latin name

)Dave

hopefully they'll go from strength to strength as a trip to the midlands is preferable to the long slog up to Scotland

Have a goodun

Wurzel

trevor · Post by **trevor** » Fri Jun 10, 2022 6:57 am

I'd like to echo Wurzel's words for your Chequered Skippers.
It takes some of the risk out of a long trip to a strange location when there is a guide to show you around.
A drive up to the midlands is certainly more attractive than Fort William, maybe next year.

You've whetted my appetite, great stuff

,
Trevor.

Neil Freeman · Post by **Neil Freeman** » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:25 am

Good to see you managed to catch up with the Chequered Skippers at Fineshade Wood Dave

. Apparently they have finished now for this year although the guided walks appear to have been a great success. I was tempted to go myself but life and stuff got in the way, maybe next year.

Cheers,

Neil.

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 4:09 pm

Lovely to see those Chequered Skippers, Dave. Nice too that so many people have taken such an interest.

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:17 pm

Thank you all for the comments.

It was very much a trip worth doing, and seeing this species back on English turf was something I've been looking forward to ever since I knew it was planned. The Scottish alternative has been stymied for various reasons several years running, and though I'd still like to do it, an easier option has presented itself!

Back to home turf on Sunday 29th May, after my look at the Country Park. Everything continued in similar vein to recent days - in the case of the Small Copper with the same individual butterfly! Its already pale underside seemed to have become even whiter than ever.

More new Small Tortoiseshells...

...a fresh female Specklie...

...the seemingly endless supply of female Holly Blues continued...

...likewise new male Common Blues...

...and a couple of shining glossy Brown Argus.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:45 pm

The last two days of May were nothing special, with only four hours of sun between them and temperatures no higher than 16 degrees. However, on 30th a new species for the year made an appearance: the first Meadow Browns on my local patch. These would no doubt be the first of many more seen over the summer - the commonest species here by far overall.

I also found some more female Common Blues to add to the album of variety...

...and a different Small Copper.

Tuesday 31st May was the sunnier day, and I managed a few more Meadow Brown shots. They are notoriously difficult at this time of year, so I was quite pleased to get these.

After Meadow Browns (and Small Whites), the next commonest species here is the Common Blue, and there were yet more colourful females today...

...and the odd fresh shining male too.

However, the standout feature of the day were the new Small Tortoiseshells - it's almost a novelty to see them every day, and more than just a few as well.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:13 pm

Before launching into June, I'll do a quick review of May on my local patch. Weather stats are for Heathrow: its weather station is within five miles of here.

MAY 2022

The average daily high temperature for the month was a shade over 20 degrees, over a degree and a half above the longer-term average (the reference period for this is now 1991-2020). The warmest day was 17th, when it reached nearly 28 degrees; the coolest was 1st with only 15. Sunshine was only 75% of average with only five hours a day, but rainfall was also low at 75% of average too. Overall then a warm, dry but dull month.

Six new species for the year appeared during the month: Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Heath all made their debut on 10th, along with the Large Tortoiseshell that was a first for me and a first for the site as well; Painted Lady followed on 17th and Meadow Brown on 20th. 17th was also the day when most individual butterflies were seen (123), and most species (15). 15 were also seen on 10th and 21st.

Aside from the Large Tortoiseshell, notable events were counting 43 Holly Blues on 17th and 52 Common Blues on 31st. The last Orange Tips were seen on 22nd, after a relatively poor year.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:34 pm

Wednesday 1st June was a bit warmer and slightly sunnier. I only ventured out locally again, with Common Blues dominating things once more - half the butterflies seen were this species. It's a good thing that the females make things so interesting...

There were still plenty of fresh males too.

There were other butterflies...

Finally, a view looking roughly south from the highest point of the site (an artificial "hill" in fact). The North Downs are in the far distance; the view eastwards is of the airport and the western beginnings of London and westwards is the M25 and the countryside out in the Windsor direction.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:48 pm

On Thursday 2nd June, I felt it was time to go a bit further afield, so I headed down to Denbies (having realised I'd not been down there for a fortnight). It was characteristically breezy of course...

Walking down the hedge line on the far side of Steers Field, I found my first Large Skipper of the year.

However, it was the only one I saw, and overall there was not a great deal flying of any species.

A few very worn Dingy Skippers, including this three-quarter butterfly...

...and the odd Adonis Blue.

The only species in any number was the Small Heath, and I amused myself again trying to capture shots of the upperside.

Today's bonus moth was a Clouded Buff, less carmine and more brown than some I've seen.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:56 pm

After that slightly disappointing start on 2nd June, I decided to pop into Fairmile Common on the way back to see if a few Silver-studded Blues could lift things a bit. However, I searched the site pretty thoroughly and could only find one single butterfly of this species, and a less than perfect individual it was too.

A few Small Heaths were also flying here, but less expectedly, I found first a Green Hairstreak...

...and then a Brown Argus.

Dave

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 6:21 pm

There was just enough time left on 2nd June to walk round a small part of my local patch. Worth doing - it included the first Large Skipper here (after my first of the year at Denbies earlier on).

The customary Holly Blue female was laying on the goats' rue, though today's was a bit newer than some seen recently.

Caterpillars made up the rest of the outing.

A nest of Peacocks about to shed their skins....

..and an Orange Tip on the verge very close to home.

Dave

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 7:25 pm

Nice Small Heath topside shots Dave

Interesting to see that you get other species at that Silver-stud site Dave, at Slop Bog generally just Silver-studs and nothing else

Have a goodun

Wurzel

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:10 pm

That particular SSB site is also good for Small Coppers, Wurzel, though they were between broods and none turned up that day.

Friday 3rd June was pretty warm, though not especially sunny. Staying local was the best option, given the state of Friday traffic round here, and I managed to find 80 butterflies of 12 species - though just over half were Common Blues:

Common Blue 41
Holly Blue 11
Small Heath 8
Small Tortoiseshell 4
Meadow Brown 3
Brown Argus 3
Small White 3
Speckled Wood 2
Large Skipper 2
Brimstone 1
Large White 1
Small Copper 1

The Brimstone was a surprise, coming immediately after I'd been looking at some of its progeny.

There were the usual female Common Blues, though neither of these were really just "usual".

However, the scene-stealers for me today were the Large Skippers - novelty value probably was a factor!

There was one that was a bit worn, which I must have missed when it first emerged...

...plus a lovely new one which allowed a variety of angles of shot, including my favourite "X-wing" or "Space Invader" pose.

Dave

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Thu Jun 16, 2022 9:37 pm

Cracking Large Skipper shots Dave

- some of those are in full attack position

Have a goodun

Wurzel

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 7:35 pm

Cheers, Wurzel - I just can't resist this view of any of the golden skippers, but I think the Large sort are the better design of flying machine...

After rather a lack of success with Silver-studs at Fairmile, on Saturday 4th June I went a bit further to Thursley Common just off the A3. Things were not much better, though maybe they are just a bit late this year, but I saw just two Silver-studded Blues. Before even those two, I had found a few very prickly caterpillars munching the heather, looking like miniature cacti.