millerd

[Wurzel]

Absolutely brilliant!! Nuff said really!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Thank you everyone - Swallowtails are well worth the trip to their home turf. Finding the eggs and caterpillars was a real bonus too, and the following day I went back to see how they were doing.

Saturday 11th June. I managed to be back at Strumpshaw before 8am, but it was quite cool that early and only some of the Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals were up and about.

At least I knew the Swallowtail early stages I'd found wouldn't have gone very far, so I returned to the same spot. The little caterpillar was now happily chomping at one of the milk parsley leaflets...

...and the adjacent egg was showing signs of life - the tiny caterpillar within had started to eat its way out and had created a hole in its eggshell.

Here they are together.

I watched it move back across to yesterday's position where it produced a piece of frass.

Nearby, I found another caterpillar next to the half-eaten eggshell from which I assume it had emerged earlier.

The two eggs I'd found next to one another the day before had turned even darker and must have also been close to emergence. They resembled nothing so much as tiny blueberries!

Around 9am, the adults appeared again on the Sweet Williams in the Doctor's garden - along with some companions. The size comparison (if one were needed!) with the Small Tortoiseshell is noteworthy.

I also found one of these shots was actually what Wurzel might have dubbed a "threefer", with a Painted Lady in the frame as well.

A pity the nearby very ancient Peacock didn't join them...

A few more shots of the Swallowtails on their own.

Finally, I returned to the sheltered glade which had been the source of much of the images from the day before. Sure enough, the same butterfly was once more in residence. However, I had a piece of luck today when the insect settled just a bit lower down than usual, opening its wings as the sun was in. By dint of getting the camera to focus on the butterfly from below and then continuing to point it at the butterfly as I raised it above my head, I managed some better shots. Though the butterfly was a near perfect example, it had somehow settled with a bit of leaf wedged between its hindwings - but there was nothing I could do about that! The most full-on shot was also spoiled by the camera inadvertently shading the lower part of the wings as the sun came out a bit, as I couldn't actually see the subject!

This shot managed to avoid that pitfall though, but was a fraction more oblique.

A great way to end a couple of days with the Swallowtails.

Dave

[Pauline]

Once again, a thoroughly interesting report Dave. Have to say, had it been me, I would have had to wait until that egg had hatched!!!!

[millerd]

Thank you again, Pauline. I did toy with the idea of waiting for the caterpillar to finally make its way into the world, but the small amount of progress it had made over the two hours I observed it on and off suggested I might be there all day! Also I couldn't very well plonk myself on the boardwalk next to it for the duration, as there was quite a lot of footfall along there and it's not especially wide. Some folk were interested in what I'd found, but by no means all.

Never mind, the shots came out better than expected and I was very happy to have seen these early stages. It never ceases to amaze me that a tiny little black creature half a centimetre long at most will manage to turn those milk parsley leaves into the extraordinarily beautiful and graceful insect that is an adult Swallowtail butterfly. It may take it virtually a whole year to do so, but what an achievement!

Dave

[ernie f]

Dave

I read diary entries of people from time to time - not as frequently as I once did I have to admit, but I have been scanning through your recent ones and of course the Swallowtails are a delight. Now call me odd if you want to but the photo I found the most fascinating of those Swallowtail shots was the distant one in flight.

Nice and sharp considering how far away it must have been and not something I think I have ever seen before.

Excellent Stuff.

[Neil Freeman]

Dave
... Now call me odd if you want to but the photo I found the most fascinating of those Swallowtail shots was the distant one in flight...

Ok, I'll rise...you are odd Ernie
Seriously though, I agree. That first in-flight shot is my favourite

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Just spotted your Shots of the Swallow Tail Dave , Fantastic Goldie

[millerd]

You're right, Ernie - Swallowtails are a real delight to see. I rather like the in flight shot as well, so I agree with Neil that your choice isn't odd at all! A bit of luck of course, just a question of pointing the camera as it sped by and hoping that it would at least have its wings open at the moment the camera caught it. As you say, considering the distance, there's a surprising amount of detail. I always think shots like this are very much part of the experience of the day - indeed for a while I thought this might be the only photo of the butterfly I'd be taking home with me, as I spent quite a time with my neck cricked watching it cruise up and down.

Thank you too, Goldie - it was a great couple of days.

Saturday 11th June was far from over though. Leaving Strumpshaw at lunchtime (to be honest, the reserve was getting a bit busy with Swallowtail seekers by this point) I set off south. As in previous years, I diverted east on reaching the M25 and headed for the Essex woods where Heath Fritillaries would be flying. I chose Hockley (and found the car park to be free at weekends), and set off to the area I knew had been relatively recently coppiced and would be full of cow wheat.

The sun had become rather intermittent, though it remained warm and the clearing was relatively sheltered from the strongish wind. Suddenly my eyes began to focus on a much smaller butterfly than they had in the morning, and I realised that there were Heath Fritillaries sitting peacefully on most of the greenery. If the sun came out, they took to the air, and I would estimate numbers into three figures altogether. It did feel odd to see so many, all flying no higher than waist height for the most part, and deciding which to select for a photograph was tricky to say the least.

They vary in colour and pattern a fair bit too, and reading all the accounts of continental species and the niceties of distinguishing between very similar species (including this one) just make you realise how difficult the subject is. At least I knew these were all one species, though sometimes you might not think it. Here we go then! First, some assorted uppersides....

I'll post some undersides and aspects of behaviour in a separate entry.

Dave

[millerd]

11th June, Hockley Woods, Heath Fritillaries: undersides and behaviour.

Considering the numbers flying, there were surprisingly few mating pairs. Maybe they were hiding out of the away.

Courtship seemed to be slower and more subtle than in other species...

However, there was some attempted muscling in by other males.

The butterflies were really very tame.

Though mostly the sporadic sunshine kept them basking, there were a few opportunities to see their extremely ornate and beautiful undersides.

Eventually, I had to tear myself away for the final part of the drive home.

Dave

[millerd]

Back home on Sunday 12th June, and another warm and fairly sunny day. Even after such a short break away, at this time of year I feel the need to catch up immediately with what's happening on my local patch.

I counted 12 species, including two new ones for the year here. One of these, Marbled White, was particularly good to see as they are a recent coloniser of this area and they do seem to be consolidating. The other (my first anywhere this year in fact) was the Small Skipper, ahead of its Essex cousin this time round. Meadow Browns were everywhere, still increasing in number - I lost count at around 75 today, and I also managed an impressive Common Blue tally of 25.

The Small Skipper was happy to show off its identity unambiguously...

There were two Marbled Whites, both fresh and both in the same bit of grass. They also posed well, as there was a cloudy spell which becalmed them.

For all their abundance, Meadow Browns are nigh on impossible to photograph easily, but I didn't entirely ignore them.

There were still some fairly fresh examples in amongst the Common Blues, despite it getting into the latter part of their first brood.

A few Holly Blues were still laying, also now well at the end of their first brood.

One or two other species that appeared...

Seeing Small Tortoiseshells on every local walk is still a bit of a welcome novelty this year!

Dave

[Wurzel]

Even more brilliant Swallowtails and then the variety shown by those Heaths - awesome!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Wurzel! There were just so many Heath Fritillaries it was really difficult to decide where to point the camera. When conditions are right, it has to be perhaps the easiest species to photograph. ("So why do you take so many lousy shots?" I hear you ask... )

Having spent the morning catching up with my local patch, I went out a bit further for the afternoon of 12th June. I went to Bookham first, to look for the vanguard of the White Admirals and perhaps their usual comrades-in-arms, the Silver-washed Fritillaries. Curiously, I found good numbers of the former and none of the latter at all.

The final part of the day was spent only a stone's throw away on the other side of Cobham, at Fairmile Common. Here there were a few more Silver-studded Blues than there had been on my previous visit on 4th. Still no females that I (or any of the males) could spot.

The late afternoon light seemed to intensify the colour (which is particularly variable in this species under different lighting conditions).

Dave

[trevor]

Some very successful and varied trips out recently Dave, and some great shots from each one.
Hopefully we will have another chance to catch up with His Majesty, next week is looking good.
Another one was found later pm on the day we went.

Happy hunting!,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

"So why do you take so many lousy shots?" I hear you ask... "...I would never even entertain the thought Dave

Cracking set of White Admirals from the most recent trip - I really need to get out this weekend to try and catch up, 'Work' (remember that?) keeps getting in the way and is taking up far too much of my time

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Thank you, Wurzel! I like to try and have at least one session with White Admirals before they get too worn, but I think they had been out a few days so weren't quite as new as I'd have liked.

Monday 13th June was one of those days when I can get so absorbed by what's going on locally that I don't actually go anywhere else. With over 200 butterflies flying (and 15 species represented) in warm and largely sunny conditions, it's not surprising. A tally:

Meadow Brown 100 (est.)
Common Blue 35
Small Heath 30
Red Admiral 7
Holly Blue 6
Small Skipper 5
Comma 5
Small Tortoiseshell 5
Brown Argus 5
GVW 4
Large Skipper 4
Speckled Wood 3
Marbled White 2
Small White 2
Large White 1

Looking back now, I seem to have made a particular study of the two species of skipper.

The Small Skippers were all very new, and with no Essex Skippers out yet to confuse things, it was an ideal time to concentrate on just what this species looks like.

What is evident is that quite often the top of a Small Skipper's antennae is actually almost entirely black, though as soon as the underside is visible the orange-buff of the tip is as plain as anything (though it may have a black border). This does mean that 100% positively IDing a female butterfly (where there are no sex brands for differentiating species) requires a clear view from below. Luckily the handful I saw today were pretty obliging in this regard.

No ID issues with Large Skippers, and the individuals flying today were striking some great poses.

Almost all the Large Skippers I see are concentrated in one short stretch of sheltered path. This their view of it.

They will chase anything that moves along here, the favourite target being Commas - a few of the old guard were still around...

...and the new ones just appearing.

This bit of path is also where I saw the Large Tortoiseshell, so it's certainly seen a bit of action.

The rest of the images from the day I'll post separately.

Dave

[millerd]

13th June - my local patch. The best of the rest.

One Brimstone caterpillar remained on the buckthorn I'd found.

One of the relatively few white butterflies seen today, but an attractive pose.

Very tired-looking now.

A lot flying, but very few as whole as this one.

A beautiful new female.

One of five seen - the renaissance continues.

Another new example - amid the highest figure seen for a while.

Red Admiral numbers are creeping up as immigrants mingle with locally bred individuals.

Another new butterfly - good to see a few more of these locally again.

One of the throng - a new female...

...and that surprisingly unusual sighting - a mating pair.

Nothing rare or strikingly different, but a good day - and I would not be back locally for several days.

Dave

[millerd]

Tuesday 14th June continued the warm and sunny theme, and I drove initially down to Chiddingfold for one of my usual curtain-raiser visits prior to what Trevor calls the "Silly Season"...

Things were really rather quiet, with highlights being my first Ringlet of 2022 (heralding summer) and a couple of rather feeble Wood Whites (ushering out spring).

The female Wood White was particularly lethargic, keeping very close to the ground as if looking for places to lay - but I didn't see her do so. It is possible I suppose that she had no more eggs to lay, but instinct drove her to continue to go through the motions. As she was so easy to follow, I tried to capture open-wing in-flight shots - with a modicum of success too. I'm guessing that she flapped so slowly and remained within the plane of focus (which would likely have been the background foliage) that she was relatively sharp more often than you'd expect.

I was a bit puzzled by the spot halfway along the leading edge of the forewings, and can't work out whether it is actually made up of dark scales or is an absence of white ones caused by something getting between the wings when the butterfly was at rest. The apical smudge is normal, being very pale on spring brood females.

With some time in hand, I returned to the A3 and drove a few miles down the road to Thursley Common.

Dave

[millerd]

14th June: Thursley. In the ten days since my last visit here, more Silver-studded Blues had appeared, but almost exclusively males. I found one fresh female, but she didn't hang around and my only shot was purely for the record.

However, there were still not as many as I have seen in previous years, rather matching my experience at Fairmile.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Interesting Wood White Dave, it could just be my dirty screen but there seems to mark on the hind wings too that follows the 'curve' (it shows up best on the second shot) so could it be down to something getting caught between the closed wings and rubbing off the scales ? Either way the second brood will be out soon won't it Next year I might drive over for them myself, if I can get my second mortgage so I can afford the fuel that is

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Wurzel - I think you could be right about the Wood White. There's one shot where that mark actually looks transparent rather than black.

With continuing decent weather I decided on Wednesday 15th June to head for the North Downs, starting at Denbies.

I should have anticipated this really, but the sunshine had revved up all the butterflies, and though there were a good number of both Marbled Whites and Dark Green Fritillaries, they really weren't stopping for more than a split second. The Red Admiral (unusually) was pretty well all I saw sitting still.

I moved on across the valley to Box Hill, expecting more of the same, but by then it was a bit later in the day and the butterfly behaviour was subtly different. There were also a lot more Marbled Whites, and every available knapweed flower seemed to be occupied. Every now and again, a DGF would think about landing on one of these flowers, but not once would it contemplate displacing a Marbled White. They are very unaggressive butterflies.

In the end, it was the DGFs that provided most interest, and perhaps the largest number of underside shots I've ever had of the species. Heading for Burford Spur as usual, I found them nectaring on the brambles by the old fort - which is a very sheltered spot - and then charging around the open downland as usual.

Whilst following them to patches of thyme where they didn't have to compete with the Marbled Whites for nectar, I came across a part of the slope which was covered with low-growing kidney vetch. Sure enough, (though hard to spot in the bright sunshine, especially when your eyes have been tuned to follow big orange butterflies rather than tiny dark/shiny ones) there were a handful of Small Blues.

After this bonus, I turned my attention more fully to the DGF, but I think they deserve their own separate post.

Dave