July 2022

[Greenie]

Visited Chiddingfold with fellow enthusiast Keith on Friday , in search of Purple Emperor . After 3+ hours searching , one ' possible ' , one 'probable ' and one ' positive ' , in the Sallows just before the Botany Bay entrance , and that was high up , was all that we found .
Good numbers of SWF and WA , but most were getting past their sell by date .
Consolation were 30+ mint fresh 2nd. brood Wood Whites .

This morning at 0700 , I visited a Purple Hairstreak patch on Hayes Common . During the hour on site , I had 18 sightings , 9 of which came down below head height , several landing on the short grass in front of the Oaks , and seemed to be searching for moisture amongst the grass roots .

[Andy02]

They are on their way. Geranium Bronze yesterday in a Brighton garden

[Testudo Man]

2nd brood Small Blues are now on the wing here in Kent.

3 were seen this last Saturday (only a couple of "out of focus"/blurred pics obtained) so not worth posting up those images!

Location - Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent. Cheers Paul.

[Stevieb]

Nice Silver-washed Fritillary valezina this morning and another White-letter Hairstreak. Sandridge Common, Wiltshire

19th July

19th July

19th July

19th July

19th July

[David M]

Nice morning's work, Steve.

[Matsukaze]

Yesterday the first new-brood Common Blue in the garden. Today the first new-brood Brimstone; as the summer generation did last year, she was nectaring on Dianthus carthusianorum to the exclusion of everything else in the garden. I'll be encouraging this plant in future.

[Ian Pratt]

Just back from a wonderful 12 day trip to Bulgaria with 146 different species of butterfly seen. I can recommend this book for identifying European butterflies.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Butterflies-Br ... 147296053X

[Stevieb]

Found this male Gatekeeper ab. postexcessa this morning. Sandridge Common, Wiltshire

2oth July

[Jack Harrison]

Orange Tip wanderlust.

I checked my Badger 'trap' but it was blank last night. Earlier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=639dm9XCwDM

I was about to wind the tripod away but just in time....

I had been breeding Orange Tips indoors and clearly a larva had escaped.

Jack

[David M]

Amazing find, Jack. Looks perfectly at home there!

[Stevieb]

A few from this morning. Hazelbury Common, Wiltshire

21st July

21st July

21st July

21st July

21st July

21st July

On the lookout for butterflies on the other side of the wall

[Jack Harrison]

My wandering Orange Tip.

In the 1970s I went to Malta frequently when we would take our Hercules aircraft to train new pilots the skills of night flying.  That gave me plenty of time off during the day.  I got to know Maltese lepidopterist Anthony Valletta.  One day I visited his house.  Tony spoke good English but his wife only Maltese.  By using much sign language, Mrs.V showed me - clearly not hiding a degree of annoyance - several Swallowtail chrysalises in various locations around the house.  Tony bred Swallowtails in industrial quantities and inevitably there were escapes.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Geriatric Peacock on buddleia 22nd July

I was moved to comment to my wife: "I wonder if he's as deaf as I am?".

Jack - butterflying since 1945

[David M]

Thursday 21st, Alun Valley, Glamorgan:

Hedge Brown 60-80
Ringlet 30-50
Meadow Brown 20-30
Common Blue 6-10
High Brown Fritillary 6
Dark Green Fritillary 5
Small Heath 3
Comma 3
Speckled Wood 3
Large White 2
Small White 2
Silver Washed Fritillary 1
Green Veined White 1
Peacock 1

[Deborah]

I was very happy to find both Short and Long-tailed Blues on the same very local site here in Brittany. (Thanks for confirming ID David M).

[David M]

Nice combo, Sarah.

[Testudo Man]

16 species seen yesterday at Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent.
Including a few fresh Brimstone, an 2 "strays"!!...as in- a female DGF, an a Clouded Yellow!
Im still seeing very small (in size) female Common Blues too! some of these females are smaller than a Brown Argus. Also, seeing brown coloured female Common Blues as well (rather than the blue forms of late).

Grab shot of that Clouded Yellow. Image is cropped some.

Examples of brown coloured female Common Blues. 1st image is a normal size female, but the 2nd image is of a real tiny female...Both stunners though!
These 2 images are not cropped. Taken several days ago, but location was still Darland Banks. Cheers Paul.

[Allan.W.]

Eyes peeled everyone ! Two Q of S Fritillary reported from Kent today ,one at a field edge at High Halden ,and one at Thornden Wood (west )
part of the Blean woodlands .Also of interest a recently expired Large Tortoiseshell ,found in a polytunnel (in Kent ) .All on Kent Butterflies facebook page.

[David M]

Interesting stuff, Allan.

After that run of southerlies there may be quite a few more migrants than usual these next few weeks.

[Trev Sawyer]

Yes... and at least 2 Continental Swallowtails (CAMBS and Essex) and a Long-Tailed Blue (Thames) within the last week or so.
Maybe a month early, but Camberwell Beauty anyone?