Hi
Essex, I can’t imagine what you’re referring to… oh wait
Thanks
Wurzel, probably best to pace yourself, its more than just LTB’s waiting in the wings
You might be right
Trevor, there’ll be quite a few in the coming posts that you’ll recognise.
Thanks
Dave, I was very aware of the cliff edge, even more aware of the large cracks close to the edge but don’t worry, I wasn’t risking life and limb for that Wall (well perhaps a twisted ankle), he was half way up a chalky scree slope above the path I was on at the time and that picture is somewhat cropped. I have actually done a bit of climbing/abseiling on a fake wall. I was a combination of hopeless and terrified in equal portions, so never again
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
!
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September 2022
Disclaimer: The next few posts were all rather similar in regards of the location and ‘sport’ and over time have merged a bit in my memory, so exact details may not be quite as accurate as I think they are!
Sunday 18th. Well something seemed to be occurring on the south coast so it’s little surprise that I was to be found down there today. I found myself to be the first person walking along the seafront, camera in hand, avidly staring at the Tamarisk hedge. After twenty minutes or so I managed to find a rather battered male Long-tailed Blue at the junction of Seaview road where several records had come from in previous days. After a selection of snaps, I wandered back along the hedge where I came across a small gathering of local enthusiasts including a certain Mr. Hulme. The gathering was of course because another male was in attendance.
![IMG_0015.JPG (2.63 MiB) Viewed 253 times IMG_0015.JPG](./files/thumb_13753_eb438c94f915d77e50acc9d85f27d19c)
After a while the various enthusiasts went their separate ways leaving me, Neil and another who’s name is now lost to me to slowly peruse the seafront and see if we could get a better handle of what might be going on in LTB world at the moment. A third worn individual was seen fluttering along the Tamarisk, another feeding on some Aster on the shingle beach and I managed to chase down a nearby Cloudie.
Nothing much else was seen until we split up at the western end of the Parade at the junction of George V Avenue to search a few possible patches of tamarisk hedging. I came up blank, but some waving hands signalled the others had had better luck. The patch of shingle just to the west of the junction had not only a handful of ‘resident’ LTB’s but also around a dozen Clouded Yellow, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Common Blues and Small Coppers. The rich supply of nectar in the form of Red Valerian no doubt responsible for the surprising density.
Two of the Cloudies were
helice and one of the LTB looked very fresh, although we soon realised he’d had a mishap when emerging and had slightly wonky wings. This did however make him easily identifiable and in successive days he was as much a fixture here as Neil! Neil also found a freshly minted female but she didn’t hang around long enough for me to see her, I just had to make do with seeing Neil’s pictures and hide my seething jealousy! Still, I had two Cloudies feeding next to each other
![IMG_0147.JPG (152.88 KiB) Viewed 253 times Helice #1 ab. neideicki](./files/thumb_13753_3c938e506f183b47fd87e0dff99fe24f)
- Helice #1 ab. neideicki
![IMG_0185.JPG (111.77 KiB) Viewed 253 times Ol' wonky wing](./files/thumb_13753_e0a094ddd662bf083f19041c5b36eaaf)
- Ol' wonky wing
![IMG_0279.JPG (136.59 KiB) Viewed 253 times Helice #2](./files/thumb_13753_110ac55bc4c63b714232193891fd0ccb)
- Helice #2
Not realising just how important the patch of shingle would become we wandered further along, past the sailing club and down a grassy slope next to a car park. It was the large unkempt Tamarisk hedge that initially attracted our attention but there was also a patch of uncut grass which looked suitable as well. We got lucky and a freshly minted male appeared and perched in front of us for a short time.
![IMG_0310.JPG (130.31 KiB) Viewed 253 times IMG_0310.JPG](./files/thumb_13753_f0b0593be363129c4b5b8a3cbc1b6b19)
When it took to the air in hot pursuit of something and shot across the road into someone’s front garden, we both followed as fast as not getting run over allowed. It was likely he’d gone after a female but she seemed to have given him the slip and as a cloud passed over he settled in the middle of the lawn. After loitering and watching a tiny brown speck in the lawn with cameras in hand as unsuspiciously as possible (not something that’s particularly easy) the owner popped out and Neil went to explain what was going on. I suspect the interest shown was somewhat feigned, but at least the police didn’t turn up, so we were considered harmless weirdos at most. Eventually the sun reappeared, and our long wait was left wanting as he took to the air and vanished.
Back over the road a slightly more worn one was doing some patrolling and provided lots of photo opportunities, but our appetite was already whetted, and only freshly minted perfect specimens could satisfy us now.
And as if by magic, one appeared, well almost perfect. He appeared to be missing a single tail but otherwise virtually scale perfect. Like the last mint male, he didn’t hang around long.
We then headed back to the shingle where I got distracted trying to get upperside shots of Cloudies for a bit, mixed results but some I was happy with.
The LTB show was far from over though with yet another freshly emerged example appearing to join the several already here showing various degrees of wear and tear, indicating this hotspot may well have been occupied for some time before we ‘discovered’ it.
An end of day total of at least 18 seemed at the time quite remarkable but little did we know we’d only scratched the surface of what was going on here.
Edit: forgot to post this shot, a bonus
helice upperside