Trevor

[millerd]

Great pictures of the Dukes, Trevor, and aside from the pairing, one of the others looks distinctly aberrant (the last one). A for the pair of Grizzlies too. As an aside, I must have driven past you on my way from Storrington to Rewell Wood - I should have diverted up the hill!

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

Cheers Paul. Certainly my most enjoyable day of the year so far.
So much variety for a small site.

It's a good job you decided to carry on past the Kithurst turning, Dave.
Had you called in you would never have made it to Rewell !

[trevor]

Nectaring PBF yesterday.

[Wurzel]

That was a cracking day Trevor - hopefully the vanguard of good trips for the rest of the year I'm with Dave that last Duke looks good for an aberrant with those longer markings on the hind wing Cracking Grizzlies and DIngies
Marshies were out last Wednesday two hills over so by the weekend The Hill should be up and running

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. I'm over on Saturday, and the forecast looks reasonable ( we will see )!
I note Marshies have been seen in Dorset, good news that they are nearby too.

Fingers crossed,
Trevor.

[Neil Freeman]

Some lovely butterflies in your recent posts Trevor. Hard to pick any favourite but the Grizzled Skipper pair is a definite standout

...I must confess it got a little too busy for me after showing you the mating pair of Dukes. I had a feeling someone would move them. It was a bit of a shame as they did actually look extremely good where they were, and they were so content, but such is life!!

I really wish that people wouldn't do this, especially with mating pairs when they could so easily separate due to the disturbance. This is where the photograph becomes more important than the welfare of the butterflies. Even then I am not over keen on the result, too 'posed' and artificial looking for my tastes. Oh well! each to their own I suppose.

Cheers,

Neil.

[trevor]

Thanks Neil. I'm pleased your visit to the South was a success.
There are some great sites to visit in Sussex throughout the butterfly season.

And now for something completely different!

A Small White inside a white Tulip!

[Wurzel]

That is a magnificent shot Trevor
Lots of Marshies on 'Face-the-book' from Wilts today Trevor - hopefully from the right hill though

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. I've always reckoned 20th May there, and I'm going on the 21st.
Should that fail there's the 22nd and 23rd as well! Here's hoping.

[Wurzel]

Hope you had a cracking day Trevor - if it was anything near as good as the Saturday I'm sure that you did

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Great PBFs, Trevor. They absolutely love those bugle flowers.

[trevor]

Thanks Wurzel. Wilts was great, but I was a little early for some species.

There is plenty of Bugle for the Pearls there David, and SPBF soon.

[trevor]

Tilshead, Wilts.

I arrived mid afternoon on Saturday, too late for sensible photography, but to see what was around.
I found a Small Blue and a single male Adonis Blue, but many fresh Brown Argus.
So I set out early on Sunday morning to spot still roosting butterflies. They were easy to spot on
the swaying grass tips. With several Brown Argus still asleep in close proximity all I could do was
wait patiently for the first one to stir, but the strong breeze was making life difficult.
I also had to keep my eye on a nearby roosting Small Copper, when it opened up, one shot and it was gone!
Once all the Brown Argus had stirred I had time to explore the woodland edge, and soon found five
Green Hairstreaks without searching for them.
It was by now warming up so time to continue to Cotley Hill.............

[Wurzel]

Great shots Trevor I reckon your next report will be a right cracker!!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Here's a taster Wurzel.

[Wurzel]

Yeah I saw that on Face-the-book - cracking shot

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Absolutely perfect shot!

[trevor]

Many thanks Katrina. Talking about perfect shots there's always your ' Blues Hotel '!
Still love and envy that!

[Benjamin]

Oooo - that’s a beauty Trevor. A great photo of a really lovely butterfly. Looking forward to more…..

[trevor]

Wait no longer, Ben !

Obviously the Marsh Fritillary was the main reason for my Wiltshire visit.
This visit to Wilts was unfortunately cut short by a reoccurring illness that I must get sorted.
On arrival at Cotley Hill from Tilshead all was quiet on the Marsh front, and I was starting
to think that their emergence was delayed because of the earlier poor weather.
As I was thinking the above a Marsh Frit flashed past me, assisted by the strong breeze.
So having seen one I began a thorough search and soon found another basking in the long grass.
As time went on more appeared, and by mid morning some light fluffy cloud calmed them down,
and photography became easier, I even managed some shots with no vegetation in the way.
One shot I was pleased to get was a closed wing, I have a cloud to thank for that!
This was only my second ever closed wing shot.

The supporting cast will appear later............