Pauline

[Pauline]

All this debate about the BVW has brought back memories for me from 2007. I hadn't long been 'into' butterflies and had tried incredibly hard, but without success, to see a WLH. I had already failed miserably at Hollingbury Park having waited under an Elm for 5 hours!!!! I was informed that they could be seen around a particular Elm at Stockbridge Down so armed with very precise directions - both to the location and the Elm tree - I set out full of hope and optimism. As I entered the site I started counting my paces along the track (yes, the directions were that detailed!) but when I looked up I saw to my left a number of folk with cameras all seemingly very excited. On approaching them I was told there were several BVW in the area. I was also told that gthey were most likely to be releases but that a very long time ago they had in fact existed at that site. I never did see the WLH but I was very pleased to come away with a few shots of a different butterfly:

[Pauline]

Just a few from the garden now. The Brimstone and OT cats are doing well so far:

[Pauline]

The good news is Magnet finished his medication today:

However, for various reasons still can't get further than Bramshott at the moment and still can't find any female SSB's so a few more images of the males:

[millerd]

Good to see those SSB, Pauline. I tried both Thursley (today) and Fairmile Common (yesterday) and drew a complete blank for the species at both locations.

Dave

[Pauline]

I'm sure you'll catch up with them soon Dave (if you haven't already). I think it was the 3rd I saw the first one. I've been watching the Dingy Skippers there, as you know. This is the story of the egg to date:

Laid on 30/5:

Colour change 4/6:

Still orange 8/6:

Signs that hatching was imminent, 9/6:

Larva starting to emerge, 10/6:

Turned my back to see my first Large Skipper of the season and just missed the main event!!! There's a lesson to be learnt there!

A few shots of the tiny larva, minutes after emergence as he looks to make his 'tent':

[Wurzel]

Fantastic shots of the SSB and BVW Pauline Great to see that they're out over that way as that'll mean a trip to Slop Bog for me soon Great to see the Dingy cat as well - when I saw the shot of the adult at the end of the post I couldn't help thinking "they grow up so fast"

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Cheers Wurzel - there seems to be lots of species emerging now including Black and Purple Hairstreak. My latest 'newbie' for the season seen for the first time today was the Large Skipper - several, all stunningly fresh. Just couldn't resist them:

and a few other odds and sods from recent days:

[David M]

The good news is Magnet finished his medication today..

Delighted to hear that, Pauline.

Well done with those SSBs - lovely job.

[Pauline]

Thank you David - as you might have guessed my time out is still very limited but I managed 90 mins today which included travelling time. In 30 mins I was very happy to see 3 new species for this year but photo opportunities were limited and a strong breeze didn't help. There was no sign of the target species but I was just happy to be out. The species seen was Essex Skipper, Small Skipper and Marbled White.

On my jeans:

Venue:

[Wurzel]

Fantastic to see the Smessex are out, they don't usually hang about once the Large Skippers are out Cracking shots of the 'ink dabs' and 'indicators'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Mark Tutton]

Hi Pauline- Guess you you may have been checking for WLH but interesting you have seen Essex Skipper in the area
Cheers
Mark

[Pauline]

Cheers Wurzel - I did get a good shot of the ES black tips but accidentally deleted it on the camera. I had forgotten about this one too: a SS with a bit of plant on his proboscis (can't remember what part of the plant but something to do with pollen?)

Hi Mark - good to hear from you. You've told me in the past that you sometimes see my car here so you know exactly where I was . You are also right about me looking for WLH . I expect you are also aware that the WLH at this site are usually about 7-10 days later than the Cosham site which Paul reported on recently. Over the years I have come to realise that the Essex Skippers are always out here before the WLH (usually more ES than Small and Large put together). If I visit and don't see any ES I know I am way too early for WLH. They shouldn't be too long now but whether I can fit in a return visit remains to be seen.

[Pauline]

It was back to Bramshott today and since my last visit the females have started to emerge:

Later in the day I had cause to drive past another SSB site (Broxhead) which is a more typical environment with lots of heather. I stopped off briefly but could only find a couple of males:

[Wurzel]

Lovely to see the female Silver-studs Pauline - to my mind they're much more attractive than the males, there's something about the honeyed underside ground colour that nicely contrast with their (generally ) bigger an bolder studs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

It was back to Bramshott today and since my last visit the females have started to emerge...

Absolutely stunning they are too, Pauline. Great images.

[Pauline]

Cheers Wurzel - I think I might agree with you there They are a bit more difficult to locate tho' unless they are egg-laying.

Thank you David - much appreciated. Unfortunately the following images are what I would call 'snapshots' or record shots - taken in a hurry at a great distance so massively cropped - but as they are my first in the season and my time was very limited it was the best I could do:

and a couple of Skippers for good measure as they are now everywhere!

[Neil Freeman]

...Unfortunately the following images are what I would call 'snapshots' or record shots - taken in a hurry at a great distance so massively cropped...

That describes an awful lot of my shots these days
I would be chuffed with that SWF underside, they always seem to be in part shadow for me.

Cheers,

Neil

[David M]

You may be mildly dissatisfied with your latest images, Pauline, but trust me, I'd accept those shots of Ringlet anytime!

I've seen two so far this month and haven't got close to either!!

[Pauline]

You're being way too modest again Neil. Those shots of Swallowtails were gorgeous and a little bit different from the norm.

You're being very kind David but I don't feel on top of my game at the moment. I did however manage a slightly better image of a Ringlet yesterday but just missed a great shot of my first WA of the season leaving me frustrated for the rest of the day! Mating Meadow Browns just didn't compensate.

[Pauline]

Anybody got any idea what this is?

A couple of Longhorn beetles seen locally, Black and Yellow Longhorn and Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn which I last saw in 2015:

and a Skipper which is not what it may initially seem!