Trevor

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. As I read your reply I was thinking that Tilshead must be buzzing
with Blues right now, I was a bit early a couple of weeks ago.

The butterfly drought continues around here David.................

Yesterday afternoon I went over to Herstmonceux to collect my season ticket.
I had time to explore the gardens and some of the surrounding wild areas.
All I saw was a Large and a Small White on the wing, but was pleased to see
a female Wall Brown land near a path. I had to over expose the shot of the Wall
as the sun was on the wrong side of the butterfly.

This evening I went over to Park Corner and was pleased to find my first Large Skipper
of the year, but saw nothing else. Fearing for the SPBF there.

[David M]

The butterfly drought continues around here David.................

Sorry to hear that, Trevor.

I'm beginning to wonder whether it's some kind of extinction event round my way, so bad has it become.

[trevor]

It's still poor butterfly wise around here David, compounded possibly by no rain
at all for over 4 weeks. The drought and heatwave last year may have affected
this years populations of some species.

For a change of scene we went to Hutchinsons Bank in Surrey early this morning.
After a slow, cloudy start, the Glanville Fritillaries started to appear.
Even as it started to warm up they spent ages basking on the ground.
We also saw some worn Small Blues, a fresh male Adonis Blue, male and female
Brimstones and a fresh Large Skipper.
I particularly enjoyed a fine display of wild roses along one of the paths.

[Wurzel]

Good to see you managed to find some butterflies Trevor Things have been a bit strange this year, some species seem to be well down but others are having the time of their life. I was at Priddy today and there were 6 or 7 Small Pearls on the hillock but there were loads more flying along the main path, at one pint I was surrounded by a dozen or more - something I've not seen before. We do get a bit more of the wet stuff over this side of the country so perhaps this is why?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. Good to read of your luck with the Small Pearls.
As far as I am aware the SPBF at our local site, Park Corner, have failed to appear so far.
My personal theory links this to the drought and heatwave of last summer. The females
no doubt laid their eggs, but what chance for early life stages in those hot dry conditions.
It's comforting to read that SPBF are doing well in the Wyre forest and in Somerset.

[David M]

It's still poor butterfly wise around here David...

Can't really be poor if you can get out and see a few Glanvilles, Trevor.

Nice break from the normal routine.

[trevor]

I had to travel for the Glanvilles David, not local, almost South London.

[trevor]

This morning I drove over to Ditchling Common to try my luck with the Black Hairstreak.
After some early success, only high speed fly pasts were seen as the heat built.
One specimen in particular posed a problem, as it landed with the sun behind it.
The only option was to drastically overexpose the shot. The result could be described
as ' interesting '. As I was about to leave a beautiful Gold Finch, perched on Hawthorn,
was just in range of my camera.

[Katrina]

Unusually for me I prefer the Goldfinch shot to the Hairstreak! Very pretty. Any sign of Purple Hairstreaks?

[essexbuzzard]

Me too. What a shame it wasn’t a couple of weeks ago, when the hawthorn blossom was out. No pleasing some people...

[Wurzel]

Still did okay with that first shot Trevor Fingers crossed for Epsom on Saturday

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Thanks Mark. The year is flying by. The berries are forming on that Hawthorn,
and we're approaching the longest day!.

Cheers Wurzel. Here's hoping you have a great day at Epsom ( Somebody else did apparently! )

Thanks Katrina, just for you, another shot of the Goldfinch.

[trevor]

Acting on a tip off that during the hot weather the Black Hairstreaks start landing early.
So this morning I arrived at Ditchling just before 7am. After a short wait I saw the first
BH land on an Oak leaf, and within moments another guy spotted one land on bracken.
Action was regular until about 9.30, when like yesterday things started to go quiet.
Two Large Skippers didn't help matters as they rose up to challenge any potential BH landings.

The first image of the morning was of a large Raven perched in a tree. Later the Raven
raided my bag and was seen by another visitor flying off with my bag of crisps!

[millerd]

Nice hairstreaks from Ditchling, Trevor! The hot sun seems to have played around with their established flight schedules - I was at Epsom yesterday until seven in the evening and the males were still really active (and didn't come as close as their Sussex brethren did for you!).

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Great shots Trevor Thanks for the tip-off about them being early morning risers- hopefully it'll pay off on Saturday

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Fair play for getting to the site so early, Trevor. It certainly paid off!

[trevor]

Cheers Dave. The Ditchling BH behaved impeccably for the camera, if not always in an ideal position.
After about 9.30 all the action was high up with very few coming down, those that did were seen off
by the resident Large Skippers.

Fingers crossed for you Wurzel, sounds like you will have some expert company!

Thanks David. Early morning/late evening or nothing in this weather. I might take up rain dancing!

[David M]

Thanks David. Early morning/late evening or nothing in this weather. I might take up rain dancing!

Agreed. Finish by 10.30am if at all possible.

We're due some storms over the weekend. For once, I'm grateful.

[Wurzel]

Cheers Trevor It all worked out rather well in the end thanks to the input of three different UKB members (yourself included)

Have a goodun

Wurezl

[trevor]

Pleased it worked out, Wurzel. From start to finish the whole day must have been an endurance test.
Look forward to your shots.