millerd

[millerd]

Bookham is almost always good for Brown Hairstreak, Trevor, but it is a big area with several hotspots (though they can turn up anywhere as there is a lot of blackthorn). It's not far from the Black Hairstreaks at Epsom, but it appears there may not be enough suitable habitat in between for them to spread down from there. Bookham is extremely good for Purple Hairstreaks; the odd WLH and Green have been found as well - and then add all the other species and you have a cracking site.

That visit to Bookham on 1st was pretty good, but the next one on 7th was even better. However, there are a few days to go over before that, including another visit to Denbies on 3rd August.

A bit warmer and sunnier than the 2nd, but as often happens along the North Downs, westerly winds led to the annoyance of clouds building directly over the ridge and moving slowly east along it while sunshine was all around. The River Mole Gap between here and Box Hill can disrupt this and make the latter spot sunnier than Denbies. But I digress...

The sun/cloud mix did actually make getting shots of the many Chalkhill Blues a bit easier as it becalmed them and caused them to open up nicely.

There were more females around than last time I was here...

...and several pairings.

One female in particular sported quite prominent silvery-blue "studs" on the underside hindwings.

However, today was not just about the Chalkhills: Silver-spotted Skippers were now out, albeit in small numbers and as yet only on the sheltered slope at the eastern extreme of the site, beyond Steers Field.

There was also one bonus still to come. Back on the main slope, on my final pass before heading off, a flash of brilliant blue interrupted the usual diet of milky-blue of the Chalkhills: the first of the second brood Adonis males.

Even so, the day really belonged to the Chalkhill Blues - the essence of high summer chalk downland.

Dave

[Wurzel]

That really is a Silver-studded Chalkhill Dave it's even got them under the orange lunules I probably rate this species over the Adonis, much more interesting to look at

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

That really is a Silver-studded Chalkhill Dave it's even got them under the orange lunules I probably rate this species over the Adonis, much more interesting to look at

The silver-studded version is not uncommon at Denbies, Wurzel, and I suspect it was given a name by the good old Victorians (like all the many variations of the Chalkhill Blue... ). It is this immense variety that makes the species so interesting, as well as its intrinsic beauty - no two are quite alike.

As I returned home on 3rd August, sunshine and temperature increased, and there was time to nip out locally again and see three more species of blue (I always include Brown Argus as a blue). I'd not seen many Common Blues at Denbies, so it was good to see a couple of fresh males close to home.

this one has black marginal hindwing spots

The second brood Brown Argus have been out a bit longer and are showing just a little bit of wear.

a hint of snelleni about this one

I couldn't forget the Hollies - a male puddling again...

...and I think this one indulging in blackberry brandy is a female.

This female Speckled Wood seems to be eyeing up a nice ripe berry as well.

Dave

[millerd]

The next couple of days were cool, cloudy, and on 5th August, stormy. Nevertheless I went out seeking butterflies at some point on both days.

On 4th, I just concentrated on one or two Red Admirals.

I encountered one individual which persisted in apparently challenging me. It kept landing immediately in front of me, and each time I took a step it took off and landed again right in front of me. An amusing interlude.

On 5th, I was amazed to find anything at all, even though I chose the only brief dry interval of the day.

There were some dramatic skies...

Dave

[millerd]

6th August was a much better day - far more sunshine (though only a fraction warmer). Though there was far more to see today, as so often happens here the Holly Blues hijacked proceedings, with it being the turn of the females to hog the limelight. One in particular was laying on the developing ivy flower buds, and was not going to be put of by a camera lens a few centimetres away.

Eventually, she decided to open up that bit more.

A less new female nearby tried to grab some attention, but only succeeded briefly.

For once, the males weren't just sitting in puddles but were up on the foliage showing off as well.

I can't be sure about these few.

I shall need another post for the rest of the day's sightings...

Dave

[millerd]

6th August - the best of the rest.

Though the Hollies dominated, both Commas and Speckled Woods did their best to provide some variety. The Commas flying were quite a mix of new and older hutchinsoni individuals...

...and at least one that was the standard version and destined to hibernate.

By the look of it, this one might even have been one that hibernated last winter...

The Specklies were a mix of males and females, with quite a bit of variation in colouring (though variable lighting makes a difference too).

A few other odds and sods from the day...

However, one sadder moment was finding what turned out to be the last Essex Skipper I saw locally this year.

Still, they had another good year here.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Cracking Blues Dave - Holly,Common and the Brown Argus with the touch of ab.snelleni about it You're fast approaching the Shipton trip - although that could mean 9 more reports still to go oh, to be retired

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Wurzel - there's a big report coming up now...

7th August looked as if it would be warm and sunny, so I decided that the Bookham Brown Hairstreaks would be making the most of it, and after a good showing of males a few days earlier, there would be some females in the mix too.

My hopeful assumption turned out to be spot on - over the course of the middle of the day, I counted around 15 to 20 different butterflies, of which around half a dozen were females. They also proved to be very obliging for the camera - to the extent that I took more photos at one site than I have for a long while, perhaps ever. Sorting through them has taken a while, and selecting which to post has been even trickier. In no particular order, here goes...

My best day ever with this splendid species!

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

Glorious collection of Brown ones there, Dave. Looks like I need to add Bookham to my site list for next year!

[bugboy]

Brown Hairstreaks really were one of the stars of the season this year weren't they, never known them to be so numerous!

[millerd]

Amazingly with all those Brown Hairstreaks, I found time to glance at a few other species at Bookham on 7th August.

In fact, looking back, the first butterfly I saw on the day was this unusual Small Copper: a pathological ab., I suspect.

A striking little chap, none the less, and a good curtain-raiser for the Hairstreak festival that followed.

Dave

[Allan.W.]

Some superb Brown Hairstreak shots there Dave .............nicely captured ! I really must try harder for them next season !
Love the pale winged Copper also ,funnily enough i found one (actually 2 !) almost identical to your one this year at Dungeness .........Nice one !
Regards Allan.W.

[millerd]

Glorious collection of Brown ones there, Dave. Looks like I need to add Bookham to my site list for next year!

It's definitely worth a visit, Mark, though 2023 has been exceptional for Brown Hairstreaks here. It's a great site for Purple Hairstreaks as well!

Brown Hairstreaks really were one of the stars of the season this year weren't they, never known them to be so numerous!

They have been terrific this year, Paul, and were possibly more numerous than anything else on 7th (excepting Gatekeepers!).

Some superb Brown Hairstreak shots there Dave .............nicely captured ! I really must try harder for them next season !
Love the pale winged Copper also ,funnily enough i found one (actually 2 !) almost identical to your one this year at Dungeness .........Nice one !

Cheers, Allan - to be honest, a lot of those Hairstreaks were just sitting there asking for their pictures to be taken. Nectaring males especially don't move much once they have settled down for a good feed.
That was a very strange looking Copper, too - a nice little "extra" for the visit.

As I came away from Bookham having almost had a surfeit of Brown Hairstreaks, I realised that it was still only midday. The weather remained pretty good, even though it was a bit cloudier now, and I headed the back way down to Box Hill, mainly to see how the Silver-spotted Skippers were doing.

I headed for the slopes east of the viewpoint, and immediately after passing through the gate I saw that there was a lot of flowering hemp agrimony - almost as much a butterfly magnet as buddleia. Lo and behold, there was the first butterfly, and with so much practice over the morning it was easy to identify as a male Brown Hairstreak. This was the first I've seen here, though to be honest I've never really looked for them: I probably would have walked right past this one if my eyes hadn't been tuned into the species!

Lower down the hillside I found the species I was looking for...

They were by no means numerous, just a few fresh males. In fact, there weren't all that many butterflies here at all.

One surprise was finding a relatively fresh female Marbled White. It moved in short bursts of flight with short pauses, and I suspect she was dropping off eggs in the haphazard manner of the species. One pause for a rest was just enough for a portrait.

There remained just one more surprise - back at the top of the slope I spotted a Purple Hairstreak wandering around on the brambles.

Two unexpected Hairstreaks sums up the visit really.

Dave

[trevor]

Another Hairstreak extravaganza there Dave, some great shots too.
Same goes for the fresh Holly Blues

Trevor,

[Wurzel]

Fantastic Brostreak shots Dave - that first open wing female gurt lush!
Really interesting to see the Small Copper. It probably is just a 'pathological' but I sometimes wonder if there is some genetic aspect where certain genes are turned on in certain places as the whole wing is affected, almost as if the gene for the orange colour hasn't been 'switched on' I mean there are partial gynandromorphs so I wonder if pigmentation could work in a similar fashion?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Trevor and Wurzel! This year's Hairstreaks were particularly easy, and I was not done with the species quite yet as you both no doubt remember...

9th August. The weather forecast didn't disappoint, and it was time for the annual expedition to Shipton Bellinger for another dose of Brown Hairstreaks, and a meet-up with Trevor and Wurzel, and as it turned out Dan from the Black Hairstreak gathering at Epsom back in June.

Wurzel will no doubt chronicle the day better than I can, but I remember that it wasn't long before a male Hairstreak was happily nectaring on the wild parsnip. This butterfly remained there on and off throughout the morning, undisturbed by a series of folk getting images from all angles.

In the end it was largely ignored...

After the initial concentration on the main hedgerow, we ranged out a bit to one or two other hotspots, and other likely-looking stands of Blackthorn. At one point Trevor was out of sight getting some terrific shots of a female Brown Hairstreak and a Brown Argus sharing a flower, but by the time I got there she had flown. We soon found another female, unfortunately a bit damaged on one side.

At one point the butterfly was hemmed in on both sides...

...but this time my side was the better one.

Another female appeared and watched our antics from a tree.

Eventually she came down a bit closer.

There was also at least one more male. This one was a little more worn than the first one seen, but posed just as readily.

There were a few other butterflies, but not as many as I remembered from other years, or the variety.

However, a couple of moths added to the day - firstly what I believe is a White Point...

...and in an unfamiliar resting pose, a Hummingbird Hawk.

In the end a particularly sociable outing and at times the butterflies were an almost incidental part of proceedings. Great to see you all again and catch up. Maybe another gathering (by the Sussex seaside this time) may happen soon...

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

That was a cracking day Dave, with Brostreaks on tap almost! Just as we'd have had our fill of one another one would turn up! I think they must have worn themselves out with posing though as the next day we managed a paltry number of sightings
You definitely had the better side of the female Brostreak

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Indeed it was, Wurzel: the right weather, excellent company, and a generous portion of the target species. A shame you didn't do so well the following day - it was a very warm and sunny one (I see from my local walk records for 10th).

After that series of Hairstreak-filled trips out, I stayed local for 10th August which was a "proper" summer day - 10 hours of sunshine and up to 26 degrees. I came across 14 species, but nothing out of the ordinary other than the fact that Brown Argus numbers had jumped to 29 (accounting for nearly a quarter of the butterflies seen). They appeared all over the place, and though their numbers had increased too, they outnumbered Common Blues two to one. Interestingly this has been the case for a few years now: beyond about five years ago, Common Blues were far more numerous. Here are a few of each, Brown Argus first.

This one was down seeking out tiny cranesbills...

...and laying on them.

I rather liked this pose, antennae right down and focused on the task in hand.

Common Blues, including one male with black spots along its hindwing margins and a very brown female.

It was good to see a couple of Small Coppers. There are never large numbers here, but two or three pop up almost anywhere on a lot of my walks.

Unusually, the Holly Blues took a back seat, maybe because of the additional sunshine - they prefer the shade in hot weather.

However, they are very partial to pink bramble flowers.

There have been hardly any Small Heaths flying here since the end of June, so it was good to find a couple today. This one was quite sandy coloured.

Finally, I had to include a Red Admiral. Numbers had dropped in the last few weeks, but were still well into double digits. That glorious underside for a change...

Dave

[millerd]

The decent spell of weather continued on 11th August, and I went up to Aston Rowant once again. It was good to see fresh Adonis and fresh Chalkhills flying together without the latter outnumbering the former to the extent that they do at Denbies.

One Chalkhill was very new indeed and very docile.

I also looked for Silver-spotted Skippers, but as others have commented they were few and far between on a day that should be right in their peak flight period.

Dave

[Goldie M]

Fantastic series o shots Dave Goldie