millerd

[millerd]

4th October was almost a repeat of the 3rd, though it was a bit warmer. Once again there were around 50 butterflies seen, but with ten species represented today. Here is the league table:

Red Admiral 21
Common Blue 6
Speckled Wood 6
Small White 6
Brown Argus 3
Comma 3
Small Copper 2
Holly Blue 1
Large White 1
Peacock 1

I managed a shot of a male Large White again...

...and a female Small White.

However, this next butterfly had me humming and ha-ing...

In the end, in the absence of any closer shots or undersides, I plumped for a heavily marked Small White female.

There was another selection of male Common Blues, some getting a bit ragged around the edges...

...some not so much...

...and some newer Brown Argus.

I can't ignore the two Small Coppers seen either...

...the Specklies...

...or the single Holly Blue hiding up on the ivy.

This just left the big guys. A Comma accompanied the Red Admirals.

However, the final butterfly was first seen in the company of a Brown Argus, enjoying the thistles out on the grassland.

It turned out to be a beautiful new example, and therefore (given the date) most likely to be a second brood individual rather than a insomniac hibernator.

Another great Autumn day - though things would soon turn summery once again.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Crickey Dave your 'uming and ahhing' shots are getting closer and closer If that had been taken in Corfu I might have gone for that as SSW Great to see the fresh-ish looking Brown Argus

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Indeed, I do remember we met at Strumpshaw Fen, and the crowds around that flower bed.

[millerd]

It was a great day, Trevor.

Crickey Dave your 'uming and ahhing' shots are getting closer and closer If that had been taken in Corfu I might have gone for that as SSW Great to see the fresh-ish looking Brown Argus
Wurzel

I only post these shots of Small Whites to get you speculating, Wurzel... However, that one is a real contrast to the one above I have to agree. Brown Argus have gone on longer this year than usual, with a distinct third brood. I spotted one today (31st) in fact, but it wouldn't stay still.

I'll kick off my account of 6th October with another shiny new Brown Argus.

The temperature was rising again and the sun was shining, but though butterfly numbers overall remained at around the 50 mark, there were only eight species seen today. One of those was one not seen a couple of days before: a single fresh male Green-veined White...

...spotted amongst the Small Whites.

After the second brood (probably) Peacock on 4th, I counted four today.

There were 26 Red Admirals today, including some very new-looking ones (the second one of these two in particular).

It appeared to be a female, its abdomen stretched to bursting point with eggs. Last but not least, a couple of Small Coppers in formation.

Dave

[Wurzel]

I put your “umming and ahhing” shot into the Greek AI identification tool and it came back at 89% Small White Dave and they reckon anything about 85% is pretty much a sure thing and interestingly Large White had a higher confidence than Southern Small Still I tried

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Seems almost incongruous to have a spanking fresh Brown Argus so late in the season, Dave. Your suite of additional brooded species is an impressive one.

That Peacock is flawless too.

[millerd]

Seems almost incongruous to have a spanking fresh Brown Argus so late in the season, Dave. Your suite of additional brooded species is an impressive one...

I was great to keep seeing new butterflies so late in the year, David. It really didn't feel like the end of the season at all.

In fact, 7th October was back to summer again with temperatures up to 25 degrees and seven hours of sunshine (looking back, only two days in the whole of July were warmer than this... ). With seven Brown Argus and eight Common Blues spotted flying, that feeling was only reinforced. The Common Blues were a bit battered for the most part - they seem to damage themselves quite readily.

It takes a bit longer for the Brown Argus to become a bit scruffy...

...but there were some new ones as well. A male...

...and a lovely brand new female.

Another female was seen investigating what I guessed were cranesbill seedlings. I caught her as she emerged from under the tiny plantlets.

Sticking with the smaller butterflies, four Small Coppers were around as well.

I shall continue with the remaining butterflies in another post - not often a day in October requires this...

Dave

[millerd]

7th October continued...

Right back at the start of my walk today I was greeted at the gate by a duo of butterflies.

The Red Admiral soon departed, but the Comma remained and posed for its portrait.

A little further on was another Comma, one which ought to be recognisable in the spring by its wing damage - assuming it survives.

The Red Admirals all looked in fine fettle.

All three Whites and a Brimstone were seen today, but only a male Large White came near enough to be immortalised.

A Peacock was also camera-shy, so that left the Speckled Woods. One demonstrated graphically why it is inadvisable to sit on barbed wire too often...

...but another was not only whole, but fairly new as well.

Another good day locally, with over 50 butterflies seen again.

The forecast remained very encouraging, and with nothing else planned I felt a trip to the coast the following day would be a good idea...

Dave

[millerd]

I put your “umming and ahhing” shot into the Greek AI identification tool and it came back at 89% Small White Dave and they reckon anything about 85% is pretty much a sure thing and interestingly Large White had a higher confidence than Southern Small Still I tried

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you for that - Wurzel. We shall have to trust in the Great (Artificial) Intelligence, and to be honest Large White was my first thought about that butterfly...

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

You'll have to upload the image of that Comma to your phone so that you're able to identify it next season Dave That was a good haul from October

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Wurzel - I shall be looking out for it (I know where it lives... ). October has been very kind this year on my local patch, and my only excursion further afield was a cracker of a day - and that happens to be what's coming next.

Sunday 8th October: a summery weather forecast, no competing priorities and good reports from the Sussex Coast butterfly fraternity. There was no option, really.

I decided that the easiest (and possibly even the most productive) site would probably be Lancing Ring. No further than the trips I have done before to Mill Hill and Shoreham Harbour, and a convenient car park - it took less than 90 minutes to get there. However, it was my first trip and on arrival I had to guess my way through the network of paths until I heard voices from the other side of a hedge that sounded familiar. Lo and behold, there was Trevor, Neil H., Dan and several others - plus a selection of Long-tailed Blues.

There then followed an extremely relaxed and sociable few hours in excellent company and some entertaining butterflies, the highlight being a mating pair of LTB. They were first spotted when the male was harassing the female prior to mating, but the preamble wasn't all that long. I managed a few shots of the process from a distance.

A few better shots came as they relocated a couple of times.

They stayed coupled for about 45 minutes, and after the indecision about where they would prefer to perch, we all took it in turns to take many many photos of them. The fan club:

There were several other LTB around as well, and a fair few further photos - a separate post for that I think.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Fantastic shots Dave The markings on the undersides are quit mesmerizing when you look at them closely and possibly unique(?) brilliant to see. I'm looking forward to the other shots from what sounded like a brilliant day

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

A great report from a great day at Lancing, Dave. Great shots too.
I will remember 8th October for a very long time!

[millerd]

Cheers, Wurzel - LTB undersides are unlike any other British butterfly (their appearance here is now as regular as other migrants, and their breeding here seems to be an annual event now). They are a very charismatic little butterfly all round.

Thank you, Trevor - it was a real highlight of my butterfly year, and as you say will last long in the memory. More shots to come now...

After the allotted three-quarters of an hour, the butterfly couple parted and the male flew off. The female remained nearby, surrounded by eager worshippers all hoping that before she too disappeared she would open her wings and bask for a bit, as she looked to be a very new individual.

There was just the teasing glimpse...

...and then she was away no doubt to shortly cross the channel and take her burden of fertilised eggs to places that would stay warmer longer.

The peak of excitement over, it was now possible concentrate on the variety of males frequenting the same area. Some were quite worn...

...some much fresher.

One in particular was a deeper shade of blue than usual.

Eventually the group broke up and some of us wandered to a spot further up the hill where one or two other LTBs were flying. These were in the worn category and generally not settling in very accessible spots (or for very long). However, one awkward pose ended up as a more unusual shot

- a nice coda to a terrific day out in splendid company - both butterflies and people.

Dave

[trevor]

On 8th Oct, it was just three LTB's that really made my day.
Obviously the mating pair, and also that stunning deep blue male
as captured in your last three images. Great stuff!

[bugboy]

I remember that day well, I was at work but in contact with Neil trying to get the inside word over where best to go at the weekend. Words such as "mating pair" "swarms" and "20+" helped make my mind up. Unfortunately they'd all vanished overnight, just a few worn ones were present the following morning

[millerd]

Thank you once again, Trevor - that deep blue male was a real bonus after the pairing. It's great that this splendid little butterfly has become a regular part of the tailend of the season when most other things are declining.

"Mating pair" was spot on, Paul, but "swarms" and "20+" were a bit wide of the mark. I reckon I saw ten individuals at the most (though I've heard one or two more were seen in bits of the site I didn't visit). I suspect you were a bit unlucky though on the day, since there was nothing wrong with the weather on 9th.

In fact, 9th October was another day warmer (25 degrees) and sunnier (seven hours) than almost all of July. I stayed local (as I would for the remainder of the season at the time of typing this), and enjoyed the good numbers of butterflies still flying close to home.

Today's Common Blues included a female...

...and there was a fairly fresh Brown Argus too...

...and a couple of Small Coppers.

Red Admirals were the commonest species seen today...

...and there were a handful of Small Whites.

I'm still not certain whether the current appearance of Peacocks represents a new brood or they are just hibernators roused by the unseasonal warmth.

I'd seen a Brimstone on 7th, so it could well be the latter scenario.

Dave

[Allan.W.]

Enjoying your recent posts Dave .You certainly made the most of the Long -Tails this year ,with some excellent images . I must get out a bit more ! In Kent i only managed 2 ,a male that flashed around a hedgerow with Pea plants .........but just wouldn,t settle (before dissapearing !)
and a very worn female ,still .............pleased to see these ! Will have more time on my hands (hopefully !) this coming season !
Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

...One in particular was a deeper shade of blue than usual...

I've seen hundreds over the years, Dave, but never one as deep a shade of blue as that. Fabulous little butterfly.

[Wurzel]

Brilliant LTB's Dave I can't get over how 'hairy' they appear when fresh like a few of those - the ones I've seen on the continent always seem a little paler and 'balder'

Have a goodun

Wurzel