Goldie M

[essexbuzzard]

That last one looks like an Essex Skipper, Goldie. Well done!

[Goldie M]

Thanks for that essex, I can never tell the difference I know their antenna is Black but usually I know of no other features I think I'll nip to the park today it's near the sea and maybe a bit cooler for the Butterflies Goldie

[Wurzel]

Sterling work with the Skippers Goldie I'd go with Essex and say that is an Essex Skipper, as the Essex has a small, straight 'sex brand' on the fore wing, well on the male Essex at any rate. If it's thick and crooked it's not an Essex. I've just realised that a couple more uses of the word Essex and I could have the record for the most uses of the word Essex in a paragraph

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

I went to Castle Gardens today but no luck with the Butterflies, I saw only one White so I decided to go back to East Blean Woods and see if I could see a White Admiral. No Luck there.

I parked lower down this time and concentrated on being just inside the wood near the road ( less lonely) the Heath were there lots of them although some did look a bit worn this time, the weather was warm but cloudy at times which made for less activity which, gave me an advantage they were mostly still until the Sun came through then they made for the flowers or were mating , which got me a good shot of a mating pair

I moved further up the road later parking on the drive to the Wood where I found more Heath also another Skipper so I was well pleased with my day out Goldie

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel just seen your post Has you can see I went back to EBW today , like you said I've got a bucket full of Heath now

I got another Skipper today I wondered if that could be an Essex Skipper as well, it seems to have what you said in your description , I'm useless on Skippers I think we've got rain coming tomorrow , hope there's not too much I still want the Admiral Goldie

[Wurzel]

I would go for Small for that one as the sex brand is thick and crooked. Also if you look at the ends of the antennae would can see some orange, a bit like indicators on a car

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Thanks Wurzel, I think from now on , Straight and Crooked , a bit like me I should remember that Goldie

[David M]

Nice work with those Heath Fritillaries, Goldie. Good to have those not too far away from you.

[Goldie M]

Thanks David, I think they maybe finishing now, I still haven't seen a Gate Keeper yet which seems strange, hope fully they'll pop along soon

I went to Blean Woods in Blean Village today, there was loads of Ringlets and Meadow Browns, no Gate Keepers though, I was looking for the White Admiral I'd seen it before but it never landed so I was hoping I'd be in luck this time, I was, but it was always far away in the Trees, I still took some shots then one came swooping down, it momentarily landed and not to be out done I took some quick shots hoping they'd turn out okay

I'll try East Blean another day Goldie

[David M]

That's great, Goldie. Lovely to see those White Admirals.

[Goldie M]

Thanks David, I was certainly glad to see them I seem be getting shots of Butterflies slowly, hope it's nice tomorrow I'll be out again Goldie

[Wurzel]

You did well with the White Admirals Goldie They can be really flighty and also have a habit of flying around and around the same patch of Bramble looking like they're about to land...only they don't and swiftly bu££er off to a distant patch Looks like you caught that one out

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, that was my second time of going to Blean Village NR, I'd seen them then doing just that flying around landing quickly and taking off again
this time I was ready I set the camera on three quick shots and it did the trick

We've had lots of wind and rain here these last few days, I'm still waiting to see a Gate Keeper in my garden, last year I'd lots coming in, having said that the garden looks rather over grown at present I need help but every ones busy so I've asked a gardener to come in ( needs must ). Goldie

[Goldie M]

Today I finally found the Gate Keeper I decided to go to Monkton NR , I'd seen them there last year much earlier than July so I was hoping they'd be there,I wasn't disappointed

I also was hoping the Marble White might still be there as last time I didn't manage an open wing shot , they were there but not has many as before but I was happy to get an open wing shot I ended my adventure with a cream tea

On the way back I called at East Blean Woods, they're trying to make you go into the paying car park now by putting those road closure things in the spaces where you can park near the road and go into the woods, I wouldn't mind paying if they'd cleaned the mess up in the car park, any way I think I'll stick to Blean Village NR now you don't have to pay and the paths are excellent and so are the Butterflies I did do a park by the road and did see just one Heath Fritillary ,( you have to break the rules some time) Goldie

[Allan.W.]

Good to have a "heads up " re; parking at East Blean Goldie ........nearly went there myself this morning .Several reports of Large Torts there so I suspect that it may get busy ! maybe of interest some are being seen in other woodlands locally ........so "keep em' peeled "
Allan.W.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Alan, thanks for the message, I wanted to see if the Purple Hair Streak was there, they're usually in the oak trees in the car park, needless to say I couldn't park there and being on my own at the time I didn't fancy going further down the road and walking back there, I will keep my eyes open for the Large Tort but I haven't seen the Small one yet

I Just parked on the bend by the gate there but like I said they'd put some bollards there, so it was a Quick in the Woods and out again It would be great to see both so i'll certainly look , If I see one I'll let you know It looks like the weather is going to break up again , more rain, at least it's warmer.Goldie

[millerd]

Some nice Marbled Whites and White Admirals in your recent posts, Goldie. Those bits of woodland near Canterbury are certainly great for butterflies. Good luck on your hunt for Tortoiseshells - it would be funny if you saw a Large one before seeing any Smalls!

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

"you have to break the rules some time" you've got to 'stick it to the man' sometimes Goldie Cracking Marbled Whites and I reckon third Gatekeeper could be good for 'post excessa'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Things seem to be looking up for you, Goldie,

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your posts Dave,Wurzel and David, since I went to Monkton I've not seen many Butterflies until I got a visit from a Red Admiral and quite a few Whites, I missed out on the Whites , they made a quick etc to next doors garden. I must admit his garden is lovely, I'm still struggling with mine, my Neighbour on the the other side of me has Bamboo growing along the fence which as started to come into my Garden ,I've had a job with it , tried cutting it etc, that's all I can do really,

Thanks for the info Wurzel about the ab, I did wonder about it being so different, I seem to remember having one before ages ago, I wasn't sure though

Hi! Dave, I'm still on the look out for the Tortoise Shells, when I moved into the house at first I had a couple in the Garden so there's still hope

Hi! David, they were until last night, the rain was so heavy i lost the pictures on the tele what with the rain helping the Bamboo to grow it's a constant fight at present Goldie