September 2024

[millerd]

Down at High & Over on the South Downs near Seaford today, there were perhaps a dozen third brood Walls flying. It was early enough in the day with a bit of a chill still in the air for one or two males to sit still long enough to be photographed with their wings open.

Unfortunately the only female I saw (an absolutely splendid new one) would only sit with her wings shut.

I dropped in on another couple of Sussex locations on the way back, but saw nothing of great note at either.

Full accounts of the day in my PD in a while.

Dave

[aeshna5]

Perhaps of interest there have been at least 2 Wall Browns photographed over the last week at Rainham RSPB Reserve. A butterfly just hanging on in the London area.

[David M]

Nice to know Wall Brown is keeping going in those parts of the country.

If the weather holds, I'll pay a visit to the coast to see if I can find any round my way.

[millerd]

It seemed to be Copper day on my local patch today. I counted 11 individuals, one of the highest totals I've ever recorded here. They included several I'd not seen before, one of which was a beautiful new female with a full set of blue badges.

12 other species seen, and well over 100 butterflies altogether: full details in my PD before too long.

Dave

[Bertl]

No buddleia left in my Aberdeen garden now so very few butterflies visiting now.

I did visit Logie Steading near Forres early afternoon today and seen 2 red admirals, 2 comma butterfly, 1 small tortoiseshell, 2 speckled wood and a dozen peacock butterfly.

Only managed to photograph the tortoiseshell and peacock butterfly.

[David Lazarus]

…. one of which was a beautiful new female with a full set of blue badges.

Wow, she’s a beauty Dave

[Jack Harrison]

BertI and Logie Steading.

I am a regular to Logie Steading.  I live just 7 miles away.  I'm surprised that we have never bumped into one another.

But maybe you had imagined that I am like my ukb avatar.  Not quite true.  You are more likely to see me like this.

Jack

[Bertl]

Hey Jack

I will definitely make a point of notifying you next time I am up in Forres and taking a visit to Logie Steading.

Be great to have a coffee .

Cheers

Bert.

[Jack Harrison]

I'm going away at the weekend to Orkney. Back for the following weekend.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

I haven't been exaggerating about my Peacocks. Much of the buddleia is like this.

The adjacent shed door is open there is a continual movement into the shed after the butterflies have refuelled.

Jack

[Stevieb]

14 Species seen on the hill this morning including a smart Small Copper ab.radiata. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

Brimstone (2)
Large White (4)
Small White (6)
Green-veined White (2)
Small Copper (2)
Brown Argus (6)
Common Blue (6)
Adonis Blue (5)
Red Admiral (2)
Painted Lady (1)
Comma (1)
Speckled Wood (4)
Meadow Brown (7)
Small Heath (6)

17th Sep

17th Sep

17th Sep

17th Sep

[David M]

...The adjacent shed door is open there is a continual movement into the shed after the butterflies have refuelled.

Interesting, Jack.

They clearly hang on till later in the year at your latitude than they do here. I saw a single Peacock round my way today by coincidence, but generally they disappear around mid-August.

[David M]

14 Species seen on the hill this morning including a smart Small Copper ab.radiata. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire...

That's a good range, Steve, although the fact no species exceeded 7 is indicative of the type of year it's been.

Beautiful Small Copper ab.

[David Lazarus]

14 Species seen on the hill this morning including a smart Small Copper ab.radiata. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

Loving the Small Copper Stevie

I went to Benfleet Downs to see the 3rd brood Wall Brown and saw double-figures for the first time at any site. They were hyperactive by 11 in the full sun and 20 C temperatures, but I caught them earlier in the morning to avoid frustration, including a beautiful female although she did not make it easy to get her upperwings:

Wall Brown female
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

and a couple of males before they were too busy looking for the 2 females I found:

Wall Brown male x 2
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

and there was a lovely female Small Copper too:

Small Copper female
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

And this was an interesting one from a distance - 49 Small White & 39 Small White, 4 female Green-veined White left - I wanted to get a dark marked Small and saw one that was the right size from a distance, but as I crept forward I had a wow moment when my heart-stopped - "it couldn't be, could it? No way!". Indeed, I was correct - no way

Large White female
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

and one that is normal size:

Large White female
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

And typical markings of the Small White

small White male
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

And two of the four female Green-veined White:

Green-veined White female
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

Green-veined White female
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

Some Common Blue were well past their best but there were still some good-looking ones:

Common Blue male
Benfleet Downs 17/09/2024

A good day butterflying at a recommended site - 12 species and 151 butterflies seen during a 4 hour morning circuit.

[Stevieb]

That's a good range, Steve, although the fact no species exceeded 7 is indicative of the type of year it's been.

Indeed David and the lack of Small Tortoiseshell, which are normally abundant at this site, is disheartening

[Allan.W.]

" Keep em' peeled !" Poor shot of a Long-tailed Blue larvae from coastal Kent a couple of days back. Allan.W.

[David Lazarus]

Yesterday afternoon 17/09/2024 I popped into Langdon Hills Country Park on the way home from Benfleet Downs to see another 7 Wall Brown. Here the 3rd brood is past its peak with some nice fresh ones still but a couple were well past their best including this female:

Wall Brown female
One Tree Hill 17/09/2024

and it was good to see they were still up at Northlands Wood:

Wall Brown male
Northlands Wood 17/09/2024

The fresh ones were far too quick to follow after brief stops only to tempt me. Highlight was one male flying through my legs - not sure it called out "nuts" or not

Not much else as it started to cloud over but there was a Small Copper and a Common Blue, 3 Comma, and a remarkable 32 Meadow Brown considering there are none left at Baddow Meads.

[David M]

" Keep em' peeled !" Poor shot of a Long-tailed Blue larvae from coastal Kent a couple of days back.

Keep 'em peeled indeed, Allan. Hopefully there are a fair few more lurking about that will become adults before the end of October.

[David M]

Tuesday 17th, National Botanic Gardens of Wales, nr. Cross Hands:

Small White 16
Speckled Wood 8
Red Admiral 3
Common Blue 2
Peacock 1
Small Copper 1
Green Veined White 1
Brimstone 1

[Jack Harrison]

Logie Steading 18th.
10+ Peacocks, one distant white high up which raised pulse rate briefly - was it a long-awaited Holly Blue?  

BertI.  Keep a look out for 'notch wing'.  

A non-butterfly autumn scene.  It should have had a Red Admiral or two but no luck.

Jack