It was indeed Dave, lucky you saw her land, don't think we'd have noticed her otherwise, she was very well camouflaged.
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July 2024
Thursday 11th part 2. As I often do at this time of year I moved on from Bookham to spend the second half of the day at Box Hill. However, it was actually rather hot, so I killed a few hours in the Stepping Stones pub before venturing up the slope. Marbled White and Dark Green Fritillary were starting to their age but some were still presentable.
Other more recently emerged species and individuals were showing them up a bit though.
Early on in the walk I came across a writhing mass of orange next to the path. Initially I thought I’d stumbled across a courting/mating pair of DGF but it turned out to be two males who it would seem were intoxicated in a pheromone induced frenzy and were completely oblivious to my presence. Presumably a female had emerged here earlier leaving a patch of pheromones.
Bugboys mission
Re: Bugboys mission
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Bugboys mission
July 2024
Thursday 11th. After three days filled with Purple Hairstreaks it’s back to a work report. Only female Essex Skippers were found today, the males presumably completed their role for the species. A few Large Skippers were also active. Gatekeeper numbers were starting to build, this one looked very photogenic perched on a mass of thistle seed heads. A few Green-veined White were the only other species that allowed a photograph.
Thursday 11th. After three days filled with Purple Hairstreaks it’s back to a work report. Only female Essex Skippers were found today, the males presumably completed their role for the species. A few Large Skippers were also active. Gatekeeper numbers were starting to build, this one looked very photogenic perched on a mass of thistle seed heads. A few Green-veined White were the only other species that allowed a photograph.
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Bugboys mission
More fantastic Purps Bugboy but contrary me, now I'm more intrigued by the 'wing waiting' Hedgies
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Bugboys mission
ThanksWurzel. They’re nothing extreme but there’s a few that were nearer the front of the queue when spots were being dished out .
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July 2024
Tuesday 16th. A week after my previous wander around Epping Forest I returned to see if the Purple Hairstreaks were still numerous. The Hogweed that had been so attractive was now a platform of brown seeds but I had little doubt that I was being watched from nearby Oak trees by numerous hairy eyes.
The residents in the usual clearings along the main rides kept my attention, Gatekeeper in particular coming into their own now. A few of the males seemed to have reduced markings on the hindwings. There were also plenty of Skippers which seemed to consist mostly of Smalls. When I reached the second Hairstreak hotspot only one showed itself, but he did present itself for the camera, albeit above my head. Along the rides various Nymphalids provided splashes of colour, mostly looking freshly minted. As I would expect, Whites were represented by the Green-veined variety Before leaving I stopped by the Hogweed again and was rewarded by the sight of a female Hairstreak basking in a nearby Oak. Not every species had a bad season this year!
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July 2024
Tuesday 16th. A week after my previous wander around Epping Forest I returned to see if the Purple Hairstreaks were still numerous. The Hogweed that had been so attractive was now a platform of brown seeds but I had little doubt that I was being watched from nearby Oak trees by numerous hairy eyes.
The residents in the usual clearings along the main rides kept my attention, Gatekeeper in particular coming into their own now. A few of the males seemed to have reduced markings on the hindwings. There were also plenty of Skippers which seemed to consist mostly of Smalls. When I reached the second Hairstreak hotspot only one showed itself, but he did present itself for the camera, albeit above my head. Along the rides various Nymphalids provided splashes of colour, mostly looking freshly minted. As I would expect, Whites were represented by the Green-veined variety Before leaving I stopped by the Hogweed again and was rewarded by the sight of a female Hairstreak basking in a nearby Oak. Not every species had a bad season this year!
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Bugboys mission
Great to see the Purp - they had a terrible time over this way Also good so see a few David Skippers in there as it means that I'm not that far behind you now and as I'm recuperating after a bit of an op I might even catch up that is if the painkillers don't knock me out
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Bugboys mission
Thanks Wurzel. I hope you have a speedy recovery, can’t have you speeding ahead of me! Still a couple more reports featuring them Purple flavoured Hairstreaks
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July 2024
Thursday 18th. Another lunchtime wander at work. The (David) Essex Skippers have now all gone but the Large Skippers have peaked, a very odd. There were also two mating pairs of Gatekeeper in the same sunny glade.
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July 2024
Thursday 18th. Another lunchtime wander at work. The (David) Essex Skippers have now all gone but the Large Skippers have peaked, a very odd. There were also two mating pairs of Gatekeeper in the same sunny glade.
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Bugboys mission
July 2024
Saturday 20th. A rather gloomy, grey start to the day at Bookham but there was enough warmth in the air to stir a few butterflies from their slumber. Gatekeepers and all the three species of Skippers found here made themselves available for photographs. There was also a nice fresh Peacock. Since it didn’t look like it was brightening up anytime soon, I went looking for White Admiral babies and was pleasantly surprised to easily reach double figures with little effort, thirteen 1st and 2nd instars and likely many more went unseen. Back into the rides a bit more warmth had encouraged some more activity But it wasn’t enough to keep me for much longer so I moved on to Ashtead Common to see what I could find there. More Skippers, (although only Small and Large were positively ID’d) and a few Marbled White, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown I also added Comma to the days tally And Purple Hairstreak…. Sort of...
Saturday 20th. A rather gloomy, grey start to the day at Bookham but there was enough warmth in the air to stir a few butterflies from their slumber. Gatekeepers and all the three species of Skippers found here made themselves available for photographs. There was also a nice fresh Peacock. Since it didn’t look like it was brightening up anytime soon, I went looking for White Admiral babies and was pleasantly surprised to easily reach double figures with little effort, thirteen 1st and 2nd instars and likely many more went unseen. Back into the rides a bit more warmth had encouraged some more activity But it wasn’t enough to keep me for much longer so I moved on to Ashtead Common to see what I could find there. More Skippers, (although only Small and Large were positively ID’d) and a few Marbled White, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown I also added Comma to the days tally And Purple Hairstreak…. Sort of...
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Bugboys mission
Cracking set of shots, although I don't think you can really claim Purp The first Hedgie looks interesting; what is the pale/whiteish spot? Is that some sort of abrasion pattern, rain damage or pathological? Intriguing...
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Bugboys mission
ThanksWurzel. I think that was a pathological thing on that Gatekeeper. Some more below for your appraisal
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July 2024
Sunday 21st was a two site day down in Sussex, starting off at Mill Hill where I hoped to tick off Chalk Hill Blues for the year. It was cool and overcast when I arrived but a few butterflies were stirring, here an Essex Skipper is just poking its head above the parapet to check there’s no strange men lurking around with cameras. A short time later I came across my first of the target. There were only a few around but the weather conditions ensured I got plenty of snaps. A few more Essex Skippers were active but the most numerous lepidoptera by a significant margin were 6-spot Burnet moths with numerous pairings found. Gatekeepers became numerous as the morning warmed, not a huge amount of variety but hindwing ocelli seemed an optional extra. Some Buddleja in full flower halted my exploring for a while, a couple of Painted Ladies and a Small Tortoiseshell, had made it a temporary home. Curiously, there were a lot of Thymelicus but not a single Small amongst all the Essex
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July 2024
Sunday 21st was a two site day down in Sussex, starting off at Mill Hill where I hoped to tick off Chalk Hill Blues for the year. It was cool and overcast when I arrived but a few butterflies were stirring, here an Essex Skipper is just poking its head above the parapet to check there’s no strange men lurking around with cameras. A short time later I came across my first of the target. There were only a few around but the weather conditions ensured I got plenty of snaps. A few more Essex Skippers were active but the most numerous lepidoptera by a significant margin were 6-spot Burnet moths with numerous pairings found. Gatekeepers became numerous as the morning warmed, not a huge amount of variety but hindwing ocelli seemed an optional extra. Some Buddleja in full flower halted my exploring for a while, a couple of Painted Ladies and a Small Tortoiseshell, had made it a temporary home. Curiously, there were a lot of Thymelicus but not a single Small amongst all the Essex
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Bugboys mission
Well done with the Small Tort. A species I keep an eye out for every time I go out.
My total for the year so far is six.
My total for the year so far is six.
Re: Bugboys mission
ThanksTrevor, I Suspect this one came up from somewhere along the Adur River.
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July 2024
Sunday 21st part 2. An hour later I was wandering around Lancing Ring. In the old chalk pits there was similar activity around another patch of Buddleja A Gatekeeper with some extra spots and a particularly striking female Speckled Wood ab. postico-excessa Also adding to the days species count were singletons of Common Blue and Comma. Moving on to the high point where last years LTB’s were hanging out I found a few Wall’s which kept me occupied for a while. There were two or three but only one was in decent nick so he became the focus of my attention as he defended his territory against the older, battle worn interlopers, but luckily, it’s thirsty work. Also here was a fresh Peacock and what seemed like a fresh emergence of Thymelicus Skippers including a Small that looked like he was flexing his wing muscles ready for his maiden voyage. The Buddleja was still occupied when I walked past a couple of hours later and just before hitting the main road on the way back to Shoreham I stopped off at a sunny clearing which had attracted several butterflies soaking up the evening rays. Also seen today were Green-veined, Large and Small White, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Ringlet, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Silver-washed Fritillary and Holly Blue given me a respectable total of 22 species for the day.
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July 2024
Sunday 21st part 2. An hour later I was wandering around Lancing Ring. In the old chalk pits there was similar activity around another patch of Buddleja A Gatekeeper with some extra spots and a particularly striking female Speckled Wood ab. postico-excessa Also adding to the days species count were singletons of Common Blue and Comma. Moving on to the high point where last years LTB’s were hanging out I found a few Wall’s which kept me occupied for a while. There were two or three but only one was in decent nick so he became the focus of my attention as he defended his territory against the older, battle worn interlopers, but luckily, it’s thirsty work. Also here was a fresh Peacock and what seemed like a fresh emergence of Thymelicus Skippers including a Small that looked like he was flexing his wing muscles ready for his maiden voyage. The Buddleja was still occupied when I walked past a couple of hours later and just before hitting the main road on the way back to Shoreham I stopped off at a sunny clearing which had attracted several butterflies soaking up the evening rays. Also seen today were Green-veined, Large and Small White, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Ringlet, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Silver-washed Fritillary and Holly Blue given me a respectable total of 22 species for the day.
Some addictions are good for the soul!