Susie

[Jack Harrison]

I have seen several Speckled Woods with ends of one or both antennae missing. I wonder how such accidents occur and how they affect the individual? I can’t say that I noticed any odd behaviour by the injured butterflies.

Jack

[Vince Massimo]

Thanks for the tip-off Susie, I'm going down now and will be spending the rest of the day there.

Vince

[Lee Hurrell]

I think I will go back at the weekend too!

Cheers

Lee

[Susie]

My eldest kids are being sent to the stables so, whohooo, freedom!!! I'm going back to Southwater too

[Susie]

It was nice to see Kipper and Vince at Southwater this afternoon.

Southwater's such a gorgeous place, sitting in a field of flowers watching the butterflies, deer and buzzards, I find it hard to tear myself away when it is time to go home.

Anyhoo, a few pics from today:-

When I arrived this morning there were masses of silver washed fritillary feeding.

And quite a few abberations:-

(more abberations to follow when dinner's dished up, the hoards are waiting to be fed!).

[Susie]

If anyone knows what the first three abs are called, I'd be grateful. I know the last one is valezina.

Cheers.

[Trev Sawyer]

... All these lovely photos of Frits Susie... Here in Cambridge, we seem to be in a total desert as far as any kind of fritillary is concerned.
Please send some "spares" over here

Trev

[Susie]

Best put your order in with Sussex Kipper, Trev, he said he thinks the site will have even more SWF next year!

I am sure you aren't doing too badly though, there is plenty of good stuff to see in Cambridgeshire I think.

I must admit that I have never known a place like it here*. I used to go to Ruislip Woods in Middlesex when I lived up that way and be thrilled to see a couple of White Admiral, here they are so frequent they don't get a second look and the same with the SWF. All the "ordinary" butterflies don't even get mentioned half the time but they are fab too. One of my favourites is marbled white which is what I actually went to photograph today.

(*apologies for my over enthusiasm but I've only lived in West Sussex for three and a half years and still can't get over how flipping gorgeous it is!)

[Susie]

Today started off cloudy and potentially poor but it warranted a text to the Mighty Hulme. Photos to follow.

[Susie]

[Jack Harrison]

Ah, the Freddie Mercury of the butterfly world

Jack

[Vince Massimo]

Well done Susie. All these Fritillary aberrations seem to be attracted to you. Where abouts in the wood did you see it and at what time of day? I may make a visit tomorrow.

Now, where did I put my lucky trousers?......................

Vince

[Trev Sawyer]

Well done Susie,
That is definitely one for the photo album. Reminds me of those old "Two Ronnie's" sketches where they are dressed as a man on one side and a woman on the other.

Trev

[Zonda]

Cripes,, amazing pics,,,, until last year i thought abbs were stomach muscles that i didn't have. I think there are a couple of Dorset sites for SWF's, and i'll be off as soon as the weather clears up.

[Susie]

Good luck everyone. I've PM'd you, Vince.

From looking closely at the bilateral gynandromorph seen on Sunday by Colin Knight and posted on Sussex BC site and this I think it's the same critter.

I always did attract odd characters; a tranny butterfly is hardly surprising.

And some more pics from today.

Freddy again.

And two new ones (I think)

List of species seen today (in no particular order):

Silver washed fritillary
White admiral
Red admiral
Purple emperor
Purple hairstreak
Peacock
Comma
Gatekeeper
Meadow brown
Ringlet
Marbled white
Large white
Large skipper
Small skipper (and possibly Essex)
Speckled wood

[Pete Eeles]

Brilliant - thanks for sharing Susie. Your photos are definitely improving

If you could also put these marvels in the relevant species-specific albums so that they're saved for posterity, I'd really appreciate it!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Susie]

All of them or just the bilateral gynandromorph, Pete? And I'll try to upload them but I'm not the most technically competent person. I'll ask for help if I get stuck.

My thanks has to go to Kipper and Vince too, if they hadn't mentioned the aberrations I wouldn't have known what to look for. Goodness knows how many abs I have dismissed in the past. They pointed out an ab white admiral on Monday to me, I had just thought butterflies like that were worn and not worth photographing!

[Vince Massimo]

Flippin' eck, Susie, I did not expect all those other abs as well. That second male from today is definately a new one for you. Excluding the Valezina, you now have photos of 5 SWF aberrations (3 male, 1 female and 1 whotsit).

Thanks for the PM, I'm already dressed for the occasion .

Vince

[Lee Hurrell]

I'm speechless!

Wonderful photos Susie

Cheers

Lee

[Susie]

Thanks Lee.

Hi Vince, I make it 4 males, 1 female, the valezina and Freddie (as it is now nicknamed). Which of the males do you think I have doubled up on? Thanks.