August Sighting 2010

[Vince Massimo]

Brown Argus??
I thought it was a common Blue & really didn't give it a second glance.
How do I tell the diference between the two?

Now I am excited as I never seen one & didn't know they were in Norfolk
Arrgh....! it is raining today so can't go try & find it again!


Angie

Angie, there was a discussion about this on the identification forum a few weeks ago. The best thing to do is to go to Steven Cheshire's excellent pictorial guide:

http://www.britishbutterflies.co.uk/com ... ow-res.pdf

Brown Argus are very numerous at the moment, so you should not have much trouble finding some, now that you know what to look for. They will be mixed in with the Common Blues and should be smaller, but there are also a lot of very small Common Blue females about, so you need to check everything.

Vince

[NickB]

...best of all - Sami hasn't seen one yet!!!

...so not at all competitive, you two then....
N

[jellyang]

Thanks for the info Vince, I promise to do my homework !
This Amigo was in a different spot than the common blues, which are not that common where I am. Will check it out when the rain stops!

Thanks

Angie

[Gibster]

Gibster wrote:
...best of all - Sami hasn't seen one yet!!!

...so not at all competitive, you two then....

Lol, nope...not much mate!!

Today we joined the local BC branch on a walk to Reigate Hill to see Silver-spotted Skippers. We only saw one, but conditions were pretty rubbish (we later saw another at Box Hill in full sunshine - much better!) Sam found an absolutely pristine male Large Skipper. It was immaculate. There's no way it had emerged more than a few days ago. I suggested it must be from a second brood, I didn't even realise Large Skippers have second broods. Back home again I checked my books and guess what, they all state that Large Skippers are single brooded! So what's going on here? Was this male just amazingly late or is there an occasional second brood???? Comments appreciated.

[Matsukaze]

It's certainly double-brooded in the extreme south of Europe.

[Piers]

Gibster,

Was the sighting made at a Silver Spotted Skipper site? Not all Silver Spotted Skippers have silver spots; sometimes they are completely absent...

Felix.

[Gibster]

Hi Felix,

just had another look at the pic Sami took...you're right, it's a Silver-spotted Skipper NOT a Large!!! Fools that we are, lol

It was perched on a flowerhead with the forewings spread open and completely covering the hindwings. At no point did we see (or think to check!)the undersides. I hadn't appreciated quite how similar the two species are, mostly I see them sitting with undersides clearly visible and in grassy slopes. This was in a weedy patch on the level. But the diagnostic pale spots are clearly visible at the wingtips.

Thanks for putting me back in my box, Felix. Tis a sometimes steep learning curve this butterflying mallarkey!

EDIT - Yep, we were at a known site. Close to Reigate on the South Downs. BC do a walk here each year. Numbers have ranged from zero to 78. This individual made 2 for today, but the weather was poor. Cheers again

[Jack Harrison]

Someone asked about Wood Whites at Botany Bay. I was there on Tuesday in less than perfect weather and there were scores. Their wing shape and delicate flight through the woods somehow give them an exotic air – but of course, similar species abound in the tropics.

Jack

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Gibster,

"just had another look at the pic Sami took...you're right, it's a Silver-spotted Skipper NOT a Large!!!"

That's it! The blame clearly lies with Sami, who took the pic, so you're 'in the clear'!

Neil

[Ian Pratt]

Whilst photographing roosting chalkhill blues and small heaths at Brading Down IOW yesterday after work, I was very surprised and thrilled to see less than a couple of feet from me the most gorgeous adder slinking away into the undergrowth. Does anyone know if they usually return to the same place and do they live underground at night?

[felix123]

Of to Alners Gorse today with my dad and brother(Rory)to find the brown hairstreak but the weather doesn't look great.

Wish me luck!

Felix

[NickB]

"Good luck"

[Lee Hurrell]

Let us know how you get on Felix!

[Piers]

Hi Gibster,

"just had another look at the pic Sami took...you're right, it's a Silver-spotted Skipper NOT a Large!!!"

That's it! The blame clearly lies with Sami, who took the pic, so you're 'in the clear'!

Neil

Indeed. And full credit to you Gibster for correctly ID'ing the butterfly..!

Felix.

[Gibster]

If my darling Sami ever reads these last few comments I can assure you I'll be misidentifying lots of stuff for weeks to come...two black eyes will do that to a fella!!!! Gulp, wish me luck!

[felix123]

Today at Alners Gorse was a complete and utter............. SUCCESS!!! The weather was horrible in the morning but quickly cleared up as we got to there.

Anyway, I found 7 Brown hairstreaks, 4 Purple hairstreaks(some in OK condition),3 White-letter hairstreaks(again one was in a surprisingly good state!), 7 Silver-washed fritillary and numerous Ringlet, Meadow browns, Gatekeepers,whites and 2 brimstones.

What a day!!!!!

Felix

[Jack Harrison]

felix123

....Anyway, I found 7 Brown hairstreaks....

All I can say is WOW!

Jack

[Trev Sawyer]

Yes, well done young Felix
A budding lepidopterist if ever there was one and your enthusiasm is being well-rewarded. You will tattoo each new sighting into the back of your brain and remember them for the rest of your life so you will be able to relive the excitement in years to come. Thank your Dad and feast your eyes.

Trev

[Lee Hurrell]

Congrats Felix!

I remember my first Brown Hairstreak last year when it surprised me out of the blue at Box Hill. I won't forget it!

Cheers

Lee

[felix123]

Yep that day is a day to remember I LOVED IT!

My brother Rory is now hooked too on butterflies since he saw the BH but my sister well she prefers the shopping in Dorchester. Oh! haven't I told you all that I'm a Triplet its true!!!

Oh and I'm now over my hundredth post!!!

Felix!