Denbies Hillside - Saturday 6 August

[PaulC]

Hi Susie

A big thank you from me too - I had a great day and it was really good to meet you and the other attendees. My thanks to all of you for helping a relative novice like me to learn something new!

After you headed back up the hill to get some lunch I got some really good views of two or three male Adonis Blues - and some nice pics too!

Thanks again.

Best wishes

Paul.

[Susie]

You were very welcome, Dave, it's always a pleasure to spend time in your company.

Great to meet you too, Paul, I am so pleased you had a good day and I am glad you got off the hillside okay. I was a bit concerned by the though of leaving you there on your own.

[millerd]

Some photos from the day: I have initially chosen the ones I found most interesting, namely two male Chalkhills with orange lunules on the upper hindwings, and Susie's female Chalkhill with lots of blue on the wings. The variability amongst the Chalkhills was considerable and it was wonderful to have hundreds and hundreds to look at.

Other pictures may follow if I can sort my computer memory issues!

Dave

[ChrisC]

I can only echo other peoples comments, a great day amoung good company. just some of the many photos taken.

a few other moths, chalk carpet, lesser treble bar and treble bar and common carpet

[Philzoid]

Dear Susie
Thanks for organising a great day out, me and the girls really enjoyed it, (even though I missed the boarding party and made a wrong turn having never been up to the 'east end' before). Denbies always throws up surprises. For me it was Silver-spotted Skippers (only the second time I've seen them); Wasp Spiders making a meal of the Chalkhills (they don't like the 'wafers' though) and of course the Chalkhill blues themselves in astronomical numbers.
There is something sightly bemusing about Chalkhill Blues. It seems to me that unlike our other species, you can never find the perfect specimen, that definitive CHB (although the one's in Dave's pictures are pretty close) It's all due to their variation in colour and spotting, their assymetrical, quirky somewhat awkward poses and frequently scuffed wings. Photograph them in their dozens and you still cant get enough .... so I'll be back before the season is out.

Meadow Brown with 'butterfly ticks'

Chalkhill Blue on the menu ...again

Two male Chalkhills

'Normal' female chalkhill

aberrants and deformities?

Warming up on Izzy's finger

Male on scabious

Nice argus

Paul; Chris; Susie; Isabella and Francesca my daughters and Dave

[millerd]

A few more pictures from yesterday -I've tried not to duplicate those posted by others (and all my SSS shots were rubbish anyway... )

Dave

[ChrisC]

i know what you mean about the skippers Dave. great little butterflies though and chuffed to see my first ones yesterday. will be trying for them again. I have grown rather fond of skippers this year.
my 3 best efforts

CHris

[htcdude]

Denbies group 06.08.11 b_800x600.jpg

That's me (Nige) in the pic, not Paul he was still off awandering the hills

Nige

[htcdude]

OK guys here's a few from me, sorry not quite up to the quality of you lot! And my Silver-spotted Skippers was also rubbish! (not attached pics on here before so hope this works!)

Adonis blue male

Adonis Blue male

Brown Argus

Chalkhill Blue male

Chalkhill Blue mating Part 1

Chalkhill Blue mating Part 2

What is it they're doing there? Do they actually pass something across??

Chalkhill Blue female

Chalkhill Blues - 2 males/1 female

Stunning Chalkhill Blue male

Chalkhill Blue male

Chalkhill Blue male and female abberation?

I think this was the most worn out all day??

From one man to another...

Common Blue male

I'll get round to ID'ing this soon, I think it's Meadow Grasshopper though

Pyraustra nigrata

Six-spot Burnet (I think)

Small Copper male?

Wasp Spider - this was the fatter, greedier one who had 3 Chalkhills at once..

Wasp Spider

Sorry if that's too many!

Nige

[millerd]

Sorry if that's too many!

Nige

You can never have too many Chalkhill Blues...

Here's one I overlooked earlier!

Dave

[Gibster]

Hi folks,

Phil's top gropper is a Stripe-winged, and a lovely looker too. I think htcdude's pic is indeed a Meadow Gropper, but the angle manages to effectively hide the distinguishing features!

Really regretting being stuck at work on the day, seems like an impressive army of UKB folk, cameras and knowledge were up on that hill on Saturday...maybe next time.

Cheers, Gibster.

EDIT - Chris, first your fleece at Portland - now your trademark cap at Denbies???

[ChrisC]

don't worry mate it's not lost it'll be back when the sun comes out

[Wurzel]

Some cracking photos there from all concerned. Gutted that I didn't go myself now as I dipped on Silver Spots again today at Martin Down Oh well maybe next time
Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Susie]

I must say I have really enjoyed looking at everyones photos. There are some real corkers there.

I'll wack a few of my happy snaps up as well.

Firstly, Philzoid and his two charming daughters.

Izzy with "hoppy" on her hand.

Various shots of the group

Aberrant chalkhills

Normal worn chalkhill

Hoverfly

Very poor photo of a ss skipper

Species seen at Denbies yesterday; chalkhill blue, adonis blue, common blue, brown argus, meadow brown, gatekeeper, small heath, small copper, ss skipper and a red admiral (please remind me if I have forgotten any).

P.S. I like the mosaic effect with the moths, Chris.

[Lee Hurrell]

Looks like you all had a grand day, some lovely photos too. Sorry I couldn't make it.

Next time...

Cheers

Lee

[Susie]

It was grand. Hopefully we'll go somewhere a bit nicer for lunch next time! I hope you can join us, Lee.

[P.J.Underwood]

With its spots

With spots missing

Lee,
I was sorry you were not there as I wanted to ask you some question's about your French trip,but that will have to wait.We will do similar next year.This is what you missed in the first half.
P.J.U.

[Susie]

Nice pics, PJ.

[Lee Hurrell]

Lee, I was sorry you were not there as I wanted to ask you some question's about your French trip,but that will have to wait.We will do similar next year.This is what you missed in the first half.P.J.U.

Feel free to send me a message PJ, alternatively, we will catch up in the field soon!

Best wishes,

Lee

[celery]

It really does look like you all had a smashin' time, and there's some fabulous pictures on this thread too...

...but want I want to know is... did anyone get a shot of a female adonis blue? And if so, perhaps they could post it on this thread.

Perhaps they hadn't yet emerged when you went? Perhaps you lot (like me) find it hard to distinguish between female chalkhill blues and female adonis blues? Maybe someone has a shot they think is an adonis but don't want to risk it in case their own identification is off? Well... please post it up anyway... I'd love to see more examples of the various individual specimens at this site.

It would sure help me if someone could give me a few tips on what to look for (both upper and underside) as a means to differentiate between the two - particularly when the specimen is slightly worn and the scales near the bottom edge of the hindwing upper have lost their lustre. Truth is... I'm struggling with my own IDs... I managed to sneak in a trip to Denbies this weekend just gone... and I have photos of around 20 individual 'brown' females which are either chalkhills or adonis (I suspect they're mostly, if not entirely, chalkhills).

So help out an old 'northerner' who doesn't often get a chance to see these two beautiful species... before I post something on Flikr with the wrong label and give me own very amateurish status away

Here's one I can identify...


holly blue - Denbies Hillside 14-08-11

thanks... celery