July 2012

[dgi]

On Wednesday 25th., on a walk round Lady & souther woods, amongst the many males seen was one female Purple emperor, down for a few minutes with limited photo opportunities, first female I've seen on the ground.

[Ian Pratt]

Some ID for you. Ian

[Ian Pratt]

Gatekeeper in late evening sun today. Ian

[Pete Eeles]

Some ID for you. Ian

Hi Ian - I'd go with:

Small (distinctive sex brand)
Small (brown antennae)
Essex (black antennae)
Essex (black antennae + distinctive sex brand)
Small (brown antennae)
Small (distinctive sex brand)

Cheers,

- Pete

[Paul Harfield]

I made a quick trip to my local site, Botley Wood, this evening at about 6.30 pm. I was pleased to see my first 2 White Admirals of the year catching the last of the days sun and a few Whites. I also think I may have seen my first ever Purple Hairstreaks high up in the sunny top of an Oak tree by a pond. Unfortunately my binoculars will not get me close enough to positively id, but there were certainly 3 or 4 small butterflies flitting around at the top of this Oak. I will certainly return at the weekend with some stronger magnification.

There seems to be an abundance of Whites around the last couple of days. Earlier in the year I was struck with how few there were. Yesterday in Hayling Island there were 3 or 4 in view everytime I looked. On closer inspection Small, Green Veined and Large were represented. Similar numbers seen today in Bognor Regis.

[Charles Nicol]

Quality find, Charles!!

Nice abs! Worth the wait, eh?

thanks guys !! my new camera is performing well

i am just about to depart on my French trip.... hopefully will encounter lots of exciting new species !!

All the best

Charles

[NickB]

"Fancy a little inter-species humpy-rumpy...?"

[David M]

i am just about to depart on my French trip.... hopefully will encounter lots of exciting new species !!

Where are you going this time, Charles?

[Jack Harrison]

I got back to Norfolk today and my good lady said with some surprise: “There’s a Humming Bird on the buddleia, but of course it can’t be.” Didn’t manage a photo of the Humming Bird Hawkmoth. But this “rarity” graced the flowers for several minutes - the first Small Tort I have seen in England this year.


The Hedge Brown (I much prefer that name to Gatekeeper) wasn’t interested in any nectar sources but did settle briefly on this Hydrangea.


Jack

[Hoggers]

Hoggers' Holiday Snaps : I stopped in at Bookham Common on 24th: lots of Silver washed Fritillaries

I also saw a few White Admirals,Purple Hairstreaks and around 5 Purple Emperor

At Heddon's Mouth on 25th there were many Silver Washed Fritillaries

a sprinkling of Dark greens

and I managed to locate two High Browns but they took a lot of finding ( unlike last year when I had no trouble at all )

On the 26th I decided to visit Aish Tor on Dartmoor where I hoped to find High Brown:I spent about 4 hours there and found 3 -4 of them,although they were very difficult to approach as they would dive down into the bracken

Grayling were also present in fair numbers

and great fun to watch,either landing on my trouser leg or settling on the path ahead of me and promptly vanishing.

[NickB]

Some ID for you. Ian

Hi Ian - I'd go with:

Small (distinctive sex brand)
Small (brown antennae)
Essex (black antennae)
Essex (black antennae + distinctive sex brand)
Small (brown antennae)
Small (distinctive sex brand)

Cheers,
- Pete

I agree - but wasn't sure on 2 - which I may have said Essex for.....

[Philzoid]

On Thursday I made an early morning trip before work to Dawneys Ridge for Silver-studded Blue. Lots of little flag roosters at 07:00 but by 07:30 many were avoiding having their picture taken and taking to the wing.

Male blending in with the calluna

Graylings were in a more difficult league when it came to getting pictures.

Classic open wing Grayling shot lol

For moth aficionados, this turned up in my trap on Sunday.

Small Ranunculus

[Ian Pratt]

Second brood small blues at Afton chalkpit this afternoon and definite Essex skippers at Branstone. Nice small copper at Freshwater too!
Ian

[Pete Eeles]

Some ID for you. Ian

Hi Ian - I'd go with:

Small (distinctive sex brand)
Small (brown antennae)
Essex (black antennae)
Essex (black antennae + distinctive sex brand)
Small (brown antennae)
Small (distinctive sex brand)

Cheers,
- Pete

I agree - but wasn't sure on 2 - which I may have said Essex for.....

I agree Nick! I can just make out the faintest of sex brands!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Ian Pratt]

No second brood Adonis blues on Bonchurch Down this morning but a good number of butterflies: chalkhill blues 12 +, brown argus 1, common blue 2, meadow brown 24 +, large skipper 3, small heath 5, large white 2, marbled whites 24 + and gatekeeper 8. Any ideas regarding the ID of the cricket/grasshopper?
Ian

[Hoggers]

Guys,, I think I've mis-identified the butterfly I thought was a High Brown at Heddon's Mouth: the more I look at it the more I think it's a Dark Green - can anybody out there confirm it one way or the other?

[David M]

At Heddon's Mouth on 25th....I managed to locate two High Browns but they took a lot of finding ( unlike last year when I had no trouble at all )

Hoggers, that is absolutely 100% a male High Brown Fritillary.

[Essex Bertie]

At Hatfield Forest yesterday, i saw a female Silver-washed Fritillary searching out the violets at quite a gloomy ride intersection. She then appeared to lay an egg on a decayed area of the larger coppiced hazel stem in the second picture (wasn't quick enough to capture her as well). When the sun went in, she then 'rested' at least 15 feet up on the bow of an oak, but closer inspection of the photograph appears to show her ovipositing here too, which seems unusual?

Rob

[Hoggers]

Cheers David - much appreciated

[Philzoid]

When the sun went in, she then 'rested' at least 15 feet up on the bow of an oak, but closer inspection of the photograph appears to show her ovipositing here too, which seems unusual?

Female SWF's do lay on tree-trunks presumably because there is a greater chance of predation on the ground or that the situation offers more protection from the elements? Either way its fascinating to watch it happen , .... I've only got to see this once.
Newly hatched caterpillars must be put out a bit though ...15ft up .