Hi Neil
Thankfully I do not edit my pictures at all other than adjusting the file size for posting, if I did I do not think I would ever get round posting anything. How others find the time I do not know.
I am now completely behind and out of sync with my postings
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
, so in an effort to catch up here is a few bringing my local patch/garden 'goings on' up to date.
Saturday 20.7.2013 In The Garden
At 9am on Saturday (weekend before last) morning I moved my small potted Buddleia. I moved it from an area which is shaded in the morning and sunny in the afternoon, to an area that gets full sun first thing and is in shade by mid pm. Within 5 minutes there was A Small Tortoiseshell engrossed in feeding together with a Small Skipper (the first time I have seen this species in the garden)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Not only that but a pristine Holly Blue flew in and perched just above it on some Virginia Creeper. All three in view from the kitchen, whilst I enjoyed a cup of tea
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Later in the day some fluttering activity from a Green Veined White in the shadier part of the border, prompted me to put some potted Garlic Mustard in the spot. The butterfly continued to flutter around there, occasionally settling.
![DSCN7903 - Copy.JPG (182.17 KiB) Viewed 702 times Green Veined White egg on GArlic Mustard in the garden](./files/thumb_11661_11516a60a6cfc50c5a0f87a9cf20b929)
- Green Veined White egg on GArlic Mustard in the garden
A bit later on I made a thorough check of the Garlic Mustard and found one egg which I shall tend over the coming days. A pristine male Brimstone also visited later on. Having got used to the gradually fading yellow of the Brimstones over the last few months, the appearance of a newly emerged individual is a pleasant shock to the system
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
There seems to be little, if any gap in the cycle between the previous and the next generation.
Sunday 21.7.2013 My Local Patch
During the height of the season last year I managed to neglect my local patch. So in an effort to make amends I took an afternoon walk during very hot and sunny conditions between 3pm and 5pm around my favourite local footpath. This resulted in my best ever species count for the area, with sixteen species seen
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
, including two for the first time here
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
After the emergence of captive Peacocks at home, I was keen to see if there was any evidence that they had also emerged along my local footpath. Unlike the Small Tortoiseshells which I found right where the earlier larvae had been, the Peacocks were found in a position away from the site of the larvae. I counted 15 in total, all pristine and most found 'resting' in partially shaded positions with wings firmly shut, almost as if it were too hot for them ( as it apparently was for all the other footpath users. Unusually I did not see another sole the whole time I was out) . There were still a few Small Tortoiseshells around but now looking fairly worn and also mostly inactive and resting. Two of them seemed to be following each other in flight and then would land close to each other on Nettles and one appearing to chase the other on foot around the nettle plants. I thought a pairing might be imminent, but as I watched they eventually went their separate ways. Lots of whites around mostly flying and unable to stop for id, but at least on of each type seen. Ringlet and Marbled White appeared along the path, the first time I have seen them there. Unfortunately the Meadow that is next to the path at one point has been cut since I last went there, this is where the Marbled Whites have appeared. Small Skippers have now all but taken over from the Large Skippers. Single individuals of Red Admiral, Small Copper and a Holly Blue, but the Star of the day was the Gatekeepers.
![DSCN7886 - Copy.JPG (265.37 KiB) Viewed 702 times Gatekeeper 21.7.2013 Hedge End](./files/thumb_11661_7d4dbef2dae75746b048c6024d9ef938)
- Gatekeeper 21.7.2013 Hedge End
I counted 54, but I that is a very conservative count. I tried hard to get a Gatekeeper open wing shot, but failed miserably. It was probably too hot, they seemed to settle in the shade and give one or two brief flashes of upperwing before shutting up shop. I saw several mating pairs including one that had managed to get themselves wedged either side of a fern frond. Caught 'by the bits' so to speak, one above and one below. I considered whether I should try to free them, concerned that I may cause the pairing to fail. I decided to help out and very carefully freed them. Thankfully, they stayed coupled and flew to another perch.
![DSCN7875 - Copy.JPG (270.15 KiB) Viewed 702 times Pair of Gatekeeper after rescuing](./files/thumb_11661_4bc311c1655638f0533cdad377edb943)
- Pair of Gatekeeper after rescuing
![DSCN7896 - Copy.JPG (294.58 KiB) Viewed 702 times Comma 21.7.2103 Hedge End](./files/thumb_11661_e1c2322e23c06af2f4eb134c5219e021)
- Comma 21.7.2103 Hedge End
Also seen Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and several Commas.
Total count for the day:-
Gatekeeper 54
Meadow Brown 22
Speckled Wood 8
Marbled White 7
Ringlet 3
Small White 3+
Large White 1+
Green Veined White 1+
Small Skipper 26
Large Skipper 3
Holly Blue 1
Small Tortoiseshell 5
Red Admiral 1
Peacock 15
Comma 6
Small Copper 1
Saturday 27.7.2013 In The Garden
What with all the hot weather we have a paddling pool set up in the garden for the kids. In an effort to avoid having to keep refilling it we have covered it when not in use. The cover was left off on Friday evening and left rolled up alongside the pool. When I covered it back up on Saturday I was surprised to find 2 Buff Ermine moths tucked up inside and even more surprised to find a large batch of eggs. I am assuming these were laid by one of the moths. These have been laid directly on the cover and I can not cut the section from the cover. So I am monitoring them daily to try and catch them hatching so I can transfer them to suitable foodplant and rear some through. I understand they feed on Virginia Creeper of which I have a plentiful supply.
![DSCN8076 - Copy.JPG (301.52 KiB) Viewed 702 times Buff Ermine egg cluster laid on pool cover](./files/thumb_11661_8764a1ce261b1b5526ca4bb774c51485)
- Buff Ermine egg cluster laid on pool cover
Tuesday 30.7.2013 In The Garden
My eldest son has decided to sleep in a tent in the garden for the last few nights. This has necessitated leaving the outside light on overnight. When I came in from work tonight I noticed a handsome moth perched just outside the window
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
When I went out to investigate I found several more. Obviously attracted by the light overnight. Perhaps I should leave it on every night
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![DSCN8071 - Copy.JPG (305.78 KiB) Viewed 702 times One of several of this species](./files/thumb_11661_cb1b3a9f38ee1b65dcc6e28956115e05)
- One of several of this species
I just need to identify them all now.