August 2013

[Padfield]

– and a rather peculiar mouse.

That's nae wee, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie ...

Guy

[David M]

Don't encourage him, Guy, or the entirety of winter will be spent deciphering cryptic jokes.

[andy_j]

sorry, please delete, mis-read posts

[MikeOxon]

I assume that the small yacht to the left carries the mouse's breakfast.

[Jack Harrison]

23 August

No butterflies today but a wildlife boat trip produced seven or eight Basking Sharks, some as close as just a few metres.



I can't figure out which bit is which!

Also numerous Gannets, Shearwaters, a few Auks (except Puffins), Great Skua plus the usual gulls, etc.

Jack

[David M]

God alive, Jack, and you're envious of us down south?!?

You truly ARE blessed up there.

[Willrow]

Swellshill Bank, Rodborough, Gloucs. Yesterday was spent with the blues at what is the closest location to home that the downland species of Adonis & Chalkhill Blue can be found. The former species 2nd generation was just recently emerged and I counted around thirty or so, the Chalkies in comparison are looking rather tattered now but in good numbers, there are however still the odd fresh ones to be seen and towards the end of my visit I spent almost an hour with a deformed male and watched helplessly as it crawled out of the grasses and half fluttered onto a low oak leaf (see images below), the best I could do is gently place it in cover and leave it to whatever nature intended

Species seen during a rather breezy yet pleasant day were; Brimstone, Large, Small & Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath. A solitary Clouded Yellow was reported to have been seen briefly by visitors at the opposite side of the bank that I was on (what's new ) unfortunately it had moved on to other pastures when I checked the area out for I caught no sight of it.

Another day much enjoyed in the company of the 'blues brothers' and apart from the experience of the sadly deformed chalky a most successful one pleasingly spent studying them as they went about their lives.

Bill

[dave brown]

Jack,
The mouse was very funny. You have to have an odd sense of humour to note that one. The scenery is stunning as ever. What more can you say about the West Coast of Scotland. You can marvel at it every day of the year, the best us Southerners can hope for is two weeks a year.
Dave

[Vince Massimo]

I have uncovered my nasturtium and allowed the Whites to use it again for the time being.

Large White pair - Caterham, Surrey 10-Aug-2013

Today I finally got the shot I had been after all summer.

Large White ovipositing on nasturtium - Caterham, Surrey 23-Aug-2013

I also found out what a Large Rose Sawfly looks like...............

Ovipositing Large Rose Sawfly - Caterham, Surrey 15-Aug-2013

I really must get out more.............

Vince

[Pete Eeles]

Today I finally got the shot I had been after all summer.

Good man! Nice sawfly shot too!

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

Spent almost an hour and a half at Crymlyn Burrows between 11.40am and 1pm today. Blustery winds but mainly sunny and warm. Butterflies seen were:

Meadow Brown 100+
Common Blue 40-60
Small Heath 30-50
Green Veined White 20-40
Small White 20-40
Brown Argus 3
Large White 3
Small Copper 2
Speckled Wood 2
Hedge Brown 2
Clouded Yellow 1

It was a real joy to see the Clouded Yellow. It was a female and she looked to be in egg laying mode as she was constantly fluttering close to the ground as if trying to locate the correct foodplant.

[Jack Harrison]

Isle of Mull 24 August

Again little in the way of butterfly news. Scotch Argus still present in Glengorm by the coast.

This darter in Glengorm: Common or Highland? Or are Common and Highland just races of the same species anyway?



It always landed on stones - nowhere else.

Jack

[aeshna5]

Highland Darter is now just considered a form of Common Darter rather than a true species.

[dave brown]

Jack,

Highland Darter is now just considered a form of Common Darter rather than a true species

Just to build a little on the comments by aeshna5. I understand that recently some DNA analysis has taken place that confirms the Highland Darter is just a dark form of Common Darter. The thinking is that the darker colour helps with survival in the colder climate. Many had suspected it was one species, but it probably comes as a disappointment to most.

[Jack Harrison]

Isle of Mull 25 August

A couple of butterflies in “natural” habitats, ie not buddleia.
Peacock is on Devil's-bit scabious. This looks a very suitable habitat for Marsh Fritillary - Croig next spring.







But this old boy really had my admiration. As soon as a fresh female flew past, he was off on the chase. Of course he got nowhere but he hadn’t given up yet!

Jack

[andy brown]

Todays Haul,

Went specifically to Old Winchester Hill for the Privet Hawk-moth, also came up trumps with the Small Copper and Adonis Blue

Small Copper

Is this an Aberration or are they just variable

Adonis Blue

1st one I have ever seen- Result

Privet Hawk-moth

Privet Hawk-moth

Very windy on the hill but pleased with the result

Ta

Andy

[Pete Eeles]

Went specifically to Old Winchester Hill for the Privet Hawk-moth ...

The first photo is superb, Andy (so is the second, but I prefer the first)!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Mark Colvin]

The first photo is superb, Andy (so is the second, but I prefer the first)!

Agreed.

Super shot, Andy

[Mark Tutton]

I did a tour of local sites today and first on the list was Chalton Down near Petersfield on the South Downs. It is a small fairly steep site and the entrance is a 'tunnel' through a blackthorn hedge. As I hopped over the stile the sight in front of me took my breath away - the whole down was just alive with butterflies - chalkhill and common blues , whites by the dozen, brimstones, meadow browns and gatekeepers ably supported by a handful of clouded yellows.
I walked up to the top of the slope and sat down for a full half hour just watching what was in front of me. At one point I counted over fifty whites in the air at once and numerous chases involving more that a dozen blues. I think it is probably the best butterfly year for at least a decade. A memory that will linger for a long time.
Mark

[David M]

After yesterday's excitement at seeing a Clouded Yellow on Crymlyn Burrows, I ventured out twice today to local spots which I thought were conducive to attracting this species.

Mumbles Head on the Gower Peninsula was the first, and Kilvey Hill was the second.

Sadly, both were bereft of crocea but I still had an enjoyable day.

Meadow/Hedge Browns and Common Blues were about in big numbers (albeit mainly quite faded).

Small Whites were widespread, with Large Whites seen in double figures. Green-Veined WERE seen, but the two locations I visited are both quite dry so I wouldn't expect GVW predominance.

A few Brown Argus, several Wall Browns, a few tattered Graylings on Kilvey Hill, the odd Tortoiseshell, four Red Admirals, two Small Coppers, twenty or so Speckled Woods, three Small Heaths, a solitary Painted Lady...all in keeping with the time of year, which definitely has an autumnal 'feel' about it.

Here's a shot of central Swansea from Mumbles head:

Small Whites were everywhere today:

Stunning dragonfly on Mumbles Head. Anyone got an ID?

Wall Brown flying amongst the gravestones in Danygraig Cemetery:

I don't get sentimental very often, but the words on this particular gravestone really moved me: