Hoggers

[Hoggers]

Thanks for all your comments guys, it really was a puzzler of a Clouded Yellow. I've been looking for a helice particularly after seeing some of the knock-out photographs posted by B'Saurus and Co on this forum. This one in flight gave an overall impression of being a White, yet on settling looked just like any other Clouded Yellow. And it clearly wasn't a tattered or faded individual. Maybe as Guy says, it's an aberrant helice? But whatever its classification, if I don't see another, it has rounded off my Clouded Yellow Year!

The weather hasn't been up to much here in Kent. I feel that the County has failed in its duty of hospitality towards all those hopeful souls now scouring Kingsdown for LTB's. But then I read in Sightings of a "Netter". I'd hoped that the digital camera had rendered them extinct. Such cruelty and selfishness beggars description. What would I do if I were so fortunate as to find a rare butterfly:tell or keep it a secret? My instinct would be to let everyone know so that others could share the experience with me. But now I'm having second thoughts.

I've got a stinking cold so haven't been able to get out today but I did see three very beautiful Commas in my garden. I remember reading that for many years these butterflies were all but non-existent in the UK

I'm counting my blessings!

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Get well soon Hoggers. Indeed netting is such a selfish and needless activity WHY! I spent another fruitless day searching for a LTB, I haven't quite given up hope yet but it's getting harder to feel optimistic..... oh well onwards and upwards

[Neil Freeman]

Loving the colour combination with the Comma Hoggers

Hope you feel better soon,

Neil.

[Hoggers]

I didn't think I'd be going butterflying in a T-Shirt again until next Summer but today was absolutely glorious down here in Kent so I could go in search of butterflies and work on my tan at the same time.

I headed for Dungeness because I wanted to see Small Coppers. This is a typical scene from near the Power Station

Every source of nectar had at least one of the little darlings and beat up and battered though they may be now, I love 'em!

Not all of them looked as if they'd gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson

And as you can see, there were a fair number of fully paid up members of the Small Copper Blue Badge Society

Many Large and Small Whites and a few Small Heaths too

Then I glimpsed a male Clouded Yellow skimming over the shingle but not stopping to pose for photographs. But this Painted Lady was more approachable

As I walked along the Station perimeter fence I came across another Clouded Yellow, this time a female, nectaring

Then a male flew in

and the two zipped away. But not much further on I came across yet another Clouded Yellow

And then another!

By the time I'd walked back to my car I had seen no less than ten Clouded Yellows!

A second Painted Lady also put in an appearance

So I had a smashing morning at Dungeness.

Thanks for all your earlier comments and good wishes for a speedy recovery from my cold! Although I'd been accused of "putting it on" by just about every female of our species that I know, it was a rotter of a bug and I'm glad to say I'm now well shot of the thing!

[David M]

Splendid stuff, Hoggers.

Great to see TWO Small Coppers side by side, let alone three!

Large White is a notable species at this time of year, as well as Small Heath.

How many species did you see? Double figures in October would be highly noteworthy.

[Hoggers]

Evening David, I saw eight species in all : Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow, Small and Large White, Small Heath and Common Blue. Given the date, a very respectable bouquet of butterflies!

They were in fair numbers too: 10 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Ladies, 12 Small Whites, singles of Large White and Common Blue, 3 Small Heaths and 2 Small Tortoiseshells.

I know you've done well for butterflies of late, but in particular I've noticed how you have seen Red Admirals in good numbers, whereas down here in Kent, I've only seen a handful all year. I certainly didn't see any today even though Dungeness is a good place to find them.

[Neil Freeman]

Great report Hoggers and some cracking photos

Red admirals have been thin on the ground around the midlands this year as well, I have only seen a dozen or so all year including on my trips further afield.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Hoggers]

Evening Neil, yes, exactly my experience this year yet other parts have done well. And last year was a Red Admiral Bonanza!

[David M]

Evening David, I saw eight species in all : Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow, Small and Large White, Small Heath and Common Blue. Given the date, a very respectable bouquet of butterflies!

They were in fair numbers too: 10 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Ladies, 12 Small Whites, singles of Large White and Common Blue, 3 Small Heaths and 2 Small Tortoiseshells.

I know you've done well for butterflies of late, but in particular I've noticed how you have seen Red Admirals in good numbers, whereas down here in Kent, I've only seen a handful all year. I certainly didn't see any today even though Dungeness is a good place to find them.

Eight is remarkable in October.

Should have been 9, since Red Admirals would normally be present.

Sadly, the cold spring killed nearly all of them in 80% of the country. South Wales was one of the few places that avoided the intense cold, so it follows that this is a prime area for late RAs in the autumn.

[Wurzel]

That sounds like a blinder of a day Hoggers Looks like there's still life in the old year yet

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

It was a smashing day Wurzel, the gorgeous weather really brought out the butterflies.

Today was sunny and warm too. I had an early finish at Canterbury and so before going home I drove to Kingsdown to find Long Tailed Blues.

Now I've read the many tales of extraordinary dedication shown by many intrepid fellow UKBers in their pursuit of this butterfly. The tales of success and failure, of netters and strimmers, of the man from the National Trust who wants to remove all the Everlasting Peas, and of the hard work and hours of searching put in to find this little butterfly. It's quite a human story as well as a story about butterflies.

Having said that, I admit to feeling rather guilty in that I live only 30 miles away from Kingsdown and today I found a LTB within 5 minutes of my arrival!

They are difficult to spot when they're in the long grass

But if I'm honest, it wasn't so much my bush craft that yielded such a quick result but rather more the fact that the butterfly was encircled by six fellow butterfly enthusiasts, all snapping away with their cameras.

I joined in

This one was shy of opening its wings and I'm afraid I don't know if it's a male or a female, but whatever it might be, it's a beautiful little butterfly. I'm glad that after seeing the rather tattered individual back in August (one of the first migrants) I went back today to see a fresher one. I particularly like the iridescent half-moon on the hind wing spot, which put me in mind of Silver Studded Blues.

I saw two more LTBs, both males and both in flight. All these butterflies were found just opposite "Moonraker"

Gorgeous!

[David M]

Well done, Hoggers. This sure is an exciting October!

[Wurzel]

Gorgeous indeed Hoggers you lucky blighter I'm wondering if this could be the start of an annual occurrence due to climate change - at least I'm hoping so in order to get some Wiltshire of Dorset LTBs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Nice work Hoggers, a lovely series of shots that suggest your stealthy approach.

First spot the lovely fresh LTB 'click' take a step closer 'click' then another step 'click', getting closer 'click' It's filling the frame and BINGO click click click..........

[Paul Harfield]

Hi Hoggers

I think we must have met today. I was at Kingsdown today, we must have been part of the same group admiring this individual. My only LTB photo is exactly the same as yours , but probably not as good

[Pauline]

Great photo Hoggers. You are so lucky to live so close to what must now be one of the most famous row of houses as we all know the address of almost each and every one I THINK from the markings that your butterfly is female but I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong as I've only seen one female.

[Hoggers]

Hi All, thanks so much for your comments. Jack, what a shame that we didn't get to have a chat! I've often wondered if we UKBers should wear a badge of some sort to aid identification! And as for my stealthy bush crafty techniques B'saurus, I spend more time fumbling with my camera lens cover and tripping over my feet than I do taking pictures!

I am lucky to have these butterflies on my doorstep, Pauline. Like yesterday, today I finished work in Canterbury early, so I set out for the "Other" Kent site near Minnis Bay (if you want to visit, just follow Dave Brown's directions in the Sightings section.)

I'm glad I did: I saw at least 8, possibly 10 Long Tailed Blues and they were much easier to find here than at Kingsdown.

I got there at around noon. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, a slight breeze but nothing to trouble anyone.

This is what the LTB area looks like

There are Everlasting Peas on both sides of the track (the railway line runs to the left as you look at this photo).

There were only 3 other LTB Hunters but we worked together and to be frank, the LTBs were not being shy!

Here's the first that I came across

But soon I'd found another

With others flying past.

Then I saw these

Marvellous! I waited for at least 45 minutes until they parted: here's the male

And here's the female (the larger of the two)

So there's hope for the future.

I saw three LTBs in a tussel

One of the males involved then settled close by

So as you can see, I had a great time there with the LTBs. I was on site for only 2 hours at the most and would recommend anyone who wants to see LTBs to visit.

[Vince Massimo]

Amazing photos Paul

I will be sending you a PM shortly.

Vince

[Butterflysaurus rex]

AMAZING!!! what a set of photos Hoggers! What is it now 3 or 4 mating pairs sighted! The action seems to have died off in my locality so I'm pleased to see things are still going strong in Kent.

Just fantastic, well done

[Nick Broomer]

Well done Hoggers. Lovely photos, especially the copulating pair, outstanding.

All the best, Nick.