Badgerbob

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Quite the opposite of sad Bob! Envy might be nearer the truth. I'm sure there are many interested people who would love to find something as cool as that pupa! I know I certainly would. After your generous demonstration you inspired me to look for my own Wall larva, it was more by luck than skill on my part that I stumbled across one so soon. I've looked there many times since my bit of good luck and I can't find another one. It really is very difficult indeed and as you say quite addictive. I hope you find that ova to complete the set, in fact I'm sure that you will

All the best

B'saurus

[badgerbob]

With the computer being out of action, and still a bit suspect, I will try to catch up a bit from the last week. Last Monday, the 14th I met up with James, (B. Rex), to look out for some butterflies new for the year as well as Green Hairstreaks. I thought I had arrived before him and immediately I stumbled across a very fresh individual that was only flying short distances and keeping to ground foliage. I managed several pictures of this little beauty before it vanished and just before James appeared from the opposite direction to where I thought he would come from. As it happened he had beaten me there and seen a few other hairstreaks. While I was photographing my Greenie a Small Copper flew past and then Dingy Skippers appeared, both new for the year at that time. We spent a couple of hours enjoying the butterflies, scenery and the weather before some cloud cover cooled the day down a little too much.

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Good to see your computer is working again Bob

Those photos were really worth the wait, I've been looking forward to seeing the GHS you told me about and just as I thought it's a real cracker!
It was a great day spent in excellent company.

All the best

B'saurus

[Pete Eeles]

I stumbled across a very fresh individual that was only flying short distances and keeping to ground foliage. I managed several pictures of this little beauty before it vanished

Nice shots Bob - and with the lack of underside markings is almost certainly an aberration!

Cheers,

- Pete

[badgerbob]

Thanks James and Pete. A little bonus if it is indeed an ab!!

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks James and Pete. A little bonus if it is indeed an ab!!

It's at least an ab. incompleta : http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrati ... ecies=rubi

Perhaps we need to christen it ab. monopunctata

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

Lovely images, Bob. I can't wait for a bit of Greenstreak action myself!

[Wurzel]

Good to see you're almost back to full speed Bob Great Greenstreak shots - I feel that I might have to leave Gatekeepers behind and move onto the number of spots on Greenstreaks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[badgerbob]

Last Tuesday I went over to the lanes around Arlington to try and watch and photograph the local Orange-tips. There were already 3 people checking out the Cuckoo Flower by the road so I kept walking as I was after a bit of peace and quiet. A bridle way nearby looked good and so it was with a few males flying up and down the lane and settling on and off as well as a bit of nectaring.

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

[David M]

You've done well to capture these images, Bob. Orange Tips are almost always very reluctant subjects.

[badgerbob]

Thanks David. It does help when the weather is a little cooler. This species is so special, I am particularly pleased with the middle picture.

[Butterflysaurus rex]

That middle one is lovely Bob, I love it when the sunlight shines through the orange tips on the males wing.

Best Wishes

B'saurus

[badgerbob]

It was a very eventful week last week with too many pictures to sort out, so it was very frustrating for the computer to pick that week to go belly up!! Gradually sorting things now anyway. Every day I've been up to check on the Wall Brown pupa which has been changing daily, and by getting up there I've seen lots of other things as well. Last Wednesday I met up with Downland Boy to show him the pupa and to have a general walk in the area. Early on we were very lucky to come across a Grass Snake out in the open. We were careful not to panic the snake and it behaved nicely allowing some close up shots. I also saw my first Grizzled Skipper of the year, although pics had to wait until the next day.

On the Thursday I managed to get pictures of both Grizzled and Dingy Skippers as well as a Small Heath, the first for Sussex and only 2 days behind the British first in Surrey. On the way back to the car I spotted a smart Wall Brown, fantastic colour when newly emerged. This one also had an extra white spot on the forewing eye spot as well. A male Holly Blue was also a bonus, it was out of reach but I carefully pulled the foliage down and amazingly it didn't fly off.

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

[Wurzel]

Absolutely brill shots Bob - the middle OT is a cracker, showing something different Small Heaths are out - things seem to be moving along but in fits and starts. The final shot, the Wall Brown - the best of the lot I reckon

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[badgerbob]

Thanks Wurzel, I have managed several Wall Brown photos over the last few days, a few of which will be posted!!

[Pauline]

Have to disagree with you on this one Wurzel - it's the snake that does it for me

[badgerbob]

Yes Pauline, The Grass Snake is the one I was most chuffed with there!!
My daily trip up the hill to check the pupa has resulted in so many sightings. Yet more Skippers seen over the next few days as well as adult Wall Brown. The Wall Brown are really smart at the moment as they are so fresh. Two mating pairs seen as well, as well as a fully grown larva standing out like a sore thumb on the grasses. Here are a few more pics I've managed to get over the last few days.

male Wall Brown

roosting Dingy Skipper

female Wall Brown

mating Wall Brown

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Bob,

Some lovely photos in your past couple of posts, this time of year I always start thinking that I am living in the wrong part of the country

Cheers,

Neil.

[badgerbob]

Hi Neil and thanks for your message. I suppose in a couple of months time you will be much nearer than me to some stunners that we don't get down here!! Of course you do get the Wall Brown, hopefully not too far from you. Here are a few more shots I've got over the last 3 days. This includes an awful picture of a roosting individual showing why they are so hard to find once they go to roost. I have had them roosting in bushes as well but I believe that a good number crawl into these crevices and use their fantastic camouflage more often than not. Yesterday evening I saw 3 roost up this way.

male Wall Brown 24/4/2014

male Wall Brown 24/4/2014

The above Wall male unusually allowed a couple of quick pictures whilst it was nectaring. The top picture it was on a daisy that is not visible. Just after taking the 2nd picture another Wall flew over putting this one up. They then met in the air and after a very short bit of twisting and coming together they landed on the ground where they started mating straight away. They then got taken by the wind still attached and were lost to view.

male Wall Brown 26/4/2014

roosting Wall Brown

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Bob,

Good point about the stunners further north, the biggest advantage of living in the midlands is that a couple of hours in any direction covers a lot of the country

Unfortunately Wall Brown has not been recorded in Warwickshire for some years now, I believe they may still be found in a couple of spots over on the Malvern Hills but they have pretty much disappeared from most of the midlands. This particularly saddens me as I remember them being common around Solihull back in the 1970s.

This is one of the reasons why I always look out for this species when I am on my family breaks around the coast and why I enjoy your reports and photos so much

Cheers,

Neil.