Susie

[Susie]

lol! I know what you mean - my hound is part springer spaniel (I got him DNA tested) and can bounce like a tigger when excited! To be honest I don't stand much chance of taking photos other than record shots with him around but that's okay I guess as we do have fun and he's good company. I rarely do more than record shots anyway. If I want to do any serious photography in future I'll have to leave him behind.

It's a bit of a challenge when trying to take a photo as he tends to come and see what I'm doing, then walks off and swishes his big fluffy tail either in my face or the butterfly I am more concerned about him disturbing other photographers and so always pop him on his lead when I see other people.


Thank you for the good wishes, they are much appreciated. I've done pretty well so far but that's the easy bit. It'll get harder as I have to travel to see the more unusual stuff which isn't local to me.

[Susie]

One from Denbies I missed off yesterday.

and another one

and one of the hound from a few weeks back when we were looking for orange tips

[Lee Hurrell]

Good to hear the dog tales. I hope to one day have a canine butterfly companion.

Susie, I'm four species behind you, which should be put right by a trip to Denbies this weekend. But I do have Green Hairstreak

Lee

[Susie]

And so do I now, Lee!

The forecast was for a beautiful day but I'm due at work this afternoon, despite that and in the short time slot I had available I set off early with the hound to Denbies; green hairstreak was the target and I really didn't want to miss out this time.

As soon as I arrive and went to the lower field a butterfly flew past, could it be? It settled in the grass and yep, a green hairstreak! Hurrah. Unfortunately the hound disturbed it. It didn't take me long to find four others having fisticuffs over a hawthorn bush. Eventually some of the them settled, many were very worn with big chunks missing from their wings but one was in pretty good nick.

Also seen; brimstone, green veined and orange tip, Adonis blue, common blue and brown argus, small heath, dingy skipper.

Butterfly challenge

1. Peacock - 11/01/14
2. Red admiral - 05/03/14
3. Brimstone - 05/03/14
4. Small tortoiseshell - 09/03/14
5. Comma - 09/03/14
6. Small white - 01/04/14
7. Orange tip - 01/04/14
8. Holly blue - 09/04/14
9. Speckled wood - 09/04/14
10.Green veined white - 13/04/14
11.Dingy skipper - 21/04/14
12.Pearl Bordered Fritillary - 22/04/14
13.Duke of Burgundy - 24/04/14
14.Wood white - 26/04/14
15.Grizzled skipper - 28/04/14
16.Small copper - 28/04/14
17.Wall brown - 28/04/14
18.Small heath - 07/05/14
19.Brown argus - 10/05/14
20.Adonis blue - 11/05/14
21.Common blue - 11/05/14
22.Small blue - 12/05/14
23.Green hairstreak - 14/05/14

[Wurzel]

That last Greenstreak is a beaut You're flying ahead with the tally now Good luck with the Marshies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Susie]

Thanks Wurzel

Unfortunately due to a rather unpleasant bug that struck yesterday afternoon I didn't think I was going to be well enough to travel the two hours each way that it would take to reach the marshies today, but by mid-morning I was starting to go stir crazy and even though I didn't feel great I headed off to see if I could find a Glanville fritillary at Hutchinson's Bank. Other butterflies were out in good numbers (brimstone, orange tip and small white, speckled wood, small heath, peacock, common blue, small blue and brown argus, and green hairstreak) but no glanvilles.

So, a sort of wasted journey, but that was better than staying at home and wondering what I might have seen

I did see some sheep sporting some rather interesting hairstyles however.

I wonder if this one was the butt of some joke

[Susie]

Long story short, after a head's up from a very kind UKB member I headed to Wiltshire for Marsh fritillary. Despite the weather I was not disappointed.

If anyone finds a tatty red dog lead up there it belongs to the hound!

Butterfly challenge

1. Peacock - 11/01/14
2. Red admiral - 05/03/14
3. Brimstone - 05/03/14
4. Small tortoiseshell - 09/03/14
5. Comma - 09/03/14
6. Small white - 01/04/14
7. Orange tip - 01/04/14
8. Holly blue - 09/04/14
9. Speckled wood - 09/04/14
10.Green veined white - 13/04/14
11.Dingy skipper - 21/04/14
12.Pearl Bordered Fritillary - 22/04/14
13.Duke of Burgundy - 24/04/14
14.Wood white - 26/04/14
15.Grizzled skipper - 28/04/14
16.Small copper - 28/04/14
17.Wall brown - 28/04/14
18.Small heath - 07/05/14
19.Brown argus - 10/05/14
20.Adonis blue - 11/05/14
21.Common blue - 11/05/14
22.Small blue - 12/05/14
23.Green hairstreak - 14/05/14
24. Marsh fritillary - 20/05/14

[William]

Glad you got them Susie, beautiful butterflies when seen en masse - look forward to seeing some photos

[Susie]

Butterflies seen today:

Green veined white, orange tip, small blue, common blue and Adonis blue, brown argus, small heath, marsh fritillary, green hairstreak and dingy skipper.

The Marshies were very friendly, this one wanted to hitch a ride on my trouser leg. This is only the second time I have seen marsh fritillary, other than a brief glimpse at Magdalene Hill Down on a UK Butterflies photographic forum meeting some years ago. Next on my hit list is either small pearl bordered fritillary or home grown Sussex Swallowtail, both of which I have not seen before. Not sure how lucky I will be with them!

[Lee Hurrell]

Very nice Susie, lovely photos.

Best wishes,

Lee

[David M]

Butterfly challenge

1. Peacock - 11/01/14
2. Red admiral - 05/03/14
3. Brimstone - 05/03/14
4. Small tortoiseshell - 09/03/14
5. Comma - 09/03/14
6. Small white - 01/04/14
7. Orange tip - 01/04/14
8. Holly blue - 09/04/14
9. Speckled wood - 09/04/14
10.Green veined white - 13/04/14
11.Dingy skipper - 21/04/14
12.Pearl Bordered Fritillary - 22/04/14
13.Duke of Burgundy - 24/04/14
14.Wood white - 26/04/14
15.Grizzled skipper - 28/04/14
16.Small copper - 28/04/14
17.Wall brown - 28/04/14
18.Small heath - 07/05/14
19.Brown argus - 10/05/14
20.Adonis blue - 11/05/14
21.Common blue - 11/05/14
22.Small blue - 12/05/14
23.Green hairstreak - 14/05/14
24. Marsh fritillary - 20/05/14

Susie, have you missed Large White off your list?

I find it hard to believe you haven't yet spotted one in 2014.

[Susie]

Thanks Lee

I am afraid that I haven't had a definite sighting of a large white yet, as surprising as it may sound. I have seen some butterflies in the distance that could have been a large white but until I am absolutely sure I would rather not count them. They'll be in my garden soon enough after the nasturtiums I plant for them every year.

[David M]

They'll be in my garden soon enough after the nasturtiums I plant for them every year.

I'm sure you'll be proved correct on that count, Susie.

[Susie]

A couple more marshies from yesterday

and I couldn't resist one of my favourite butterflies

[Wurzel]

Fantastic photos Susie, especially those on the Dandelion clocks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

I am afraid that I haven't had a definite sighting of a large white yet, as surprising as it may sound. I have seen some butterflies in the distance that could have been a large white but until I am absolutely sure I would rather not count them.

Hi Susie,

I have only seen a couple of definite Large Whites so far this year and those were in the past week. All the other possibles that came close enough to ID proved to be female Brimstones.

Great Marsh Fritillary photos, they were a first for me last year, don't think I will get a chance to see them again this year before they finish.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Katrina]

I love the hitchhiker shot - impressed you managed to get it in focus while on you!

[Susie]

Thank you Wurzel, and thanks for your help without which I may not have been so successful

Thanks Neil, the Marsh Frits I saw were in good condition, I don't know how long they last but I imagine they will be around for a while yet.

Thanks Katrina, good job I have long arms!

[Susie]

This butterfly caught my notice the other day because she seemed particularly dark. On comparing her to others online I don't think she's anything unusual but looking at her abdomen it seems to be positively fit to burst. I wonder if that can just be eggs or perhaps there is a parasitoid in there?

[millerd]

It's probably just eggs - they can lay 300 or so and sometimes cannot fly properly because of the weight! This is a female from Hod Hill a few years back looking ready to explode...

Dave