Hoggers

[Wurzel]

Glad to see the loss of blood didn't cause camera shake Hoggers Lovely set of White Admiral shots, I especially like the way the light has shown up the black on black markings on the first one

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

After an early finish at work I paid a visit to Lullingstone Country Park in North Kent. I go there most years to see the Dark Green Fritillaries. I'd no idea whether they were out yet at this site but decided to give it a go and I'm glad I did

No need for "Jungle Formula" here!!

How many did I see? Well, it's difficult to say as sometimes I seemed to be surrounded by them

And then just as suddenly they all seemed to disappear!

But not for long

I'd say there were between 20 and 30

I saw this heavily marked individual

Then I happened upon this group of three

They'd found a disgusting porridge of poo at the mouth of a burrow and were so happy with it that they were totally oblivious to me

They look better on flowers though!

Any one who doesn't know where to find them at Lullingstone: from the visitor centre car park walk up the meadow to the wood. Don't go in the wood, turn right and you'll come to the golf course. When the fairway is clear of golfers, cross to the flower-rich bank that you'll see ahead. That's where the DGFs are

Well worth a visit

Such a beautiful butterfly

(Lots of other butterflies there too, many Ringlets, Meadow Browns,Common Blues, Brown Argus, Marbled Whites, Small and Large Skippers and a Small Tortoiseshell)

[Lee Hurrell]

Wonderful stuff, Hoggers.

Lullingstone is not far from where I grew up in Sevenoaks. I've visited the nearby Roman ruins but not for DGF - something I will have to put right.

When I lived in Kent recently, I saw it written (by BC Kent branch) that this could be the best site for DGF in the country.

Best wishes,

Lee

[Hoggers]

Cheers Lee, it's the only site for DGFs in Kent that I know of (good for orchids too, I'm told). It's rather odd, being bang in the middle of a golf course, but you're welcome to visit the butterflies just so long as you don't get on the fairway when the golfers are playing thorough!

On my patch today I saw many Meadow Browns, four Large Skippers

A Small Skipper cooling off down in the long grass (it was hot this morning!)

And a single Marbled White. There were 12 Small Tortoiseshells

Including this one which was a little worn but had eye-catching large white flashes

Along the river I found this batch of Peacock caterpillars

And a splendid Comma

[Wurzel]

Great reports Hoggers with greta photos I especiAlly like the Large Skipper as it looks like a right cheeky choppy in that posture

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

Cheers Wurzel, Skippers are just bursting with character and as for being able to suddenly fly off backwards! A tad frustrating when you're hoping to take a photo but you've got to admire them!

Very hot on my dog walk today. Marbled White numbers are building and the same goes for Small Skippers

Numerous Meadow Browns, just a couple of worn Common Blues left, about 12 Small Tortoiseshells and as a bonus today, this Clouded Yellow

I followed her about

it was clear that she was egg laying, so hopefully there'll be more to come in late Summer

[NickMorgan]

Hoggers,
You have just answered a question I just asked someone here! I was thinking that last year there were a lot of Clouded Yellows seen in southern England and even one here. The ones down south were seen to be laying eggs and given the mild winter I was wondering if any had made it through. Maybe there is hope that we will have some more Clouded Yellows up here this year.
Great pictures of the Dark Green Fritillaries, too.
Nick

[David M]

I was thinking that last year there were a lot of Clouded Yellows seen in southern England and even one here. The ones down south were seen to be laying eggs and given the mild winter I was wondering if any had made it through. Maybe there is hope that we will have some more Clouded Yellows up here this year.

Nick, we even had spring emergees in south Wales that had obviously successfully overwintered, and given that conditions haven't been particularly poor at any time thus far, I'd expect an even bigger number than last year by the end of the summer.

[Neil Freeman]

Some great reports and photos Hoggers, I particularly like the sequences of Dark Green Fritillaries and Clouded Yellow

Cheers,

Neil.

[Hoggers]

The Clouded Yellow was in the same field where I saw them for the first time last year. Lots of Clover, Bird's Foot Trefoil and Co there. I will keep my eyes peeled for more!

This morning I visited Reculver Country Park hoping that the White Letter Hairstreaks would be out. I arrived at 10am, rather later than I'd hoped, and it was already very warm indeed.

As luck would have it I came across my first WLH almost immediately upon arrival at the spot that I visited last year (although then it was early August)

Over the next 90 minutes I was able to easily spot them, mostly as brief "fly pasts" but also when they were on the plentiful Bramble and Privet flowers

During the course of my visit I'd say I saw 9 WLHs

By about 1130am it was very hot and I could no longer find any of the butterflies. I saw one fly off from the Brambles to roost high in a tree so perhaps that's where the others were too.

I also saw Commas, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Small Skippers, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Speckled Woods and a Large White

[Wurzel]

Great to see someone else has been able to get some shots of Whitters Hoggers I saw my first at Bentley this weekend but they did 't come down for any photo ops

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

Hi Wurzel, I had a bit more luck with Hairstreaks today as well!

My day started off with the usual dog walk. It was rather cool and breezy. As my spaniel thrashed his tail in the long grass he sent up Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites left, right and centre but I managed to creep up on one roosting Marbled White before he came along and knocked it flying

I then decided to have a stroll around Orlestone Forest. Before going I spray painted myself with "Jungle Formula". I still got bitten but not quite so much. I'm sure I saw a Mozzie wearing a gas mask (although to be fair I think the "Jungle Formula" fumes had got to me by that stage..)

I soon came across White Admirals

I saw 25 in total

There's something child-like and playful about them

I spent a long time just watching them

Beautiful butterflies!

There were also numerous Ringlets

And many Meadow Browns, a few Small and Large Skippers, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and one Marbled White.

After watching the White Admirals I set off for home, just ambling along, not looking for anything in particular, when purely by chance (and just before I would have trodden on it) I saw a little butterfly on the path. I moved him onto a grass stalk

A Purple Hairstreak

Poor chap looked in a sorry state but nonetheless, still beautiful

He was on the path and in deep shadow so it was rather cold. I couldn't leave him there so enticed him onto my finger

And walked him a little way from where I'd found him into the sunshine. He responded quickly to the warmth by opening his wings.

I set him down and after a minute or so to my delight he took off on those deformed wings of his and flew up into an Oak tree!

It was certainly an unexpected way for me to see my first Purple Hairstreak of the year!

[David M]

What an unexpected find, Hoggers!

Purple Hairstreak at such close quarters is a real bonus.

[Wurzel]

Fantastic stuff Hoggers - you really did strike lucky with Hairstreaks Brill White Admirals too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

It was exciting to find a Purple Hairstreak and to see it at such close quarters. Thank goodness it could still fly.

I saw my first second brood Small Copper this morning

And when I saw this butterfly I thought I'd found an Essex Skipper but looking at the photograph I now believe it's a female Small Skipper

If anyone thinks differently I'd appreciate it if you could let me know.

Cheers,

Hoggers.

[Wurzel]

I love that type of backlit Small Copper shot Hoggers I reckon it could be a Small as the tips of the antennae seem slightly 'tipped' and not as rounded as Essex, mind you I could be wrong - I get the hang of Smessex each year by the end of their flight but by the time I next encounter them I've forgotten all that I learnt the previous year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

Thanks Wurzel, I think it was a female Small Skipper too, particularly as I came across an Essex Skipper this morning and had a chance to refresh my memory of what they look like

I only found two amongst the Small Skippers on my patch

They appeared last year on 27th June, so they're bang on time

Many Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns and Small Skippers too

Summer days!

[Hoggers]

Early morning out with the dogs and Skippers

Just 7am yet the Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns were active too and I came across this gorgeous Small Copper which to my eye appeared very brown

When I looked at the photos I could see it had a beautiful smokey burnish to it

I had to go to Canterbury to do some shopping this morning but managed to combine drudgery with pleasure by popping in to East Blean Wood on my way home. Rather than search the car park area I walked directly to the clearing where earlier this month I'd found Heath Fritillaries.

Not much in the way of Cow Wheat though I did see a few clumps of it. The first butterflies that I came upon were Red Admirals and White Admirals sharing the brambles

He's obviously been about a bit! But this one has fared better

And something had had a go at the White Admiral

A Large White flew overhead and then I saw my first Heath Fritillary lazily flapping towards me

There were quite a few about, most rather tired-looking but some comparatively fresh, either sunbathing or nectaring

I enjoyed watching them fly, they seem so dainty and sedate

Within seconds of this fritillary settling down to bask in the sunshine he was seen off the premises by the "no nonsense" Large Skipper

Leaving him in no doubt just whose patch it was!

Whilst following the fritillaries about, a fast fluttering motion low in the undergrowth caught my eye. I bent down and found myself confronted by a BeheMOTH!

An Elephant Hawk Moth. What a splendid animal it is. It was constantly fluttering its wings as if to warn me off. I took the hint and moved away to spend more time watching the Heath Fritillaries

A pleasant way to spend a late June sunny Sunday morning.

[Wurzel]

Fantastic stuff Hoggers - those Essex Skippers are fabulous - I need to find me some of those Love the Heaths too and the Small Copper certainly does look smoky

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

I went for a wander around Dungeness this morning as I wanted to see some Small Coppers. The whole place is in bloom and there are hundreds of butterflies to be found. Meadow Browns and Small Skippers were numerous

There were several Small and Large Whites and I saw my first Gatekeepers (5) of the year

I saw good numbers of Small Heaths and particularly enjoyed watching them chasing around. Here's a picture of Small Heaths and their shadows!

My target for the day, the Small Copper, was present in high numbers

Little Crackers

Some quite worn but always full of character

Ever vigilant and ready for a punch-up!

Such a delight to find them so plentiful here

Although the first Common Blues appear to be over I did see 5 fresh Brown Argus

Content in their own little flowery world

What with Coppers and Skippers and Small Heaths and Brown Arguses all whizzing about in the long grass I had quite a frenetic time trying to take photographs but fortunately even Small Coppers need to take a break now and again

Then you can sit down and just enjoy being with them