Neil Hulme

[David M]

Thanks Wurzel and David. I reckon this weekend and next week will be peak time for Brownies, with a very long tail-off thereafter. I would probably still be chasing them during the first week of September, but I'll be on a family holiday in Cornwall (secretly waiting for the Monarchs to come in).
BWs, Neil

LOL! Does your missus know the REAL reason why you want to visit Cornwall in September?

[Neil Hulme]

More Steyning Brownies

Returns at Steyning Rifle Range were rather modest today, with only 5 females seen by the numerous visitors. The first was seen at 11.35 am and another 3 descended before 12.30 pm, at which point large banks of cloud appeared and the temperature plummeted. One more dropped into the thorn very briefly before close of play was announced soon after 1.00 pm.

[Neil Hulme]

Hi David,
"Does your missus know the REAL reason why you want to visit Cornwall in September?"
Let's just say she's wonderfully tolerant!
BWs, Neil

[John W]

One more dropped into the thorn very briefly before close of play was announced soon after 1.00 pm.

Hi Neil, I saw another at about 1.30pm, at the top corner of the bank.

Cheers
John W

[Neil Hulme]

Hi John,
Excellent! Nice shot too.
BWs, Neil

[David M]

These images are making me extremely restless!!

You don't know how lucky you are to have a BH site in an area with reliable weather conditions.

I'm still spending far too much time working out when (and indeed if) I can see this species in Pembrokeshire this weekend.

[Neil Hulme]

Baiting The Emperor

Following a disgraceful lapse in security a YouTube video has been posted on the Purple Emperor website http://apaturairis.blogspot.co.uk/, letting every Tom, Dick and Harry in on a secret which has been guarded more closely than Colonel Sanders own recipe.

[Wurzel]

Unfortunately for me your secret is still safe as Safari refuses to run it!Grrrrrrrrr

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[False Apollo]

Everyone lets go around to Neil's house for a cordon bleu meal now he has shown us his dexterity in the kitchen! Seems he specialises in aromatic fish dishes!!!

Yum Yum
Mike

[Andy Wilson]

Hi Neil, I finally made it this afternoon to the Grid Reference you gave me on Malling Down. Conditions were cloudy at first, but I sat there for 30 minutes waiting for the sun to come out, and then at last I got the full Adonis effect. Here's a nice fresh male nectaring on wild marjoram. Thanks!

[David M]

Everyone lets go around to Neil's house for a cordon bleu meal now he has shown us his dexterity in the kitchen! Seems he specialises in aromatic fish dishes!!!

Maybe he smears it on his moleskin trousers too given that Purple Emperors find it so irresistible!

[Jack Harrison]

Ah, I had smellinet. I watched the video shortly after I had "enjoyed" an own-brand £2 fish pie from the local supermarket. Risk of libel action deters me from naming the supermarket but if we had Purple Emperors here on Mull, then the fish pies would be the perfect bait.

In Fermyn Woods a few years ago, a dog had been a nuisance charging up and down the rides although sadly I did not witness the subsequent event myself. The dog apparently found some Emperor bait and rolled in it. It was speculated that the dog owners' car would have smelled so disgusting that - hopefully - they never returned to Fermyn.

Jack

[Neil Hulme]

Crowd Pleasers

As I was passing close to Steyning Rifle Range this morning (23rd August) I couldn't resist another visit, despite the fact that the cloudy spells outweighed the sunshine. There was quite a crowd already on site and a very faded male had been seen on the ground earlier. After chatting to a few regulars in the reserve area I headed up towards the northern flank with Susie Milbank, speculating that it was probably not quite sunny enough to bring many Brown Hairstreaks out to play.

As I got to the top of the slope a female zipped across the open grassland in front of me and settled on an ash sapling. She stayed here long enough for other enthusiasts to see her, providing at least one person with a 'first'. Almost simultaneously another was spotted 50 metres further up the path. This quickly developed into two females, which at one point were egg-laying less than a metre apart. By now most of the crowd from below had joined us for another Hairstreakfest, with Paul Fosterjohn spotting yet another. This one appeared very fresh, but she refused to come within range of the cameras and remained deep within a blackthorn thicket.

As 2 pm approached the sun reappeared, so I headed back to the reserve area for a last sweep. As soon as I arrived I spotted two more females. Bearing in mind that the weather conditions were far from ideal, a total of six females and a male in two hours demonstrates just how good the Rifle Range is.

[Susie]

Beautiful photos, Neil. It was good to see the 'butterfly whisperer' in action again! You seem to have a knack of magicking them out of fresh air. At least two people were delighted to see their first brownies and I think the rest of us were equally pleased. It was a very enjoyable few hours.

I'm not giving you all the credit though, my brownie pin badge arrived this morning and I brought it with me. it proved as lucky as the purple emperor badge was.

[Neil Hulme]

Good to catch up with you Susie. In response to the question you asked me .... I saw a few Essex Skipper when I visited Cissbury Ring on Sunday (SSW corner in the earthworks).
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

Autumn

It seems that autumn has come early this year. However, I'm sure there'll be some warm, sunny days ahead when we can appreciate seasonal highlights. I always enjoy seeing dark specimens of the Comma feeding on blackberries, and shiny new Coppers sunbathing on bleached grasses and seed heads. On some sites, particularly those where the population is small, there will still be a few late Adonis Blue to emerge. This is the case at Cissbury Ring and when I visited on Sunday (24th August) I found my first second brood males of the season. Both were in immaculate condition, but unfortunately they decided to shut up shop for the night, before I could capture their stunning upper sides. I'll be making the most of every opportunity that arises now .... winter is a long time.

[Wurzel]

Winter is a long time - but I'm sure you'll be able to do some twitching to see you through

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks Wurzel. I'm hoping for another Grey Phalarope in a children's paddling pool.
BWs, Neil

[Katrina]

Beautiful photo Neil.

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks Katrina!