Maximus

[Maximus]

Thanks Dave, I agree it's a great place to be in late May

Thanks Neil, I remember your excellent reports from last year time really does fly

Thanks Kev, the Common Blues came in amazing shades of blue

Thanks bugboy, Glanvilles appear to be doing reasonably well on the I.o.W. but it seems that they may need helping hand, to enable them to do even better

Thanks Wurzel, it's a pity the mainland colonies (apart from one south of London) appear to have disappeared Canary Yellow it is then

Thanks Trevor, yes not long now for WA, time's moving along so fast now



A few more shots from our trip to the Isle of Wight..

Pair of Common Blues

Brown Argus - Adonis Blue pair

Brown Argus

Ventnor, Wall Lizards - displaying some aggresive behaviour at times.

The best shot I could get of a Peregrine Falcon at Compton Down!

[William]

Hi Maximus,

Cracking shots, as ever! I think your last Peregrine is however, a Hobby, the thick streaking (rather than little arrow-shaped bars), double black moustache and slight orange 'trousers' are a giveaway

BWs,

William

[bugboy]

Great shots, especially those lizards. I agree with William, your Peregrine is a Hobby

[Padfield]

But a great picture of a hobby!

Guy

[Maximus]

Thanks William and bugboy, I must also thank you for the correct ID of the Hobby, with which I am in total agreement

Thanks also Guy

Mike

[Wurzel]

Great shot of the Hobby Mike, and that oen wing shot of the Brown Argus is lush

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks Wurzel, I got the ID wrong on the Hobby, not being much of a birder glad you like the Brown Argus shot



We recently took a trip to Bentley looking for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. During our visit we found only two, we also noticed that the Pearl-bordered Frits were past their best, having been out for some time now.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries

We also saw several Argent and Sable moths, which were not easy to get shots of!

[Wurzel]

Great Small Pearls Mike - how long ago were you at Bentley as the Smalls have only been out for a short time - I might have seen you there if it was last Saturday? Those Argent and Sable are tricksy little moths

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks Wurzel, we were at Bentley on 26th May so probably just caught the beginning of their emergence. Yes Argent and Sable are very tricksy moths must have done three circuits of the clearing

Mike


4th June - Magdalen Hill Down

Today we decided to pay our first visit of 2015 to this beautiful downland site, which, normally a 40 minute drive for us, cost us an extra 40 minutes due to roadworks at Four Marks! Although we arrived frustrated by the delay, this was soon forgotten as we entered this delightful reserve. Hot sun and not too windy, ideal conditions for supercharged butterflies, and so they were Our first sighting was a Small Blue at the side of the path, which on closer inspection was a very fresh female. Due to the hot sun they mainly kept their wings tightly closed with just brief glimpses of their upper sides. Fortunately there was some light cloud being blown across, which obscured the sun sufficiently to allow us to get some open wing shots.

We saw 50 plus Small Blues and were also able to see them roosting, and none showed any sign of reduced spotting to their undersides! We also found a single Grizzled Skipper and some Common Blues.

A lovely moth (Yellow underwing)? and some other beasties.

Golden-Bloomed Grey Long Horned Beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens)?

Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)?

Sloe Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum)?

At about 7pm we saw a Painted Lady in flight which then settled on the bare ground in front of us. We could see that she was quite faded having probably made a long journey from the Continent. Another suddenly appeared and they spiraled high into the sky together. Suddenly she was back on the ground in front of us with the other one settled nearby. We got some shots and as we made our way back along the path we spotted more Painted Ladies basking in the evening sun. We saw six in total, which must have arrived quite late in the evening as we saw none during the day, perhaps the invasion has begun

Basking in the evening sun, high in the ivy

Also on our way out we spotted a roosting female Orange-tip and Green-veined White.

We had a great day out in fantastic surroundings in lovely weather conditions, summer has arrived at last, maybe

[William]

Lovely Small Blues Maximus, I was lucky enough to get down to Portland last week, never seen so many in my life! Your moth is a Burnet Companion...

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5298

They do look rather like giant versions of Small Yellow Underwings

BWs,

William

[MrSp0ck]

A lovely moth (Yellow underwing)? and some other beasties.

The Moth is a Burnet Companion Moth [BCM] a common downland moth that feeds on Birdsfoot trefoil, and often confused with Dingy Skipper,

[Katrina]

Beautiful Small Blue photos- the light and colours are very attractive!

[millerd]

The fresh Small Blue female is wonderful - the coloured sheen on those wings is amazing, and beautifully captured.

Dave

[Pauline]

Some smashing shots there Mike, especially envious of your Painted Lady sightings but great images

[Maximus]

Thanks William and MrSpOck, for the ID of the Burnet Companion. Small Blues do appear to be doing well this year, glad you saw loads at Portland, William.

Thank you Katrina, really glad you like the Small Blue shot

Cheers Dave, the female Small Blue appeared to be very freshly emerged, giving the great colours.

Thanks Pauline, I'm sure more Painted Ladies are on the way

[Maximus]

During a recent trip to a fantastic downland site, we found the following Blues, and also several day flying moths.

Adonis Blue females - mating pair - and male

Common Blue 'blue' female

Brown Argus

Yellow Shell

Mother Shipton

The butterflies are beautiful but the moths are simply stunning!!

[trevor]

HI Mike,
You have achieved something i have consistently failed to do, capture that ' electric blue '
of the Adonis Blue. It's all down to lighting conditions and angle i think.( and a good cameraman ! )

All the best,
TREVOR.

[Willrow]

Just too many good images to comment on suffiently, suffice to say thoroughly enjoyed and your Hobby capture was smashing...I missed one yesterday and know from past experience how hard they are to get, well done Mike

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Maximus]

Thanks Trevor, it's just good luck

Thanks Bill, glad you enjoyed the pics and yes, Hobbies are very fast flying, and difficult just to get in the viewfinder at full zoom, let alone take a shot!



9th June 2015


Today we stayed in our local area as the weather was not that brilliant. In spite of the strong, cool, north easterly wind, we still managed to find two firsts for 2015.

Marbled White

Small Skipper

We only saw a single specimen of each of these but they appeared to be very freshly emerged! We also saw several fresh Common Blue males.

And to think we almost decided not to go out

[David M]

Marbled White & Small Skipper!!

Aah! Summer is truly here.