Andy Brown

[David M]

Looking forward to seeing more of these.

Were you up early before the dew burned off?

I always appreciate these types of images. The moisture somehow makes the butterfly even more natural-looking.

[andy brown]

Hi a couple more from Bulgaria, really pleased with the painted lady this is the underside shot I have been trying for, for ages, will try to get more uploaded soon but catching up with the gardening and decorating, consequence of going away for 2 weeks I suppose.

Chestnut Heath

Painted Lady

Cheers

Andy

[Padfield]

I agree with David - lovely pictures. I look forward to more.

Guy

[andy brown]

Here are a couple of Hummingbird Hawk-moths from Bulgaria

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

These are a few from a quick visit to Bramshott Common for Silver Studded Blues Last Friday Morning found plenty of fresh individuals and mating pairs and a nice female with the Blue Dots

Burnet Companion

Then off to Magdalen Hill Saturday morning for a wander with a fair few very fresh Small Tortoiseshells flying and a few Ringlet along with non stop Marbled Whites

Orange Tip

Vapourer

Small Tort

Cheers

Andy

[Willrow]

Lovely set of images Andy, those Hummingbird Hawkmoth shots are top-rate, hard insects to get as clearly as you have

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Pete Eeles]

Lovely set of images Andy, those Hummingbird Hawkmoth shots are top-rate, hard insects to get as clearly as you have

I couldn't agree more - really excellent!

Cheers,

- Pete

[andy brown]

Thanks Bill and Pete for your comments and yes very please to get the pictures I did of the Hummingbird hawks, here are a couple more from Bulgaria and the Tessellated Skipper mentioned in Tony's Bulgaria Butterflies thread

Large Chequered Skipper

Tessellated Skipper

Cheers

Andy

[andy brown]

Not been here for some time, busy moth recording in the back garden (271 species confirmed this year) and the usual DIY Tasks, oh and that annoying thing called work. Hardly done any butterfly photography this year then again the weather hasn't helped. Luckily managed to get away with Spatia Wildlife on there Scarce Butterflies trip in early June and managed to find some lovely species along with my usual eclectic selection of moths and bugs. I will over the winter period add the picture as I get time mainly because I am still trying to ID and Confirm ID's, as usual if I have made an error or if you can help with the ones I have not ID'd please shout.

Anyway Hope you enjoy

Day - 1, First evening - Kamentsi village

Silver-studded Blue

Silver-studded Blue

Chestnut Heath - Coenonympha glycerion

Silver-studded Blue Female

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Maybe Reverdin's Blue

Not sure on this could be Reverdin's Blue if not probably Silver-Studded

45.030 [BF 1513] White Plume (Pterophorus pentadactyla)

73.031 [BF 2465] Four-spotted (Tyta luctuosa)

Nice moth that is Local/nationally scarce in the UK

73.029 [BF 2414] Spotted Sulphur (Acontia trabealis)

Again a nice moth but unfortunately extinct in the UK since the 60's

Chrysolina sanguinolenta (Linnaeus, 1758) [Toadflax Leaf Beetle]

Help Please

Large cricket that I could do with help Identifying please

Cheers

Andy

[Wurzel]

Some great shots there Andy looking forward to some more I'd go for Reverdin's as the orange almost makes a complete band, mind you I don't know much .

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Wow Andy, 271 Moths looking forward to your post and some photos to brighten up the Winter for us Goldie

[David M]

Lovely images, Andy. Feel free to post some more from your trip (as well as your moth trapping exploits).

[andy brown]

Thanks Wurzel, Goldie and David, plenty of images to come and always planned for it to be the winters task of putting names to the pictures.

Wurzel I thought It probably was Reverdin's and always happy for confirmation with these European Blues/Frits and Skippers which there will plenty to come from this trip 100ish species all in all and some rarities/uncommon species to boot.

Will also post selections of beetles/Larvae/Dragonflies and moths etc. many of which I will appreciate the help with so here goes with pictures from the same place (Day 2 Kamentsi village) very early morning around the accommodation before breakfast and moving to our next location.

Lesser spotted fritillary - Melitaea trivia

Silver-studded Blue

Silver-studded Blue

Chestnut Heath - Coenonympha glycerion

Maybe 63.028 [BF 1375] European Corn-borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)

Reverdines Blue

Reverdines Blue

72.053 [BF 2489] Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis)

Cheers

Andy

[Goldie M]

Great shots Andy, love the Fritillary and Silver Studded Blue, Goldie

[andy brown]

Day y 2 After leaving Kamentsi village after breakfast we headed for Suha Reka Valley with the Scarce Fritillary -Hypodryas maturna our main quarry (will post tomorrow), in the meantime here are some pictures before we found our target species

Help appreciated for these 2 Whites I have them Southern Small White based upon the little knowledge I have.

Maybe Southern Small White Pieris (Artogeia) mannii

Again Maybe Southern Small White Pieris (Artogeia) mannii

Cardinal - Argynnis pandora

Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)

Initial thoughts 70.275 [BF 1952] Common Heath (Ematurga atomaria)

appears lighter than our Common Heath, so if you have any thoughts as to what it may be if I am incorrect please shout

Marsh Frog - Female

Marsh Frog - Male

Cheers

Andy

[andy brown]

Update, I think the moth listed as Common Heath is in fact 70.019 [BF 1683] Lewes Wave (Scopula immorata) a now extinct UK species

Andy

[andy brown]

Here is our main target for Quarry for Day 2 in the Suha Reka Valley Scarce Fritillary -Hypodryas maturna, a stunning butterfly and here not so scarce but was a bit of trek to get to is location followed by a few other species also at the site.

Scarce Fritillary -Hypodryas maturna Female

Scarce Fritillary - Underside

B0060 [BF 1717] Purple-barred Yellow (Lythria purpuraria)

Green Hairstreak - Callophrys rubi

Lesser spotted fritillary - Melitaea trivia

Large Copper - Lycaena dispar

Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus

I think this is Oberthur's Grizzled skipper

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Provençal Short-tailed Blue - Cupido (Everes) alcetas

Cheers

Andy

[David M]

Doesn't get much better than Scarce Fritillary, Andy (except possibly False Comma).

Nice images.

[FISHiEE]

I'm thinking your large copper might be purple shot copper?

Liking those Scarce Fritillaries!

[David M]

I'm thinking your large copper might be purple shot copper?

Have to say that the Purple Shot Coppers I've seen all have a noticeably darker ground colour on the underside hindwing than this specimen, but the upperwing undersides do have smaller spots than the guides indicate for dispar.

[Pete Eeles]

... and a nice female with the Blue Dots

How did I miss this?! Can you add to the SSB Abs album, if not already done. Thx Andy!

Cheers,

- Pete