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That is a particularly fresh Meadow Brown a Dave, all the ones round her are looking pretty ragged

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:That is a particularly fresh Meadow Brown a Dave, all the ones round her are looking pretty ragged

You're lucky to have them at all, Wurzel. They've expired down here in Wales and Hedge Browns are on their last legs.

Thanks, all. I still find it difficult to understand that Meadow Browns have one long emergence rather than two broods. The first ones emerge in May, the last in September or even October some years. As they spend the winter as caterpillars, how is it that some take only a two or three months after the winter to become butterflies, yet others take twice that time and more. Anyway, it's good to see some fresh ones at any time.

What a lousy week of weather again. There were virtually no opportunities to go anywhere at all. The only interest was this large hedgehog found on my doorstep on the evening of Bank Holiday Monday. It wouldn't budge, the reason being that it had found a supply of maggots somewhere near a rubbish bin, and was happily chomping them. On 1st September, I had a brief walk as there was a bit of brightness late on. Nothing flew, but for some reason I was looking up and spotted a Red Admiral settled up in a tree. It was Saturday before I went out again. On today's excursion I managed to rescue three more Red Admiral Caterpillars from the chop. There has been a good deal of mowing round here this week, including the area where the Small Heaths fly. Compare this with the photo I took last week. The only butterfly I managed to photograph was a Green-veined White. Sunday 6th September: As forecast, but hard to believe, a sunny day. I've just changed my car, so I decided to give it a spin and go somewhere new. I therefore headed for Steyning and the chance of Brown Hairstreaks eager to lay after being grounded by cloud and rain. With surprisingly little traffic about, it took only an hour and a half (if that). As I didn't really know where to go, it was lucky that there were little signs pointing to some kind of event at the Rifle Range: I followed those. Almost as soon as I entered the main field from the appropriately marked gate ("Welcome to Butterfly Land"), a bright orange butterfly flew across in front of me and down the slope. It settled on the ground for a while, first basking and then apparently sucking up moisture from the dew on the grass. It then headed for the hedgerow and disappeared. A Brown Hairstreak within minutes! I then approached the main stand of blackthorn (and other prunus - some of the little dark plums were delicious), and over the next couple of hours, I must have seen half a dozen Brown Hairstreaks. Several were seen flying low across the slopes, landing on the small scrubby blackthorn just outside the fence and then disappearing the bushes inside to lay eggs. They seem to almost fall out of these bushes when they leave them, and it is unsurprising that they damage their wings in the process. Most inelegant. I walked around the top of the slopes as well, but saw nothing up there except for a worn female Common Blue, and elsewhere there were numerous Speckled Woods, a couple of Holly Blues, a few Meadow Browns and a Brimstone. The downside today was that in the middle of proceedings, the screen on my camera gave up the ghost. I carried on taking pictures, but most were out of focus, or of half a butterfly. The fact that any came out at all is astonishing.

Just as I returned to the car, I bumped into Neil Hulme and family on their way to the event up the hill. All looked very well, and Neil said there might be a slight detour of a hairstreak-related kind at some point... As ever, good to see you, Neil!

Dave

Well done on the Brown Hairstreaks, Dave. If you don't mind me asking what time did you get to the site at Steyning yesterday? I am wondering when I should set off today to do some Brown 'Hairstreaking' locally.

ATB

Peter

Thanks, Peter - sorry I didn't pick up your question until this evening. In case you plan other trips this week in promising weather, I was there between about 1100 and 1400 on Sunday. it wasn't very warm at the start, but if mornings this week are warmer, the Hairstreaks may fly earlier.

After Sunday's outing, I had a look around locally with a different camera. It was late really, with the sun much lower at an earlier time - one of the depressing things about autumn I find. However, I did see four Holly Blues altogether, with a male coming down briefly to pose at head height - a match for the female I'd seen at Steyning. There were a few Whites, flying up into the trees when I disturbed them basking amongst the brambles, though I also found a Large one nectaring on a wild buddleia. Despite the haircut suffered by their field, a few Small Heaths were chasing each other around, pausing for refreshment on the clover which was the only remaining source of nectar after the trim. I didn't see a Red Admiral, which is very unusual for this walk, but did find three Commas. In fact, there were four sightings, but two were of the same individual, an hour or so apart. One flew quite differently to the others, wafting and swooping gracefully around and showing a pale underside. When it landed, I decided that unlikely as it might seem, it was a very late leftover hutchinsoni rather than the darker normal form that I'd expect to see now. Finally, the most common species was the Speckled Wood, inhabiting every shrinking patch of bright sunshine. Dave

Thanks, Dave. I was just curious when you said that you saw a BH apparently imbibing dew on the grass.

As it happened, I arrived at my local site in glorious sunshine at 1030 but by 1100 it had completely clouded over. Not a single butterfly of any sort seen

ATB

Peter

It's still good to see the Butterflies wether they're few are for between though isn't it Dave
Nice Comma's as well Dave Goldie

Hi Dave,

Lovely glow on those Autumn Commas, not seen any myself yet. Speckled Wood numbers seem to have taken off big style around here over the last week or so, I am seeing loads of them.

Cheers,

Neil.

Shame you missed out, Peter. The weather has been a complete pain lately. The Brown Hairstreak I saw first on Sunday was definitely taking moisture from the grass - here's a closer crop of the photo where you can see its proboscis extended between its front legs. I've not seen this species do this before. It is good to still be seeing butterflies, Goldie. Last year they went on into November - it would be great if that happened this year, but I don't think it will.

I've been waiting for the Specklies to pick up, Neil, and for the annual treat your diary provides! I shall be watching out...

Tuesday 8th September: The sun struggled through around five this evening, which gave little time to see much at all. Worth a look, though at first all I thought I'd find was this Red Admiral larval tent. It was definitely occupied too, as was one other found a bit later on. Some of the smaller ones I've come across have had evidence of parasitic cocoons inside - quite a percentage must be lost this way. Out in the recently mown field, there is an oasis that the machinery couldn't get at. Here in the late sunshine I found two or three Meadow Browns, a Small White and a single Small Heath. After that - nothing, though it was six o'clock and despite the low sun, not especially warm. I caught a glimpse of a scrawny fox up ahead on the path, but it made a quick getaway into the bushes. Dave

Some great reports recently Dave, glad you saw your Brostreaks - interesting behaviour as well, I've seen them supping on fruit but not down on the ground taking moisture Great Commas too I hope to get out at the weekend possibly but Mrs Wurzel has mentioned 'painting'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a highly interesting observation regarding the BH taking fluids from the grass, Dave.

None of us here in Wales really know how our local betulaesustain themselves, but given that nobody has ever seen them nectaring then we assume that they're doing precisely what your photograph has demonstrated.

Thanks, chaps. There's always something new to learn... I have seen a Black Hairstreak down on the ground apparently taking moisture, but I think that might have been honeydew washed off trees above it. The Brown Hairstreak at Steyning just had the morning dew.

Thursday 10th September: by clever manoeuvring and trust in the Met Office forecast earlier in the week, I managed to take the day off and have hours of glorious sunshine. Denbies seemed a good bet, and it proved to be so. After a fast-flying Red Admiral in the car park as I drank a coffee from the refreshment van, Steers Field seemed rather quiet. However, the main slopes proved otherwise, and after only a few metres in, various blues and plenty of Meadow Browns appeared from the grass. There were still reasonable numbers of both Adonis and Chalkhill Blues, with the most surprising aspect being that there were some nearly new male Chalkhills, as well as a lot of faded ones. In fact these were fresher than any of the Adonis males, all of which were wearing and taking on the intense electric blue shade characteristic of this. There were undoubtedly females of both species, but to be honest, even with the excellent help available on UKB, there were some I struggled to definitely identify. The first two photos are the same butterfly, and the fourth and fifth are the same as well. Any ideas which they are? My feeling is 1,2 & 3 are Adonis and 4 & 5 are Chalkhill. I did find a couple of "blue" females, one unfortunately with a large piece missing from a forewing - these are both Chalkhills, I think. I also came across two mating pairs of Chalkhills, an unusual facet of this late season. Once again, I didn't see anything I could confidently say was a Common Blue, but did find a few Brown Argus here and there, as well as goods numbers of Small Heaths. Finally, there were still one or two Silver-spotted Skippers. I returned to the car park, and about thirty metres short of the gate I had to leap sideways off the path to avoid stepping on an adder. The snake was extended right across the path and was not moved by my balletic movements, so I went back to it and took a couple of photos. At this point it gave me a disdainful look and slithered slowly into the longer grass. In all the years I've been coming to Denbies, this is the first snake I've seen - what a lovely creature.

Dave

Ok I'll have a stab! This is based soley in looking at the outer side of the hindwing lunules: 1+2 Adonis and the rest are Chalkhill, but having been there recently and seen both flying together I know exactly how difficult it is. I've been surprised how late the Chalkhills seem to be flying this year, seen fresh males at 3 sites over the past 10 days or so. Maybe the dodgy May we had has staggered the larval stage and extended their flight season?

Gonna have to watch my step next time I'm there with Adders flaunting themselves on the paths like that

Yes, Buggy, it does seem odd to see so many fresh male Chalkhills. If the weather doesn't wipe them out some might linger into October.

Still Thursday 10th: After Denbies, I popped into Box Hill. Very little flying, even on Dukes, where all I saw was one each of Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Heath, plus a little cluster of male Meadow Browns. Over on Burford Spur, there was nothing at all aside from a few Speckled Woods amongst the bushes at the top. Great views today, though - this is west, over towards Denbies Vineyard. Finally, the day would not be complete without a local walk. Very quickly, I saw several Holly Blues, maybe five or six in all. The bramble flowers have all but gone, but a few remain for them to nectar on, and the ivy is coming into bloom as an alternative. A few whites were flying, but even as early as four o'clock they were looking for roosting spots. The sun was far too bright for my photo skills with a GVW I spotted on one of the remaining brambles. I found a Comma supping on some fermenting blackberries: it seemed to have overdone it somewhat, as it kept falling off into the brambles and then hauling itself out again unsteadily. It eventually settled half in and half out of the sunshine. Finally, in the recently mown field area, there were still one or two Meadow Browns, and rather more Small Heaths. I encountered a mating pair, amazingly the first I've seen here considering how high their numbers can be. Dave

Friday 11th September: more sunshine today, and an opportunity this afternoon to drop into Aston Rowant on the way to collect my middle son from halfway up the M40. As I worked my way across the top of the hillside on the north side of the motorway, there were quite a few windswept Meadow Browns (some in good condition) but nothing else. However, heading downhill at the far end, then through the gate and onto Beacon Hill (as reported by MikeOxon the other day), the wind was lower and there were more butterflies. In particular, there were a selection of Adonis Blues which were perhaps not quite as worn as those at Denbies the previous day. A few Chalkhills remained as well, though these were definitely in the worn category with a few virtually scaleless and translucent. For the third time here this season, I was passed by a Clouded Yellow. It headed up the hill, and it was not easy to follow - I managed a distant shot, but the scabious it landed on was blowing around a bit as well, so it's a trifle blurred... It was then up and away out of sight. Whilst getting my breath back from the uphill pursuit, I spotted a tiny flash of orange on the ground nearby. A Small Copper was also taking a breather. Other species seen along the bottom of the slopes were Small Heaths, worn Brown Argus and Common Blues, and a few Silver-spotted skippers. Here's a view from back near the gate just down from the viewpoint - there are still plenty of flowers around at the moment. Dave

Saturday 12th September: I was passing Bedfont Lakes Country Park after dropping one of my sons at Feltham Station today, so I popped in for a while. As with most sites I've been visiting, both Meadow Browns and Small Heaths featured prominently here, all along the path beside the railway. At the far end of the path, I found a couple of Brown Argus squabbling. After two or three of these tussles, a third butterfly joined them - this turned out to be a Small Copper. I've looked here all season for this species, and here it was towards the end. A few Speckled Woods and Whites completed the picture - no sign of any Common Blues, though a moth which looked blue-grey in flight made me pause for a moment. Can anyone identify this one?

Dave

I'd go for Lesser Treble-bar for your Moth Dave, not one I've seen and a Cloudy as well recently Looking forward to the Social already

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks, Wurzel - I shall add it to the steadily growing list of moths I have seen. Not long to the Social now...!

Saturday 12th September (a bit more): I had a local walk a bit later as the sun carried on shining. A few Commas were around, eye-catching deep orange blazes amongst the fading green of the hedgerows. A Red Admiral had taken up a traditional autumn pose on the ivy, which is just coming into flower. Judging by the number of caterpillars I've seen recently, there could be a few of these in a couple of weeks if the weather is kind. Speckled Woods flitted in and out of the shadows and various Whites were nectaring on any remaining yellow flowers. However, the star of today's expedition was a Painted Lady, basking on the same bit of gravelly path as the last one I saw round here a few weeks ago.With a bit of context: Dave

Sunday 13th September: totally unforecast sunshine today and with the rest of the week looking dire, I had a quick scurry around my local patch again. The usual suspects: Holly Blues, various Whites, Speckled Woods, Commas and Small Heaths. The last of these species seem to still be emerging here as there were several that looked new. Dave

Great shot Dave, that Painted Lady looks smoky and the penultimate Specklie is brill And is that a double pupil-ed Small Heath

Have a goodun

Wurzel