Pete Eeles

[David M]

Amazing rate of change in those instars, Pete. I hope your knees are 'prepped' for your voyage à l'étranger.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Wurzel - I actually have knee pads ... just need to remember to take them with me!

Indeed David - I cannot wait to get back into Europe this year; first trip abroad since the pandemic!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

It's been a while since I've caught up with the Large Blue and yesterday headed to the Poldens with my friend Tim Bernhard. It was great to catch up with Dave Simcox and Sarah Meredith, with Jeremy Thomas a bonus sighting! It was also wonderful to meet UKBers Max Anderson and Chris Marner while on site. I could have talked for hours with this wonderful group, but was there for the Large Blue!

Jeremy, Dave and Sarah pointed out a 'foursome' - a female being chased by 3 males, one of which eventually paired. A couple of other mating pairs were also seen. As the day progressed, things got progressively more windy, with the butterflies hunkering down in sheltered areas. However, with a full set of male, female, ovipositing, mating pair and egg shots, I definitely had my fill and left happy!

Dave counting eggs on the Thyme heads

A threesome!

Male

Male

Female

Female ovipositing

Cheers,

- Pete

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of shots Pete Hopefully I'll be able to get a similar set at Daneways in the next week though haven't herd much from there so far this year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You sure cleaned up there, Pete.

Let's hope for similar with Alcon Blue in a few days time.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks chaps!

Italian Alps - 15th to 23rd June
It's been a while, so thought I'd post some highlights here. First off, I had the pleasure of co-leading a Greenwings tour to the Italian Alps with our very own David Moore and Ben Greenaway. With around 117 species seen, it's not surprising that everyone left happy! I know that David will be providing an in-depth summary of the trip at some point, but thought I'd share a few photos here.

Male Cleopatra

Male Cynthia's Fritillary

Female Spotted Fritillary ovipositing

The resulting eggs, on a species of Woundwort

Female Scarce Fritillary

Female Scarce Fritillary

Male Purple-edged Copper

Mating Southern Swallowtail

Mating Black-veined White

Mating Almond-eyed Ringlet

A spectacular Heath Fritillary aberration

Male Purple-shot Copper

Male Silvery Argus

Apollo - a real highlight of the trip!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

Picos de Europa - 3rd to 10th July

Another fantastic Greenwings tour, this time co-leading with the amazing Pau Lucio! Again, some snippets below.

The Picos skyline!

The cable car at Fuenta De

Male Gavarnie Blue - one of the specialties found here

Male Cardinal

Chapman's Ringlet - the largest Erebia in Europe ... huge!

Mating Dusky Large Blue

Male Sooty Copper

Male Short-tailed Blue

Male Turquoise Blue

Spanish Purple Hairstreak

3 male Purple Emperors also showed up!

An oviposturing Apollo (no egg laid!)

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

Oh my word, if that's just 'snippets' I might have to lay down for a few hours just to recover after a more in depth report!

[Charles Nicol]

thanks for those stunning pics Pete !

i am looking forward to further instalments

[Wurzel]

Wow awesome shots there Pete

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

So pleased that you picked up all the special species in Picos, Pete. I presume Bog Fritillary eluded you?

[Pete Eeles]

It did indeed But thanks for the great tips on where to go

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

Must have been a few sites I didn't visit myself last year. Purple Emperor is a surprise as is Spanish Purple Hairstreak.

Pau must have had a few new locations that I am not au fait with.

[selbypaul]

Thanks for sharing this brief report Pete, looks like you had a great time.

[Pete Eeles]

Stockbridge Down

A wonderful couple of hours spent at Stockbridge Down, where the Chalk Hill Blue are in incredible numbers - literally 1000s all over the down, with plenty of mating pairs and, best of all, large congregations of males on recently deposited dung, and rabbit carcasses! I also saw 6 Silver-spotted Skipper which are just emerging and 2 Adonis Blue males. A few worn female Dark Green Fritillary are still around and I also saw what is probably my last Marbled White of the year. Also lots of Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and a few Small Heath and newly emerged Brimstone.

Male Chalk Hill Blue on dung

Mating Chalk Hill Blue

Another Chalk Hill Blue congregation on a Rabbit carcass, with a male Adonis Blue (far left)

I then spent an hour looking for Purple Emperor eggs in a Wiltshire wood (like you do!) and came up with a grand total of 0 He who dares and all that!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Wurzel]

Cracking images Pete - it's brilliant seeing so many butterflies at once Interesting to see the Adonis in there - nice to be able to make the comparison showing it to be much browner' than the Chalkhills Any Silver-spots there yet?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Wurzel. Yes - 6 SSS.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Wurzel]

Sorry Pete skipped that bit when I got to the Rabbit carcasses Were they in any particular part or all over?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pete Eeles]

Next to the road and just back from the road (over a hedge where there is a major clearing) - the usual spots!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

I've had several visits to Pamber Forest in Hampshire over the last few weeks, where I monitor White Admiral larvae - with 48 larvae now located. With the distinctive feeding damage and constructions created by the larvae, I'm able to confirm that another 10 larvae have already disappeared - presumed predated. However, all larvae are now in either their 2nd or 3rd instar and I have high hopes that most will make it to the point where they create a hibernaculum from a Honeysuckle leaf, in which they will overwinter. A few larvae are already in the process of doing this, indicating that this is a particularly early year for this butterfly.

A 3rd instar larva at the end of its 'pier' created from silk and frass

A 3rd instar larva sitting next to its 'aerial latrine'

A larva in the process of creating its hibernaculum

Of course, given that the larvae are found on Honeysuckle growing in shade, then a ridiculous amount of equipment is needed, and I thought it would be worth sharing my setup, which includes tripod, remote shutter release, flash and a Wimberley plamp - so ensure that everything is 'locked down'

Cheers,

- Pete