www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Cheers Dave, so far I have not encountered anything untoward in the dunes at Studland either, I believe they are patrolled regularly by N.T. rangers now so it is probably just me being overly cautious.
You may have a point about the grass growth this year, it is certainly long and lush around here. I am not sure what the Adonis numbers will end up like, they were still emerging in Dorset last week and I believe they may do so for a while yet.

Thanks Pauline, I was pleased with quite a few of my Adonis shots this year, speaking of which...

Adonis Blues

In the past few updates from my latest week in Dorset I have posted some Adonis Blue shots from four separate locations, Durdle Door, Bindon Hill, Ballard Down and Durlston Country Park. The numbers were lowest at Durdle Door where I saw a dozen at most and a bit higher at the other three sites where I saw perhaps 20-30 at each.

There was one other site which I visited and at which Adonis Blues were present in larger numbers and this was along the path up to White Horse Hill at Osmington. I visited here late in the afternoon of the Wednesday (3rd September) and found good numbers on the slopes above the path. Even here the numbers were lower than 2013, dozens rather than the hundreds which I saw in September last year, but easily the most I saw in one place this year.

At all the sites where I saw them I spent some time trying to get the angle to catch that elusive electric blue colour on the fresh males, with varying degrees of success, and having ended up with loads of shots, I thought that some of them deserved a post of their own...
and a few females...
As mentioned previously, although numbers were generally lower than I have seen in previous years, it looked as if the emergence was still ongoing, so I am hoping that total numbers will turn out to be reasonable over the whole flight period. I reckon that when seen en-masse they make such a spectacle that it is more noticeable when the emergence is more protracted and there are fewer flying at any one time.

Bye for now.

Neil.

Those Adonis Blue images are super

Lovely to see a species in such good condition during September. These insects have certainly been blessed with good weather these last few days so one hopes they've bred in greater numbers than usual.

Neil,

What wonderful shots of the Adonis Blue.

Regards Kev

Thanks for the great comments Peter, David and Kev, very much appreciated

Clouded Yellows

Whilst it is not exactly a ‘Clouded Yellow Year’ there seems to have been a steady influx of this species this year. I had earlier seen a few during my earlier week in Dorset and felt sure that I would see a few more on my return last week and sure enough they cropped up at most places during the week.

I saw at least 4 around Durdle Door and a further 6 at Osmington which seems to be a good reliable site for Clouded Yellows (as well as Adonis Blues), this being where I saw about half a dozen last year and at least 3 in July this year. I also saw 1 at Lulworth Cove, 1 on Portland, 1 in Weymouth and a couple whilst tootling about in the car, which made for at least 15 over the week. Most seemed to be males, at least the ones that I got a good look at or took photos of were, and were in varying condition from reasonable to quite worn.
On one occasion, on the Tuesday afternoon (2nd September) by Durdle Door, I was watching a Clouded Yellow skimming rapidly at low level across the slope when it came to a sudden stop, unlike the ‘slow down and flutter about’ that they do when they are about to settle. I slowly approached the spot and found the butterfly had flown into a spiders web and was vainly struggling to escape. The spider had already pounced and before long the struggles got weaker and the spider began to wrap up its meal. After a few minutes it was all over and the spider retired up the web and left the Clouded Yellow trussed up for later.
I felt a bit sad watching this but fascinated at the same time. I couldn't help but wonder if he had flown across from the continent only to end up like this. On the other hand he may have been a descendant from arrivals earlier in the year. Either way, there was no point in attempting to free the butterfly from the web, as by the time I had approached, the spider had already bitten it so it would have died anyway.

Bye for now,

Neil.

Small Coppers

From what I have read on various posts on UKB so far this year, it seems that Small Coppers have had quite a variable season in different parts of the country. Some people have apparently not seen many whereas others have seen very good numbers, particularly Hoggers at Dungeness and Neil Hulme recently in Cornwall, both of whose diaries have excellent reports and photos of this species.

In Dorset last week Small Coppers turned up at a number of sites, usually 2 or 3, and up to half a dozen at most spots. Not great numbers but this is a species that I usually encounter in these sorts of low numbers in any one spot so for me this appeared to be fairly normal.

The males were most obvious as usual with their feisty antics; chasing intruders away from their favourite basking spots, but I also saw equal numbers of females, some of which looked quite large and impressive.
The most that I saw in one spot was half a dozen or so at Durdle Door where the photos below were all taken, usually on my late afternoon walks there,
The blue spotted female below was a bit worn but still looked nice and was a good size, something which doesn’t come across in the photos. I would love to have seen her when still fresh,
The path to White Horse Hill at Osmington also produced 4 or 5 individuals, mostly fairly worn males and the nice female below (also with blue spots ),
I am not sure what brood these all were flight timings seem to vary greatly throughout the country and I remember Hoggers seeing third brood at Dungeness whilst I was still seeing second brood locally around Solihull. Looking at the state of wear of some of them, especially the males, I would think these were probably third brood.

Bye for now,

Neil.

Hi Neil, just catching up on your diary. Great reports and images from your Dorset trip. The Grayling courtship shots are superb something I've yet to witness! What I find amazing however, is the fantastic condition of all the butterflies in your photos incredible for September

Mike

Fantastic reports Neil The Small Coppers have been a bit hit or miss this year and I reckon Dave is onto something about the Adonis Blues

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Mike, I was well chuffed with those Grayling shots , something I had never seen before either.

Cheers Wurzel, Small Coppers have had an average year at my local spots around Solihull this year, that is, I have seen them in all the places and in the kind of numbers that I would normally expect .

Dorset Round Up

I thought that I would finish off my reports from Dorset with one last one to include a few photos and comments that I have not squeezed into any of the previous ones.

The couple of photos below were taken at Portland Bill on the Wednesday (3rd September) morning, on the patch of grass between the Lighthouse Car Park and the MOD station. During a short 30 minute or so look around here whilst the women went for a coffee, I saw 10/12 each of Meadow Browns and Small Heaths, 3 Common Blues, a few Large and Small Whites, and also had flypasts of a Painted Lady, a Clouded Yellow and a couple of Red Admirals.
A little later the same morning we stopped off at Tout Quarry and whilst the women were looking at the stone sculptures I had a little wander about and on some Buddleias a bit further along the path found a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths and half a dozen Red Admirals.
I was also pleased to find my first Wall Brown this year, a female that was flying about quite rapidly in the now warm late morning sun, but which stopped just long enough for me to get a record shot.
Later that afternoon I saw my second Wall Brown of the year, another female, on the path to White Horse Hill at Osmington. It was getting on for 6.00pm when I saw this one and it settled under an overhang at the side of the path in a bit of shade. It looked like it was settling in for the night so I took the shot below using flash to fill in the shadow.
Small Heaths were abundant almost everywhere, particularly around Durdle Door and at Osmington, and in total numbers were probably the most numerous species that I saw all week. Meadow Browns were also abundant at most places and Speckled Woods turned up nearly everywhere with nice fresh examples of both species amongst more worn and faded ones.
During the week, overall butterfly numbers were not as high as I have seen here in previous years at this time. At the three well known sites of Bindon Hill, Ballard down, and Durlston Country Park, numbers of most species were generally lower, although as previously mentioned; there were fresh individuals of most species about that indicated that they were still emerging. I commented in an earlier post that I suspected that the cool and cloudy August had put the brakes on the season a bit and led to more protracted emergences of some species compared to last year, and my observations during the week seemed to support this
The slopes around Durdle Door and along the path up to White Horse Hill at Osmington were the most productive sites and at both of these there were good numbers of butterflies, highlights being the Graylings at Durdle Door and the Adonis Blues at Osmington, plus Clouded Yellows at both. I saw fewer Small Tortoiseshells around this year, one or two showing up at most places instead of the hordes of last year, but on the other hand, Red Admirals were abundant again where they had been in short supply in 2013.

During the week the total number of butterfly species seen was 20…

1 - Large White. Seen nearly everywhere on most days.
2 - Small White. As above but in greater numbers.
3 - Green-veined White. A few seen at most places.
4 - Clouded Yellow. 15+ seen during the week.
5 - Common Blue. Seen at most places in varying condition
6 - Chalkhill Blue. A few still on Bindon Hill.
7 - Adonis Blue. Good numbers Osmington, fewer at other sites.
8 - Brown Argus. Lots about still but mostly worn and faded.
9 - Small Copper. Seen at a number of sites, usually between 2- 6 at a time.
10 - Small Tortoiseshell. A couple or three seen at most places.
11 - Peacock. 2 seen at Osmington.
12 - Red Admiral. Loads about, seen everywhere.
13 - Comma. 1 seen at Studland.
14 - Painted Lady. 4 seen, 2 at Osmington, 1 on Portland, 1 at Durdle Door.
15 - Speckled Wood. Turned up at most places.
16 - Meadow Brown. Loads about, some still fresh looking.
17 - Marbled white. 2 seen at Durdle door, remarkably fresh looking still.
18 - Wall Brown. 2 seen, 1 on Portland, 1 at Osmington.
19 - Grayling. Loads seen, particularly on the slopes above Durdle Door.
20 - Small Heath. Loads about at most places.

I didn’t find any late Lulworth Skippers at Durlston this year (I have done so in the past couple of years at this time) and I didn’t see any Brimstones. If I had seen these two species as well, it would have given me a possible count of 22 species, very respectable for early September.

Half a dozen Hummingbird Hawkmoths were also seen during the week most of which I have already mentioned, and the nice Wasp Spider below was seen at Durslton. I couldn’t get a more ‘square on’ photo of the spider without disturbing her web, which I didn’t want to do, but I still quite like the side on shot that I managed.
All in all, it was another great week in one of my favourite parts of the country .

Bye for now,

Neil.

A great set of reports Neil I'm glad that you got your Wall and Dorset delivered again That final Red Admiral is a stunner

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I also love the shot of the roosting Wall in a really natural setting. Brilliant.

Dave

Hi Neil, great shots of the Hummingbird Hawkmoth not the easiest of subjects Lovely pics from Dorset too, looks like you had a great week.

Mike

Thanks for the great comments Wurzel, Dave and Mike.

Cheers,

Neil

Hi Neil,
I just want to echo the comments made by others. The shots of the Hummingbird Hawk moth are great, you`ve really captured the whirring wings !

Jenks

Thanks Jenks, it helped that the Hummingbird Hawkmoths tended to hover stationary in the air for a short while, still missed some shots when they shot off to another flower though.

Cheers,

Neil.

Congratulations Neil-this is a really good report,and some great photo's in there too. I also saw the hummingbird hawkmoths at Lulworth near the visitor centre,perhaps on the same red valerian clump you saw them on! But only in the evenings,when it wasn't light enough for photo's,yours are great.

I agree,this is one of my favorite areas of the country-behind Essex and Cornwall of course!

Never been to Osmington,must do so next time. I have driven past the white horse on the way to Weymouth,but never thought of stopping there,i will now!

Cheers,Mark.

Thanks for the great comments Mark I saw the HBHMs at Lulworth on the valerian by the visitor centre and also further down by where the stream opens out into a duck pond. The photos on the previous page were taken on the valerian growing out of the wall there, where it is at a nice convenient height.
The ones taken at Tout Quarry on Portland on the buddleia were a bit trickier, I climbed halfway up a large rock to get them

Wednesday 17th September

Back at work for the past couple of weeks and a busy family weekend has meant that I haven't had chance to get out anywhere since my return from Dorset. Getting in from work yesterday (Wednesday) with it being a glorious sunny afternoon, I spent an hour in the garden and watched a Comma and Red Admiral on the Ivy, which has just started to flower.
The Red Admiral also spent some time basking on the rear window frames between bouts of nectaring,
The Specklies are also still very much in evidence with between 2 and 4 different individuals being seen on most afternoons.
Also Large and Small Whites were passing through without stopping.

Bye for now,

Neil.

I love the Humming Bird Moth, pictures Neil, I've never seen the Moth but I've seen the Humming Bird in the West Indies and their so alike it's unreal.Goldie

More lovely shots Neil Is that Red Admiral the aberrant called fructa - the one with the red band interrupted?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Goldie, glad you like the Hummingbird Hawkmoth shots, I have seen them a few times before but this year was the first time that I managed to get any photos

Cheers Wurzel, not sure about the Red Admiral being an ab. I will have to look it up. I must admit, I had it down as being within normal variation, but then again I usually do unless there is a an obvious difference.

Cheers,

Neil.