www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Any better?
If you like it, you owe me a beer at the next social

Mike

That seems like a very fair deal to me I'll be seeing you in December then! Thank you so much for doing that Mike - it's certainly a massive improvement

A couple of days ago I went up to the Straits to see what was out and about - and found there was quite a lot going on. The small entrance bay was packed with cars so I parked along the road and was met at the entrance by a forest ranger who advised me (with an apologetic smile) that there were about 30 people along the track and it 'was quite busy'. I decided to give them a wide berth and worked my way along to the watch tower via the less used tracks. By the time I reached the brambles the majority had made their way back to their cars and I had the place largely to myself. There were many butterflies on the wing including SWF and WA - though not as many as in recent years. I was pleased to see 3 mating pairs of SWF all together but right in the middle of the bramble patch. They were all still quite active alternating nectaring with flying up to the trees so trying to get photos of any pair was quite difficult and all shots were from a distance:
During the early part of the year, and more recently, I have searched this part of the forest, both alone and with others, for violets - the larval plant of this butterfly. We have found very little and none of it within crawling distance of a tree! So, it is a mystery to me where these butterflies are laying their eggs and seems like it will remain that way for a little while. I was also keen to see if I could find any WA eggs given my disappointment over the disappearance of the larva earlier in the year. It was surprisingly easy but I wonder how many of them will make it as one of those I found had already been predated (thanks to Pete for his confirmation of the egg status). A couple of shots below - the first, a viable egg with the larva just showing, the second is a predated egg which looks like it has had its middle sucked out (the good egg can be seen in the background) and the third is yet another egg.

Hi Pauline,

Some great recent posts with an interesting variety of subjects, especially the early stages.

Great stuff, keep it up

All the best,

Neil.

You certainly seem to be in the egg hunting mode. Very interesting pictures of the Small Skipper eggs. I took some pictures of a SS egg laying yesterday. I didn't like to open up the grass to see inside, now I wish I had!! Great stuff.

Fantastic sequence of shots Pauline and a Silver Spotted Skipper already

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I am not sure what has ignited my recent interest in the early stages Neil but it has certainly added a new dimension to butterfly watching. Thank you for the compliment.

You've still got the chance Bob but be very, very careful when unrolling the grass as those little eggs are quite mobile - you need a steady hand for sure. Thank you for your comment.

Thank you Wurzel. SSS is also out at Stockbridge Down which is a bit closer to you - and probably other sites too by now.

Only mad dogs and Englishmen ..... etc. Well being none of them I opted for a day in today, not least because I was up half the night due to the ferocious thunder storm here but it is way, way, too hot to be out there. At 12.45 am, I was out in the worst of the storm to cover over the cats and in the dark I accidentally knocked over a small glass of water in the cage. This contained a couple of stems, a WA egg on each, which I had brought home yesterday to take some photos of the eggs out of the breeze. My choice was then either to return them to the wild or allow them to over-winter, safe from predators, in the cage, and monitor their development.

I couldn't really see what I was doing and I was getting drenched, so I brought them indoors temporarily, intending to deal with them this morning. However, as I picked them up this morning to put them back outside I was astonished to see a larva emerging from one of the eggs. By the time I had retrieved my camera from the car and managed to get it to focus (after a fashion - I was after all still half asleep!) the larva had managed to emerge and these are a few of the shots I achieved as he ate his first meal and explored his leaf. I have now read that WA can have a 2nd brood which I was totally unaware of.

More marvellous photos, Pauline! I like the one of the tiny larva reaching into the void from the end of its leaf. Hopefully, one day, it will be able to launch out in to the air

The storm was pretty spectacular here, too, and we enjoyed watching it but, thankfully, did not have to venture outside.

Mike

Hi Pauline - WA overwinter as larvae in a "hibernaculum" (a shrivelled honeysuckle leaf attached to the stem with silk). They need to be kept outside and in the shade

Cheers,

- Pete

Thank you Mike - I am fascinated by all this stuff!

I appreciate the information and advice Pete - cats are now in the shade.

Talk about building bridges ...... my second cat has now emerged and even at 1 day old he is intent on building a little walk way (or should that be 'crawl-way' ) to get somewhere, probably to the next branch !! It is fascinating watching the work in progress:
I'm really pushing my little Lumix to the limit now!

A brief early evening walk around Oxenbourne failed to produce any female SSS although I know one has been photographed there oviposting which is excellent news as I fear for that tiny colony. However, the previous 2 males were again seen, either squabbling or hunkered down in the grass or hollows and I was pleased to point them out to another enthusiast who had never seen them before and had made the visit for just that purpose. In return he showed me a pair of mating Chalk Hill Blue he had stumbled across. The Small Skippers were still egg-laying - I checked the previous eggs and was pleased to find them intact but no emergence yet (I am not sure how long it takes). It occurred to me that for the size of the butterfly the eggs are relatively large; some much bigger species seem to produce quite tiny eggs. As I left a few of the Blues were settling down to roost but at 6.00pm a remarkable number were still on the wing.

Yesterday I visited a site just a few minutes away for only the second time. It is usually frequented by birders and often has restrictions applied because of the Natterjack toads.
A single orchid-like flower nestled amongst the bracken and heather and whilst I was taking a shot for later identification I noticed a small colony of Essex Skippers amongst the heather. The Gatekeepers now seem easier to approach but are not quite as fresh looking as previously:
It is really only a single track, used by cyclists and runners as well as the birders, but there were a huge number of butterflies, with gatekeepers in their hundreds. Like every site I have visited recently there were lots of very fresh Peacocks:
Whilst doing a bit more sallow searching I came across these - and not for the first time, so whatever they are, they are clearly not rare. I would appreciate any ideas.
I had a little chuckle to myself whilst taking some shots of a different insect as a birder came over to enquire if I had found a nest. When I told her it was just a beetle she obviously had doubts (probably about my sanity ) and scrutinised the bush anyway. Not finding anything she asked me what my interest was and when I replied caterpillars she looked quite unbelieving Anyway, this is the beetle. It looked like a giant Ladybird (it was very big and moved very fast) - I know their marking can vary considerably but I have never seen one like this
Being close to the water there were various types of Damselflies, darters and Dragon flies. I watched a mating pair of Damselflies sail through the air only for a bird to snatch one of them and the other returned to the ground alone. I have never seen that before. This one didn't fare any better:
As I was leaving there were half a dozen Whites taking minerals from the track they were too far apart for my close up lens. One male persisted in trying to mate with a female and she was equally adamant that she was having none of it:
A nice walk right on my doorstep

I believe that your orchid is a Broad-Leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine). Recently, I watched a Grey Wagtail catching damselflies. It somehow managed to hold one in its beak while catching another. I saw it carrying three at once, presumably to feed its young.

Mike

Thanks for the ID MIke. How do they do that? Just a short post tonight and I am getting way behind but my first ever Valesina - not in the best condition but still up to egg-laying
Just missed the underwing shot but I'll keep trying>

Lovely Valesina, and that's a magnificent Helleborine Pauline, very jealous , I shall check on my local one(s) in a few days.

BWs

William

Thank you William. It wasn't as pristine as some of the lovely examples recently posted but it mattered little to me being my first ever sighting

On Monday I decided to visit Beacon Hill to try to find Silver spotted Skippers. I have only visited this venue once before at the start of my butterflying days and I had forgotten how narrow those lanes are. I had also forgotten how very pretty it is once up there, both with the views and also the carpet of colourful and scented flowers, not to mention the clouds of butterflies with each careful step.
Most of the butterflies looked very fresh, a lot obviously the result of a second brood but my attention was gripped by the beautiful Brown Argus which seemed to accompany me throughout my walk and which received most of my attention. I became a little impatient waiting for this one to pose nicely so decided just to take a few shots anyway:
On my way back I could not pass this couple without a photo before making my way back down the hill. I did not find the SSS but that hardly seemed to matter and provides the perfect excuse for a future visit. I had not forgotten my last visit to the delightful Shoe Inn and I was not disappointed as I sat by the river watching the ducks and Dragonflies enjoying a cool drink and a delicious lunch

These diaries can be both interesting in helping me learn about Butterflies &c. but also entertaining.
As is the case here.

Congrats on the Valesina - where did you find it in the end? Love the unusual pose of the first Brown Argus - cracking

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you for the compliment Mike and also for taking the time to comment.

Surprisingly (for me anyway,) just up the road Wurzel, at Alice Holt. I'm glad you liked the BA - a bit quirky I thought Hope you like these ones.

Well, as caterpillars they hung themselves up as one, waiting to pupate, which happened again largely as a group. Such was the case this morning when I was overwhelmed and overawed by a mass emergence of beautiful Peacock butterflies. Today I released over 20 individuals but there are still a few stragglers biding their time. Lots of photos have been taken today but I shall start with this small sample. The photos speak for themselves:
A final flurry and all was revealed

Hi Pauline

Your Brown Argus is lovely and you are right about Beacon Hill being a superb spot I have not visited this year but in the past I have had some of my best butterfly days there Great sequence of Peacock emergence as well they are so vibrant when fresh.

I was over your way on Monday, there were a few Silver Spotted Skippers out at Oxenbourne Down but no females seen. I should think they might have appeared by now though. I was at Alice Holt as well but unfortunately did not see the Valesina.

Morning Paul

thanks for your comment. I was at Oxenbourne last night and the females are indeed out but even at 7.00pm they were way too active for anything more than snatched shots. I doubt that you would have stumbled across the Valesina - see below. As you have said there is a great deal of insect life on Sallow and on 22nd July I was wondering through Alice Holt searching their leaves for moth caterpillars. The first I found is what I believe to be a Pale Prominent:
I was asked by several folk whether I was looking for PE eggs so I decided to wander deeper into the forest, along little used tracks and into shady areas with sunny glades where I was unlikely to be disturbed. As I quietly rounded a clump of trees I was met by the most extraordinary sight. 5, possibly 6, SWF were gliding round egg-laying on the same couple of tree trunks. I sat and watched for about an hour, completely transfixed by what I was seeing. Recently I had tried to find places where these butterflies ovi-posted and failed - but I had imagined they did it individually. The whole time I was there not a male was seen. I tried to get some shots but they were very quick and very furtive, often deep in the shadows.
I returned later, early evening, and the activities were still on-going. This time they were joined by at least one other butterfly, the Valesina, which was also egg-laying. I am kicking myself as I just missed a shot of her lovely underside as she deposited her eggs but her behaviour definitely differed from the others - she was more skittish and roamed more widely. I took the opportunity to examine the 2 tree trunks and they were covered with eggs - dozens, tho' only about 6 in this shot.
I returned the following morning, mostly to try to find the Valesina and was astonished yet again to find - absolutely nothing! Weather conditions etc were favourable but despite spending over an hour there, not a single SWF was seen. I looked around plants where I hoped they might be nectaring and other likely resting places but all that was left to convince me I hadn't been dreaming was all the eggs!