Maximus

[Wurzel]

That is a fantastic sequence Mike The only benefit of feeling under the weather
"Thanks, Wurzel, it looks like it may cool down a bit next week " Just in time for the Easter holiday Still tomorrow looks reasonable, hope you can get out

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Beautiful images, Mike. It must have been thrilling to observe this and hopefully it will have helped your recovery from the 'evil bug'.

[Andrew555]

Beautiful, well done Mike. Get well soon.

[Maximus]

Thanks, Trevor, a nice way of putting it

Thanks, Wurzel, I should keep quiet about the weather although it now looks like Easter may be ok

Thanks, David, I will never tire of seeing a butterfly emerge

Thanks, Andrew




The second of our reared Orange-tips really made my day when she emerged this morning, more than two weeks later than the first. As the morning was cool with light rain she ‘roosted up’ until it became warm enough, about ten minutes ago, for her to take flight.

Looks like she emerged at the right time, given the weather forecast for the next week

Once her wings were inflated, she rocked from side to side for a short while. I guess this is to help distribute fluids equally throughout each wing before they harden, as I’ve seen this before.

[Wurzel]

"Thanks, Wurzel, I should keep quiet about the weather although it now looks like Easter may be ok "
I just checked the weather app - gales, downpours and temperatures just above freezing...

Seriously though simply stunning shots The rocking back and forth seems to have don the trick as she's immaculate

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Lovely images, Mike. I see she made for the bowles mauve once she was mobile.

[Andrew555]

She's a stunner Mike!

[Maximus]

Thanks, Wurzel, David and Andrew


Noar Hill 13th May

Due to unforeseen family circumstances we have not felt like, or been able to, take any trips out in search of butterflies, until today.
What better place to spend our thirtieth wedding anniversary than at Noar Hill, a really special site and one of our favourite places of all time.
Conditions were not ideal,( are they ever), too hot and with a strong easterly breeze, but what the heck. We saw plenty of lovely butterfly species, which were quite difficult to photograph, as they were mostly keeping their wings closed,( particularly the Dukes), but we did manage a few half reasonable shots.

Tatty but nice.

Small Blue female.

Small Blue Male.

Male Common Blue.

Holly Blue ovipositing on Holly bud.

Holly Blue ovipositing on Dogwood.

Green Hairstreak ovipositing on Dogwood.

Green Hairstreak ovipositing on Dogwood.

'New' Green Hairstreak.

Male Duke.

Male Duke.

Female Duke.

Mating pair.

Dingy Skipper.

Dingy Skipper.

Male Orange-tip.

At the end of the day we headed home tired but happy and feeling re-connected with the natural world.



Species seen:-
Brimstone - loads – mix of male and female.
Small Blue – most we have ever seen at Noar, where’s the Kidney Vetch?
Common Blue – several very new males.
Holly Blue – loads, plenty of females ovipositing.
Green Hairstreak – many ovipositing and some brand new examples.
Dukes – Numbers lower than in previous years but are still emerging.
Dingy Skipper – most we have seen at Noar.
Orange-tip – plenty of males/females flying through.
Small Heath – several seen.
Speckled Wood – one seen.
Comma – one seen.
Red Admiral – one seen.

[Wurzel]

Fantastic shots from a fantastic sounding day Mike That first Small Blue shot is something else stunning

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Mid to late Spring all in one posting!. I think I have to agree, the Small Blue is stunning.

Great stuff, Mike.
Trevor.

[David M]

Given you experienced 'difficult' conditions for photography, you've done an excellent job, Mike, particularly with your female Small Blue, who is in a pose I've never seen captured before.

Nice range of species too. Looks like the dogwood was getting a peppering!

[Maximus]

Thanks, Wurzel, Trevor and David



Being unable to get out again since our trip to Noar Hill, I have had to be content with whatever I could find in our garden.
I've been watching some Orange-tip eggs which were laid on some garlic mustard. This chap hatched first, ate his eggshell, then moved up the stem until he encountered an unhatched egg, which he also made short work of.

first instar, eating the other egg.

I kept tabs on him for almost two weeks, but not long after this photo was taken he disappeared, probably taken to feed a young Blue Tit in a nearby nest box.

Second instar.

Also from the garden a couple of firsts for me on the butterfly front. A Green-veined White looking for some honesty to deposit some eggs on, and a lovely fresh looking Large White nectaring on some bowles mauve.

Green-veined White.

Large White.

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots Mike - especially the Large White - I've not been able to get a single shot so far this year - they don't seem to be as numerous as they were last year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks, Wurzel, I agree that Large Whites don't seem to be around in any numbers yet.




An afternoon trip to a local site today, produced the following species, which were very active in the warm sunshine.

Our first Brown Argus of the year.

Some lovely Common Blues.

Some beautiful Green Hairstreaks.

Several Small Coppers.

Mother Shipton moth.

Several Roe deer, two females and a male.

Plenty of male Orange-tips also seen, searching for females.

[David M]

A lovely gallery there, Mike, but that Mother Shipton wins first prize!

[Wurzel]

A lovely selection Mike That Mother Shipton is cracking and the Greenstreaks are lush, I especially like the second one, it looks like a cheeky chappy with the little tuft of hair/quiff

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[kevling]

Mike,

Congrats on the photo of the Mother Shipton, it's a corker! I have never had one settle long enough for more than a record shot. This shot is so beautifully composed. A like the fresh common blue too.

Regards
Kev

[Pauline]

Some really nice shots in your diary this year Mike. I particularly like the egg-laying ones (both Holly Blue and Green Hairstreak) which are not easy to achieve - and your Mother Shipton moth is way better than mine! Hope to see you around before too long.

[Maximus]

Thanks, David, Wurzel, Kev and Pauline



Today we decided to venture further afield, so crossed over into Wiltshire, in search of some Marsh Fritillaries. We chose to visit today due to the predicted weather forecast, which turned out to be totally wrong as usual. Instead of the calm, beautifully posed butterflies we’d hoped for, they were all totally supercharged in the strong breeze and full sun. Getting some shots became a bit of a challenge, you only had to look at a butterfly and it took flight, it was one of ‘those’ days. By the end of the day we were hot, thirsty, sunburnt and totally knackered, but we managed to get some shots.

There were plenty of Marsh Fritillaries, both males and females and mating pairs, with some lovely fresh examples seen.

Several Duke of Burgundy.

Common and Adonis Blues, including a mating pair.

Grizzled Skippers including this fine individual.

Several Wall Browns - this was the best shot I could manage.

I also had my sights on a stunning Marsh Fritillary ab. but it was impossible to get a shot as it was so lively, and then it disappeared Although we searched for half an hour we didn't relocate it I got a very good look at it, and it appeared very similar to one I saw several years ago in Dorset.

Also seen were, Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak, mainly females egg laying, Dingy Skippers, a Peacock , Orange-tips and GV Whites.

[Goldie M]

Fantastic shots Max, you've certainly seen some great species, I'd be happy with seeing a few of those especially the Adonis Goldie