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Saturday 10th July 2010

I took my friend 'Silver Spotted Fingers' Michael out for the day today. We had a lovely day out last August and with him not having seen one since he was 7, I had promised him a Purple Emperor this year....

He lives in Tunbridge Wells which meant getting up at silly o'clock for me. I arrived at his at 08.00. However, with Mike cooking the biggest breakfast known to man and me taking the wrong road out of Tunbridge Wells we didn't arrive to our first stop - Southwater Woods, West Sussex (TQ141255) until after 10.00.

Mike did get his iris, but unfortunately not on the ground. White Admiral and Silver Washed still in good numbers, although slightly down on last week.

Southwater sightings:
4 Purple Emperor
25+ White Admiral
50+ Silver Washed Fritillary, including a mating pair
3 Comma
2 Marbled White
50+ Meadow Brown
25+ Ringlet
25+ Speckled Wood
1 Small Heath
2 Gatekeeper (first of the year)
4 Large Skipper
10+ Essex/Small Skipper (we saw both)
5 Large White
5 Small White
5 Green Veined White Excuse the frame filling but this White Admiral landed right in front of my face and I didn't want to move too much in case I scared it off.. Second stop was Mill Hill, near Shoreham, West Sussex (TQ212067). I hadn't been here before and it was lovely. Didn't actually take any butterfly pics but plenty of views. We walked from the top car park down through the woods and onto the slopes. There was a sea mist rolling in off the coast which looked very odd from our elevated view point. Anyone on the south coast in Sussex on Saturday must have been under a blanket!

Mill Hill sightings:
1 Red Admiral
6 Peacock
1 Comma
3 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Brimstone
2 Large White
10+ Marbled White
3 Speckled Wood
6 Gatekeeper
15+ Meadow Brown
1 Small or Essex Skipper
Lots of Burnets

We moved east for our last stop - Wilmington Hill, East Sussex (TQ544033) above the long man, which for the second year in a row had been adorned with (ahem) extra apendages or I couldn't quite decide which...

Mike and I came here on 17th August last year and it was so nice I wanted to come back this year earlier. And I'll be back this year too.
We were off to a good start with a Hummingbird Hawk moth and a Holly Blue in the car park. Our target was one of my favourite butterflies, the Chalkhill Blue. We were in luck Marbled Whites, Small Heaths and Dark Green Fritillaries zooming up and down the slopes were abundant. This one stopped long enough for a photo. Gatekeepers were over the road from the car park: The views from the summit were breathtaking and we stopped, sat and took it all in. The sea mist could still be seen on the coast and a battered immigrant Painted Lady was arguing and being chased by a skipper in front of us. The butterflies had been lovely today but what made the whole day even more special was my first real (knowing) encounter with Skylarks. The meadows were alive with their song and we watched several fly up, singing and then hover before falling back down to the ground. It was so beautiful and entrancing I think it will stay with me forever. I would go back just to see and hear them again. I'm not that good with bird song but Mike knew what they were. I then realised that I had heard them at Mill Hill also. I'm hooked!

Wilmington Hill sightings:
25+ Dark Green Fritillary
1 Red Admiral
1 Painted Lady
2 Small Tortoiseshell
25+ Chalkhill Blue (all male)
1 Common Blue (male)
1 Holly Blue
6 Small Copper
50+ Marbled White
150+ Meadow Brown
100+ Small Heath
5 Gatekeeper
2 Large White
1 Small White

1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth
2 Silver Y
Plenty of Burnets
1 Cinnabar
1 Forester

We stopped for a well earned pint in Wilmington before heading back to Tunbridge Wells. On the way we drove past Abbots Wood and just near the entrance I noticed a long line of mature oaks with the tops in evening sunlight. I stopped the car and sure enough there were 10+ Purple Hairstreak dancing around, my first of the year.

I make that 27 species, easily my best one day tally for butterflies

Where were you hiding then? I was at Southwater between 10 and 11 on Saturday and I didn't see you!

Hi Susie,

That's a shame to have missed you! We started off in Marlpost Wood and then walked along the road to the main east west ride, went to the end, spent some time with 2 fuzzy haired gentlemen at the Madgeland master trees and then came back via the meadows.

And I still haven't got a photo this year! I might give it one last try this weekend....

Cheers

Lee

Monday 12th July 2010

I walked home thorugh West Middlesex Golf Course and the Purple Hairstreaks are out at last, I saw 5 plus a Comma.

While watering the tomatoes and buddleia at home at around 18.30 in the garden I saw 3 Holly Blues, 1 Small White, 1 Peacock and a Comma! All in 10 minutes!

Lol, don't diss us fuzzy headed people! I met the brothers from Brighton too, one had seen a valezina female at the far end of the east west ride but I didn't get to see it. Shame I missed you.

Having a free afternoon I decided on the spur of the moment (otherwise I'd have messaged you Susie) to head to Denbies Hillside for some more Chalkhill action.

I was there from 15.00 to 17.00 and coridon was in profusion. And in some variety too. The biggest varation was in size; some were Common Blue size, quite a few the size of Gatekeepers. I know they are a variable species - I remember some wonderfully streaked underside specimens from the North Downs above Kemsing when I was a lad - but I'd never seen one like this (ID'd as ab. postobsoleta by Felix, thanks again), missing most rear wing underside cell spots and having silver studs! Also seen were a couple with orange spots, or a hint of, on the upperside hind wings: Then some with white lunules on the upperside forewings: Nice to see a couple of females too. Finally, as I will never tire of seeing them, some other Chalkhills: Also a female Common Blue and I know not a great photo of a Brown Argus but I do like it! Totals for Denbies:
100+ Chalkhill Blue - male, including 2 female
15+ Common Blue
25+ Brown Argus
6 Small Copper
1 Silver Washed Fritillary - flew across the hillside from west to east near the trees
8 Marbled White
50+ Meadow Brown
1 Ringlet - at the bottom near the tree line
2 Small Heath
25+ Gatekeeper
1 Large White
2 Small White
1 Large Skipper
3 Small Skipper
1 Essex Skipper

Saturday 17th July 2010

Garden sightings for today:
1 Speckled Wood
1 Gatekeeper
1 Large White
2 Small White
1 Red Admiral
1 Comma

Sunday 18th July

Garden sightings for today:
2 Red Admiral
1 Comma
2 Speckled Wood
2 Holly Blue
2 Large White
4 Small White
1 Green Veined White

With the season in full flow, I hadn't been over to the cemetery in what seems like ages. I popped over for 45 minutes this afternoon and was greeted by a Red Admiral just inside. This one kept flying over to me, circling my head and then back to its perch. This went on for a while until it started landing on my head and T Shirt! It was feeling quite photogenic too. Also seen were:
4 Red Admiral (including what seemed like a couple courting)
6 Common Blue, all male
2 Small Copper (the first ones this year I've seen over there)
2 Holly Blue
2 Speckled Wood
6 Meadow Brown
5 Gatekeeper
3 Large White
5 Small White
2 Green Veined White
1 Small Skipper - the first time I've seen one in the cemetery I think!

On the way back the location where the first Red Admiral was seen was occupied by another individual:

Monday 19th July 2010

A Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Holly Blues in the college grounds today.

I walked home though West Middlesex Golf Course looking for Purple Hairstreaks. I did see 4, one flying tantalisingly at head height before settling in a Willow. Unless a mass emergence is yet to happen, numbers seem down on last year.

I also saw what I think was a White Letter Hairstreak, 1 Small White and 1 Green Veined White.

On arrival home, 3 Commas, 1 Holly Blue and 2 Small Whites were in the garden.

Tuesday 20th July 2010

The bus from Ealing to Greenford was going nowhere fast on the way home tonight so I gave up, got off and walked along the river Brent towards Greenford.

I wish I had my camera as I came across a Holly Blue nectaring on Ragwort - the only time I have ever had a photo opportunity for one, with no camera!

Also seen:
1 Gatekeeper
9 Small or Green Veined White

I might just take my camera to work tomorrow....

Another Holly Blue in the college grounds today.

Not wanting to miss another Holly Blue on the way home should I see one, I took my camera to work today and walked home through West Middlesex Golf Course. I'd like to thank Jonathan Evans for mentioning Rosebay Willow Herb in his post on Monday about White Letter Hairstreaks for there is a patch of it on the course in front of mature oaks that I hadn't previously paid much attention to, thinking it wasn't used by Leps that much, apart from Elephant Hawk Moths. Jon's sighting of WLH nectaring on it prompted a closer look tonight.

I think I saw one WLH, but not conclusively. However, following the apparent scarcity of Purple Hairstreaks there this year (only a handful seen on two or three visits so far where I was seeing 25+ last year), I found them tonight! There were 15+, all at ground level (I saw none in tree tops at all tonight anywhere on the course ) mostly behind the Willowherb. They would occasionally fly forward and perch briefly before zooming back or off accross the golf course. They were kind enough to allow me my first, albeit rather snatched, photos of them (I'm not counting the mobile phone shots from last year!)

I had assumed they use the same trees each year but maybe not? I haven't seen any at all on the trees I saw them last year and I hope this patch of Willowherb is the hotspot for each year. It will certainly be where I look first tomorrow!

Sightings were:
15+ Purple Hairstreak
1 possible White Letter Hairstreak
2 Red Admiral
1 Comma
5 Gatekeeper
1 Speckled Wood
1 Green Veined White

Well done. Nice find!

Thanks Susie

Saturday 24th July

Garden sightings for today:

1 Large White
2 Small White
2 Green Veined White

Another trip over in Greenford Park Cemetery led to sightings of:

8 male & 2 female Common Blue
4 Small Copper
5 Gatekeeper
10+ Meadow Brown
1 Small Skipper
3 Large White
1 Small White
10+ Small or Green Veined White
1 Blood Vein moth
plus a lovely male red tailed bumble bee.

Sunday 25th July 2010

I'm not great with dragonfly ID's but there was a green and black one in the garden at dusk looking for somewhere to sleep it seemed. It hawked over the lawn for a while. Never seen one at home before!

On arrival home tonight, I found this little fellow on the front door, postioned as photographed. Funny how it knew to come to my house! I'm pretty sure it's Small White but it could be Green Veined. I had to carefully move it, as it was right by where the door opens and it would have got squashed or even predated. There was a small amount of silk under the rear legs so I am assuming it was about to pupate. I brought it indoors and placed it in an open tub and gave it some twigs, some cabbagy things and some kitchen roll to walk about on. It hasn't tried to escape yet and hasn't eaten either. It has walked about a lot in the tub and seems happy enough tucked away under some tissue at the moment, although it is head down currently so maybe not pupating just yet.

One thing it has done it shake its head a lot in an aimless manner. I hope it isn't full of parasites

We've named it Cedric. I'm hoping he does pupate and then I can release him in the garden!

You may remember a while ago I mentioned that we had some Small White eggs in the garden. Well, the plant they are/were seems to have died back despite daily watering. It is also now covered in aphids too. On closer inspection tonight I found one empty egg case and two unhatched ones. No sign of any caterpillars though.

By the time I went to bed last night Cedric had secreted himself in a fold in the tissue, head up and let one mini hand grenade go.

On return home tonight he was in exactly the same place, seemingly having re-assumed pupating position and now looks like this: He is definitely in the process (despite his obvious change in shape), as, unfortunately not visible in the photo, there is a very fine silk girdle around him.

I'm glad that he seems ok after moving him last night.

Exciting!

By the time I went to bed last night Cedric had pupated He was still very green so I left him alone and this morning he looks like this: There have been a few Small and Large Whites in the garden today along with this lovely dark fresh Speckled Wood: I've just seen a Green Veined and Large White fighting over my buddleia too! Of course they flew off when I dashed out with the camera

Off to Tunbridge Wells tonight to see The Wonderstuff and then to the south downs tomorrow.

Hup!

Sunday 1st August 2010

Michael and I went back to Wilmington and Windover Hill in East Sussex today (TQ544033). We were after Graylings and were going to move along to the Cuckmere Haven later for Silver Spotted Skippers.

There is a small of area of scrub, grassland and flowers, about the size of an average back garden I'd say, which is adjacent to the car park at TQ531032. We always stop for a look but this time we saw so much there we spent well over an hour here before going up the hill!

Car park sightings:

50+ Chalk Hill Blue
30+ Common Blue
20+ Small Blue (lovely to see these up close and watch their behaviour having only seen one before)
8 Holly Blue
1 Brown Argus
1 Dark Green Fritillary
15+ Wall
15+ Meadow Brown
40+ Gatekeeper (including one very yellow female, alas no photo and one with some extra spots)
1 Essex Skipper
6 Large White
5 Small White
1 Green Veined White
15+ Small or Green Veined White
Car Park observations:

Holly Blues are noticably larger and a brighter blue than Common Blues when you see them flying together. Nearly got a Holly Blue photo.

Walls are very hard to photograph. They seem to hear the shutter sound, or so it seemed to me. For each shot like the one above (and that was taken from distance as I gave up trying to edge closer in the end) I have about 10 like this:
We eventually tore ourselves away from the car park to walk up the hill. We found more Small Blues over the road near the bottom of the track and more Chalk Hill Blues than you could shake a stick at; they were everywhere. We also saw Silver Spotted Skipper further up, a species I wasn't expecting to see here, unfortunately also finding one very fresh, but very dead male.
We reached Grayling country (thanks Neil) and looked for them for a while. Eventually one landed at our feet! In the end we saw 6, both male and female. We observed the shuffle documented by Pete too. I think the female looks a little like a worn Painted Lady in flight.

Windover Hill Sightings:

250+ Chalk Hill Blue (including a fair few females)
75+ Common Blue
10+ Small Blue
20+ Brown Argus
2 Small Copper
10+ Dark Green Fritillary
6 Grayling
1 Wall
5 Marbled White
4 Small Heath
75+ Gatekeeper
75+ Meadow Brown (including 1 very dark male, more fresh Ringlet colour)
5+ Large White
3 Small Skipper
5 Silver Spotted Skipper, all very dark and 1 very dead
Lots of Burnets
1 Cinnabar
1 Silver Y

Sunday 8th August 2010

Woke up this morning to find Cedric had started to colour up

Does anyone have an idea how long now?