www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Noar Hill early yet again today. It was cloudy the entire time I was there, from 8-10 am but it was warm. Mostly I only saw butterflies if I disturbed them as I walked by. Usual stuff incl S&L White, Brim, S Heath, MB&G, C Blue, Small Tort, SW Frit but also DG Frit which I hadn’t seen here for awhile.
Also a Shaded Broad-bar moth.
And a Strangalia maculata Beetle.
There were two Brostreak males in the corner of the reserve where I had until now only seen one, so my count of this species at Noar Hill this year has risen to 9 (8m +1f).
But they were staying fairly high and aloof.

More fun with SS Skips at Oxenbourne.

Last time I visited, only a couple of days ago, I could only, hand on heart, say I saw one SS Skip here. Today I return (about an hour later in the day than last time) and I counted at least 30! I did a fast-paced walk around the site because they can of course fly quite some distance and quite fast when they want to. I also had to be careful because there were Small Heaths, some VERY small female Chalkhill Blues and even a Dingy Skipper to confuse the issue - but I am confident with my 30.

They were very active in the sun. On at least two occasions I had three males fighting together and on another occasion I had four individuals all in my forward field of view at one time.

Then I settled down to some photo-taking.
An opportunity arose for a backlit shot of one.
This one seemed to have pollen attached to it's head and back.
This pair were getting very luvvy-duvvy.
This guy was taking things to the next stage and she didn't seem to be saying no either. A sequence of 4 shots show the action.
And here is a pair in-cop. My blurriest picture of the day and it had to be THIS one! As I looked at my camera to reset it they must have flown off together - I could not find them again. Blast.
One of them seems to be taking a snack at the same time as doing the business!

Chalkhill Blue, female

Do I have an ab here folks?

Looks good for an ab Ernie - probably a 'NOV' as the aberrant website likes to call most abs Lovely set of Silver-spot shots - they are not ones for hanging around when it comes to propositioning

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel - I looked through the list of ab pics online and many of them are quite bizarre. Mine is rather ordinary by comparison. Just a bigger blob than normal.

Another day in paradise - well actually and hour and a half at Oxenbourne but not much difference when the Silver-spotted Skippers are at play!

I started with a few more backlit shots.
Then one posed for me on a berry.
I saw five in flight all at the same time, in a bunch and flying fast and quite high for a skipper (above head height). I guessed it was four males pursuing a female, but no pics as they were soon out of view. It was pretty exciting though.

Then a courting couple meet up. Ahh!
They nestled side by side. Young love, eh?
When all the while round the rear end naughty things were happening. I was a bit shocked. So much for the innocence of youth!
Then another male decided he would join in. Now I was getting rather embarrassed.
Neither of them seemed to succeed, even though the lady in question was available.

Meanwhile, nearby a couple quietly getting on well together.

They're at it again I see Ernie Honestly a female only has to land within a metre and the males are swinging their abdomens about all over the place

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

You're lucky to have these close to you, ernie. It's a species I see on the continent but never really have time to study so thanks for the behavioural sequence. Comical little insects, aren't they?

You can never have enough of the charismatic little butterfly that is the Silver-spotted Skipper. I could watch them for hours (and have, once or twice!). Nothing rivals them for cuteness and that togetherness pose you caught so well just has it to a T. Brilliant.

Cheers,

Dave

Some great Silver-spotted Skipper shots there Ernie, I love the one of them nestling side by side

Cheers,

Neil.

Wurzel - You might call them Swinging Silver Spotted Skippers. (SSSS?)
David - They certainly are comical.
Dave - They certainly are cute.
Neil - They were getting very friendly.

They are in fact friendly, cute, comical, swinging silver spotted skippers!

After a long bout of mostly awful weather - we had a break today. Cool and breezy for August but quite sunny. The bottom of Old Winchester Hill was fairly well sheltered from the worst of the breeze though. I was here for the Adonis Blue. Saw only three males and one possible female.
I have seen an Adonis Blue wing-roll only once in my life before but never got pics. Today I did get pics.
A good, solid tick in the box there then.

Usually you see some Clouded Yellows here around this time of year here but no luck today.

The main feature was the Silver-spotted Skippers. I thought I had got my fill of them for the year already but I was wrong. You can normally expect to see half a dozen on the slope below the car park in an average year but although I wasn't counting, I must have seen over a dozen and all of them without straying from the path! They were even at the lowest point along the path where I have never seen them before.
Also Red Ad, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small Heath, Holly Blue, Common Blue.

I was there for just over an hour. Not bad at all really.

You can indeed, never have enough SSSS's Ernie Lovely set of shots I especially like the second one where the male is curving his wings around the flower

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

ernie f wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 12:02 pmAfter a long bout of mostly awful weather - we had a break today....

Been praying for that myself, ernie, but to no avail, sadly.

Must be fabulous to see Silver Spotted Skippers & Adonis Blues in a break from the storms. Two very desirable late summer species that we don't get round my way.

Wurzel - Yes, I was surprised at the one that wrapped its wings around the flower-head. I think it might have been a way of stabilizing itself against the breeze that was blowing at the time.

David - It is nice to have these two species near me. I know you have species near you that I don't have around here. That's why a forum like this so good. You get to see what is the "norm" and what is "special" in other peoples neck of the woods.

St Catherine's Hill today during the sunny yet cool morning. My main reason for being here was to find yet more SS Skips. I wanted to find out if I could increase my annual record of sightings for this species. I already got my best ever day and location records for this species (30 at Oxenbourne). The other day I added at least another 12 to this count from Old Winchester Hill, giving me 42 in total and today I got another 5 at St Cat's giving me an annual total of 47 - and yes, for me this is an annual record, so I am well pleased.
Also, S Heath, M Brown, S&L White, Red Ad, Chalkhill & Common Blue and Brown Argus.

"I think it might have been a way of stabilizing itself against the breeze that was blowing at the time." that could explain it indeed Ernie Good to see the SSSS still flying

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Broxhead today to see if the 3rd brood Small Coppers were about. They were - I counted 14 in all at the bottom of the hill, all of them fresh.
This one had extra dark markings and a blueish flush.
And this one had a fly perched on its wing.

Well it's September 1st and Autumn is here. We've had the weather of Autumn for some time already but today it was confirmed summer has ended.

Why?

Walking in Alice Holt woods this afternoon with my wife we came across a dozen species of fungi. As in previous years when I have posted about fungi, I have to give a percentage of confidence in my ID because I am not an expert and in any case many species are very difficult to identify anyway - even if you are an expert.

I found two batches of a species I have never seen before (perhaps because I never looked this early in the year for them).

The Ruby Bolete.

This example newly fruiting and in the shade (90%).
This example, a bit older and in full sunshine (80%).

Well done with the Silver Spots, Ernie . I left them a bit late this year, only saw three.
Good to see the 3rd Brood Small Coppers too. Saw some 3rd brood Wall Browns today.
Great to see there is still some life left in the season!.

Keep well,
Trevor.