www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Indeed it is Janet, keeping my fingers crossed

Thanks Wurzel . This week doesn't look too good, rain and cloud predicted in my part of the world, I think out your way though you may have better luck!

23rd July, Brown Hairstreak 1 – Bugboy 0

Of the two days this weekend, Sunday seemed to be the better bet for Hairstreak hunting. As it turned out the weather wasn’t actually much better, slightly less rainy perhaps, but more grey cloud than sun meant there wasn’t much chance of finding any Brown Hairstreaks today. That obviously didn’t stop me from looking though, concentrating on the places where I found clusters of eggs over the winter. I figured on a day like this my best chance would be finding a freshly emerged one. I didn’t find any.

There was however plenty of other stuff to keep me occupied. Gatekeepers were by far the commonest butterfly, probably numbering into the thousands, several flying up with every footfall in places. On Banks Common (where there seemed to be clouds of Gatekeepers) I came across a single Small Copper living dangerously in a sea of thorns. Both Small and Essex Skippers were around in small numbers, all looking rather tired now, as were a couple of hutchinsoni Commas. Common Blues were relatively numerous, popping up here and there whenever the sun decided to appear as did the odd Small Copper, four in total. Back on Banks Common I found two female Common Blues at either end of the colour spectrum flying together. and a few fresh Painted Lady, perhaps half a dozen, one of whom had rather extensive orange markings. The final sighting of the day was a Millerd, also having not much luck with the Hairstreaks. We chatted for a bit, both concluding that it really wasn't a good Hairstreak day, but perhaps we'd have better luck with Chalkhills at Denbies, it was cloudy but it was still by no means cold...

Unfortunately they still haven't been recorded from Shipton this year...but maybe tomorrow? That's if I can manage to escape the maniacal DIY plans of Mrs Wurzel and her 'Never-ending List of Jobs...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That second Painted Lady is definitely missing some black markings compared to the first, Buggy. Lots more of that lovely fresh salmon-pink. Great shots of both of them. It's a shame I missed seeing them before the sun disappeared. Good to see you today - Denbies worked out well for part two, I'd say.

Dave

Oh dear, that doesn't sound too promising Wurzel, you must live in some sort of mansion by now with all this DIY you do! They've not been reported at Bookham either as far as I'm aware so it was a long shot from every angle really.

Thanks Dave, and thanks for the lift to Denbies, it certainly was worth it

23rd July, The Blues of Denbies

It was raining when we arrived at Denbies, just a light drizzle but we set off down to the hillside anyway and it didn’t take long for us to start finding roosting Chalkhill and Common Blues. Most of the Blues we saw were on the wing though, being disturbed as we walked along, it certainly wasn’t cold enough to put them into a torpor, the occasional brave soul even attempting to bask. The drizzle kept up for about half an hour or so before gradually it began to brighten up a bit, causing activity levels to also slowly increase until finally a large patch of blue sky drifted over us waking up all the Blues.

Dave found a male Chalkhill that looked paler than the rest, who also happened to be extremely well behaved. As at Bookham earlier Common Blue females varied greatly, the males were also looking particularly glorious in the sun and a male Brown Argus also paid me a brief visit. The sudden warmth provided by the sunny spell obviously acted as an aphrodisiac. I followed this pair but only managed one shot when I heard Dave shout “Adonis!” Sure enough a male had been woken up and was showing off his colours to us. He was getting battered in the breeze and we only had him long enough to get a few record shots before the wind took him over our heads. Also active during our wanderings were Meadow Browns, a few Small Heath and just a couple of Marbled White, looking and acting rather pathetic in the stiff breeze. The trip to Denbies turned out to be rather good idea

I'm in the closing stages now Bugboy - that it until Mrs Wurzel decides that we need to freshen the place up
A great set of blues there Bugboy which must have been very good compensation for missing the Brostreaks - especially the Adonis

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I’m confident you’ll get your Brown Hairstreaks eventually, Bugboy. It’s just a matter of time, weather and patience!

It was a very good decision to go to Denbies, Buggy! It just shows that perfect sunny weather is not necessary to see some good stuff. Incidentally, take a look at the very first picture you've posted - the female underside. I have a similar shot, and noticed that it seems to be a Silver-studded Chalkhill Blue... The marginal black spots have blue/silver scales in their centres, just like a SSB. I think this feature has been noted before in previous years, and no doubt is a named variation/form/aberration.

I think you got the better Adonis shot too - the colour of that butterfly was stunning.

Dave

millerd wrote:It was a very good decision to go to Denbies, Buggy! It just shows that perfect sunny weather is not necessary to see some good stuff. Incidentally, take a look at the very first picture you've posted - the female underside. I have a similar shot, and noticed that it seems to be a Silver-studded Chalkhill Blue... The marginal black spots have blue/silver scales in their centres, just like a SSB. I think this feature has been noted before in previous years, and no doubt is a named variation/form/aberration.

I think you got the better Adonis shot too - the colour of that butterfly was stunning.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I see what you mean about my Silver-studded Chalkhill Blue, I remember you mentioning that ab on Sunday! Btw, have you looked in the July sightings thread yet

Yes, Buggy, I just did... well spotted! Still - it was a lot sunnier today... I think Saturday is my first chance now.

Dave

25th July part 1, Brown Hairstreak 0 – Bugboy 2 (1-2 agg)

Tuesday was widely predicted to be the best of a rather rubbish week weather wise and as you’ve probably already surmised it was back to Bookham. An early start meant I arrived under mostly cloudy conditions and it took a few hours before breaks in the cover began to give me anything more than fleeting glimpses of blue sky. Nevertheless it was warm enough for plenty of activity whilst searching the thistles and Fleabane for the object of desire. Gatekeepers were again everywhere, and still emerging from the looks of things. One of these fresh animals was a rather attractive female. Other species seen were a single Green-veined White, a handful of Small Coppers and Common Blues, several ovipositing Red Admirals, some Commas and the occasional female Silver-washed Fritillary. I saw my first Brown Hairstreak after about an hour, he’d made that fateful error we’ve all made at some point and mistaken a Gatekeeper for the object of his desire. It was kind of amusing to see a male Gatekeeper to get a taste of his own medicine but neither settled until the Hairstreak realised his error and bid a hasty retreat over the shrubs.

My next sighting was a couple using a small Sycamore as a master tree. I didn’t see any activity around a similar sized Ash closeby. After about 2 hours, I was just standing up from snapping a female Common Blue on the ground, not far from where I’d bumped into Millerd two days previously, when it literally fell out of the sky onto a thistle, the sandy orange colouration indicating that like other sites this year the males were coming down. He sat politely for me for a few minutes before the constant pestering from Gatekeepers became too much and he fluttered off over the hedge.

A few minutes later I came across another one (or was it the same one?) It looked a bit brighter but, too my eye’s at least, not as bright as the females I’ve seen in previous years so I’m putting this one down as a male as well. Looking at the images later on my computer it was obvious he was indeed a separate insect
I had this one for a little bit longer as I was able to follow him over the hedge where he managed to find a Bramble flower not being used by a Gatekeeper. The Gatekeepers if anything were becoming pests now. They’re normally tailing off when the Hairstreaks start appearing but the thing with a male Gatekeeper is, if its orange/brown and moves, it’s fair game! After he decided all this attention was too much I only caught fleeting glances of Hairstreaks as they fluttered along the hedge, almost always with a Gatekeeper or two in tow.

Without a Hairstreak to focus on it was difficult to decide what to point my camera at, there was so much activity. By lunchtime it was started to cloud over again and since the Hairstreaks habitually have a bit of a siesta anyway I decided to go caterpillar hunting into the woods

25rd July part 2, more from Bookham

Leaving the Brown Hairstreak Hotspot the first thing I came across was an ovipositing Small Copper, I’ll never tire of seeing these amazing tiny sculptures that come out of their bums. A couple of Common Blues were still active and so was a particularly attractive and fresh Small Heath, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one with white pupils in the vestigial ocelli on the hind wings. As the cloud cover became quite extensive the woods became rather dark and murky with only a few Meadow Browns and the occasional female SW Frit braving the dull conditions.

I set about looking for the tell-tale signs of baby White Admirals, which proved harder than expected given the amount of adults that were on the wing a few weeks ago. Four or five suitably gloomy stands of Honeysuckle turned up nothing but finally I found a couple quite well developed, I think both freshly moulted 2nd instar. Moving on the patches I’ve found larvae on in previous years I found several more, including what looks suspiciously like a 3rd instar. 3rd instar in the second half of July must surely mean a 2nd generation is on the way. In total I found around 10.

I then switched to Nettles and quickly found a handful of late instar Comma cats. Things seemed to be brightening up a bit as I made my way back, SW Frits were appearing more often so I decided to see if any more Hairstreaks were active. I saw none but did find a very eye-catching female Gatekeeper, the enlarged forewing ocelli making her stick out like a sore thumb amongst the hoards feeding on the brambles. Sadly she never opened her wings for me. The wander back to the train station was again filled with various butterflies, Skippers (Small, Essex and a single Large), Peacocks, Blues, Coppers and the occasional Speckled Wood in amongst all the Gatekeepers. Can you believe I’ve ticked of 54 species this year and its only July!

Some nice finds in the last couple of posts Paul. I particularly like that last image of the BH and the 2nd instar WA larva. I am sure Wurzel will be interested in the Hedge Brown which surely has to be an ab.

Pauline wrote:Some nice finds in the last couple of posts Paul. I particularly like that last image of the BH and the 2nd instar WA larva. I am sure Wurzel will be interested in the Hedge Brown which surely has to be an ab.

Thanks Pauline , I had a look around and there's some pictures on the species page of a very similar one, it's an ab. anticrasipuncta.

That's one hell of a Hedge Brown, Bugboy....and the last Small Copper is pretty striking too....wonderful lighting.

Nice Hairstreaks, Buggy - I must have another crack at Bookham with the sun out this time! You also found much greater variety in the Gatekeepers/Hedge Browns than I did - some really unusual ones there. And as David says, that last Copper really glows!

Dave

Cracking set of Brostreaks Bugboy although easily beaten in my book by that even more cracking Hedge Brown

Have a goodun

Wurzel

27th July, Summer Walls

I’ve not taken my little Padawan butterflyer work colleague out for a few months. Last time it was May so there’s lots of new species to introduce her to now. She’s still holding a grudge at Holly Blues and their frustrating habits so I decided to introduce her to Wall photography…. does that make me a bad person

It looked like the south coast might avoid the worst of the showers predicted so it was an early stsrt for a day at the seaside. It was rather cloudy when we arrived at Eastbourne and there was a rather stiff breeze whistling along the coast but out of the wind it was pleasantly mild, mild enough for some activity in fact. Surprisingly one of the first butterflies to appear were a few Walls in an area I’ve not seen them before. A bank beside one of the paths at the start of the South Downs Way had been cleared of scrub and bobbing along were half a dozen or so males and, in the cloudy conditions, we both managed a few passable shots, I really wasn’t expecting it to be this easy! Moving on my keen eye’s spotted a few more lifers for Padawan, Common and Chalkhill Blues, both desperately clinging on for dear life along the edge of a windswept path. We found a few more blues dotted here and there along with the occasional Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper attempting flight, which kept Padawan occupied as well. Both Browns she’s seen at work but until now no idea what they were.

As we headed up to Wall Brown Alley the clouds began to clear and Blues started to appear more often, a foreshadowing to how the day was going to turn out.

Walls were, as expected, active on the Alley but I got very excited when I spied my first female of 2017 (I only saw males in the spring), she was flying very sluggishly and when she landed it was clear to see why, her consort was hanging limply behind her. This is the first time I’ve seen mating Walls so that’s another tick for me and made the day worthwhile on its own. They didn’t sit particularly well for us and I was having to hold the camera at arm’s length and hope auto focus knew what it was looking at, but in the circumstances, I’m happy with what I got. Along the Alley, which is well sheltered from the wind, things were livening up nicely, Blues, Browns and the occasional White were all active and keeping little Padawan happily occupied. Gone noon, it was getting really rather warm, meaning most things were too active and since we’d decided on a fish ‘n’ chips lunch, as you do at the seaside, we wandered back to the seafront. The walk back was littered with Blues and we witnessed the brief courtship and resulting pairing of some Commons. By the time we got back to the road I’d surmised Common Blues were going to be the commonest butterfly of the day, that doesn’t happen very often these days! With belly’s full we returned and quickly found another lifer for Padawan, a Painted lady on the same bank as the first Walls were seen. We headed back to a spot where I suspected the Blues would be congregating. A patch that’s slightly more sheltered than surrounding areas that’s always yielded results on previous visits, disturbing a male Clouded Yellow along the way who got caught in the wind and practically vanished before our eyes.

The spot came up trumps for Blues with dozens feeding up, settling down and catching the last rays of the sun as it began to cloud over again. Mixed in with the Commons and Chalkhills were a few Brown Argus meaning I was able to point them out and explain to Padawan that these are one of the Blues but they aren’t blue. Another lifer for her came in the form of several Small Copper. Back on the Alley, although it was now mostly cloudy the path was still warm enough to attract the odd Wall down to soak up the dying heat, again allowing us reasonable shots. We also found a freshly emerged male Meadow Brown. He was definitely still wearing his ‘L’ plates when he fluttered off and to finish, another Painted Lady who’d decided the edge of the path was the perfect place to spend the night! A very successful day with not a drop of rain and yes, Common Blues did outnumber all other species, and my Padawan came away with a good handful of lifers… and pictures of Walls at the first attempt!

That was a really rather good day by the seaside, Buggy! And rather better weather than there was round here as well. Nice Wall Browns shots too

Dave

Nice to see second brood Walls on the menu, Bugboy. If only the weather would clear up in south Wales I'd be able to go hunting them myself.

I ditto DavidM's sentiments Bugboy - as I'm off to Wales on Sunday Mating Wall's are a real bonus - it's one of the few times that they're easy to approach and sit still long enough for a photo

Have a goodun

Wurzel