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Katrina wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:51 pm

bugboy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:53 pm Nice double Cloudie shot. I got one the other day too down there, but you may have to wait a while before it sees the light of day, still 20 odd posts before I reach the Worthing Blues Party!

Thanks Paul,
I am looking forward to your post

It'll be ready to post around Christmas time

I suppose that's logical, when you think about it!

Cheers,

Dave
[/quote]

I wish I did have a Cloudie spell

perhaps
Cloudie , Cloudie come to me
Be as still as you can be
Although your colours match a bee
Just chill that is my plea!

I went back to Worthing from approx 10.30 to 1.30pm
LTBs were already flying when I got there.
The ones I managed to photo all had some damage.
The Cloudies were however in fine fettle including 2 Helice.
I tried some burst shots again but didn't get lucky this time There was a Cloudie that was pale we were trying to get an underside shot of
It was a pleasure to see Trevor and Neil and meet Paul Day and others.

Hello Katrina, I have just been reading through your diary. Some great shots as always. You are really getting your moneys worth with the cloudies and LTB's at the moment. Glad you got a Helice

You have certainly done that helice full justice closed wing.
Your action shot demonstrates my frustration with Cloudies, they never show us the beauty of their upperside.
You didn't miss much after you left, I went home soon after.

Good to see you,
Trevor.

Thank you Old Wolf,
I certainly am making the most of them as the show won't go on forever.
Thanks Trevor you have soothed my FOMO.

"Just chill that is my plea! "...I think this is the most important part of the spell Katrina
Lovely set of Helice shots - I saw my first the other week and they look almost like a different species

Have a goodun

Wurzel

This September has been the best month I can ever recall for migrants. The numbers of helice have surely set new records. I'm wondering if southern areas get a particularly mild winter whether there will be plenty of Clouded Yellows next spring too!

Great shots of the helice Clouded Yellow, Katrina! Even though the upperside shots are blurry, they really show how different this form is from the standard version: white and pale green, not yellow at all. A definite as well, as I've missed seeing one this year (I must have been looking the wrong way on 21st! ).

Cheers,

Dave

Thank you Wurzel!

It has been good for migrants. Time will tell with the Cloudies. I didn't spot any egg laying in Worthing when I was there but my focus was often elsewhere.

Thanks Dave
There was some excitement for a while as one of the Helice seemed more yellow than the other but Neil confirmed it was still a Helice.

I headed for Herstmonceaux today . When I arrived I met Trevor and John and we had a very civilised afternoon butterflying (thanks for the drink Trevor)
There were still some fresh Walls about , a fresh Common Blue and some fresh Red Admirals.
Also seen was a faded Small Copper, a Cloudie, a white, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth a caterpillar (? Large White - can anyone confirm) and a Peacock of the non butterfly variety

Lovely shots of Mr Peacock. As for that female Wall your shot is all we have.
I'm glad I didn't blurt out the words I was thinking when she gave us the slip!
Otherwise, it was a very pleasant afternoon, and good to see you and John.

Trevor.

That's certainly a Large White caterpillar, Katrina. I wonder where it had wandered from? It does look ready to pupate though, so was presumably headed for somewhere suitable.

Nice Peacock - they do make a horrendous din, though, like a cross between a baby with bad colic and a very unhappy cat...

Cheers,

Dave

I have another one of it on the wall but not very sharp.

Thanks for the ID confirmation Dave. Trevor spotted the caterpillar, and it was still on the path when we came back later. ( unless there were two.)

Your Herstmonceaux site is excellent for late season butterflies, Katrina. Wall Browns, Common Blues and Clouded Yellows in the second week of October is quite a return!

Great set of shots Katrina Herstmonceaux seems like the ideal late season site Love the inflight shot of the Wall, a real stand out image for me that one

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you David and Wurzel for your generous Mr Greens. It is good to squeeze a little more out of the season

This morning was frosty and sunny.
Thanks to others I saw 2 White-tailed Eagles.
Also seen were herons, long-tailed tits, a bullfinch, nuthatch and some robins.

White-tailed Sea-eagles