July 2021

[David M]

Yes, I should have remembered to add Purple Hairstreak, Dave. I had a little scout for them myself whilst eating my lunch in the car park but didn't see any. That would potentially make 27 species, which is surely close to the limit at a single site in the UK.

[David M]

Friday 23rd - late afternoon at Bernwood Forest.

2 more Purple Emperors seen, although neither of these descended to ground level. Plenty of Purple Hairstreaks on an oak close to the stagnant pond about 600m down the track. Lots of Brimstones nectaring on the betony growing either side of the ride edges. At least 30 Silver Washed Fritillaries (including a valezina). Solitary White Admiral seen in the area behind the car park.

Dozens of Large Skippers, many of them looking quite fresh (which was a surprise as I didn't see any at Aston Rowant a couple of hours before arriving at Bernwood). Both Small and Essex Skippers in abundance, along with Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites & Speckled Woods. All three Whites were on the wing with reasonable numbers of Hedge Browns and a couple of Holly Blues.

Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral and Painted Lady also seen.

[petesmith]

Any aberration experts out there?
I am trying to decide between ab.transformis or a pathological aberration for this male Meadow Brown photographed yesterday in central Lincs. Very pale hindwing!

[bugboy]

Any aberration experts out there?
I am trying to decide between ab.transformis or a pathological aberration for this male Meadow Brown photographed yesterday in central Lincs. Very pale hindwing!
meadow brown male and female.JPG
meadow brown female and aberrant male.JPG

Thought I recognised the name, saw these pics pop up on my FB feed this afternoon. Having read the description of transformis, I would say it is synonymous with a pathological aberration. Certainly without looking it up I would have plomped it into the path file if it were my picture.

[petesmith]

Thanks bugboy!

[millerd]

Around this time last year I found a striking Small Copper aberration down at Denbies. I was down there again today (29th), mostly watching thousands of Chalkhill Blues whirling around in the strong breeze, but also looking at a number of fresh Small Coppers. Within a couple of hundred metres of the one I saw last year, I again spotted something rather different from the norm. This was a feisty new male, chasing anything and everything and preferring to perch on the most wind-buffeted stalks he could find in between sorties. However, I managed a few reasonable shots of him, revealing a complete lack of orange on his hindwings, and reduced orange on his forewings as well.

No doubt this ab. has a name...

Dave

[bugboy]

He is a beauty! Goes by the name of obsoleta apparently

[Allan.W.]

Great find that Dave ..............best i,ve seen ,shame you never managed to find it two or three days earlier ,i reckon
it would have shown more blue spotting ,(that you can just see ). Never been lucky enough to find one myself ,although i know Hoggers found a couple at Dungeness a year or two back . Nice find ! Regards Allan.W.

[Deborah]

Pleased to finally get a couple of good sightings of the Purple Hairstreaks that flit around the oaks in my garden. And also a Wall Brown. Was especially happy to see this Large Checkered Skipper as I’d thought I’d missed the chance this year.

[petesmith]

The last day of July had a nice surprise in store for me. A female Meadow Brown ab.alba, a first for me, central Lincolnshire this morning. Made my day!

[millerd]

New broods are appearing right at the end of July on my local patch, including Common Blues and a few Brown Argus. However, particularly in view of their patchy appearance in their spring brood, I've been pleased to see good numbers of Holly Blues over the last few days. I found a dozen males puddling (often in pairs) in various damp spots on 27th...

must be a good patch...

fine dining Holly Blue style...

...and waited for them to take their customary breather and open up on the pathside shrubs.

There were more today (31st), but I spotted one nectaring on a daisy patch amidst male Common Blues: a lovely fresh female.

Full reports on both days some time quite soon...

Cheers,

Dave

[adrian riley]

New broods are appearing right at the end of July on my local patch, including Common Blues and a few Brown Argus. However, particularly in view of their patchy appearance in their spring brood, I've been pleased to see good numbers of Holly Blues over the last few days. I found a dozen males puddling (often in pairs) in various damp spots on 27th...HB7 270721.JPGHB8 270721.JPG...and waited for them to take their customary breather and open up on the pathside shrubs.HB1 270721.JPGHB2 270721.JPGHB5 270721.JPGHB6 270721.JPG There were more today (31st), but I spotted one nectaring on a daisy patch amidst male Common Blues: a lovely fresh female.HB4 310721.JPGHB5 310721.JPGHB6 310721.JPGHB2 310721.JPG
Full reports on both days some time quite soon...

Cheers,

Dave

Hi, Dave
That's a stunning female Holly Blue. Well found'n'fotoed.
Cheers, Adrian