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Neil Freeman wrote: Re.the path up Bindon Hill, I have marked it with a red arrow on the photo below. The path starts next to the end cottage which is just out of view and has a wooden 'Public Footpath' sign.

That's the path I ascended last year having first tried the one by the beach which was closed due to landslips.

Hi David, I too found this path last year. I had gone up the hill by walking across the shingle beach to the other side of the cove and then taking the path up which leads onto the steep steps alongside the range fence. I had then walked back across the hill and found the path where it comes out at the top, followed it down...and realised that it would have been a lot easier than walking across the beach.
Mind you, this was on my earlier visit there last year in July and if I hadn't gone across the beach and up the steps I would have missed all the Lulworth Skippers across that side, certainly far more than up on the hill itself.

Dorset part 5 – Thursday 3rd September.

With Thursday forecast to be another dry day but with a lot more cloud about, we had decided that we would have a ride on the Swanage Railway. We nearly always find time to do this when we are down here and my daughter Sarah in particular has a thing for old cars and trains and seems to enjoy it even more than little Frankie.

We only spent an hour or so in Swanage itself, just long enough to have a coffee and a wander along to the harbour where there was an old ship that was apparently a replica of Peter the Greats 18th century Frigate ‘Shtandart’, the first ever Russian Navy ship, which looked particularly picturesque, moored up by the pier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shtandart_(frigate) We then wandered back to the station to catch the train back to Norden and then head back to Durdle Door.
Just before we arrived back we had a little detour into Lulworth Cove for an hour where we all enjoyed an ice cream...Strawberries and cream flavour in my case . By this time the clouds had built up into quite a thick grey overcast and the only butterflies seen at the cove were a couple of Small Whites on the Valerian growing out of the wall by the stream.

Later back at Durdle Door I went for a quick walk, first checking the Buddleias where despite the cloud there were a couple of Red Admirals.
I then carried on to the grassy slopes above the rock archway where earlier in the week I had noticed large patches of Autumn Ladies Tresses. On some parts of these slopes there must have been thousands of these lovely little orchids with their spirals of white flowers standing just a few inches tall in the short sward.
In one of the areas of longer grass I found an attractive Wasp Spider…
On the exposed slopes there was quite a cool breeze blowing and any butterfly taking to the wing, mostly Meadow Browns, were quickly whisked away but in the more sheltered spots a few Common and Adonis Blues could be seen making short flights before disappearing down in the grass. I was just about to make my way back when a splash of orange attracted my attention to an impressively large female Small Copper. She was a bit frayed around the edges but with a set of blue spots she would have been a lovely individual when fresh.
A couple of hours later, around 6.00pm, a big patch of blue sky was heading our way so I went back down to the slopes above the rock archway, hoping to get some photos of the arch in the evening sun when in my opinion it looks its best.
The sun came out as I was on my way down and in the sheltered hollow above the archway I soon saw bright blue spots amongst the grass as Common and Adonis Blues opened their wings in the late sun. A couple of Brown Argus also took to the wing, one of which was a nice female still in quite good condition.
I then took my photos of the rock arch and with the time now getting on for 7.00pm I headed back to the others who were getting ready to go out for a meal.
Given the overcast which had lasted for most of the day I hadn’t really expected to see many butterflies but it had stayed dry again and the late sunshine was an unexpected bonus .

One more day in Dorset to go…

Neil.

Hi! Neil, I've really enjoyed your holiday shots of Dorset, such lovely Butterflies, it's made me want to go to Dorset again it's such a lovely county Goldie

Thanks Goldie, definitely one of my favourite parts of the country too...especially at this time of the year

Dorset part 6 – Friday 4th September.

Our last full day in Dorset started off with a high overcast of light cloud which was forecast to linger around for most of the day. We decided to have a drive around to Portland and by 10.30 were parked up by the lighthouse at Portland Bill. As well as the cloud, there was a cool breeze blowing but a quick look in the grassy areas by the car park produced a few Meadow Browns, common Blues and Small Heaths flying in the more sheltered spots. After spending a bit of time with little Frankie exploring the rocky area to the side of the lighthouse we all went to the café and enjoyed a Dorset Cream Tea.

We then drove round to Tout Quarry and whilst Jane and Sarah slowly bimbled along the main path looking at the various carvings in the rocks, Frankie took me off exploring down the side paths. By this time it was just after mid-day and although still overcast it was feeling quite warm in the sheltered paths around the old quarry.
After spotting a few Meadow Browns, Common Blues, the odd Grayling and a single old and worn Wall Brown, we went down a narrow path and found a small Buddleia growing out of the scree in a bit of a hollow. On this were a number of Painted Ladies that were either nectaring on the bush or basking close by on the ground. I counted at least five although the most I managed to get into frame was three.
As well as the Painted Ladies there were a couple of Small Tortoiseshells, a single Red Admiral and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth all flitting about this one fairly small but sprawling bush.

We then left Portland and headed back to Durdle Door where Frankie wanted to spend some time at the play areas on the holiday park, a kids zip-wire being a particular favourite of his there. This meant that I had chance for a final couple of hours on the downs above Durdle Door and with some breaks in the cloud and the sun breaking through it was turning into a pleasant afternoon.

During my walks along here earlier in the week I had been watching some Kestrels on a number of occasions and it appeared that there was a family of them, with the parents and at least four young birds around most days. I had tried, unsuccessfully so far, to get some photos of these and sitting on the slopes watching them again this afternoon I noticed one of them land on a fence post at the bottom of the slope. I slowly edged my way closer and noticed that she looked like she was a young female and managed to get a couple of shots before she flew off.
I then made my way further along the slope where I spotted bit of movement in the grass which proved to be another Kestrel, a male this time. He came out of the longer grass onto the shorter sward and spent a few minutes just wandering about whilst I managed to slowly approach to within a few yards before he took to the air.
He didn’t go far and landed on a fence post a bit further down by the path where I took a few more photos before he took off and went back up the slope.
I then carried on around to the sheltered hollow above the archway where, with the sun out in a large patch of blue sky, there were plenty of butterflies flying including Meadow Browns, Graylings, Common and Adonis Blues, Brown Argus, Large and Small Whites and a couple of Small Coppers.
There were also a couple of Clouded Yellows circling around this spot, I saw two in the air together, only one of which I saw settle briefly a couple of times. I had seen a couple of Clouded Yellows here at this time last year in this exact same spot, I guess they find the sheltered hollow particularly attractive.
The surprise of the afternoon however was a little brown blur which settled and turned out to be a female Lulworth Skipper,
I was aware that this species could be found at this site, after all Lulworth Cove is just over the next hill, but I had thought that they would be finished here for the year. I had found a few faded females at Durlston earlier in the week but that is a known late site for them and as far as I know the only site where they regularly fly into September. Just goes to show that you can’t take anything for granted and made me wonder if a better look earlier in the week around the grassy slopes by the steps at Lulworth Cove would have turned any of these up. Oh well, it was now time to head back to join the others and get ready to go out for something to eat…and then we would be heading back home in the morning.

So, to summarise the week;

The weather could have been a bit better but it could have been a lot worse. After heavy rain overnight on the first weekend and light rain on Bank Holiday Monday morning it dried up for the rest of the week. There was plenty of good sun on Tuesday and Wednesday with more cloud moving in for the second half of the week although there were still some good sunny spells. Temperatures varied from the mid teens under the thicker cloud when there tended to be a cool breeze, to the low twenties when the sun was out.

22 species of butterfly were seen during the week as listed below,

Adonis Blue – Seen at Durdle Door, Durlston and Bindon Hill but highest numbers at Osmington. Impression was they were a bit later than usual, particularly at Bindon Hill.
Common Blue – Seen everywhere, some very fresh and some really old and tattered.
Chalkhill Blue – A few at Durdle Door and loads at Bindon Hill including very fresh examples.
Brown Argus – Good numbers still about, most very worn and faded but a few still in good condition.
Small Copper – One or two seen at most places.
Meadow Brown – Everywhere, often in large numbers, some still very fresh.
Grayling – At Durdle Door in Large numbers, smaller numbers at Bindon Hill and Portland.
Marbled White – A few seen at Durdle Door, Osmington and Bindon hill.
Small Heath – Seen everywhere either in ones and twos up to a dozen or so.
Gatekeeper – A few still about but looking tired and faded.
Speckled Wood – Appeared at most places, some very fresh.
Wall Brown – A couple of old and worn example seen at Durdle Door and Portland.
Brimstone – A few seen at Durdle Door, Durlston and Lulworth.
Large White – Seen regularly at most places.
Small White – Seen everywhere, highest numbers of the ‘common whites’
Green-veined White – A few seen during the week at most places.
Clouded Yellow – Half a dozen seen at Durlston, Osmington and Durdle Door.
Red Admiral – Numbers seemed to increase during the week nearly everywhere, some looking very fresh.
Painted Lady – Seen at Durdle Door, Osmington, Bindon Hill and Portland. As with Red Admirals numbers seemed to be increasing through the week.
Peacock – A couple seen at Durdle Door on Buddleias.
Small Tortoiseshell – Seen everywhere, mostly in one and twos with half a dozen or so at Durdle Door on Buddleias.
Lulworth Skipper – a few old and faded females at Durlston and one at Durdle Door.

As with most of the country this year, the season seemed to be running a bit late in general down here, especially so at Bindon Hill where there were still good numbers of fresh Chalkhill Blues and the Adonis were just getting started. It was interesting to see the difference between this site and Osmington which seemed to be a couple of weeks ahead, albeit still a little later than previous years when I have been there.

All in all, another great week in one of my favourite parts of the country .

Bye for now,

Neil

Fantastic reports Neil, a great round up of the delights of Dorset Cheers for the info on the path to Bindon, hopefully I'll be able to give it a go next year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

What a fantastic holiday Neil, I want to go there next year 22 species as well, roll on,Goldie

Your account of the week you spent on the Dorset coast makes for very enjoyable reading, Neil, It's also illustrated with loads of lovely photos The stunning Painted Ladies in part 6, and the earlier group of Small Tortoiseshells, great stuff

Mike

Great time by the looks of it, Neil. A 'late' year does at least guarantee fresh butterflies into September!

HI Neil,
Not a bad haul for September, you've captured the subtle colours of the Painted Ladies just right.
And a mrgreen each for the Clouded Yellow and Adonis Blue .

Trevor.

Thank you Wurzel, Goldie, Mike, David and Trevor, I am glad you like the reports and your comments are very much appreciated

Saturday 5th September – Back home in the garden.

We arrived back home from Dorset mid-afternoon on Saturday and after unpacking our stuff I went to sit out in the garden to chill out for a bit with a mug of coffee. It was a pleasant afternoon with about 50/50 cloud and sun and I immediately spotted a number of Speckled Woods fluttering around the bottom of the garden where the patch of brambles had produced a good crop of blackberries. I went and grabbed my camera to take a few shots and soon realised that there were at least seven different Specklies in this small area, either feeding on the blackberries or basking close by. Four different males and three females were soon identified by slight difference in markings or condition, including the unusually pale female below.
This was the one that I reported in the September sightings thread at the time…a week ago now last Saturday. She was a little worn with a degree of fading but taking this into consideration I reckon that she would have been an unusually pale individual even when fresh, a condition I would love to have seen her in.

and some of the rest...
A great welcome home from my garden Specklies

Bye for now,

Neil

I'm very envious of your Dorset holiday, Neil. A brilliant set of species, some beautifully fresh, and photos to match.

Dave

That is a cracking Specklie Neil - surely it must be an aberrant, something 'alba' or 'pallida'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Very much enjoyed your holiday posts and thats a fine set of specklies, especially that lovely pale female. I think one of your males is an ab as well: 181, the one sitting on a yellowing leaf looks a lot like this one: http://nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/scie ... utterflies

I knew you'd treat us to a whole album full of Speckled Woods before long, Neil, and my goodness you didn't disappoint. That photo with the pale aberration alongside a "normal" is a cracker, adding many to finding the ab in the first place. Terrific stuff.

Dave

Lovely pale Speckie Neil, Speckled woods always look cute and there seems to be loads of them about this time of year, so always some thing to photograph Goldie

Cheers Wurzel , I thought the pale Specklie had to be an ab. but no idea if it is a named one...one to look into during the dark nights perhaps.

Thanks Bugboy , to be honest I thought that the male (181) was within normal variation, albeit at the darker end. I have seen similar ones in my garden before.

Cheers Dave, glad I didn't disappoint with the Specklies...they are certainly having a good late summer around here

Thanks Goldie, I am glad you are seeing lots of Specklies too...one of my favourite butterflies, as you may have noticed

Sunday 6th September

On the Sunday after we returned from Dorset my Mom had invited Jane and myself around for dinner which was a bonus as we had not had chance to go shopping and didn't have much in ourselves. During the afternoon, which was a nice sunny one, I had a walk around the park down the road to see what was about. After seeing all the Specklies in my garden the previous afternoon it was soon obvious that there were also loads out here, particularly on the clumps of blackberries growing around the edges of the trees. Along one particular short stretch just a few yards long, I counted at least 11 different individuals, maybe more as they were quite active in the warm sun.
Apart from all the Specklies, a single Holly Blue and a couple of Small Whites were also seen.

Friday 11th September

During the following week the Speckled Woods were in the garden on most afternoons when I got in from work, although with the days now getting noticeably shorter they were soon tucking themselves away for the night.
On Friday afternoon I spent a couple hours mowing the lawns and having a bit of a tidy up and as usual took a few photos.
As well as the Specklies all three common whites were seen passing through including a couple of fresh looking Green-veined Whites,
Sunday 13th September

Another reasonable day and at one point I noticed the pale female Speckled Wood fluttering about down the bottom of the garden. This was 8 days after I had first seen her when she was already looking a bit worn and she was now looking even paler than before.
In my front garden I have a buddleia which was cut back hard this year and is consequently still flowering well. There had been a Red Admiral visiting regularly during the week which I usually disturbed as I pulled onto the drive in my car. This afternoon I spotted a Painted Lady on it, the first one I have seen in my garden since 2009.
This past week has been mostly dull and gloomy with some heavy rain showers but the weekend is looking promising so with a bit of luck I will be able to have a couple of hours around one of my local spots.

Bye for now,

Neil

Nice to see somebody's still observing Green Veined Whites. They've been abnormally scarce this autumn down here.

Hi Neil,
That's a terrific selection of Specklies there Neil, the very pale individual is very striking,i,m surprised that it isn,t a named aberration(at least I don,t think it is)
,perhaps "Freemanii" !!
And very fortunate to get a picture ,with a standard Specklie, they,re looking pretty battleworn ,here in Kent ,but looking at your shots certainly make me want to look a bit closer at them in future....nice one . regards Allan.W.

Hi David, I usually see Green-veined Whites well into September around here but numbers have been down this year, no doubt as a result of the poor summer.

Thanks Allan, the pale female really stood out in flight, unlike any other butterfly I get in the garden. I actually thought she was some kind of large moth when I first saw her until she settled and I got a good look at her.
Freemanii eh!... that has a certain ring to it

Cheers,

Neil

Hi! Neil, lots of Speckies this week even in my Garden, love your shots Goldie