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How well you seem to know me! I toyed with the idea of Martin Down as an alternative, but that would have required negotiating Salisbury on the way back as well, so I opted for the Hill again.

Wednesday 31st May: Part Two. It took almost exactly an hour to reach the Hill from Bentley Wood, and I arrived there exactly at five, with now almost wall-to-wall sunshine. I didn't need to go far to find Marsh Fritillaries - there were several nectaring on the brambles close to the bottom path, along with more honey bees than I've seen for a very long time, and dozens of burnet moths. Many of the Fritillaries were getting worn and acquiring the "greasy" look that earned them one of their former names. However, before I had really started to look a bit further afield, a male and female Brimstone encountered one another right in front of me. The female settled, wings open and displaying the classic rejection posture, but the male flew repeated sorties at her. His lengthy pestering allowed me the time for once to fiddle with the camera and try for some open wing shots. After a lot of blurred attempts, I got it right. A couple of bursts of ten shots at 1/2000 (as far as the camera will go) produced what I wanted. A pity the butterflies were so worn! The photos also pick up the complete indifference of the female - she is nectaring throughout it all. Moving on, there were more Marshies scattered along the slope, and I found one mating pair. They were very restless, with both parties trying to bask in the sun at the same time at one point. Also seen this evening were several Large Skippers, a few Adonis, a few Brown Argus, one Green Hairstreak, and a Peacock. One moment of confusion when a large orange-brown butterfly arrived, dwarfing the Fritillaries on the brambles, turned into a female Wall. Finally, today's moth was this little green chap. Dave

A great return form the Hill Dave, glad it finally paid up Great sequence with the Brimstones

Have a goodun

Wurzel

My money would have been safe !. At least this visit produced an action packed afternoon.
The Brimstone earns you a mrgreen. Most Marshies were fresh last Wednesday, just goes to
show what a difference a week can make.
I believe your green Moth is a Forester Moth, saw one at Tilshead last week.

Great stuff, Dave.
Trevor.

Thanks for the moth ID, Trevor. They are nearly as green as a Green Hairstreak! Thank you both for your comments on the Brimstones. I was very chuffed to get the photos. There are lots more in the sequence but those two show off the upperside of both butterflies to a tee.

Thursday 1st June: Another warm sunny day in prospect, so I headed for Surrey heathland and Silver-studded Blues, already reported to be out. The first site to visit was Thursley Common (just off the A3 heading south, immediately before the Hindhead tunnel). This is a big expanse of sandy heath, with gorse, heather and some young birches. Before going very far, in the environs of a fenced-off weather station, the Blues started to appear. Most were fresh, but one or two had been out a day or two. I saw a dozen or so, all males. At one point, several took a simultaneous interest in a particular bit of heather - normally a sure sign of the presence of a female. However, I couldn't spot her. No other butterflies were seen, but there were several Clouded Buff moths, plus this one, which I think is a Latticed Heath? A tiger beetle evaded the camera, and a magnificent hornet nearly did - this flypast is all I managed. More Blues to come...

Dave

Thursday 1st June: Part Two. From Thursley, I went straight back up the A3 to Cobham, and a little way further to Fairmile Common on the road to Esher. The first thing I found was that the usual car park was blocked off, so I had to park a bit further up the A307 on the other side and walk back. Silver-studded Blues were out here as well, in similar numbers to Thursley, but more spread out. This time, I found a single female, nowhere near any of the males and clearly one that had been out a few days. Other sightings included a Green Hairstreak pottering about the gorse bushes... ...and a couple of Common Blues on the verge outside of the heathland vegetation. Dave

Great to see your Silver Studded Blues, especially the one on Bell Heather.
When I was a small boy we used to go to Hindhead for picnics and I can remember
blue Butterflies on the Heather on the edge of the Punch Bowl.
I've often wondered if there is still a population there.

Some wonderful shots in those last few posts, Dave, with my particular favourite being your first image of the pair of Brimstones. You've done exceptionally well to capture a sharp image of both sexes with wings open.

A great set of Silver-stud shots Dave - especially the female - the black spots on her under wings are, to use a pupil's term and spell phonetically, ma-who-cif

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I don't know about Hindhead and the Devil's Punchbowl area, Trevor - the scenery is wonderful and the vegetation appears suitable for SSB. It is also very close to Thursley and other areas of heath with the species. I will try and check it out in the next few weeks.

Thanks, David - I was very pleased with the Brimstone images. The credit really goes to the brilliant features attached to even relatively ordinary cameras these days - the skill comes in deciphering the instructions!

Thank you Wurzel - those spots are a tad large (more old-fashioned terminology ). A nice little insect.

Friday 2nd June: Back to work unfortunately, but afterwards there was time to go out locally under very warm but cloudy skies. Despite the lack of sun, Speckled Woods and Red Admirals were still flying under the trees. I encountered one bright new and rather inquisitive individual that with only a little encouragement settled on my arm and then my hand.Moving on into the more open area near the M25, a few Common Blues and Small Heaths were also flying - I suspect there were others settled in the grass. My movements also disturbed what I had hoped to see today - the first Meadow Browns of the season. I saw three in a small area, and expected all to be male at this stage of their emergence. However, the second one seen was female, and glimpses of the upperside showed brilliant orange markings contrasting with rich milk chocolate. She was, however, not prepared to open up, though provided good underside views. Dave

Just spotted those Brimstone shots Dave - fantastic. Don't think I've ever seen a post on here where both male and female have their wings open together. RE SSB at Punchbowl - I looked years ago and couldn't find any but wouldn't surprise me if they are there. It's close to Bramshott where they are widespread - and Thursley too.

Thank you, Pauline. I just need to try the technique with Clouded Yellows (assuming there will be some this year!).

Saturday 3rd June: A trip down to Denbies hoping to combine the visit with a sighting of "Flying Scotsman" steaming along the railway line at the bottom. However, my guess as to the timings was a couple of hours adrift (they try not to advertise the times) so that was a bit of a failure. That left the butterflies. In the bright sunshine, there were dozens (maybe even hundreds) of Small Heaths, more than I think I've see here before. Adonis Blues were still flying, and the odd Dingy Skipper, Brimstone and even a worn Green Hairstreak. A few Large Skippers were now nectaring on the slopes, curiously in the same locations as the Silver-spots will do in about six weeks time and almost causing a bit of a double-take. The first of the year's Meadow Browns made an appearance, and finally a pale Painted Lady, gracefully swooping along the top path and pausing occasionally to bask. Dave

Sunday 4th June: Only local wanderings today before the predicted cloud arrived in the afternoon. It is noticeable how bereft of white butterflies the paths and tracks currently are: spring feels over and it has taken the Orange Tips with it. However, the meadow areas and their hedgerows are productive, and included sightings of four new Small Tortoiseshells, very active and nervy - though I spotted one sitting on a bramble flower. Commonest today (as with Denbies yesterday) was the Small Heath, with dozens seen, and quite a few new-looking ones amongst the. Too early I'd say for a second brood, the must have an extended emergence and probably overlap with this. Also seen were a couple each of Large Skipper and Meadow Brown, though numbers of both should increase here, particularly the latter. There were also some fresh Common Blues and overall numbers seem better this year for the first brood. Finally, one of the Large Skippers chased another butterfly, which turned out to be a female Brown Argus. There is a fair bit of rock rose along this particular path, but the butterfly showed far more interest in the tiny geraniums, a common alternative foodplant. The weather looks foul for at least two days now, so that'll be it for a little while I think.

Dave

Great set of posts recently Dave - the Red Admiral on the hand is a particular favourite as I've just recently sorted through to produce a folder of 'Butterflies in the hand' on my iPod and I could do with one of those Hopefully the weather will return to 'fair' in time for the weekend It would be nice to have a proper flaming June for once...

Have a goodun
Wurzel

Thanks, Wurzel - find the right spot and an inquisitive butterfly and you'll charm a Red Admiral down, no problem! After yesterday's weather (10 degrees, a gale and pouring rain at nine in the morning - it could easily have been December) flaming June looks an unlikely prospect unless in a swearing context... However...

Wednesday 7th June: Still very windy to start with, but sunshine. I couldn't escape work until about half four, but had a wander around my local patch just as cloud built again. Firstly, I found two Red Admirals under the trees, and one posed for a while on a tree overhanging the river. A bit further on, a very elderly Peacock swooped down and basked in a few stray rays down on the path. Amazing staying power this species has! I wondered what impact the atrocious weather might have had on the meadow species, and I certainly saw no Small Heaths and only one Common Blue - but the lack of bright sun was probably also a factor. They were joined by two or three Meadow Browns, and along the bramble hedge, a new Large Skipper was basking. However, the star of the day (there is almost always a standout moment), was a lovely glowing brand new hutchinsoni second brood Comma. This to me really heralds the start of summer proper, and these are glorious butterflies in my book, much underrated.

Dave

That's a great looking hutchinsoni Comma, Dave. You were lucky to get any decent shots in the wind today, or skillful perhaps

Mike

I agree with Mike, cracking shot of the H. Comma, they are so much brighter, almost two tone Nice double eye Meadow Brown as well

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Good to see Commas making a reappearance, Dave. That's a great underside shot too with the insect in a perfect pose.

Thanks, Mike - I found some sheltered paths where it wasn't so blowy, and that Comma was in a particularly calm spot.

Cheers, Wurzel - it was a beautiful insect, completely fresh. You're right, there are really only two colours - the orange base and the brown overlaid on top. The same coloration as a lot of fritillaries, really.

Thank you David. The summer undersides are splendidly cryptic, designed for hiding in quite different foliage to the winter ones.

Friday 9th June: a Red Admiral evening. My usual local walk was punctuated at regular intervals by swooping, soaring, occasionally squabbling members of this species. Altogether there were at least ten of them, with overlapping patrol zones causing many tussles. Most of them appeared very fresh, out today or very recently, but there were a few older ones as well. Also seen: two more new Commas, several Meadow Browns, a couple of Common Blues and a Small Heath... ...but Red Admirals dominated proceedings throughout. Dave

Great selection, Dave, and in a week of almost continuous gales/wind/breeze.

Nice shots Dave, no MB's here yet or LS's just bad weather. Goldie