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You've been busy posting Bugboy - so not only am I now behind on my own posts I'm behind on commenting on yours
So to business...

Millerd moment
Pearls from first set
Pearls from second set Especially as there still haven't been any reported from Bentley Wood Soon be time to head to the Hill

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yes and there's still plenty more to come Wurzel I'm sure they'll be out near you soon, it's still early days in Sussex, and it looks like good weather for this weekend.

9th May, Bugboys big day out. Part 3

As we drove past heavy traffic going the opposite direction, it seemed like a fortuitous decision to extend our day out. We parked at the bottom car park and set along the middle path, discovering a section of the lower slope had been sectioned off due to recent herbicide spraying.

Once past this area it didn't take long for the Grizzled Skippers to start appearing before our eyes, mostly on the Hawthorn sprigs, sometimes in little groups. Having yet to see Dingy Skipper this year it was them I was keeping my eyes peeled for though. A single Small Heath was discovered about halfway along and Grizzlie numbers reached double fingures, but it wasn't until we reached the far bottom corner that we finally found a couple of Dingies, hugging onto the remains of last year's dead flowerheads. And so ended a pretty successful days butterflying ... well, the actual butterflying did anyway, despite the roads being mostly clear on the way back I still didn't get home til gone 10.30 that night!

You're certainly saving the best till last Buggy!

An awesome 3 part saga there Bugboy, what an epic day.
(also love those Holly Blues )

I think I know what you're waiting for Pauline, hopefully tomorrow
It was rather epic Andrew, but thoroughly worth it

10th May, The Duke of the Chiltons

I had a bit of a lie in the next day, as you might expect after such an epic previous day. Even so butterflies were still top of the list (I did say all other activities were shelved for the week since it may be the only chance I get to see some of them this year.)

Today's target was the Duke. They also enjoy a lie in so there was no rush to get to Ivinghoe Beacon, the easiest site for me to get to. A warm day with some cloud cover was predicted so I hoped perfect for the target, and also any other species I may come across. Aldbury Nowers was rather quiet, just a single Grizzlie and Small Heath found, but it was still a little chilly and the cloud cover hadn’t really broken much yet.

There was a strong breeze blowing across the Chilton’s but thankfully the scrubby gully’s and alleys the Dukes frequent were mostly sheltered from it and I found my first, a male only a few hours old, where I always come across my season first, behind the car park. When the sun came out he took what may well have been his maiden flight and landed all by himself on some Cowslip. I didn't find any more here, so I made my way down to the well-known gully to find 3 more, another fresh one and 2 older individuals, one clearly the same one Millerd found with the damaged wings a few days earlier. Further on at the next hotspot were several more Dukes plus a Duchess, all looking very fresh. I bumped into a chap doing a Duke survey for the national trust who reckoned we were a week to 10 days from peak emergence. He was pleased to hear I'd seen a female.

On the return I checked out another spot which I've always thought should have Dukes but had yet to see any. Today however two males, again both fresh, were present . Signs are it's looking good for them here this year and if this my only audience with them this season, I'm glad I got to see so many fresh animals

Obviously there was plenty of activity from other species too, who will fill a post all of their own.

Just catching up on your 'epic' day Bugboy...great stuff

Great Dukes from Ivinghoe Beacon too, I really must try and get down to one of the Chiltern sites to see these one of the days. In the past I have always headed down to Prestbury Hill near Cheltenham but I reckon the distance is probably about the same just south-east instead of south-west to me.

Cheers,

Neil.

bugboy wrote:I think I know what you're waiting for Pauline, hopefully tomorrow

Tease

That is a great selection from around Ivinghoe, Buggy. I really must range out a bit more when I visit the area!

Dave

I can recommend Ivinghoe Beacon Neil, just for the views alone, but there's always lots to see there as you can see from this next post (and this doesn't cover all the non butterfly life!). If you need help locating the Duke hotspots just drop me a message

Good things come to those who wait Pauline

There's a good variety all over the site Dave as long as you're ok with lots of clambering up and down steep slopes!

10th May, The Duke’s companions

As I said, there was plenty of non-Duke action throughout the day once the sun had warmed the air.

A Grizzlie and a Small Heath were all that were flying at Aldbury Nowers Nature reserve but as I said it was still a little chilly. It was a bit too breezy to find anything along the walk across to Ivinghoe Beacon (it's a very exposed ridge) but once there the first thing to buzz me was a Dingy Skipper. There were at least two present, toying with me before I found my first Duke . Down in the Gully I spent a while with a Green Hairstreak, it’s interesting how different they look when the sun is on them compared when it’s cloudy. A very fresh Green-veined White seemed to be learning how to fly, like my first Duke I suspect she was only hours old At the third Duke colony I made the most of a male Orange-tip. I’ve really struggled with them this year, I’ve not seen them in anything like normal numbers anywhere yet. He was a good looking chap though, and the occasional cloud cover helped pin him down . Grizzlies and Green Hairstreaks were both present here too, one female Hairstreak looking most rotund! A stunning Holly Blue put in an appearance, and sat just long enough for one snap before returning to laying eggs on Dogwood. I’m not sure if it was the same female I’d seen earlier but this pairing posed irresistibly! At the fourth Duke colony both skippers were again present And further along the walk home a couple more Grizzlies were found, one looked to have more than the usual amount of white but probably not enough to make it a taras. I finally made it back to Aldbury Nowers late afternoon where cloud cover had put anything that was active back to bed. I did however find a couple of Orange-tip and a Grizzlie who had clearly got lost from the neighbouring field and was roosting along a country lane. The sun occasionally peeked out, each time awaking the Orange-tip and giving me loads of easy opportunities to get my annual OT fix Another thoroughly satisfying day

That is rather a nice female Holly Blue, Buggy. Most of the egg-laying females I've seen this week in a variety of locations have been distinctly worn, but she is a beauty.

Dave

Great set of Dukes Bugboy especially the the second side on shot - interesting viewpoint Those final OT shots seem to show really dark makings on the fore wing tips

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Your having some great day's out Bugboy, with some smashing results Goldie

Isn't she just that Dave, She may well reappear on the favourite picture thread come winter
Thanks Wurzel, I do like to try and get a different from the normal image when I can . Your right about the OT as well, it stood out in real life as well.
Thanks Goldie, I'm back at work now so my week off is now just memories but at least I have the pictures to help bring them to life

I know a few people have been patiently waiting for this post, so without further ado...
11th May, Meet Padfield

No week off is complete without a trip to Bookham for me. I'd hoped, almost expected, the Small Coppers were emerging here and perhaps a Common Blue or two as well, so it was with some disappointment that no sign of either was found. There was in fact very little at all on the wing, small numbers of the three species of White, a few Orange-tip, Speckled Wood and Holly Blues. Most stayed mobile but I got a few photo opportunities. I had a look for my Brown Hairstreak larvae but sadly found no sign of him. I was pleased to find that four out five of my rescued eggs had hatched although again, I could find no sign of the inhabitants. Over on the Oak, after some searching I managed to find one of my Purple Hairstreak larvae, almost invisible, tucked up at the base of the leaves. I was surprised to come across a male Comma, somewhat worse for wear but still frisky enough to start a fight with an innocent passing Speckled Wood. And at the end of the day as I was leaving I also came across a female laying eggs on nettles. She seemed to be in fine fettle considering her age. The best find of the day though, who's already been introduced in the May sightings page, was my first ever Purple Emperor larvae, who I instantly christened Padfield for reasons that will be plainly obvious to everyone reading this . I've looked for them countless times but this one was discovered by complete luck/chance. I'd taken a detour to avoid some mud, and brushing past some Sallow something familiar caught my eye. It must have been all those images posted by Guy that's burnt their image on my retinas, but somehow it stuck out like a sore thumb to me. He was hanging on a rather exposed leaf at the end of a small branch overhanging the path, about 5 foot of the ground and obviously preparing to moult. There was a stiff breeze which was blowing in just the wrong direction causing poor little Padfield to get blown ragged. They really do have a good grip which was definitely being put to good use. I will do my best to keep track of him, but unlike his namesake I can't visit here everyday. There will however be at least one more update of him plus more pictures in the next post

He really is a splendid creature (Could be a she I suppose...). An incredible leaf mimic right down to his tail (as you more inelegantly put it!). Let's hope you can continue to keep track of him.

A terrific find, by the way!

Dave

Great pics of "Padfield", Bugboy. What a find.

I'm thrilled for you Buggy - and flattered, as I said before! I suppose it is possible that my obsessive postings helped to prime your eye ... I'm glad they served some purpose!

Whether or not you are able to follow Padfield through to greater things - and as I also said, it is possible he will decide to settle somewhere else on his tree after his latest upgrade - it will be worth revisiting the area you found him in late July/early August. For every caterpillar that survives into 5th instar, tens of eggs at least will have been laid the previous year (0.5% - 1% of eggs survive to adulthood). Eggs are quite easy to find and almost as much a delight as the larvae.

Your other postings have been great too - but you will understand I have a special interest in this one!

Guy

Thanks Dave and Ernie, I was really chuffed with finding him, even more so because I wasn't even looking

Padfield wrote:I'm thrilled for you Buggy - and flattered, as I said before! I suppose it is possible that my obsessive postings helped to prime your eye ... I'm glad they served some purpose!

Whether or not you are able to follow Padfield through to greater things - and as I also said, it is possible he will decide to settle somewhere else on his tree after his latest upgrade - it will be worth revisiting the area you found him in late July/early August. For every caterpillar that survives into 5th instar, tens of eggs at least will have been laid the previous year (0.5% - 1% of eggs survive to adulthood). Eggs are quite easy to find and almost as much a delight as the larvae.

Your other postings have been great too - but you will understand I have a special interest in this one!

Guy

Thanks Guy. The Sallow he's on isn't huge but I know full well from your images that that doesn't mean it will be any easier to locate him. It is however isolated from nearby Sallows so unless he goes wandering off on Hawthorn or Blackthorn he should stay on this one. I have a feeling you may like the next post even more though, but I'll keep you guessing for another day

I'm afraid you posted this after my bedtime Buggy so apologies for the late congratulations . If he does go missing and you'd like some help looking for him ..........

Sorry Pauline, it was actually a bit after my bedtime too . I'm not sure when I'll next be able to go to Bookham, maybe Monday afternoon but if not then, not until next weekend

13th May, Bookham & More Padfield

Remarkable as it may seem I actually took a day off from butterflying on the Saturday, the weather didn't seem up to much anyway. The forecast for Sunday seemed initially similar but I'm glad I went out as it ended up being a much nicer day than predicted, and it's not often a forecast is wrong that way round!

I couldn't resist another trip to Bookham primarily to see if Padfield was still visible.

The day started off rather gloomy, but I managed a few sleepers along a shady path. I had to ramp up the ISO a bit so the picture's are a little noisy and I can't deny the two on the same flowerhead may be slightly staged, but I like them. The Orange-tip seemed to have something wrong with one forewing and couldn't retract it properly, foiling the usual near perfect camouflage. As the morning progressed though, the clouds broke and the cool start to the day evaporated. On the way to Padfield I had another good search for Small Coppers, but still no sign of any. Speckled Woods and Whites became active and a few Orange-tips made worthy subjects of my attentions. All this was just for starters of course. Padfield was happily very easy to find, sitting on the same leaf as two days previously, only this time looking very proud and regal in his brand new skin. There was only a light breeze today so he was able to hang peacefully as he dried. I then proceeded to look around for more, discovering in the process lots of Sallows I hadn't noticed before and several species of moth caterpillars, but no more Emperors.

Returning to Padfield, I found he'd woken up and was busy eating his old skin and was completely oblivious to any disturbance. In fact moving his home around until it caught a shaft of sunlight bothered him not one jot and enabled me to get some very closeup snaps as he tucked into his first meal in his final instar. As he was active, and therefore more likely to be seen by predators I felt obligated to stand over him until he'd finished and went back to hanging around, motionless .

At this stage I have no idea whether this will be the last I will see him but fingers crossed he (or she) makes all the way.

Leaving, I had time to point my camera at a couple more inhabitants. I think the run of bad luck I had at the beginning of the season has run out of steam, it just couldn't keep up with me this past week

What a remarkable set of pictures of Padfield. It had me gripped all of the way through. I was expecting a Minnie me to appear in the pictures as well
A great, upbeat report. Glad you have found your mojo.