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Saturday 17th June (Part 2)

After my success with Heath Fritillaries, I made my way over to Hadleigh Country Park near Southend. In the blistering heat, Butterflies were out on their hundreds. Despite trying there turned out to be too many Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Skippers to count. It was nice to see good numbers of Holly Blue (25+). A small number of Marbled White put in an appearance too.
I then took the long walk down the hill towards Benfleet Downs for my next target species, White Letter Hairstreak. I stopped at the same place I had visited three years ago and straight away they were seen, with a total of eight seen on and around a single patch of Bramble below some Elm. This location is a firm summer favourite and never fails to disappoint.

Regards Kev

Great White Letter images. The beauty of Thistles is that they are kept
occupied for a long time. Sometimes Brambles are preferred, but they
then flit about more often.

Would like to see more,
Trevor.

Fantastic Whitters Kev

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Love those White Letter Hairstreaks, Kev. I wish I could fond a colony near me. They're delightful butterflies.

David, Trevor, Wurzel: Thanks for the comments as usual
Incidentally, the photos of the WLH were mostly all taken on my mobile phone, such was their tolerance of me. At one point I had one on the tip of my finger. I certainly wasn't expecting that of a WLH. Perhaps the best moment of the year so far.

Regards Kev

That's the reward you get with White Letter Hairstreaks, Kev. They're tricky to locate, but the payback is an abnormally tame butterfly, similarly disposed to humans as Brown Hairstreak.

Lovely shots Kev I'm still waiting to see my first WLH Goldie

My local nature reserve is abundant with Comma at the moment. An area of just a few hundred yards this weekend yielded 17+. They are one of my favourite Butterflies and when freshly hatched their colours are magnificent.
Here are a selection of my most recent photos.
Final Instar Larva Preparation for Pupation Pupa Freshly Hatched Adult Regards Kev

Thant's a lovely series of photos, Kev - and doesn't it accentuate how well disguised the pupae are! And I'm totally envious of your WLH - I have yet to see one!
Janet

Indeed a fine sequence Kev, and a fine specimen at the end

Have a goodun

Wurzel

My local nature reserve is alive with butterflies at the moment. A late afternoon stroll this week produced over 500+, including 26 Comma, 215 Ringlet and 234 skippers. Whilst there are perhaps more favourable species to be searching for in June, I love my mid summer fix of Skippers. It's great to see so many of them in such a small area. Here are a few of my favourites. Regards Kev

Saturday 1st July 2017

I took a walk through a couple of local woods today in search of my first Purple Hairstreak of the year. A total of six were seen, but of course they stayed up in the oaks. I did manage to zoom in at a distance for some record shots though. Other notable firsts for 2017 were 2 White Admiral (no photos yet ), Gatekeeper and 15 Silver Washed Fritillary. Regards Kev

Stour Wood 1/7/17

A short trip over the border into Essex to try for my first White Admiral photos of the year. One or two had been seen the week before in my local wood, but agonisingly out of reach even for my telephoto. The search didn't take long, with the following taken next to my car as I pulled into the car park. Loving the woodland butterflies at the moment with White Admirals being seen in new woods close to me too.

Regards Kev

Great shots recently Kev - you've been racking them up - Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed and White Admirals It's great when the butterflies are there in the car park to greet you

Have a goodun

Wurzel

All work and no play this past week, so any Butterfly action has been confined to the garden and the activity on my Buddleia. I have not been disappointed with numbers continuing to grow. I was particularly happy to photograph my first Painted Lady of the summer. Regards Kev

Crikey that's an 'end of season selection' Kev The Small Torts blue triangles are practically glowing and that's a great Painted Lady - it might be an ab as it seems to have a white spot in the middle of both fore wings on the orange background - I've not seen that before

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a great selection of butterflies Kev. I've just been to the garden centre today and bought another couple of buddleia - if I get results like that I'll be well pleased

Thanks Wurzel: I was drawn to those white spots as I took the photo, but didn't consider that it may be an ab until I've just looked at lots of other pictures (none of which show them). Well spotted

Thanks Pauline: We started with one Buddleia a couple of years ago and now have seven. They prefer the purple ones. Apart from a lone Gatekeeper our white variety has been the reserve of the bees only.

Regards Kev

That’s not a bad array of garden visitors, Kev. Make the most of it – Peacocks and Brimstones have a tendency to disappear early.

Wolves Wood, nr Ipswich

The recent change in the weather has begun the halt of Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral and SWF in my local wood.
But there's still a little love in the air. Regards Kev