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Hi Wurzel, you can’t beat an Essex Essex Skipper, can you?

Hi David, yes I am incredibly lucky. I doubt there is a better place in the country to see them. We do struggle a little in the county, in terms of species. We have no chalk downs, where so many brilliant species live. But we do have a few crackers!

Both WLH and Essex Skippers are photogenic little creatures, as your shots show, Mark. Your experience matched mine at Hadleigh, in that all those I could positively identify were Essex, not Small. Interesting to hear some detail about the management of the various Heath Fritillary sites in the Rayleigh area. I have visited some of the spots south of the A127 in the past, but they seemed to suffer from a "boom or bust" situation and I'd heard the species had disappeared. However, it's excellent news to hear they have returned.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks Dave, and I’m glad you’re trips to Essex were successful. Just seen your pictures, which are great, well done!

Well, I’ve had three days off in the last week-and each one has been cloudy! Whatever happened to the heatwave they were predicting last week. It’s remarkable to think it was warmer and sunnier in late February than it is now. It’s also remarkable that, as close as Paris, and in many other parts of Europe, temperatures are in the 30’s C!

essexbuzzard wrote:..Well, I’ve had three days off in the last week-and each one has been cloudy! Whatever happened to the heatwave they were predicting last week. It’s remarkable to think it was warmer and sunnier in late February than it is now. It’s also remarkable that, as close as Paris, and in many other parts of Europe, temperatures are in the 30’s C!

Be careful what you wish for, Mark. I'll be in the French Alps at the weekend and some parts are forecast to be 44c!!!

Even on the cols above 2,000m it's likely to be 27c, which will seem peculiar when standing next to or on some of the ice that occurs up there.

Yes, we don’t want those sort of temperatures. 18C, light winds and intermittent sunshine will do just fine!

Well, today was a a glorious evening so, after work, I found a sunny spot on my local patch, sheltered from the wind, and enjoyed a feast of butterflies! High numbers of Large Skippers were here, as well as a few Small Skippers. I was hoping for my first Hutchinsoni Comma, and there is a certain bramble bush where I find them every year. Bingo, there it was!

I also found Small Tortoiseshells. Aware they are struggling in some areas of the country, I am making sure I enjoy them while they last!

Beautiful Small Tortoiseshell in particular, Mark.

When you say 'in the evening', what actual time did you arrive and leave?

It was between 7 and 8.30PM, David. I checked at just after 6, but the large Skippers and Comma were still keeping their wings tightly closed then, so gave it another hour. The days are now as long as they ever get, so, even on work days, it is possible to get some butterflies in, if the sun shines.

The sight of a Small Tortoiseshell nowadays is something of a treat.
Your image evokes thoughts of Summers past, when every French Marigold
in the garden would be visited by a Small Tort.
I'm off to Wiltshire next week where they're still regularly seen.

Great stuff, Mark.
Trevor.

Essex, always nice to see a Small Tortoiseshell photo. It's a shame they are not as common place as they should be.

Regards
Kev

Great to see the H.Comma Essex - is it that time already? It feels like only yesterday I was watching OTs Hopefully plenty more butterflies still to come though...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

essexbuzzard wrote:..It was between 7 and 8.30PM, David...

Wow, I'd never considered trying after 7pm, although I suppose it makes sense given that it's light till gone half past nine.

Thanks everybody, I enjoy reading your comments.

In late June, the Ringlets emerged. These attractive, smokey black butterflies have a very short flight period. Some of the adults are already showing signs of wear, and they will have gone by the end of this month. But for now they can be enjoyed, and they are doing pretty well round here. At the north-facing common behind my home, they were bobbing by the dozen yesterday morning. If the cloud obscured the sun for a slightly longer period, they would start to settle in the grass.

Ringlets are one of those 'blink' and you miss them species sometimes Essex - I say sometimes as one year I fund a really fresh one in late August while looking for Brostreaks Lovely shots - especially the velvety open wing one

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, as always.

A warm Thursday evening meant, after work, a chance to look again for Hutchinsoni Commas. Several more have emerged since last week. Four were on territory, plus a flyby, compared to just one last Thursday. The usual Skippers, Browns and Tortoiseshells were present, too. Still waiting for Gatekeepers to appear. The joys of warm evenings in high summer!

Lovely H.Comma Essex - love the way the white margin highlights the darker sections

Have a goodun

Wurzel

essexbuzzard wrote:..In late June, the Ringlets emerged. These attractive, smokey black butterflies have a very short flight period. Some of the adults are already showing signs of wear, and they will have gone by the end of this month....

Really, Mark? That surprises me as I sometimes see the odd tatty one towards the end of August when searching for Brown Hairstreaks in Pembrokeshire.

I do usually see the odd tattered Ringlet make it through to August, but, where I live at least, they are few and far between. Perhaps it is different in other areas of the country? Likewise Meadow Browns. Here, again,they are fading away by August, yet they continue on the Downs in the south until October, seemingly in just one generation.

I too love Hutchinsoni Commas. They don’t last long, just a few weeks. Long enough to breed, and provide a new generation in late September. They should be enjoyed while they last, as time waits for no-one!

essexbuzzard wrote:..I too love Hutchinsoni Commas. They don’t last long, just a few weeks. Long enough to breed, and provide a new generation in late September. They should be enjoyed while they last, as time waits for no-one!

Indeed. They are quite ephemeral and it's easy to forget them once they're gone, only to receive the happy reminder around midsummer the following year!

We were Aston Rowant bound on Sunday. This was just a short visit, I will take a full trip there in early August. So I wasn’t entirely expecting my first SSS of the year! Much more expected were our first Chalkhill Blues of the year. Several mating pairs were found. I was delighted to find wild candytuft, as I always look for it, and failed to find any last year. This is the only place, in Britain, I have seen it. All in all, a rather splendid afternoon!

The summer generation of Small Tortoiseshell and Comma is now on the wane. There are plenty of Tortoiseshell caterpillar batches around now, and eggs were still being laid today: The caterpillars vary, from those just hatched to this one, which is fully grown. However, some have already been predated. Anyone know what this is? I just hope some of these caterpillars will survive, to emerge as adults in late summer. Their chances seem slim, as late summer and autumn Tortoiseshell have been virtually absent here in recent years.