www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

South Downs National Park Forum Blogs

Here are a few links to an ongoing sequence of blogs I've posted on the South Downs National Park Forum. The descriptions of butterflies are designed for a non-specialist audience, but you might enjoy some of the images. Click on them to see a slightly larger file than posted here. They are indexed in calendar order.

http://southdownsforum.ning.com/profile ... ional-park
http://southdownsforum.ning.com/profile ... nal-park-1
http://southdownsforum.ning.com/profile ... ths-part-1
http://southdownsforum.ning.com/profile ... ths-part-2
http://southdownsforum.ning.com/profile ... -the-chalk

Another South Downs National Park Forum Blog

And another at http://southdownsforum.ning.com/profile ... ional-park

Hi Neil,
Excellent blog and photos. I am still struggling with temperatures around 30 degrees C here in Zaragoza!!
Hopefully may see some butterflies today as we are going by car into the country to see Goya's birthplace and also to the Laguna de Gallocanta- great for birds I am told including cranes in season.
Congrats re photo!
BWs
Ian

Hi! Neil loved your Blogs, very interested in the Purple E and Brown H , South Downs is on my list for next year Goldie

Hi Goldie and Ian. Many thanks.
Ian, "struggling with temperatures around 30 degrees C here in Zaragoza" is a struggle I wish I was involved with - have a great time out there!
BWs, Neil

Weather changed over night with light rain. We had some further showers on the trip and temperatures as low as 13C!
By 18.00 it had risen to 20/21C but by then it was too late for any butterflies. Re- entry to UK is fast approaching on Monday pm. I have my winter clothes ready! :lol :
BWs
Ian

Hi Neil, just had a look at your linked blog posts, great stuff with some lovely photos.

Neil Hulme wrote:
...With my ivy still to flower, I'm hoping they will become regular visitors over the next few weeks.

My Ivy has nearly finished flowering now, as has most of it around here in the midlands. I must admit, I'm a bit surprised that yours is still to flower, especially as everything else down there seem to be ahead of here.

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks Neil, and well spotted! Due to a combination of factors, including the Magnolia tree which overhangs my rear garden (pollarding now due again) and the seasonal, lower arc of the sun, my ivy periodically becomes a late-flowerer. It's a good three weeks later than ivy at the front of the house.
BWs, Neil

Neil Hulme wrote:Hi Mick,
I'm pleased to hear that you caught up with the Wall at Mill Hill. I hope you got some good shots of this notoriously tricky species. After filling my boots over a couple of days I failed to get a single, decent image during my next visit - a return to 'business as usual'!
BWs, Neil

Hi Neil.
Just the one image that I was happy with - the courting couple. However this certainly made my trip down there worthwhile. A difficult species indeed. Not sure how you managed to get your pics of them - have been looking for the pins, but can't see any
Best regards.
Mick

Butterflies Through The Window

Unfortunately I've been confined to bed for a while with pneumonia, so little in the way of activity to report. However, yesterday (20th October) I spotted a very active, third brood Holly Blue male patrolling the back garden hedge. A couple of Red Admiral were also seen feeding on the flowering ivy.

Neil Hulme wrote:Butterflies Through The Window

Unfortunately I've been confined to bed for a while with pneumonia, so little in the way of activity to report. However, yesterday (20th October) I spotted a very active, third brood Holly Blue male patrolling the back garden hedge. A couple of Red Admiral were also seen feeding on the flowering ivy.

Yikes! Really sorry to hear that, Neil, and get well soon. Just think of spring and pull through!

Cheers,

- Pete

Oh dear Neil that is not good at all take it easy and get well soon
Kind Regards
Mark

From my own experience, it will take some time before you are back to normal fitness, so do take it easy. All the best,

Mike

Sorry to hear that you are laid-up Neil. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Best wishes,

Vince

Sorry to hear about your illness Neil...and you still manage to see more butterflies than I have seen for a couple of weeks now.

All the best for a speedy recovery.

Neil

HI,Neil
Get well soon !.
TREVOR.

Neil Hulme wrote:
Unfortunately I've been confined to bed for a while with pneumonia, so little in the way of activity to report. However, yesterday (20th October) I spotted a very active, third brood Holly Blue male patrolling the back garden hedge. A couple of Red Admiral were also seen feeding on the flowering ivy.

You truly are a legend, Neil.

Sincere best wishes to you and hope you get back to 100% fitness very soon.

All the best from me too, Neil. Nasty thing to get - hope you put it behind you soon.

Dave

Get well soon x