essex buzzard

[Wurzel]

More cracking shots Essex That first male is in very fine fettle Lovely flash of electric blue on the Adonis

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Plenty of other stuff was present as well, including a few fresh new Large Whites, a third generation emergence

Steady on, Mark. I've only seen one second generation Large White this summer!

Day list included, Silver Spotted Skippers, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blues, Adonis Blues , Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.

Very impressive. It's time I relocated!

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel, the Adonis were not high in numbers, but they were high in quality!

Hi David, don’t relocate just yet. No SPBF, Marsh Frits or High Browns for me!

Last Friday, we headed down to Dorset, for a few days away. Weather was a typical mixed bag, but nothing too awful. Friday itself was dull and damp, no good for butterflies, but perfect for a trip to Swanage on the excellent Swanage steam railway.

After lunch, and a look around the town, we headed back to Corfe Castle on the steam train, for a cream tea and a walk up to the castle. From here, the views are fantastic, over looking the town and the steam trains coming and going.

An enjoyable first day.

[essexbuzzard]

The next day started brighter, so we headed to Osmington. High on our target list were Adonis Blues, and we soon found these. Numbers were rather lower than in some years, but there were still a few good ones around.

A few nice females were about, too.

A few Small Copper were present, near the bottom of the hill.

As will Neil F, a Clouded Yellow put in an appearance. A little battered, but still nice to see.

Another welcome, if unexpected sight, was this Peacock. The first one I’ve seen for several weeks.

This Comma pains an autumnal picture, as it perches on a withered dock.

Unfortunately, it clouded over again lunchtime, and the days butterflying was finished. Still, a day with Adonis Blues, buzzards and ravens can’t be bad. Here is a picture of the white horse of Osmington.

[Wurzel]

Great set of shots Essex - you can't beat a female Adonis for subtle beauty The Adonis did seem to be slightly down this year - I don;t know how well the first brood did or it could have been the very hot/dry spell we had? Hopefully it's a blip

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Sounds like a great trip, Mark.

that first Adonis is electric, but I also like the castle and the steam train. Perhaps it's my age?

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel, yes Adonis numbers have been down, certainly in the second, late-summer generation. This I find surprising. Yes, we had the record-breaking heat, but they has been rain too-certainly this grass in my region is still green, where as it went brown last year.

Thanks David, mine too! (age). Yes, we had a good time down there.

The next day dawned fine and clear, so we were out early, to catch the Adonis Blues waking up on Ballard Down. Here too, numbers were rather low-I have seen them by the hundred here in the past-in fact numbers have been down on all the sites I have visited. There is nothing to suggest this is a permanent change. Adonis Blues are doing very well in Britain at present, and there is every reason to hope numbers will recover sooner or later.

Here on the Isle of Purbeck, many on the females have a rich suffusion of blue scales.

Of course, the males are resplendent in colour. I have seen many species of blue in Europe, but none quite matches the splendour of our very own Adonis Blues. Thanks goodness it didn’t go extinct in the 1980’s. These were enjoyed,as they will be my last Adonis Blues of the year.

Common Blues and Brown Argus were here also, but were faded and not worth photographing. This wasp spider was protecting her nest.

Next, week headed over to Arne. In the damp areas, I always look for Dorset Heath, a kind of heather found only here, and in Cornwall.

Also here, raft spiders can be found on the acidic pools. Raft spiders are the largest British species of spider.

[essexbuzzard]

We considered going up to Fontmell Down for afternoon, but the Sunday roads were very busy, and we could see quite a lot of cloud forming inland as well. So we decided to spend the rest of the day in Swanage, spending as much time as possible outside, not in the car. We had lunch on the beach, and enjoyed the folk festival which was taking place on this sunny afternoon. On a butterfly bush, several Painted Lady were seen, as well as three Red Admiral. A multitude of Small Whites were present throughout the area.

Late afternoon, were headed out, stopping briefly at Ballard Down again, adding Small Copper, Comma and Speckled Wood to the days sightings, before heading on to Cornwall for the night.

[Neil Freeman]

Great reports and photos from Dorset Mark, interesting to compare with my experiences a few days earlier.

I have compared photos and your Clouded Yellow at Osmington is a different individual to the one that I saw there.

That is a nice fresh looking Peacock, one species I did not see down there.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Those are cracking images of the male Adonis Essex - you managed to capture almost the whole rage of blues through form the almost pastel to the pure electric on the back end Great to see the Raft Spider as well - they are big

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Neil, I too have been comparing pictures and notes. You’re right, it was looking pretty dry at Osmington and Ballard Down, though I felt not so much as last year. Your pictures of Durlston, though, are very striking.

Cheers Wurzel. The Adonis Blues down there, though not abundant, were excellent.

Our first day in Cornwall, last Monday, was cold, windy and wet, as a cold front arrived.So we went to the Geevor Tin Mine, at Pendean.

The next day the rain had gone through, so we had a walk on the West Penwith moors, enjoying the glorious colours of the heather and western gorse. What a setting!

[David M]

A nice little row of hindwing marginal spots on your 'last' Adonis, Mark. Very attractive.

Equally attractive are those images from West Penwith moors. What an absolute riot of colour.

[Katrina]

West Penwith Moors look fabulous. Very uplifting photos.

[essexbuzzard]

The West Penwith moors are indeed glorious, and I just had to get here on a sunny day.

With this being the only sunny day of our short trip, we then headed to perhaps the best site- Kynance Cove. I think I have sold Kynance to a few people on UKB! Common Blues were still present here.

I soon started to see Clouded Yellows. A patch of flowering crucifers, in a dip just before Lizard Point, was especially favoured, with perhaps half a dozen present.

Lots of Small Whites were seen between Kynance and Lizard Point. In far lower numbers, were Large Whites.

In some years, large numbers of Small Copper can be found here in Autumn, but this year, they were few.

But this area has other treasures, not least the serpentine rock. It has floral treasures, too, and it is also home to the Autumn squil, the only place I have seen it.

More to come...

[Wurzel]

Great report Essex - lovely looking Common Blue and Cloudy The Squill is a cracking looking flower though I think I prefer the unopened buds to the actual flower

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

... I think I have sold Kynance to a few people on UKB!...

Yep, me included I have been there a few times now in recent years and it has become one of my favourite spots.

Great report and photos Mark. I didn't see any Clouded Yellows when I was there in early August but it seems there has been an upsurge in sightings recently.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

...we then headed to perhaps the best site- Kynance Cove. I think I have sold Kynance to a few people on UKB!

Yep. You've sold it to me, Mark. I could easily live in the vicinity. It's right up there in terms of UK locations as far as I'm concerned.

[essexbuzzard]

Well, I have heard about many sites from others on here, so if I can give something back, then great!

Cornish Heath, a kind of heather found only here, was still in flower in September, though it peaks in August.

Autumn ladies tresses is uncommon in Cornwall, but can be found at Kynance, if you know where to look.

Late afternoon, this Speckled Wood was found.

And here is the view, which I know some of you have seen before!

[essexbuzzard]

The next day was cloudy,mild and damp as a warm front arrives,and we spent our last day at the Eden Project, then heading home overnight . So I’ll finish off with the glorious sight of sunset at Kynance Cove the day before.

[David M]

Love the time lapse transition, Mark. Irrespective of the time of day, that spot is breathtaking.