www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Many thanks Goldie. Those Wall Browns were hard won, they are very quick.

Fantastic set of Adonis Trevor, the range in colours is crazy when you consider that it's all down to simple refraction, love the really electric blue male

Have a goodun

Wurzel

You promised me good evening Trevor, and you certainly delivered! Mill Hill is a great site, you are so lucky to have it on your doorstep!

I am currently in Wiltshire for a three day stay.
Arrival at ' The Hill ' was juat before 9.30am. I was welcomed by a very fresh male Wall Brown, then all was quiet.
The weak sun was not strong enough to get things going. this was an advantage for two easy sessions with a Small Blue,
and a Brown Argus.
The Marsh Fritillaries began to appear on the hillside once the thin cloud cover dispersed, rough counting was hopeless,
with the Marshies seen whizzing around the hillside in two's and three, and becoming involved in chases with other species.
Two other hopefuls enjoyed the morning in the shape of Dave Cook and Andrew555, although Dave had to leave early,
and only saw one Marshie before he left.

Anyway I'm back there tomorrow for another fix.
Trevor.

Great to see you and Dave today Trevor. And absolutely fantastic to see Marshies for the first time.
Many thanks for your previous advice. Great shots from today, and from Mill Hill.

Cheers

Good to see you were able to meet up with the Marshies, Trevor - I envy you your second bite too. That Small Blue is a better specimen than any I saw too.

Dave

Lovely Marshie shots Trevor, Goldie

Many thanks Dave, Andrew & Goldie.

Wiltshire day two.

I arrived on site even earlier this morning, and was able to find some Butterflies warming up.
The first two that I came across, a Marsh Fritillary and a sparkling Small Blue were so calm
that I had the rare opportunity to compose shots rather than the normal point and shoot,
It was also pleasing to get some Marsh Frit underside images.
As the morning wore on more visitors arrived including for a second time in several days,
Mark ( essexbuzzard ) who I think had a good time.

Aah, late spring in the UK is in rude health right now by the look of things, Trevor.

Fill your boots with those Marsh Frits.....in a fortnight's time they'll be all but done down south.

Great to see the Hill doing it's thing. There were only few about last weekend - how are the numbers now? The first Marshie shot is a cracker!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Very nice Trevor, lovely Small Blue.

This evening I went over to Rowland Wood and PCH. between 6 and 7pm.
In Rowland Wood at least five Common Blues were seen roosting, unfortunately one of these
became alert and saw off my first Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary.
Bad language over, I then carried on, eventually ending up in Park Corner, here my second SPBF
rose up from the foliage and settled nearby for both open and closed wing shots.
Later I found an SPBF right near the hut, but is it number three or number two again, I have a
hunch it's the same one. Never mind a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had.

With thanks to Gary, Theresa and Mike,
Trevor.

Good to see those Small Pearls, Trevor, and great shots too. That's obviously the time to find them sitting prettily!

Dave

Fabulous pics of the Small Pearls, Trevor. Hope they will soon be around further north too!

Very nice shots of those Small Pearl Trevor - crisp and well composed. I actually prefer this butterfly to the PBF, possibly because there is more contrast in the colour making it look more vibrant.

Gorgeous photos Trevor, made me wish I had gon out instead of watching the Champions League Final

Many thanks Ladies and Dave, I'm glad you enjoyed the wild, East Sussex SPBF.
I also hope you enjoyed the sheet lightning show last night, it was spectacular here.
No rain, very little thunder, just constant flurescing clouds, I sat out on my patio in awe of it.

This afternoon, at Halnaker, whilst we were having our tea break outside, the behaviour of a
distant white Butterfly drew my attention by repeatedly fluttering around the same plant
and frequently landing on it. Curiosity got the better of me and I went to investigate.
It turned out to be a female Orange Tip, and the plant was Garlic Mustard, but no eggs.
All the images I took show she was just nectaring on it. As the Butterfly was in bright sunshine
photography was extreemly difficult, so I have selected a back lit shot.

I called in at Mill Hill on the way home...........

Trevor.

MILL HILL 6 until gone 8pm.

Including my first Small Copper of the year.

It was quite a storm here last night, Trevor, but today was another lovely day.

Lovely evening images from Mill Hill - the light really sets the butterflies off nicely. However, the classic multi-butterfly shot can't really be considered attractive - I always wish they'd find something less noxious to pose on...

Dave

That was quite an evening with the Small Pearls Trevor some cracking shots The air was blue today at Bentley Also a cracking set of evening shots from Mill Hill, the evening does give everything such a beautiful golden edge

Have a goodun

Wurzel