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Re: July 2020
Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:10 pm
by Padfield
Despite strong winds and overcast skies - and even light rain at times - the sandlings and woods were alive with butterflies today. These included my first grayling of the year, resting up high in an oak:
There were dozens of small and Essex skippers buzzing about everywhere, completely oblivious to the weather:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2020/sylvestris4jul2020a.jpg)
(small)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2020/lineola4jul2020a.jpg)
(Essex)
Small coppers were seemingly everywhere too, ranging in condition from world-weary to spanking fresh:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2020/phlaeas4jul2020d.jpg)
(my camera doesn't cope well in poor light!)
Other species flying on this gloomy day were meadow brown, ringlet, holly blue, lots of commas, large white, small white, green-veined white, peacock, red admiral and large skipper.
Every ragwort was covered in cinnabar moth caterpillars:
Guy
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 1:35 pm
by JimB
Medard wrote: βFri Jul 03, 2020 3:29 pm
The morning was over cast showing no promise for butterflies, however the afternoon brightened up and gave me an interesting afternoons visit.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/
A beautiful newly emerged Female ? White Admiral
SEP_8631 3x2.jpg
Two male Commas battling
Migrant Hawker recently emerged,
and a Common Darter.
Lots of Brimstone on the wing
Today 03-07-2020
The morning was promising and gave good sightings along the track.
Small Skipper ? Its the firstΒ I've seen at Shapwick
Ringlet
White Admiral
Two Commas
Red Admiral
Peacock
Speckled Wood
Beautiful photos. The Migrant Hawker photo is in fact a Southern Hawker dragonfly Aeshna cyanea as you can see the two coloured bands across segments 9 and 10 (Migrant has paired dots).
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:16 pm
by Medard
Beautiful photos. The Migrant Hawker photo is in fact a Southern Hawker dragonfly Aeshna cyanea as you can see the two coloured bands across segments 9 and 10 (Migrant has paired dots).
Thanks for the correction, Not doing so well on my ID skills, oh well must now visit speck savers now lockdown has ended.
Here are a few caterpillars that I need help on ,hope someone can rise to the challenge.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:33 pm
by Pete Eeles
Dark Dagger, Lackey, and one of the Burnet moths.
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 3:41 pm
by Padfield
On a very windy day on the heath, this female silver-studded blue was skulking around in the undergrowth. She never opened up properly and was difficult to access, but it was possible to see she had very blue hindwings. The blue was symmetrical - exactly the same on the right wings - and the body was quite blue too:
Purple hairstreaks were flying around high in the oaks, but the wind made it almost impossible to get one in frame, let alone in focus:
Guy
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 6:35 pm
by zigzag_wanderer
Did exactly what I did yesterday in that I went no further than doing the rounds of my local fields.
But what a difference a bit of sun makes.
Nothing unusual, but very good numbers.
I saw very big numbers of golden skippers, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, 20+ of both Marbled White and Ringlet, 4 or 5 Commas, similar number of Holly Blues and Small Whites, 4 Peacocks, 2 Red Admirals, 2-3 Purple Hairstreaks flitting around high up when the wind stopped for a bit, 2 Large White.
I haven't noticed any Small Heath there for a little while now. No new Small Coppers there yet either,
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:54 pm
by Deborah
First Purple Hairstreak of the year (and taken with my new Lumix FZ82 bought for that reason! - couldnβt get up there with my iPod!)
Plus Large Tortoiseshells in the garden
![π](//cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/twitter/twemoji@latest/assets/svg/1f600.svg)
. A good day. Still no Purple Emperors though... maybe tomorrow.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:52 pm
by Ian Pratt
I was very fortunate today to find a perfect condition silver-washed fritillary form valezina which stayed around for me to photograph.
I have seen this form several times before but never in such good condition and never so willing to be photographed.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 2:54 pm
by Stevieb
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:05 pm
by David M
Ian Pratt wrote: βSun Jul 05, 2020 9:52 pm
I was very fortunate today to find a perfect condition silver-washed fritillary form
valezina which stayed around for me to photograph.
I have seen this form several times before but never in such good condition and never so willing to be photographed.
Fabulous, Ian. What a beautiful specimen!
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:14 pm
by Bertl
Took a wee walk at Fallin Bing nr Stirling this morning. Lots of common blue, ringlet and meadow brown. A huge amount of six spot burnet moth. Spotted a few tortoiseshell. Visited this site to try and spot the large heath, but no joy today.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:40 pm
by Ian Pratt
David M wrote: βMon Jul 06, 2020 3:05 pm
Ian Pratt wrote: βSun Jul 05, 2020 9:52 pm
I was very fortunate today to find a perfect condition silver-washed fritillary form
valezina which stayed around for me to photograph.
I have seen this form several times before but never in such good condition and never so willing to be photographed.
Fabulous, Ian. What a beautiful specimen!
Thank you David.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:02 pm
by zigzag_wanderer
What was I saying about no fresh Small Coppers in our local fields yet.....
Was also amazed and delighted to see a White Admiral in the same fields on my WFH lunch hour walk. Especially as we're well away from any mature woods.
That takes it up to 29 species I've snapped in those fields. I'm going to be devastated when the diggers move in. Would love to get it to 30 species before they do as some kind of legacy.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:03 pm
by millerd
A morning visit to Bookham today was full of butterflies despite cloudy/bright rather than sunny conditions. They included a "Black" Admiral, unfortunately well past its best.
Also noteworthy was this really large Comma, approaching the size of some of the smaller male SWF (that's quite a substantial post it's sitting on!)...
...Purple Hairstreaks nectaring on the brambles...
...Several multi-species groups (I was lining up the White Admiral when the other two muscled in slightly further back and out of focus)
...and a mating pair of Silver-washed Fritillaries, with the female half as large again as the male.
A full report to follow in my PD in the fullness of time...
Dave
Re: July 2020
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:39 pm
by JimB
Ian Pratt wrote: βSun Jul 05, 2020 9:52 pm
I was very fortunate today to find a perfect condition silver-washed fritillary form
valezina which stayed around for me to photograph.
I have seen this form several times before but never in such good condition and never so willing to be photographed.
Lovely photos Ian, a perfect specimen.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:22 am
by Ian Pratt
JimB wrote: βMon Jul 06, 2020 10:39 pm
Ian Pratt wrote: βSun Jul 05, 2020 9:52 pm
I was very fortunate today to find a perfect condition silver-washed fritillary form
valezina which stayed around for me to photograph.
I have seen this form several times before but never in such good condition and never so willing to be photographed.
Lovely photos Ian, a perfect specimen.
Thank you, Jim.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 5:05 pm
by David M
millerd wrote: βMon Jul 06, 2020 8:03 pm...Several multi-species groups (I was lining up the White Admiral when the other two muscled in slightly further back and out of focus)
Great triple combo, Dave.....not to mention the SWF pair
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: July 2020
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:55 pm
by zigzag_wanderer
My lunch hour WFH walk was mostly spent hoping to see the White Admiral paying a repeat visit (no such luck).
Did see this beautifully coloured box fresh Small Copper. Seems to have more yellow on it than the others I've seen.
A quick trip back after work and I got a Ringlet - with nearly the full Mickey Mouse.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:59 pm
by Allan.W.
A fresh Large Tortoiseshell photographed on a Buddliea on Lighthouse Down ,St Margarets (bay) ,Kent today .
Allan.W.
Re: July 2020
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:37 pm
by millerd
My first Chalkhill Blue of 2020 seen at Denbies Hillside today. There was just the one as far as I could see.
The striking Small Copper ab. also seen here today I have posted in a separate thread.
Dave