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Another overcast afternoon here but managed to connect with my first Ringlet of the year. Bewley Common, Wiltshire

Also of freshly minted male Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Down at Epsom Common this morning whilst it was still sunny, the Black Hairstreaks were looking good and also surprisingly amenable to being photographed.I also spotted what I think is a white-legged damselfly. More shots in my PD when it catches up...

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Fri Jun 07, 2024 2:46 pm Down at Epsom Common this morning whilst it was still sunny, the Black Hairstreaks were looking good and also surprisingly amenable to being photographed.BlH2 070624.JPGI also spotted what I think is a white-legged damselfly.damsel 070624.JPG
More shots in my PD when it catches up...

Dave

That is indeed a White-legged Damselfly, they're rather common there.

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas if this Small Heath is a named ab? Cheers in advance... Have a goodun

Wurzel

Very pale ones (with nearly white ground colour instead of yellow-orange on the upperside) are ab. alba - but your one lacks its eyespot as well!

No idea, Wurzel - it's a terrific find, whatever it might be called...

Cheers,

Dave

It was my final day in Pembrokeshire today. Another good day of weather, great conditions. I spent it at Bosherston Lilly Ponds. Some fantastic habitat, of various types, including good wildflowers in the nearby dune system.

Sadly, again, very few butterflies around. Common Blue was most common, with 6+ seen. A couple of Speckled Wood, one Small White, and a possible Brown Argus.

Still hugely disappointing though.

Escape artist.

Orange Tip pupa on a lead to my computer monitor.

It hadn't been a very long crawl (under a metre) from the pots of Hedge Garlic and Dame's Violet on the window sill.
But I had missed it when it was a caterpillar.

Jack

i took a chance with the weather today. by the time i arrived at Totternhoe it was improving, and there were long spells of sunshine after that.

i was pleased with this Mother Shipton pic, and also the Common Blue on a rattle plant
apart from that there were just the usual Speckled Woods & Brimstones

there were several motorcycling youths in the site. one had just driven straight through a patch of orchids.....

Wurzel wrote: ↑Fri Jun 07, 2024 7:07 pm Just wondering if anyone had any ideas if this Small Heath is a named ab? Cheers in advance...
DSC_0789 - Copy.JPG
Have a goodun

Wurzel

I still don't know its name, Wurzel, but I did find a similar one today (but not as pale or as "blind" as yours... ). Dave

I made a friend today.
Not a good start to flying, but got a helping hand to join in with the fun.

Party time down in Hockley Wood this afternoon when the sun decided to appear!

Fantastic- looking forward to seeing the same tomorrow when I will be there.

Double figure numbers of Black Hairstreak at Bernwood Meadows this morning

bugboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2024 7:50 pm Party time down in Hockley Wood this afternoon when the sun decided to appear!

Still partying in South Essex, Paul:
And this poor chap maybe a little too hard as he seems to have a damaged left lower wing:
But I left him at the bar to sup on the nectar and gain his strength:

More fun with the Surrey Black hairstreaks today. Was hard going at the usual spot where everyone and the monkeys uncle shows up at but when it got too busy for my liking I wandered off to explore the wider area, something I've been meaning to do for a couple of years after being told they're widespread. They are and very numerous too, and I had a much nicer time having them all to myself , even if it did seem they'd had an early morning meeting and decided to be as awkward as possible to anyone with a camera!

bugboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 4:39 pm More fun with the Surrey Black hairstreaks today. Was hard going at the usual spot where everyone and the monkeys uncle shows up at but when it got too busy for my liking I wandered off to explore the wider area, something I've been meaning to do for a couple of years after being told they're widespread. They are and very numerous too, and I had a much nicer time having them all to myself , even if it did seem they'd had an early morning meeting and decided to be as awkward as possible to anyone with a camera!IMG_0169.JPG

The very first time I went to Epsom I had no real idea where to look, and ended up wandering all over the Common nearly getting completely lost in the process. However, I did see Black Hairstreaks widely across the whole site in ones and twos, darting around above the blackthorn - overall there must be quite a healthy population here.

I stayed near home today, out in the few hours before it clouded over again, and was surprised to still be finding nearly new female Holly Blues flying with their Common cousins out on the grassland. Dave

Took a very local wander today. Saw my first Large Skipper of the year and c. 15 Meadow Brown. Very few other species, maybe 6 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Heath and a Small White. Plus Peacock in larval form. Lots of vetch about though.

I can't remember a drearier start to the butterfly season here in the south-east- certainly not for many years!

Getting out to my local Sunday west London patch yesterday morning soon after 7 am it was gloriously sunny if cool. By 10.30 largely overcast & just heavy cloud & cool the rest of the day.

In the first hours of sunshine managed:

Meadow Brown 20
Small Heath 2
Small Copper 2
Large Skipper 2
Holly Blue 1
Common Blue 2

Also 2 very fresh 6-spot Burnet Moths & 2 pairs of Banded Demoiselles.

Just as I returned home a Red Admiral flew across the road.

Some more common blue butterfly in clackmannanshire this morning.

That blue female Common Blue is a beautiful insect, Bertl!

Dave