www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Coppers as good as Gold

Despite typical may conditions for my part of the world (40mph gusts and ridiculously unpredictable weather) the last few days have been exceptionally enjoyable (on the patch as ever). Early Purple Orchids are now in full swing in the woods including a nice rose pink specimen, and plant wise things see to be ticking along nicely.
This morning a beautiful female Brimstone paid the garden a flying visit, long enough for a quick close up.
And then this afternoon, it was copper time! I headed back to the spot where I saw 15 or so of these little beauties about 2 weeks ago despite the wind, and I was not to be disappointed. There seems to have been an explosion in numbers and I lost count somewhere in the 50s. It was a truly incredible sight, the patches of Forget me Not and Sorrel were all filled with these little buzz bombs vying for space and rotating studiously on flower - heads. I had a fantastic time soaking it up and enjoying them, definitely worth going to have a look! I suspect if I headed off the path I could have seen almost as many again, with more flying amongst the grass, which was almost red with sorrel, no doubt the reason for their incredible numbers, indeed, it was not unusual to have 7 or 8 in view at once.
There was a bit of variation in the uppersides in terms of the extent of the orange, along with a couple of nice caeruleo-punctata. I'm beginning to wonder if this form is caused by high temperature, since it is very frequent on the continent and with this warm spring people seem to be seeing lots of them (when they're more usually thought of as a warm second brood thing).
This Female had quite a nice dusting of orange on her hindwings.
But the real variant of the day was this chappie...
I'm going to stick my neck out and say he's some sort of aberration (possibly culprinus?) as he was markedly more pale (almost white in flight) than his fellows. He also behaved differently, far more of a typical male copper, vivacious, territorial and inclined to long patrol flights that made him difficult to photograph. Whereas the other coppers, perhaps dulled by the density of their population were more docile.
This was the first photo I got of him. The ladybird eventually crawled onto his hindwing, flushing him and causing a howl of dismay.
He was a beautifully coloured specimen, in some lights appearing almost grey, under cloud a pale white and when the sun hit him right, this pale straw yellow.
Finally a comparison with a more normal copper.

That watered-down Small Copper is a real find, William.

Thanks David, once I realised the numbers on site I had hoped I might find something unusual, little did I know .....

Common Blues

I saw my first Common Blues of the year on wednesday, out in excellent numbers at a local spot. After a bit of patience they posed nicely, particularly one beautifully marked female, lacking any orange on her upperside.
In this photo you can see the male cleaning his antenna.
The Buttercup meadows are now in full bloom - good places to look for Small Coppers and the aforementioned Common Blues.
2 Speckled Woods duelled for just under a minute over one.

Fabulous photo of in flight SW William

I agree!

Thanks all - it was a lovely sight

Hi William

That female Common Blue without the orange is a beauty And I love your buttercups.

Thanks Jack - I was lucky to find such a beautifully marked specimen

Magical Marshies

Last year a colony of Marsh Fritillaries was discovered only 15 minutes from my home. Unfortunately I found out too late to go and see them, but this weekend I more than made up for it, they were out in excellent numbers. Initially they proved flighty, but in the infrequent cloudy spells they were more forthcoming.
Several nice Common Twayblades were also flowering on site, my first ever.

Recent Doings

Things have been fairly quiet recently, with the cloudy weather. Nevertheless a few nice roosting Common Blues around.
And today I was lucky enough to see the legendary Somerset 'ophrys' hybrids (Fly x Bee).
In other Orchid news, Southern Marsh are doing well at my local pond.

Beefly Orchids?

Perhaps I think they have been branded ophrys pietzschii, but not being a distinct species the name was dropped. Still, if they become a distinct species, you saw 'Bee Fly Orchid' here first

Fab hybrid orchid. Now its my turn to be jealous!!!
Bob.

Thanks Bob - they were very impressive plants, far taller than their Bee or Fly Orchid parents

Some stunning shots of the Marshies William and the blue spot Small Copper is really well 'spotted' they're huge blue spots

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Superb photos of the Marsh Fritillaries and the beautiful Orchids William

Recent Doings

Thanks All, your kind comments are much appreciated

Orange Tip eggs are all over my Garlic Mustard now (as are Green - Veined White), many of them beginning to hatch.
The Small Coppers are still going strong, and at the same site I was delighted to spot my first Painted Lady of the year, and best of all 5 Wall Browns - a rare butterfly indeed in West Somerset. A female Large White posed nicely also.
To cap an excellent day I found a new spot for Common Blues (which are doing very well this year) up the road from me.

What a stunning female. Beautifully captured, William!

Best wishes,

Lee

Thanks Lee - she posed beautifully