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Sunday 9th July

On Sunday afternoon, we decided to nip down to Snitterfield Bushes which is located a few miles north of Stratford-upon-Avon and is just over half an hours drive from home. This Warwickshire Wildlife Trust reserve and SSSI is on the site of a previous much larger mixed woodland that was cleared in the 1940s to build an airfield (RAF Snitterfield) but has since regenerated from seed lying dormant in the soil. Some of the old concrete is still visible and forms part of the paths through the woodland which makes it a good site for Jane to manage with her limited mobility.

It was a pleasant afternoon with plenty of cloud about but also good amounts of sun with temperatures in the mid twenties. As soon as we pulled into the small car park we were greeted by a male Silver-washed Fritillary that buzzed the car before skimming off into the trees. The reserve lies on both sides of the road that cuts through its centre and we spent an hour or so on each side seeing pretty much the same mix of butterflies in both.
Numerous Ringlets and Meadow Browns were flying above the long grass to the sides of the paths but the main reason we had come her was to see the Silver-washed Fritillaries. These were present in good numbers, the males being very active in the warm afternoon sun and just occasionally stopping to refuel from various large banks of brambles. Females were also seen in good numbers and although these were spending more time feeding up they were also very flighty and difficult to approach. Many of both sexes were showing signs of life amongst the brambles with rips and tears in their wings.
On a number of occasions we witnessed the graceful SWF courtship flight including one occasion with two males spiraling around a single female in what looked for all the world like a carefully coordinated aerial display.

There were also a number of Commas spread around the paths and these would often chase off any Fritillary that came close to their perches,
A couple of Red Admirals were seen, one looking tired and faded but the other looked to be in nice fresh condition and kept returning to a favourite basking spot on a small wood pile.
A female Brimstone, my first summer one this year, spent some time moving between flower heads on a patch of thistles,
A few Gatekeepers were dotted about, all fresh looking males which indicated that they are just getting going here,
Marbled Whites are usually found in good numbers here in areas of long grass to the side of the wood and although I did not check out these areas today we did see a few Marbled Whites that had found their way along the paths into the wood itself.
We also had a single sighting of a White Admiral skimming through the trees some distance away.

Large, Small and Green-veined Whites were all seen actively patrolling the paths. A few Purple Hairstreaks were also spotted flitting about high up around some of the Oaks but despite a a careful search of nearby patches of brambles, none were seen low down.

And finally, a number of Shaded Broad-bar moths were seen. I often see these but like many night flying moths that are easily disturbed by day, these often settle low down in the grass or underneath vegetation, so I was pleased to get a decent shot of one.
A cracking afternoon in the company of plenty of our summer woodland butterflies

Bye for now,

Neil.

Lovely set of shots Neil I especially like the way you've managed to capture the greenish tinge on the female Silver-washed

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel...unfortunately I didn't find a proper 'Greenish' Silver-washed Fritillary (valesina) this time although I have photographed a few at this site in previous years.

Friday 14th July

A round up of stuff from my garden this week and today.

I had the moth trap out last weekend and on Wednesday night. Numbers were down a bit from the warmer nights of the previous week although there were still some nice moths including another Poplar Hawk.
This afternoon I spent a bit of time in the garden and when the clouds began to break up a bit around 4.00pm the usual Speckled Wood came out to play, at least three different males in varying condition.
A couple of Large Whites passed through and one male stopped for a brief rest...
A Red Admiral had taken up position on the bramble patch from which he tried to chase off the Specklies and also a second Red Admiral at one point.
My first summer brood Holly Blues also put in an appearance this afternoon, maybe two or three although it may have been just one doing a circuit, either way it/they didn't stop.

Anyone who followed my diary through the winter may remember that I posted a number of photos of foxes in the garden. Over the past few weeks I have seen some cubs, usually early in the morning from the kitchen window before going to work. Earlier in the week I was in the back room and happened to look out of the window and spotted a couple of these cubs snuffling about in the grass under where the bird feeders are, presumably hoovering up bits that the birds have dropped from the fat blocks. I managed a couple of quick shots through the window before they sensed me there and shot off down the garden.
Bye for now,

Neil.

Friday 21st July

Another week passes by with the best of the weather being whilst I was at work. Last Saturday was dull and drizzly for most of the day here and Sunday didn't brighten up until late in the afternoon and was quite breezy so I just stopped at home and did some jobs around the house and garden to keep the brownie point account topped up.
As soon as it brightened up on Sunday afternoon, the butterflies came out to play in the garden with Ringlets, Speckled Woods, Gatekeepers, Large and GV Whites, Red Admirals and Holly Blues all putting in an appearance.
On Monday afternoon after work, I was a bit surprised to see not one but two male Large skippers in the garden, I know there were two different males because they kept scrapping with each other. I have seen Large Skippers in the garden before but only usually one at a time.
Monday to Wednesday was hot and muggy but overnight into Thursday we had the band of heavy rain and thunderstorms that swept across the country and heralded the much cooler and wetter weather we have had since.

This afternoon, there were a couple of brighter spells to break up the dull grey clouds and drizzle and a female gatekeeper and female Speckled Wood fluttered about for a while trying to avoid the attentions of two male Specklies.
As I write this it is lashing down again outside and the weekend looks to be what the forecaster call 'changeable' with rain and sun both predicted to be seen at some point.

Bye for now,

Neil

It's nice catching up with the doings in the garden Neil - nice array of species there as well especially the final 'excessa' Hedge Brown The Large Skippers are note worthy as well as they are all bu got round my way

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Somehow missed your last couple of posts Neil but some very nice moths there. My favourite however, unsurprisingly, is the Fox cubs Hope we'll see more of them.

Yes, great images of the fox cubs, Neil, and the Large Skippers are welcome too - they seem to have disappeared round my area.

Cheers Wurzel ,the Large Skippers usually hang on until late July around here but most are looking well past it by then.

Hi Pauline, thought you would like the Fox cubs, I have seen them a few times but that was the first time they were out in the open like that...must be getting more confident.

Thanks David, I was chuffed to see the Large Skippers in the garden. First time I have seen more than one of them there.

Saturday 22nd July

Well, the weekend weather was certainly 'changeable'. Saturday morning started off quite pleasant with some nice sunny spells but by early afternoon the rain showers had moved in and became more persistent through the afternoon.
Before the rain moved in however, I had seen the usual butterflies in the garden including 6 separate Gatekeepers. This was the most of these I have ever seen at one time in the garden as they usually turn up one or two at a time.
More garden moths

At least the rain on Saturday afternoon gave me chance to sort through some of my photos I had taken of the moths that had come to the garden trap during the week.
Sunday was forecast to be the better day of the weekend so I was hoping to get out to one of my local spots...

Bye for now,

Neil

Loving the Hedge Browns Neil especially the third shot those are more 'splodges' than spots something I've not gotten in my collection

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel, that Hedge Brown shot is the underside of the female in the next shot...which is the same female that I took a photo of and posted in the previous report.

Sunday 23rd July

After a lot of rain on Saturday night it was very wet outside on Sunday morning but with some warm sunny spells it soon started to dry up. With my free time over the past couple of weeks coinciding with wet and dull weather, I had not been out to visit my local spots for a while and with this being the time of year when I am usually looking for Essex Skippers and also on the lookout for the re-appearance of the summer vanessids , I was keen to get out.
So it was then, that after the usual Sunday morning household stuff I was free for a couple of hours in the afternoon and headed round to my local spot at Bickenhill, just to the north of Solihull.
There were some good patches of blue sky but also some dark looking clouds heading over and I had just set off down the first path when I felt some drops of rain. I sheltered under the canopy of an oak tree whilst a short but heavy shower came down, luckily only lasting about five minutes before the sun came out again. Wandering along the path past the first hedgerows and meadows I soon started seeing the expected Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers along with a few faded Marbled Whites, plus Small and Essex Skippers.

I began to try for the head on shots to try and confirm the IDs of the Small and Essex Skippers and after confirming half a dozen or so of each species it seemed that both were flying in roughly equal numbers, although it must be said that neither were as numerous as I have seen here in the past. Also, many examples of both species were looking tired and worn and it seemed that they had both emerged here a bit earlier than usual and seemed to be getting towards the end of their season at this site, no doubt due to the warm weather we had earlier this year (mostly whilst I have been stuck in work ).
At first I was a bit concerned by what I wasn’t seeing, no summer vanessids…but after a while I spotted a Comma, then a Red Admiral, and then a few more of each.
Moving into a sheltered spot behind some trees in the next meadow I checked out a large patch of thistles and found where the Peacocks were hiding. At least 6 of them were actively flitting from flower head to flower head in the warm afternoon sun, although checking my photos afterwards it appears that I most of my better photos were of the same individual.
There were also a couple more Commas and Red Admirals on this patch along with some of all the other species already seen, making it the most productive spot of the afternoon.

Large and Green-veined Whites were regularly seen patrolling the hedgerows but I don't believe I saw a single Small White. Small Tortoiseshells were also notable by their absence which surprised me a bit as this has always been a reliable spot for them. Likewise I did not see any second brood Common Blues or Small Coppers, both of which I would have expected to be flying here by now.

There were also loads of moths which were easily disturbed from the grass, mostly Shaded Broad-bars and various micros plus a few Latticed Heath and Silver-Ys.
Overall, it seemed a strange day compared with visits in previous years at or around the same date. Some species seemed to have been early and almost over, some seemed to be at flying as usual, and some expected species were not seen at all.
Still, it was a cracking couple of hours

Bye for now,

Neil

A nice selection, Neil. I agree that the season seems very mixed up at the moment. Small Tortoiseshells have disappeared again near me, but there have been lots of larval nests (at least before the strimming and mowing armies ripped several to shreds), so I expect another brood to appear any time soon.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I am not sure if the Small Tortoiseshells have disappeared here or if the summer brood has just not got going yet...some comments I have seen on midlands based groups seems to suggest the latter.

Friday 28th July.

A very unsettled week of weather with some sunny spells and some heavy rain, both as showers and also some prolonged periods. All I have seen in the way of butterflies this week is the occasional Speckled Wood and Large or Green-veined White passing in the garden after work.

Friday afternoon, despite it being dull and occasionally drizzly, there were a couple of Whites fluttering about which looked to be a male Green-veined White pursuing a female. I spotted them settling and on approach saw that it was in fact a male Small White and a female GV White. I took a few photos, trying unsuccessfully to get them both in focus, before the male Small White must have realised his error and fluttered off.
After he had gone I realised that this was the first confirmed summer brood Small White I had seen this year.

This weeks moths.

With the wet and blustery conditions on most of the nights over the past week, I had only run the moth trap in the garden on two nights, last Sunday and Tuesday. Numbers were well down on previous weeks, no doubt due to the cooler temperatures and blustery wind that we have had here recently, but nevertheless a few nice moths turned up.
I won't be going out anywhere today (Saturday)...checking the car over and getting stuff ready for a run up to Arnside/Silverdale in the morning for a few days

Bye for now,

Neil

Smashing moth shots Neil. I particularly like that Ruby Tiger - very striking. I don't know whether you (or anyone) can shed any light on this. After my last trapping session I released the Poplar Hawk moth and some 9 days later it is still there - alive Is it perchance similar to the Emperor - a female hoping to call in a male with pheromones (which are probably exhausted now!). I really do feel guilty if I have unknowingly interrupted the life cycle

Some great 'definite' Essex Skippers from a while back Neil and lush undersides of the Red Admirals A great set of moths as well - my favourite is the Ruby Tiger what a stunner The Vapourer though is a different matter - I've developed many a crick in the neck/whiplash when one of those blighters has bombed by whilst looking for Brown Hairstreaks or other butterflies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Pauline, apologies for the delayed response, I have been away for a few days and missed your comment before I went. Female Hawk moths do attract males with pheromones and it is not unusual for them to sit tight when the weather is a bit iffy. As far as I know pheromones don't become 'exhausted' and are produced as long as she requires them.

Cheers Wurzel, I know what you mean about the Vapourer Moths Brown Hairstreak impressions...same size and colour in flight, same habit of flying high up around trees. I am convinced that a lot of spurious sightings at this time of year are down to this species.

Anyway, some catching up to do again.

Arnside/Silverdale - July 30th to August 1st part 1.

At this time of year over the past few years we have often spent a few days up in the Arnside & Silverdale area, primarily to see Scotch Argus on Arnside Knott but also to visit a few other sites in the area to see what is about.
So it was that on Sunday 31st July we set off around mid-morning for the drive up the M6. Just over three hours later we were pulling into the car park at Wharton Crag which is a site we have often stopped off at first in the area. On the way up, the weather had been quite reasonable with plenty of blue sky and white clouds dotted about with the temperature on the car display drifting between 18 to 20 degrees. As we got closer to our destination, the clouds thickened up and turned grey and the temperature had dropped to 16 degrees by the time we reached Warton Crag. Getting out of the car it immediately became evident that a cool breeze was also blowing so Jane decided to stop with the car and read her kindle whilst I had a walk up the crag. Higher up the crag, the breeze that could be felt in the car park was a blustery wind blowing straight in off Morecambe Bay which made it feel quite nippy up there. A search of some sheltered spots turned up a few Meadow Browns and Small Skippers but that was all that was braving the conditions and they were soon whipped away in the wind if they ventured out of shelter. A single Red Admiral was also spotted and a couple of Speckled Wood were along the path through the trees to the car park.
We then decided to carry on into Arnside to grab a coffee and with a couple of hours spare before checking into our B&B, go up to Arnside Knott for a look...

Scotch Argus.

It was still mostly overcast and windy as we carried on up to The Knott, plus there was a bit of occasional drizzle in the air, but nevertheless I felt confident that I would be able to find some Scotch Argus tucked away in some of the sheltered spots where they can usually be found. I have often read that this is a species that requires full sun to fly but my own previous experience here has shown me that as long as the air temperature is reasonable - around 16c or more - then they can often be found flying, although admittedly not in the same numbers as on a sunny day.
From the car park I made my way around to one of the sheltered lower slopes on the higher part of the knot (if that makes sense) where the air temperature felt a bit warmer and sure enough within minutes spotted the distinctive, almost black, shape of a male Scotch Argus lazily flapping about above the grass. This first individual soon settled and I got a couple of underside shots before he was up and away again and I lost him over a large patch of brambles.


After this first one, I soon spotted a few more and during the course of the next hour or so that I spent around this spot, I reckon I saw between 20 to 25 in total, both males and females in all sorts of conditions.
We then carried on to check into our B&B.

After some heavy overnight rain, the following day (Monday July 31st) started off cloudy and windy again so we spent the morning at RSPB Leighton Moss. By late morning, the cloud had started to break up a bit and although it was still breezy, with some nice sunny spells developing I decided to go back up the Knott for another visit.
This time I checked out some of the other spots where I have previously seen Scotch Argus as well as the lower clearings where High Brown Fritillaries can usually be found (more on these to come). Whilst looking around one of these lower clearings I was surprised to see a male Scotch Argus, never having previously seen one in these lower meadows before. Quite possibly he had been caught up in the wind and been blown down here.
Moving back up to the higher part of the knot and with a few decent sunny spells, more Scotch Argus were on the wing and they were far more active than the previous day.
My final visit to The Knott was late on the morning of Tuesday ( August 1st), again to take advantage of a spell of reasonable weather. This time I was mostly on the lookout for Graylings which I had not yet seen here this time, but of course I also kept an eye out for Scotch Argus.
As well as similar numbers to the previous days I also spotted a mating pair which flushed from the grass right next one of the paths as I was walking past. I watched as they fluttered a short distance and came to land on a bramble leaf with the male just hanging there, which gave me a good opportunity for a couple of photos before the female must have decided she didn't like being on view and flew off again dragging the male behind her.
I find Scotch Argus can be a tricky butterfly to take photos of. They are easily found at Arnside Knott, especially when it is sunny, but in these conditions the males especially never seem to stop flying. Also, the combination of bright sunlight and rich dark brown butterfly can be tricky to get right and this is one species that I find looks much better in cloudy conditions and softer light.

As well as the Scotch Argus I saw another 15 species of butterfly in the area. More details and photos of these to come when I have sorted through them.

Bye for now,

Neil.

Great images of the Scotch Argus, some of the best I've seen.
The female in particular is a stunning Butterfly. One day I must make the pilgrimage !.

All the best,
Trevor.

Absolutely fantastic shots Neil of a species I'd love to see I like Trevor really need to make the pilgrimmage

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Excellent report, Neil. I was wondering just how far into their flight period Scotch Argus were at Arnside, and now I know

Cheers,

- Pete

Great report Neil, brings back memories of my trip up there last year

Wow! You sure filled your boots there, Neil.

What a selection of aethiops, from the pristine to the - shall we say - slightly scruffy!

Unlikely I'll get there this year, so it's nice to see a full on report from someone else.