www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

So, last Monday it was time for a visit to Hadleigh Castle Country Park, to see if the first White-Letter Hairstreaks had emerged yet. They had, but only in low numbers so far. I will hopefully have another trip there, in a week or so, to see how things are developing. I also saw my first Essex and Small Skippers, Marbled Whites and Ringlet of the Year.

This is the most reliable site I know off for getting the Hairstreaks feeding low down, but they are still not that easy to photograph. They are very fidgety, and constantly bend and drop out of sight behind the flower head, only to reappear a couple of minutes later. But patience has it’s rewards!

Here is a male. Females are slightly larger, and lighter in colour. And here is the habitat. Scrub elm, with plenty of brambles,are the places to look.

Superb White Letter images Mark. I'll be looking for them soon,
and their purple cousins. The silly season has started!.

Keep well,
Trevor.

Great photos, Mark - things were unsurprisingly very similar the following day, but clearly WLH numbers are low as yet and they were still largely up in the elms. They turned up in several separate spots, though.

Cheers,

Dave

Cracking shots Essex I wish I had a reliable 'down low site' for this species, mine closets ones are all a bit far That third shot is gurt lush

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Then onto Lydden Temple Ewell downs in Kent. Few butterflies were around, as I expected, but this is a lovely site for a pleasant walk, and fragrant orchids are abundant, along with dyers greenweed, one of the few places I have seen it. However, there were plenty of Small Heath, and it was no surprise when I found this mating pair. Further on, another mating pair was found, this time Small Coppers. Soon, this place will erupt with Marbled Whites, Chalkhill Blues and, by August, Silver Spotted Skippers. But for now, it was a pleasant place to enjoy an afternoon.

Hi! essex, My favourite site when I'm in Kent Roll on, I should hope fully be there for some of the arrivals, can't wait! Goldie

Always envious of your close encounters with WLH, Mark.

We do have them here in south Wales but they remain firmly wedded to the tree canopies in all the locations I know of. If we're lucky we may get the odd aged, scruffy individual nectaring on the thistles towards the end of the flight season.

Small Coppers in cop I would dearly love those in my 'in cop' collection

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi Goldie, look foreword to your safe arrival down here!

Hi David, yes I am very lucky to have such a reliable site near me. But your Large Heaths run them close!

Hi Wurzel, they were nice to see, and most unexpected! One day you will get lucky.

The White Admiral, though much increased, is still less common in Essex than in woods further south. But Hadleigh Belfairs Woods , near Daws Heath, has proved reliable since I discovered their presence there over ten years ago. So yesterday, it was time to pay a visit, to see and enjoy this wonderful butterfly. A species I don’t see very often, I love their graceful, gliding flight. This is also a Heath Fritillary Wood, but numbers are small, as are the suitable habitat patches. In any case, these Fritillaries are on the wane now.

Then onto Hadleigh castle county park, for a fairly short, heat of the day visit. Numbers of White-letter Hairstreaks have not built in the last week, so it seems to be having a fairly poor season here. A couple of the best areas (for photography) have been demolished this year during scrub clearance, to increase the grasslands for the shrill carder bee and other species.
However there were plenty of Marbled Whites, including this pair. Lots of noisy Marsh frogs, too. The Scarce emerald damselfly was present in the drainage ditches, as were many Scarce red-eye damsels.

Interesting to hear that the WLH are no more numerous than a week ago - that's a pity, as I had just assumed last week I was a bit early for them.

Some great WA shots though, Mark - they seem fresher than the ones over in Surrey now (though I've started seeing a few fresh females over this way too this week).

Cheers,

Dave

Great White Admirals Essex They are fantastic to see cutting through the sky Interesting to see the Red-eyed Damselfly, a species I've never encountered

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

essexbuzzard wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:44 pm...The White Admiral, though much increased, is still less common in Essex than in woods further south. But Hadleigh Belfairs Woods , near Daws Heath, has proved reliable since I discovered their presence there over ten years ago. So yesterday, it was time to pay a visit, to see and enjoy this wonderful butterfly. A species I don’t see very often, I love their graceful, gliding flight.

Totally agree, Mark. this is probably the most graceful of all UK butterflies; it's almost ghostly at times as it silently circles you and then alights somewhere above you looking down at you.

I too don't get many opportunities to see it as it's rare in the south of France and I'm usually out of the UK during its peak flight period. Pleased to say, like you, I've had a decent audience with this species lately.

Thanks everyone. Thanks White Admiral is a glorious species and, thankfully, one that is increasing.

With my work shifts starting to return to normal, and a short heatwave last week, I was able to enjoy some glorious summer evenings on the common behind my house. Days, of course, are now as long as they ever get, and these pictures, and those that follow, were taken after 7PM.

Loads of Small Skippers have emerged here. While Hutchinsoni Commas rest on the bushes, waiting to dart out at anything that passes. Small Coppers live on the common. This one was particularly well marked. Ringlets have now emerged. However, even after just a few days, they are loosing the pristine appearance of newly emerged adults.

Like your Small Red-eyed Damsel Essex ,did you get any pics of the Scarce Emeralds ? A species I,d dearly like to see,must try to get up to Cliffe sometime . Regards Allan.W.

Large Skippers were low in numbers. Perhaps they are already on the wane, having started in late May. Essex Skippers are now emerging on the common. And lastly, for now, another Hutchinsoni Comma, to celebrate some wonderful summer evenings! Purple Hairstreaks were spinning over the trees, far beyond the reach of a camera!

Hi Allan, I didn’t on the day, but I was back there on Friday and photographed one, which I think is Scarce emerald. I’ll find it and post it here. Let me know what you think.

Here’s one for Allan. Scarce emerald usually emerge slightly earlier than emerald, and are slightly larger. But this is an early season, so who knows?

Hello Mark,
Looks good for Scarce to me,...……………….. Nice find ,time on my hands at present ,think a trip up to Cliffe may be in order !
Regards Allan.W.

Get there ASAP, Allan, as soon the confusion species-the Common emerald-will emerge. Though it might be an idea to wait until this dreadful wind has eased!

Peak time of the season now, Mark, and plenty to look forward to if only the weather would calm down a bit.

Love the damselflies. They really are delightful insects.