August 2013

[dilettante]

Other software no doubt offers similar functions,

I use Lightroom, which does make it easy, but I find it so hard to press that delete button

[MikeOxon]

I find it so hard to press that delete button

Like most things, it's a matter of practice ........ I get lots!

Mike

[Matsukaze]

Back from a week on Exmoor. Much of my time was spent moth-trapping and looking for dragonflies on the high mires, which are not good butterfly habitat with just Green-veined Whites and the occasional wandering vanessid. Loads of Small Tortoiseshells in the cottage garden though, along with a very worn Silver-washed Fritillary and a confused/depraved male Small Copper which was continually trying to mate with Small Tortoiseshells.

On a walk to Bossington beach we came across Grayling, Dark Green Fritillary and very surprisingly a male Large Skipper, which was in quite a worn state. Records of Large Skipper at the end of August must surely be pretty unusual.

[David M]

Records of Large Skipper at the end of August must surely be pretty unusual.

At that latitude I'd say they were almost unheard of!

[Jack Harrison]

dilettante wrote: I find it so hard to press that delete button

I presume you are reluctant to lose forever in case you subsequently change your mind.

I copy the originals. It is from those copies that I delete as appropriate so if I do change my mind later (or make a mistake), all is not lost.

Jack

[Ian Pratt]

New butterfly seen on the Isle of Wight today- you have heard of the silver Y moth, well here is the blue Z butterfly!

[andy brown]

Here Are few from Wednesday in the New Forrest and Old Winchester Hill

Buff Tip

Buff Tip

Peppered Moth

Peppered Moth

Clouded Yellow

Clouded Yellow

Adonis Blue

Adonis Blue

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Ta

Andy

[dilettante]

New butterfly seen on the Isle of Wight today- you have heard of the silver Y moth, well here is the blue Z butterfly!

You didn't see a masked Spanish-looking gentleman with a sword in the vicinity, did you?

[Susie]

Took the girls to Horsham for a pre-going back to school haircut and spotted a brown hairstreak in the Bishopric!

[millerd]

Lulworth Skippers, though worn now, are still around in numbers at Durlston Country Park near Swanage. Also one or two very late Marbled Whites, lots of Adonis Blues and the odd Wall.

Dave

[aeshna5]

Pleased to find 3 female Brown Hairstreaks on Bookham Common today- all intent on egg laying on low Blackthorn shoots.Also 1 faded Purple Hairstreak, 3 Small Coppers + Brown Argus. Apart from butterflies a very long (in excess of 4 ft) grass Snake swimming in the pond was a real highlight.

[Catteraxe]

Very pleasant walk around the Oxwich area on Gower today. Plenty of Large and Small Whites, Small Torts, Speckled Woods, the odd GVW and Meadow Brown, a few Common Blues, a Peacock and a Painted Lady plus 2 Clouded Yellows in excellent condition on the coastal path between Port Einon and Oxwich.

[David M]

Also one or two very late Marbled Whites

That's surprising, given that they've disappeared from almost every other locality.

[millerd]

Indeed. I saw a worn one first, then one that was surprisingly fresh. Must be the sea air on the Dorset coast - perhaps Wurzel knows the secret...

There's a pic of the second one in my personal diary.

Dave

[Rosalyn]

I had a few days off last week so we visited Strumpshaw Fen Wednesday in search of Swallowtails. We were not disappointed. We saw 2 where the broad joins the river, all be it on the opposite bank, we wandered further along and on our return presumably the same 2 were flying around a large buddleia.
With the met office reporting cloudy conditions we decided not to venture too far on Saturday, I still needed Silver Spotted Skipper and Adonis Blue to match Phil's tally, SSS seemed the best at Aston Rowant (north side). Turned out to be a lovely sunny afternoon and my first butterfly was an Adonis Blue!! Clouded Yellow, lots of Brown Argus and SSS. It was rather windy so photo Opportunities were restricted. Not the most peaceful of reserves lots of noise from the road but a lovely day out never the less