www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

The female is beautiful but I love the male, set against the field of ox-eye daisies, even more. It's a perfect picture.

Guy

I'm really enjoying your diary William especially the Marsh Frits and the orchids - splendid . I especially admire the butterfly shots with the wild flowers behind the butterflies as it shows the context.

Thanks Guy - from the master of landscape Butterfly photos, that comes as a great compliment

Thanks Pauline - I always try to take something of the site away with me - it helps with the long rainy days

Agree with the other commentators William, lovely!!!

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

Exmoor and Others

Thanks Bill - much appreciated

Fairly slow going over the past couple of days, but larvae continue to thrive on the Garlic Mustard. Here's a second instar Orange Tip engaging in some egestion.
And what I think is an early instar Green - Veined White (though I've been caught out on this before).
And a Green - Veined White Ovum.
A trip up on to Exmoor to do the transects at Haddon Hill and Haddon Moor was fairly unproductive due to the cloudy weather, with a few Green - Veined Whites, a nice Mother Shipton and my first Small Heath of the year. A nice gentleman I met also informed me that he'd seen a Green Hairstreak, though I failed to catch up with that.
Despite their absence, habitat at Haddon Hill looks in good condition for Heath Fritillaries, with cow - wheat everywhere, general thinking is they'll be another week or so.

Lovely shot of the Green-veined White Once the Heaths are emerging how long do they take to reach their peak? I'm just wondering about a trip over that way for a lifer

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel

I think it's normally about 2 weeks, but I'll keep you posted they tend to fly throughout June really. A trip down to sunny Somerset would be a good idea, I've seen 50 plus Heath Fritillaries at Haddon Hill at the right time of year, and you could combine it with a trip to see the Large Blue (and the Small Pearl - Bordered Fritillaries down the road at Haddon Moor)

BWs

William

Cheers William That would be great

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Recent Doings

Things have been fairly quiet recently, with some rather poor weather. Despite this I've been out and about, paying particular attention to the 'nests' of Nymphalid larvae near my home.
These Small Tortoiseshell larvae made rather strange bedfellows with a fearsome looking spider (ID appreciated)
The Garlic Mustard is turning into the gift that keeps on giving with Orange Tip larvae.
Today I went up to Haddon Hill to do the transect, initially it proved fruitless, until the sun came out - safe to say Heath Fritillaries are now on the wing - I saw around 8 in the usual hotspot (it's still early days though) with a supporting cast of Green Hairstreak, Large Skipper and the rather attractive micro moth Olethreutes Arcuella. Unfortunately the heavens opened when I reached Haddon Moor, so no transect and no Small - Pearl Bordered Fritillaries there.

Lovely Heath Frit shot William When you say that it's still early days will a trip in two weeks still see some fresh looking Heaths? I was thinking maybe next weekend but with the Iron Man closing the road on Sunday I might not be able to make it?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel 2 weeks time should be fine I think, the Fritillaries will probably just have reached their peak then - PM me at a later date for details

Hi William

I think your spider is araneus diadematus which is the Garden Spider. I'm no expert so may be corrected on this.

Fantastic images William

Interesting info regards Haddon Hill, I think this area will be quite busy over the next few weeks William Great shot of that stunning micro moth

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

Thanks for the kind words guys, much appreciated, thanks for the ID Paul - a magnificent beast

Recent Doings

With a recent spell of warm weather I've been 'making hay whilst the sun shines'. A couple of local walks have given me my first Meadow Browns of the year (all males).
I was interested to see the Hop Trefoil at the set-aside near my home absolutely covered with these larvae (50 plus) - any ideas?
The recent warm southerly airflow has brought across some nice migrants, I have seen good numbers of Red Admiral recently, the odd Painted Lady, 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths on the Red Valerian in the garden, and best of all a beautiful male Clouded Yellow that blasted past me whilst driving along a country lane.
Next big excitement was a Small Heath on my transect (from my home), I haven't had one of these on the patch for 4 years, so when this rather battered one plonked itself down on a nettle near me, I was delighted.
Later in the day (Thursday) I was lucky enough to have a trip out on to the Mendips which looked truly stunning in the evening sunshine, there are few places more beautiful. Ubley Warren, a site I had never visited before came up with the goods with fantastic numbers of Green Hairstreak (one of my favourite butterflies, at least 15 seen), my first Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries of the year (3), Small Heath (c.12), Meadow Brown (1), Brimstone (3), Large Skipper (4), Dingy Skipper (2), Grizzled Skipper (5), Common Blue (9) the highlights, along with a lovely robust Bee Orchid and several Common Spotteds.
Yesterday, another nice walk on the patch saw good numbers of Dragonflies, in particular male Broad Bodied Chasers, and the Peacock larvae are doing well.
And then it was back on to Exmoor to do the two Haddon Transects. Haddon Hill was on fine form, I counted 14 Heath Fritillaries (this doesn't sound like much, but they are very visible in the hotspot, and easily found, though photographing them in the sun is another matter), 7 Green Hairstreaks (I settled for photographing these instead!), 18 Large Skippers, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Green - Veined White, 2 Speckled Wood and 5 Small Heath, along with 5 beautiful Wood Tigers (virtually impossible to photograph, scared by camera noises and footfalls on bracken).
Haddon Moor was just as good, with 9 Green - Veined White, 7 Large Skipper and 19 Small Pearl - Bordered Fritillaries. The Fritillaries were very flighty, on constant patrol, but by 5:30, they started to calm down.

Very emotive sequence of shots William, lovely to behold , although I can't get used to seeing Small Pearls amongst the grasses - I always see them amongst the woods.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:I can't get used to seeing Small Pearls amongst the grasses - I always see them amongst the woods.

Thanks Wurzel , perhaps if you come and look at the Heath fritillaries and pop next door for Small Pearls you'll be able to get to grips with your very own grass - living Somerset Fritillaries.

BWs

William

Nice images, William.

I too saw a Humming Bird Hawk Moth at Collard Hill this afternoon. They're fascinating creatures, aren't they?

Great report William and some beautiful photos

Cheers,

Neil.

I love the style of your photos William and I have been trying to think of words to describe them - atmospheric, picturesque but nothing I can think of seems to do them justice. Wurzel comes close with his 'emotive' but it is a combination of all of this and more. The Meadow Brown, Green Hairstreak and Pearls are beautiful and demonstrate real skill. I am glad that you are not one of the folk who delete your data as when I admire a photo I try to learn from it. Looking forward to more.