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Back to the Green Hairstreaks. About a week later, the egg laid on the BFT hatched. From early in the morning it was clear that something was about to happen as the egg started to change colour. As the day went on it was possible to see the larva moving within the egg which is just about visible in this shot:
However, it was not until evening that the larva decided to put in an appearance. It took its time, eating a hole in the egg, looking out a couple of times, before taking the plunge. All in all it took about 35 mins. Once out it seemed unsure as to what to do and wandered around a bit, returning to take a bite out of the egg, before wandering off again.
So then there were 3!!

That's a great animation Mike did for you Pauline I hope you got rid of all the ticks UGH! GOLDIE

I think it's amazing what Mike manages to achieve with my photos Goldie so a big thank you Mike. As far as the ticks go, well I have had a miserable week and I have whinged long and loud to anyone who will listen. In the last few days I have removed about 30 ticks from all parts of my body, including 2 running down my face. They are tiny but the bites they leave are not and I have been unable to sleep for the itch. I believe that they are at the larval stage as opposed to the nymphs given that they have 3 pairs of legs rather than 4, and some appear not yet to have fed as they are flesh coloured, leading me to believe they are hatching out on me . What is equally depressing is having to scrutinise my body for long periods of time with a magnifying glass - where did my 20 year old body go?????? 10 minutes ago I felt one running across my eyebrow and found this attached to my eyelid. The squares on the paper are 4mm:
I have not been out all week as a result (mind the weather hasn't helped) but I feel reluctant to go anywhere that will put me at further risk which is why I ended up at the coast today. I had a great couple of hours and saw my first Small Skippers of the season:
I was also able to get closer to the Marbled Whites and saw only my second Red Admiral of the year:
There was a lot going on in this little spot - many Holly Blue but most of them worn but nevertheless charming, a Meadow Brown with 2 white wings (which flew up into the tress before I could get a shot), Speckled Wood egg-laying, Common Blue, Large White (or it could have been a Small), Large Skipper plus others:
I thought I'd practice my scenery shots as it is such a smashing venue:

Hope your better soon Pauline, you must feel awful, I hope you rid yourself of those Ticks they can be quite dangerous to your health so be careful.
I simply love those marbled Whites, I always seem to get good shots of them you've got some really nice shots there Pauline, you've more Butterflies there than we've got here at present, hopefully I'll see some Red Admirals before long, Goldie

OMG ! You have my sympathy. The things we suffer from just to pursue an innocent hobby. I hope you`re " tick free" now and feeling better. Take care.

Jenks

It was really good to see so many species in such a lovely place Goldie - I am sticking to the coast for a while to avoid any more bites.

Thank you for those kind words Jenks - a bit of sympathy goes a long way. Pleased to report to the best of my knowledge I am now tick-free

On 26 June last year I can remember exactly what I was doing and what the weather was like. I shall not repeat everything from Page 82 of my diary but suffice to say my White Admiral pupa had darkened and I had spent the day watching it hoping to see it emerge. It was a hot day, very windy too but by 6.30pm the sun had gone down and it was starting to get chilly. I didn't really think anything would happen at that point so I left my post to make a hot drink. Whilst indoors I got a call from a friend asking how the WA was doing. I replied that I would check and in that brief 10 minute interval, at 6.45pm the sight that met me was a brand new butterfly - I had missed it! I resolved to rear them again, both because I enjoy watching the WA cats and because I wanted to see one emerge.

This year I have been successful in rearing 2 WA cats. What a surprise it was to find that the first pupa had darkened today - again on 26 June. The weather has been a bit different today - cool, cloudy and with a few showers as well as a bit of a breeze. A few sunny intervals but they did little to raise the temperature and as I spent time outside watching the pupa I had to put on a jumper. Well, it got to 6.30pm - again - and I was cold and had animals to feed. I was utterly convinced that it wouldn't emerge in those conditions given that even the butterfly would have been inactive and roosting for the night. Well, I was wrong again! 15 mins later out of the corner of my eye there was movement. I tried to get a few shots but the light was not good and by the time I had moved it (literally 30 seconds later) it was all over!! Again!!! Frustration doesn't even come close to describing how I felt. Well, I have one more chance as the second pupa has now also darkened - but I have a dental appointment tomorrow to sort out the tooth I recently broke. In the past I have cancelled the electrician to watch a pupa but I am not about to cancel the dentist so I shall just have to keep fingers crossed. In the meantime, the shots I did get are below:

This afternoon the Straits was awash with butterflies including several SWF and WA. Loads of Ringlets and Skippers and lovely Demoiselles:
Trouble was, I couldn't get close to any of them - at least, not without leaving the path and I wasn't about to do that!

Fascinating White Admiral sequence, Pauline. The fresh underside is exquisite.

Dave

Lovely White Admiral Pauline, your sequence shots are great.
As for not leaving the path I don't blame you, Goldie

Exquisite is the perfect word to describe these gorgeous butterflies Dave. I am pleased you liked the sequence shots as there are more to come

Thank you for the compliment Goldie - much appreciated. Not sure I'll ever be able to leave the path again Coastal venue again today!

Well, I got back from the dentist and I still had a pupa Lunchtime I still had a pupa 1.00pm I was beginning to think it was going to be another 6.45pm event. The weather as usual was against me. It started off cloudy, drizzling and quite windy. Once the sun started to show the wind picked up to such an extent I knew I had to do something - anything - as my shots were all blurred. I tried to create a sort wind break out of old sheets of plastic and bubble wrap and some half full feed bins to support it all:
It was not very effective and probably quite dangerous as particularly strong gusts kept causing it to collapse. Still, it was the best I could do! At this point the pupa looked as if it had been shrink wrapped in cling film which seemed to be lifting up. At around 2.00pm part of the pupa started to move. I don't know what they are called but it was the little bits that protrude and look like little horns. At first I thought it was my imagination, but no, next a 'seam' by the wing area started to bulge and split open. We were off! It was great to see this at last having waited 2 years and watched for more hours than I care to admit to. It wasn't an explosive emergence like the DGF or the Glanvilles, and it wasn't anything like the Hairstreaks. It was quite controlled really but it still happened relatively quickly. I took loads of shots (as you might imagine) but not wishing to repeat the previous sequence I shall try to include a few light-hearted images.
So, the reason why I was up at the Straits was to release these butterflies. I had hoped to get a couple of open winged shots but just like last year, they took one sniff of the brambles and were both off up into the trees. They go with my best wishes.

It's still a miracle to me Pauline, these beautiful Butterflies starting from an egg, then caterpillar, then discarding the body like an old cardigan to become a Chrysalis and then this lovely Butterfly emerge's, it's one of nature's many miracles and one that fascinates and add's to our curiosity and love of chasing a round to photograph them. Goldie

Looking forward to catching up with these beauties in the wild, great shots of the emergence sequence Sorry to hear about your Tick problems I had to remove my first one tonight - it's been bagged in case I feel ill in the next couple of days

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It certainly is Goldie which is why it is probably so addictive

Thank you Wurzel. Examining my body for the tail end of the tick infestation I noticed many other parasites of a different type, running around on me and adding to the incessant itch Having so many animals it is easy to attribute the source to the wrong one and invariably Saffron gets the blame although she always turns out to be squeaky clean. The next in line was Jaffa, my cat. Was it cat lice? She wasn't scratching but then neither were the rabbits. The vet assured me cat lice was most unlikely and suggested bringing a sample in which I promptly did. It was examined under the microscope and I was informed it was Red Mite - off the poultry!!!!! Well, I have had a few chickens (4) for 20 years and of course I have heard of Red Mite but never seen it. That night I went out with a torch that revealed a massive infestation which has spread to all other animal housing. The chickens have had to be moved out and their 8ft shed is being dismantled and treated with specialist products, along with the livestock. It is a massive job (normally undertaken in the dark as that is when the mites are most visible) so consequently I have been unable to get out. However, I am trying to keep an eye on my Ringlet pupa given that many can be seen now in the wild. I am not sure that it is darkening but certain features seem to be becoming more prominent and much better defined so I can't believe it will be too long before emergence. See what you think:

Pupa 19 June:
Pupa 25 June:
Pupa 2 July:
The pupa seems to have moved its position slightly but still blends in perfectly with its surroundings. It is in a fairly precarious position where a mound of earth has created a slope. I don't want to interfere but I do hope it doesn't roll off. Perhaps I might have to try to 'shore it up'.

After 3 horrendous days of dismantling, spraying and dusting with still more to do (did you know a Red Mite female can lay 120,000 eggs and they only take 7 days to reach maturity!!!) I needed a break so at 6.30 this evening I went out for an hour - just up the road. Very quickly I saw 10 species but number 11 took my breath away - I have never seen them this early here:
By now it was after 7.00pm and I had to get back to shut the poultry away and start the evening feeds. Sadly I had to say cheerio to my little friend and return him to where I found him

That's a lovely Emperor, Pauline! A splendid surprise at the end of what sounds like an exhausting day.

Dave

Congratulations, Pauline, that's one fine Emperor. Time to make some regular visits to BB I think.
Of course the weather will have to play ball !!. Might see you soon.

Pauline I'm so envious what a fantastic find, wish I was there, hope your all sorted out now what a time you've had, but what a great surprise for you. Goldie

Wow! I spent all weekend shifting everything from upstairs downstairs ready for the floors to be done - I'd have killed for a sighting like that on my break!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It really made my day Dave and it was totally unexpected. I'd already seen a couple of WA and I initially thought it was another but then I did a double take . Thank you for your comment.

Cheers Trevor He certainly looked fine to me and had the added advantage of being close to home With the added work load BB is looking more and more remote this year

It was just the boost I needed Goldie, and don't worry, you WILL be here soon. It will be lovely to see you both again and I am sure we will find something interesting.

Thank you Wurzel. D'you know, I only went up there to see if the Essex Skippers were out. They weren't and there was only 1 Small Skipper. A while back I went to look for eggs/larva and found all the grass where the colony exists had been mowed short. I wondered at the time if it would have any effect on this small Essex colony - it is always a late site for them but I am a little concerned. Anyway, it would be remiss of me if I didn't include some of the other butterflies seen as well as a very hungry Lacewing:
Oh yeah ..... and this (pity about that annoying bit of stem by the wing ) :

Congratulations on getting double purple wings!

I don't find the stem distracting against the main subject

Mike