www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Looks like the light levels were perfect for those Walls Trevor. This season is far from over, I reckon we've got another good 4 weeks yet before we bid everything farewell for another year !

Cheers Paul, I hope we can stretch things out for more than the next four weeks.
Of course it all depends on the weather. The first half of November was quite good
last year, and my final Butterflies for 2017 were a pair of Brimstones on Nov.22nd,
my personal latest date ever for a particular year.

Keep up the good work,
Trevor.

Great Hummingbird shot Trevor And those Walls are almost perfect, the one in the fourth shot down looks immaculate

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Like Small Coppers, Wall Browns seem to be having an excellent time of things right now.

Good to see the Hummingbird Hawk moth too, Trevor. Always a welcome visitor to these shores.

I had no idea, given the fine Sunny weather today, that very few Butterflies would be found.
Shoreham harbour was my first port of call, and in just under three hours only one distant
Clouded Yellow was seen, although the Common Blue showed well there.
After some quick lunch I headed up to Mill Hill, and once again it was the Common Blue
that predominated. Four male Wall Browns were seen briefly seen in the air, and a Small
Copper and a Brown Argus posed nicely for the camera.
The day was plagued with a constant cool breeze which could account for the poor
results in what was otherwise a warm Sunny day.

Trevor.

Looks like you still did okay despite the contradictory weather Trevor Some days just don't seem to pan out

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I know what you mean about the weather Trevor, it's been awful here, at least your seeing and getting some good shots still
Goldie

Trevor. Just catching up with your PD. I had to go back a page to do it properly. I have just been noting other people's Wall Browns and saying I have only ever seen one in my life. I come to your PD and see a whole bunch of very fine pics of them. I am just so envious really. I have little chance of seeing one unless I make a concerted effort to travel well outside my local patch.

Many thanks everyone for your comments.
Ernie, try and visit High and Over soon. The third brood Walls are doing really well.
I know it's a bit of a trip from you ( about 65 miles ) but worth it.

Early this morning I drove up to High and Over, and enjoyed probably one of the
best Wall Brown sessions ever at this site. On arrival the low Sun had already
warmed them up, near the steps, so it was really a case of watching the action.
On one occasion eight males could be seen at the same time, sparring in groups.
I also found males in four locations over the hill, including the north side, in a
bramble thicket, and one in the car park.
A stunning female Common Blue was the icing on the cake today, but unfortunately
always landed in long grass. Grass blade shadows could not be avoided.

Trevor.

I thought High & Over might be good today, but I was a bit later leaving home and stopped short at Mill Hill. Looks like I missed a Wall Brown fiesta! Nice underside shot especially, Trevor. That Common Blue female is rather splendid too, shadows and all.

Cheers,

Dave

Cracking Wall shots Trevor But that female Blue is a right little beauty, the almost white marking above the orange lunules on the hind wing are stunning

Have a goodun

Wurzel

You get days like that sometimes, Trevor. Perhaps there WERE other species around but it’s just that you didn’t stumble upon them?

At least you got the Wall Browns today.

Great Wall shots Trevor love your third shot Goldie

Many thanks everyone. I love just watching Wall Browns, and they provide
a mixture of frustration and elation when trying to photograph them.
I am determined to get an image of a third brood female too !.

One thing I have noticed in that third image down, is that the Butterfly
seems to be looking straight at the camera with it's head tilted to one side.

What do you think ?.
Trevor.

She definitely seems to be checking you out Trevor

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yes, definitely a "Oi, what are you looking at?!" moment... I like the shot, though!

Dave

Nice Wall Browns Trevor. Also a lovely female Common Blue, and I like your Hummingbird Hawk moth shot.

trevor wrote:...One thing I have noticed in that third image down, is that the Butterfly
seems to be looking straight at the camera with it's head tilted to one side.

What do you think ?

It’s definitely striking a pose, Trevor! I agree with your views on this species, its behaviour is a delight to watch with those frisky short flights being interspersed with regular basking.

UNE FEMELLE !.

The strong wind this morning was battering the front of my West facing house.
So I took a gamble ( with reasonable odds ) that the East facing hedge at High and Over
would offer some shelter for any Butterflies that might be about.
In fact the hedge offered almost complete protection from what was a gale, on top of the Downs.

The Wall Browns were up and about, and making frequent stops to bask or nectar.
After an hour or so I noticed a comotion in the tall grass, sure enough a female Wall was
in the process of telling a male to ' shove off ' !. The female was then seen to fly over
the hedge, and out of sight. Not much later on a female Wall flew past me and landed
nearby, but unfortunately closed her wings, eventually she slowly opened up and utopia !,
I was looking at that so far elusive, fresh, third brood female Wall Brown I had been searching for.

Other species were on the wing too, including two fresh Brown Argus, two male Common Blues,
some Small Whites, and a fresh Speckled Wood ( among some worn ones ) and a flyby Painted Lady.

A great morning in adverse conditions !
Trevor.

Loving your recent Wall Brown photos Trevor Unfortunately this is a species that we no longer see around my patch these days.

Cheers,

Neil.