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You've seen a creditable range of species given October's almost upon us, Trevor. Your Cloudies are welcome but the Wall Browns are the standout...particularly the mating pair.

Excellent pictures from Mill Hill, Trevor! Now I just might be tempted to head down there this week, weather permitting...

It may be October 1st, but I found two fresh male Wall Browns at High and Over this morning.
About ten males were seen in all, including the two fresh specimens. I was also lucky to spot
a female Wall just after she had rejected a male, she then briefly settled on a bramble leaf
before disappearing into the dense shrubbery.
Nearby the first of two fresh Commas nectared on the abundant Ivy blossom.

Trevor.

Beautiful female Wall Browns, trevor, I know how difficult those shots are to get. Nice to see the Comma too.

Mike

A very fine Sunset, this evening.

They really are doing well up there, Trevor (I was there on Saturday morning!). I didn't get close to a female like that though... Lovely shot.

Cheers,

Dave

Brilliant Walls Trevor - especially the first female, she's gurt lush The Comma is a bit of a cracker too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

The weather forecast for today, rather suggested the day would be better spent in the garden.
By about 10.30 the cloud began to break up sufficiently to risk a trip to High and Over.
The Wall Browns hardly took advantage of the improving weather, but a female Comma,
a Red Admiral, and two reasonably fresh Speckled woods, did.
Happy with my haul, I headed for the car when I noticed an unusual Wall Brown sparring session.
Closer inspection revealed a mating pair being pursued by a second male trying his luck.
Unfortunately the mating pair took refuge in an awkward spot for photography, however
a couple of shots were obtained.

Trevor

The female in that pairing looks very new, Trevor. They must still be emerging. The nymphalids and the Specklies look pretty fresh as well. Nice photos.

Cheers Dave, I noticed that the female Wall was brand new, forgot to write
that into my text. Note, two fresh males yesterday as well.
The females don't stay virgins for very long !.

Great stuff Trevor - those pairing Walls are a great find, their eyes really stand out in the first shot I'm surprised by how fresh everything still looks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great to see your fresh Walls Trevor, well done with the pairing.

Many thanks everyone, the Walls are still going strong.

The star of the show this morning was yet another fresh male Wall Brown.
This time resting on a fence post, as were others today.

Yesterday the Wall Browns hardly put in an appearance, despite some sunshine.
Today it was back to normal, except for one thing. Instead of landing on the ground
between bouts of patrolling, today the fence posts were favoured.
Two mating pairs were seen, the first pair flew over the side of the hill, onto some chalk,
I only managed a shot from a great distance. the second pair was first seen in the air
and did not stop.
I was also entertained by the aerobatics of a very fast flying Painted Lady, that later
settled on some Ivy blossom.

Another great morning.
Trevor.

There are going to be a lot of Wall Brown eggs laid up there in the next week or so, Trevor, with the number of mating pairs you've seen. Generally the forecast is benign for the next 10 days (excepting Saturday maybe), so they'll have plenty of scope to lay.

Dave

More excellent Wall images, Trevor. There were plenty of Walls at Mill Hill today, though I was concentrating on Nymphalids.

Trevor,

It must be inspiring to have a list of places where you can go and see such fresh and delightful butterflies and relatively late on too. I just wish Northamptonshire had similar. At the moment its all a bit depressing here. So good to see the sun is shining on someone.

regards

Many thanks Dave, Mark & Peter.

Peter,
The three locations I visit at this time of year have one thing in common.
They are all sun traps and are somewhat sheltered. If you have a hillside or
thick, tall hedge that gets maximum sunshine all day, then it might be worth a look.

Happy hunting,
Trevor.

Great shots Trevor, I had to do a double take again when I saw the mating pair they seem to favour positioning themselves at 90 degrees to each other so they look a little like a single, malformed butterfly

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Sussex Cloudies and Wiltshire Walls.

This morning on my way to Wiltshire, I detoured via Southwick.
On arrival all was quiet, eventually I saw a single Clouded Yellow in the air which sent up another.
Both were later photographed. The first one to land turned out to be a beautiful Helice, albeit
with a tiny nick out of the forewing. The second specimen was very bright and fresh. Both were
reasonably approachable.

Once in Wiltshire I popped up to St. Peter's Church, where it was clear that a small population
of third brood Wall Browns were present. There was no third brood last year at this site.

Trevor.