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Lovely Heaths there Dave. I think we're both suffering a mild case of Wurzelitas, both of us nearly a week behind in reports Mind you I've been at work since then so I've only got a few work place snaps, whereas I suspect you have a good few days left to catch up on!

bugboy wrote:both of us nearly a week behind in reports

I wish I was only a week behind..

More marvelous blue's Dave, and lovely Brown Argus.
I love your Heath's, great shots.

Cheers

I couldn't possibly imagine, Trevor - but it will have to wait until tomorrow now...

Yes, a week behind now Buggy. Still lots of photos to sort. (I feel like a Cyberman - Delete Delete Delete!)

Cheers, Andrew - I was very pleased with the Heath Fritillary shots, with brand new butterflies and ideal conditions.

Coming back from East Blean on 6th I looped around Kent and stopped briefly at Samphire Hoe. It was by now brilliant sunshine, but down on the Channel coast it was blowing a gale and the only two species I saw (Common Blues and Small Heaths) were being bowled along almost too fast to see. There were, however, dozens of both flying (or attempting to!). I continued via Sussex, and there is unfortunately no quick way from Folkestone to the back of Eastbourne...

Eventually I arrived at Park Corner Heath and Rowlands Wood, and promptly became temporarily lost in the latter without seeing a single butterfly. By luck I found myself back at the entrance and tried PCH instead. In an area much more friendly to the orientationally-challenged, I wandered around in the late afternoon sunshine and had a few fleeting flybys of a Large Skipper and perhaps three Small Pearls before one somewhat worn female SPBF obliged with a stop or two to nectar. Dave

Lovely to see see the Heath's Dave, I really miss seeing them, when the Grand Children were at school we were always down in Kent this time of year, now we don't come until July or August which as it's advantages but I miss the Heath's, so really enjoyed your shot's of them Goldie

I'm really pleased you enjoyed seeing the photos, Goldie. I lived for years in Dover totally unaware that they exised at all so close by. It's a real trek over to see them now, but well worth the effort especially as they were so fresh. Here's one more of them for luck! Thursday 7th June: Quite a contrast of a day and it remained stubbornly cloudy, but with brightness and sufficient warmth coming through to make a trip somewhere wothwhile. I chose Whitecross Green Wood in Oxfordshire, home of a very reliable Black Hairstreak population that was doing well this year according to reports. Under the cloud, there were indeed several dozens of butterflies flying between the higher branches of the blackthorn thickets, some of which would occasionally drift down to head height or so. From what could be seen of those that came closer, they were mostly males. A few photos were possible, but mostly with the light behind, or from a distance. Those that were lower down sat with their wings angled flat against the leaves to gain heat from the concealed sun - it does make you wonder why they have evolved to do this rather than open their wings to gather warmth like the majority of species. Not good for photos, as trying to attain the right angle shaded and disturbed the butterfly. The Hairstreaks far outnumbered every other species flying - these comprised numbers of Speckled Woods, which were also happy under the clouds, a few Large Skippers and Common Blues, plus a single Red Admiral. Anyway, here are a few shots from one of the traditional Black Hairstreak sites... Dave

Seems almost everybody is going Black Hairstreak crazy!! I'd be tempted to venture east but unfortunately this prolonged spell of good weather is set to end on Thursday!

I have fond memories of one particularly hot, late June day at Whitecross Green Wood (I think it was back in 2013). That was before I learned of the M40 compensation area which is home to much greater numbers of pruni. Sadly, I think this area has been off-limits for a couple of years now.

Is there anyone NOT seeing Black Hairstreaks at the moment, you wouldn't know it's one of our rarer species

Crickey Dave, I have a night off UKB and all hell breaks loose! Heaths and then Black Hairstreaks! Lush shots , Large Blue next? You're on for a 50+ year at this rate Dave

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great shots of the Heath Fritillaries, Dave and they are so fresh. Terrific Black Hairstreaks too, yes it's hard to believe that they are one of our rarer species

Mike

Dave - fantastic shots of Heaths and Black Hairstreaks, both butterflies I have never seen.

Re the Black Hairstreaks. Given no-one knew about the Sussex ones but they seem to be quite prevalent there. Maybe I should start looking for them in my own back yard. They might be there and no-one knows.

Thanks for that extra Heath photo Dave great shots of the Black hair Streaks, it's one I've yet to see Goldie

No problem, Goldie - I may even have a few more Heath shots as well - they were a very easy target.

Thanks, Ernie - now's the time to go hunting for the Hairstreaks. They are having an exceptional year in their usual haunts and have now popped up in Sussex - they are so unobtrusive and out for such a short period each year, they could be overlooked on suitable habitat anywhere. Of course they would have to have been there all along and/or have been introduced at some point.

Thanks Mike - the Heaths were really lovely insects. When you see numbers of these, and of the Black Hairstreaks too as we are at the moment, it is indeed hard to realise just how uncommon they are.

Well Wurzel, you know you can't have a night off... You Crystal Ball is nearly right - there are a few more posts before the prediction comes off (I was at Collard on Monday).

I believe you had a good crack at the Hairstreaks today yourself Buggy - it's been an amazing year for them it seems.

Despite the cloud last Thursday, David, there were a lot of Hairstreaks flying at Whitecross Green: apparently the warden said it was the best year for a long time. I think the weather will stay reasonably conducive down here - a bit windy tomorrow and not terrific on Saturday, but otherwise there's a fair bit of sunshine in the forecast.

Friday 8th June: Keeping a bit of balance, I stayed local today and made the most of yet another sunny morning.

A good call - on the first bank of newly-flowering bramble was a voraciously nectaring Painted Lady, the first here this year. It dashed madly around but kept coming back, and two-and-a-half hours later when I returned home it was still there.Out on the wide meadow area near the motorway, the Brown Argus are fast disappearing now though quite a few Common Blues remain, with a few freshish ones amongst them.However, the main feature was the almost overnight appearance of Meadow Browns. I made an attempt to count them (and in the process counted the Small Heaths and blues too), and the final tally was Meadow Brown 19 (and every one a male), Common Blue 17, and Small Heath 13.The return stroll included one each of Small and Large White, a Red Admiral, several Large Skippers, a handful of Speckled Woods and inevitably three Holly Blues egg-laying. Another excursion was to come on Saturday: not far but very productive.

Dave

Great to see you still getting the Holly Blues in Dave Oh to be retired

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great to meet you again yesterday, Dave, and will probably do so again in the next week or so !.
I remember the first time we met, you looked down at my tin of Tesco Tuna, and said ' you must be Trevor '.

Looking forward to your images from yesterday.
Trevor.

It was great to meet up with you again yesterday Dave and brilliant to find so many obliging Black Hairstreaks

Mike

There can't be many Holly Blues of the first brood left, Wurzel, but I shall keep looking! And yes, retirement is ideal for this hobby of ours.

It was an excellent day yesterday, Mike and Trevor - really good to see you again, and everyone else too. It felt a bit like an open-air party! It'll be a day or two before I post my photos as there are a couple of other trips to slot in first...

Saturday 9th June: Once again the day dawned warm and sunny, and beckoned me out. I went not that far really, just down to Fairmile Common between Cobham and Esher. As expected, dozens of Silver-studded Blues were on the wing, with lots of pale blue dots bobbing along over the heather and gorse. Before too long, the sun became a bit hazier with the odd cloud, which proved a great advantage as the butterflies settled often, and with their wings open. Out of the many individuals flying across all areas of the site, I only found two females. The intensity of the blue colouration in the males varied quite a bit, both intrinsically and also with different angles to and intensity of the light. This is only a small selection of the many beautiful examples seen during the day:
First, the two females, the first of which was darker and had significant blue scaling on the hindwings and the second the more typical form looking a little like a Brown Argus. Now the males. Dave

I don't know who your retirement is proving to be harder work for Dave; you as you're out so much with sorting to do upon your return or me for trying to keep up with your PD Lovely set of Silver-studs - another species I need to try and catch-up with

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It is hard work, Wurzel - it's easy to take a few hundred photos every day at the moment and choosing the good (least bad and blurry) ones is certainly time-consuming. The trouble is the weather has been so good, and everything has been happening at once - it seems a shame not to go out!

A post-script for the day: after Fairmile it is no distance at all to Bookham. I only had a brief stop here, but saw my first White Admirals of the year. I managed a couple of distant shots, which at least showed their velvetty black newness as yet unbattered by constant close proximity to brambles... Dave

Crickey again it's certainly all go!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a truly bizarre female SSB, Dave. I've never seen one marked like that.