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trevor wrote:A couple of local sites were visited today, principally to look for White Admiral and Silver Washed Fritillary.
I don't think either species are on the wing just yet here in East Sussex

I believe WA is just out in Wiltshire Trevor...so you don't have long to wait

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Hi Trevor,

Although I did not see it myself a White Admiral was apparently seen in Whitecross Green Wood this morning by at least two different people when I was there.

Cheers,

Neil

Many thanks Bill and Neil, i will be keeping a lookout for WA's. Tomorrow i hope to visit a site near
Chichester which looks good for WA and SWF. It's good to know that they are being seen.

Best wishes to you both,
TREVOR.

HI All.
As the Purple Emperor season is now close, i will be calling in on Eartham Woods every Thursday on my
way to work. I called in this morning, arriving at about 8.15, but there was not much going on.
Until i saw a large Butterfly swoop down from the trees, flying in a spiraling and zig~zag motion
before landing on the track, once down it started walking, opening and closing its wings at the same
time. Unfortunately i was 50 to 60ft away from this Butterfly,and with a shaft of sunlight between
me and it, positive ID was impossible ( by now you should have guessed what species i was hoping
to see!), But when i got closer, this is what it turned out to be..................

I'd still be chuffed with a Red Admiral shot like that Trevor I've only seen four so far this year and not a single one has stopped

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yes, that's a lovely one, Trevor!

Dave

With the weather forecasters promising a hot day, i set out early this morning and visited three fairly
local sites. My first stop off was Birling Gap, here , despite the early hour the Marbled Whites were up and
about, literally hundreds were seen during my visit. Including two newly emerged females, which posed
patiently for the camera. My main target here was for Dark Green Fritillaries, but only seven were seen.
Although there is plenty of Red Clover, the Knapweed is mostly still in bud.
My next stop was Abbots Wood, still no WA or SWF, but i was rewarded with a basking Meadow Brown
with wings fully open. My final visit was to the old railway cutting, where a very fresh Comma put in an
appearance.

TREVOR.

Further to my report earlier today, i had a rare visit to my garden by a Meadow Brown this afternoon.
My Cat also showed some interest in this Butterfly, probably viewing it as a quick snack !.

All the best,
TREVOR.

Very early this morning i set off for Beckley Woods, but in three hours i saw mostly Meadow Browns
and little else of note.
But i did manage a shot or two of another Dragon Fly species. I have looked at various identification
sites and if this one had been there i would have spotted it. Maybe only one sex was illustrated and
my image is of the other. Answers on a postcard please !.

All the best,
TREVOR.

PS. To fully appreciate it's subtle colours, click on the image twice.

Looks like a fresh female Emperor to me Trevor, not an easy dragon to approach, well done.

James

Thanks James, iv'e had no problem charming Dragon Flies this year, it's the Butterflies that can be difficult.

Trevor love the cat, Your having more luck with the Butterflies than I am, I hope I can get some photos of the Marble White before they disappear, yours are great. Goldie

HI Everyone,
The old railway cutting, in Hailsham, continues to amaze. Giving me today, the biggest surprise
of my Butterflying career to date. I took my camera with me on what was primarily a trip to the
supermarket, but all thoughts of shopping were quickly dispelled when i spotted my first Gatekeeper
of the year. This was joined by another small brown Butterfly, which after a short skirmish, landed
close to the ground in front of me . A WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAK !. Only my second ever sighting
of one, and that was in Brighton.
Panic set in !, as it started ' walking ' on the foliage,only milliseconds to get the camera ready,
several duff shots later it flew a few yards and landed in an almost perfect position for a decent shot.
Now the mystery. I am not aware of any Elm trees nearby, indeed there are now rare in the area.
I hope it was a wild specimen and not a release of a captive bred one.
Shocks and surprises don't get any better than this!

TREVOR.

Thats what I call lucky Trevor and a great shot too, I'm hoping to see one this season, hope fully I'll have the same luck Goldie

Fantastic stuff Trevor I just hope that you aren't too hungry now having forgotten the shopping

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I paid my weekly visit to Eartham Woods today .I was not expecting to see HIM , and i didn't. Maybe next
week i can visit with some expectation !.
Eartham Woods is home to some very beautiful Red Admirals, and somehow their colours seemed more
vibrant than usual. I also had the opportunity to get my first Ringlet shots of the year, two of which
allowed open and closed wing images.

TREVOR.

What a fantastic find in the White-letter Hairstreak Trevor, brilliant photo too In fact brilliant photos throughout

Mike

After the excitement earlier in the week with the White Letter Hairstreak, the old railway cutting
in Hailsham could only offer some of the more common species that thrive there.
Meadow Browns are frequently seen, but not in epidemic quantities, so one basking with open wings
could not be resisted. Also a very fresh Comma was in a nice position for a decent shot.
Numbers of ' Whites ' seem to be on the increase with many seen.
Next week i hope most of my time will be spent in search of Purple Emperor, weather permitting, the
odd sightings of HIM. are now being reported from various parts of the south.

Happy hunting,
TREVOR.

Hi! Trevor great shots, I love your WLH, I've not seen one yet but I'm going to go to an old Railway siding tomorrow so hope fully I'll have your luck Goldie

I set out very early this morning specifically to photograph some lethargic Marbled Whites.
I arrived on site about 6.15,welcomed by hazy sunshine. Even at this early hour they were quite active.
But misty cloud soon obscured the sun and some relaxed photography was possible.
I have learned my lesson with this species, go when they have warmed up, see lots of Butterflies,
but not many pictures. All images taken between 6.10 and 7.50 am.( when it started to rain ).

TREVOR.