Trevor

[bugboy]

Good to see you today Trevor . That final underside SSB maybe an ab, the spotting looks rather elongated, particularly on the forewing

[ernie f]

Trevor - One of these days I am going to have to get off my backside and take a trip to see Black Hairstreaks. Your pics are making me envious.

[Wurzel]

What a cracking day Trevor - Black Hairstreaks would be my highlight for sure Mind you the ab Silver Stud is pretty snazzy too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

A 'marathon' it was, Trevor, but when you've species like Black Hairstreak and Silver Studded Blue on the menu, it's worth the time and effort.

[trevor]

Many thanks gentlemen, Black Hairstreaks and Silver Studded Blues
in one day takes some doing, the two sites are far apart.

Today I spent a couple of hours at Rowland Wood, at a spot I call ' bramble corner '.
This is a large patch of bramble at the junction of two rides, and was host to the
highest number of Large Skippers I have ever seen in a small area. Even a worn
Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary was attracted to the copious bramble blossom on offer.
I was pleased to find my first two Ringlets of the season, together with a huge Hornet
which had just grabbed a snack, a Spider from what I could see.

Everything was looking good for the imminent arrival of the White Admiral and Silver Washed Fritillary.

Trevor.

[trevor]

Just the one Butterfly of note today. My second East Sussex Small Tortoiseshell
of the year. Seen on the outskirts of Brighton, so still not local to home!.

Trevor,

[Maximus]

Well done seeing your first Ringlets of the season, Trevor And also the fabulous shots of the Swallowtails, Black Hairstreaks, Heath Fritillaries and Silver-studded Blues, which have featured in your diary recently

Mike.

[trevor]

Thanks Mike, it's been quite hectic catching up with them all!.

I went over to Rowland Wood this morning specifically to look for White Admirals
and Silver Washed Fritillaries. No White Admirals were seen, but I managed a shot
of one of the two Silver Washed Fritillaries spotted, a male.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Crickey is it that time of year already Trevor? I've only just caught up with Large Blues, Marbled Whites and DGFs and now you've gone and seen White Admirals and SWFs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

I had a little spare time this morning on my way to Chichester, so I thought
it be a good idea to search for some Marbled Whites. Having found a suitable
looking site, I almost gave up after a while with nothing flying. As usual it was
on my way back to the car when a Marbled White flew up from the grass, then
several more followed, until I had a choice of which one to follow.
I was delighted to get a couple of shots of one with no vegetation in the way,
and find a single specimen still asleep.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

The 'I give up and I'm off home' trick is one I've used quite a lot over the years Trevor and got you great shots , I've found it works really well if you utter it loudly in a frustrated tone, that really brings them out from hiding

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Nice to see a summer brood Small Tortoiseshell, Trevor. Well done with the Silver Washed Fritillary as well. I daresay these will explode in numbers when this hot spell of weather arrives.

[ernie f]

No Marbled Whites near me yet, Trevor, but with the hot spell just around the corner I don't suppose I will have long to wait now.

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. Exactly, that certain law guaranties it!.

Thanks David and Ernie. I expect things will have really kicked off by the end of this week.
The seasons about to peak already!.

Trevor.

[trevor]

This morning I went over to Birling Gap to a site which, has in the past, been good for Dark Green Fritillaries
and Marbled Whites. Despite a complete absence of sunshine throughout my visit, the butterflies were
responding to the very warm, humid air.
A total of three Dark Greens were seen, all males, but only one was free from damage. Painted Ladies
were frequent, and busy nectaring after their Chanel hop, none were fresh.
Despite the lack of sun, Marbled Whites rarely paused for more than a second or two, while the Skippers
were all motionless. One surprise was a fresh, but slightly damaged, Speckled Wood.

A morning of variety,
Trevor.

[millerd]

That mix of species is very similar to those I saw at Box Hill this evening, Trevor. The DGFs were being harassed by the Painted Ladies which seem to have appeared everywhere, and none was bothered by the lack of sunshine. That shot of the undamaged DGF is a corker!

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Great set of images Trevor There seems to have been a bit of an influx of Painted Ladies recently - I've seen them mentioned across Facebook with increasing regularity - hopefully they'll have encouraged their Yellow distant relations to make the journey too
I also saw on Facebook that a Purple Emperor was seen and photographed last Thursday (something Penn?) so we could be off in the next few days

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

This morning I went over to Birling Gap to a site which, has in the past, been good for Dark Green Fritillaries
and Marbled Whites. Despite a complete absence of sunshine throughout my visit, the butterflies were
responding to the very warm, humid air.

I like these conditions, Trevor. It is far better than bright sunshine if you want to take photographs.

Surprised the Marbled Whites were still zooming around though. Usually they are slightly becalmed in cloud.

[trevor]

Many thanks, Dave, Wurzel & David.

You're both right about an influx of Painted Ladies.
Yesterday I popped over to Rowland Wood, to my favourite Bramble patch, and it,
and the surrounding area was festooned with Painted Ladies, all faded, tatty and worn.
Most struck me as being ( in butterfly terms ) very old, and had obviously flown a long way.
Maybe the severe heat wave in France had sent them north.

Here are some images, not of pristine butterflies, but perhaps a tribute to their stamina.

Trevor.

[trevor]

The weather this morning was cloudy, breezy, but very mild.
With very few signs of the cloud parting anytime soon, I decided to stay local.
So it was off to Abbots Wood, just three miles away. My first find was a fresh female
Meadow Brown, one among many.
Then came a real surprise, a Purple Hairstreak flew right past me at eye level, then
landed on a nearby bracken frond. A nice fresh male. Unfortunately it was a little high up
so I had to hold the camera in such a way that I could not see the screen properly.
Next came the first of two, male Silver Washed Fritillaries of the morning, then one
of the four White Admirals seen settled very briefly on a bracken frond for just one shot.

Considering the conditions, not a bad morning!.

Trevor.