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Beautiful backlits shots and those uppers are non to shoddy either! I've still yet to see a female Cloudie this year

Fantastic set of Cloudy images Dave They're very fresh looking so are they 'homegrown' - I'd have thought that there would be some wear ad tear associated with crossing the channel? I've got a couple of hours down in Bournemouth tomorrow and the weather is showing sunny and 10 9 degrees and I know that you've frequented this site before so I was wondering - what are the chances of a few Cloudies down there?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Good set of Clouded Yellow images, Dave. I don't think there's much wrong with the female in flight either....there's no way I could improve on that!

Some interesting ladybirds too. A couple of those I've never seen before.

Some great shots lately Dave, love the Clouded Yellow in flight I'm glad your still seeing plenty of ButterfliesGoldie

Thank you all for your appreciative comments and observations. That has to be one of my best Clouded Yellow days since the amazing year of 2009 and the field near Birling Gap.

The upperside shot was largely luck and there are dozens of others in the recycle bin... I'm pretty sure those females at least were locally grown, as Denbies is a good 30 miles inland and they were very fresh indeed. The timing is also right for them to be the offspring of some early August wanderers, which is when I believe there were a number of inland CY sightings (I saw one myself at Noar Hill on 3rd August).

Southbourne must be worth a look tomorrow, Wurzel. The slopes behind the "Bistro on the Beach" have been reliable in the past, and all along to Boscombe. I've not wandered the other way to Hengistbury Head, but it might be worth a look. In fact the forecast looks good all week now, so I might try there myself if I can resist the temptation of the Sussex sites again.

Talking of which... But I'll have to insert a day first.

Thursday 4th October was a bit hit and miss weather-wise, but I had a small wander out locally. I saw a definite (but very ragged) Green-veined White for the first time in a while, and several Small Whites, including quite a new one. There were a couple of Red Admirals, but I get the impression these are just passing through as I never see them on successive days as I did last year.A few Common Blues were flying, the new ones of a couple of days ago already thistle-scarred.The Small Copper chronicled before had clearly beaten off his rival and remained cock of the rock (though it was a different rock today). Dave

Friday 5th October. The forecast was confident that there woud be constant warm sunshine today, especially on the south coast. I headed out through fog and low cloud and gradually the sun burst through so that when I reached Mill Hill the final scraps of mist were receding northwards and the temperature had jumped from 12 to 17 degrees in less than 20 minutes. Once again, it felt like summer was back. I spent about four hours wandering the slopes and this time only came across one other enthusiast; Ben, who has recently joined UKB.

There was still lots to see: I counted 15 species altogether(LW, SW, CY, Brimstone, CB, AB, BA, SC, SpW, Wall, MB, SH, PL, RA, Peacock). In fact, I shall divide the day up a bit, or it will be a very long post.

The nymphalids on the hemp agrimony still provided the most spectacular sight - the highest count at any one moment was three Painted Ladies, Two Red Admirals and two Peacocks. One of the Painted Ladies was very large, dwarfing the others, but also very mobile and wary, unlike the others. One Red Admiral appeared to have been disturbed mid-emergence, but could still fly pretty well. Part two coming up.

Dave

Mill Hill, 5th October, part two. Though there were at least half a dozen Clouded Yellows across the site, they managed to remain at arms length, with the bright sunshine keeping them moving - never mind, my afternoon at Denbies was unlikely to be bettered. Common Blues were everywhere, though initially I thought there weren't many. However, I discovered that there were surprising numbers of females in the more sheltered patches along hedgelines, often well-burrowed into the grass and inconspicuous - they they popped out from time to time to nectar. The flashy males were indeed declining somewhat in numbers, but still managed a quarrel or two in the sheltered northern corner of the lower slopes.Here too were a couple of Small Coppers......a few female Adonis......and a single very small but fresh Brown Argus. This one was another of those that got away unfortunately. Small Heaths popped up here and there in all parts, and there were still a few Meadow Browns persisting at the bottom of the hill. However, there was one more species that deserves its own post.

Dave

Mill Hill, 5th October, part three.

On the way down from the car park early on, I spotted a couple of Walls and managed a bit of an opportunist shot of a female somewhat below me on the hillside. I was somewhat resigned to this species becoming very active as the temperature rose to the 20 degree mark. Indeed, the ones I glimpsed in the middle part of the day were more elusive than the Clouded Yellows, but when I was back at the top of the hill, having a final ramble around the flatter bits at the top not far from the car, this butterfly became a little more amenable. First of all, I found quite a large individual sitting down in the grass. However, it looked a little odd, and peering more closely I could just make out its partner behind it - a mating pair.My surprise must have been contagious as the female took to the air with the male in tow and luckily landed in a better position (though edge-on to the sun of course). She seemed a great deal larger than he was, almost engulfing him, which is why I hadn't initially worked out that they were indeed a pair.Not long afterwards I encountered another female, looking very fresh indeed. She was flitting between ragwort flowers and allowed a few reasonable shots before moving on.After that I found several males, in various degrees of wear.Finally, one posed in a very autumnal setting, its colours fitting the scene perfectly. Another brilliant day. Standing in the sunshine at the top of Mill Hill, with Walls and Clouded Yellows floating by, it was hard to believe that the following day would be cold and wet... but it was! However, the week ahead promises to be much better.

Dave

And it was only a day or two ago you were telling me you had yet to find a mating pair of Walls. I reckon you'd have to be very unlucky not to find a mating pair this year though!

Great post and diary in general Dave.

Was great to bump into you again. Mill Hill is certainly a wonderful place to be in the autumn sunshine - so much to enjoy there.

Great images of that female Wall, Dave, and the mating pair !.
I think this third brood has even taken the experts aback !.
There's even a tiny ( from what I can see ) population here in Wilts.

Trevor.

A brilliant selection of Walls Dave , the stunted wing Red Admiral throws and interesting shape, a bit like a H.sara and the Painted Lady is a gorgeous looking specimen
Cheers for the Southbourne tip, it worked a treat as after walking quite a way I finally got what I went for in the car park behind the 'Bistro on The Beach'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Tremendous selection of Wall Browns, Dave. How do their numbers this year compare with past years?

You're probably right, Buggy - with so many females around at the moment, sooner or later a male is going to take advantage.

Cheers, Ben - Mill Hill is a great place at any point in the butterfly season. You are lucky to have moved so close.

Thanks, Trevor - yes, it does seem an unusually abundant third brood from what Neil has been saying. Do you know if they are out over more of Wiltshire?

This probably answers your question too, David! There's more in Neil Hulme's diary on this.

The much-featured female Wall was a lovely creature with a wonderful golden colour, Wurzel, and the Painted Lady was one I had to keep coming back to. It would have allowed photos all day. I'm glad Southbourne was a success - it obviously continues to be relaible.

Saturday 6th October was a winter's day parachuted in to follow Friday's summer and make you wonder whether it actually happened. Wind, rain and temperatures no higher than 12 (and that was probably first thing in the morning - it got colder). Needless to say, no butterflies were seen.

Sunday 7th October was much better, with sunshine, a gentle breeze and respectable temperatures. I went out locally to see what might have survived Saturday. Three new-looking Red Admirals were seen, but only one was nectaring and all when disturbed flew off towards the sun.I wouldn't be surprised if many of the species (and Painted Ladies too) have taken advantage of the change in wind direction to get an "assist" on their southward migration. Only one Small White appeared today, also looking quite fresh and hopping from flower to flower to stock up on energy.I found four Common Blues altogether, with one male looking relatively new but with a granular look to its wings.There was also a newish female that was too active for me to follow. I wondered if the usual Small Copper would still be around - I didn't have to wait long as it soon appeared in fierce pursuit of a Common Blue. It does look a bit worn these days! Not too far away, but far enough for there to be no interaction, I discovered another Copper......and not long after that, a third. This last one was really a shadow of its former self, but still flew energetically around between perches. Only four species: things are very much winding down... unless you are a Small Copper that is.

Dave

Is this a sign that the season is starting to draw to a close Dave, only 4 species in a day Mind you some of those could be round for a while as they're still in good nick, those Admirals in a particular

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A great selection from Mill Hill Dave, really jealous of those Wall Browns

Looks like you had a much better Sunday than we did up here, it was better than Saturday (could hardly have been worse) but persistent high cloud took the edge off the sun and it struggled to top 12 degrees.

Cheers,

Neil.

millerd wrote:...Only four species: things are very much winding down... unless you are a Small Copper that is.

It's that time of year I think, Dave, when things start catching up....mind you, with temperatures of 23c forecast tomorrow, there may be a distinctly late summer feel to proceedings, rather than a mid-autumn one.

Hope you get the chance to enjoy the balmy conditions.

The Red Admirals are the only properly fresh species left round here, Wurzel, though one or two of the Common Blues are fairly new. The trouble is, I think they are not hanging around long!

Cheers, Neil - it would be great if the Walls took this summer and autumn as an opportunity to spread out a bit again! Sussex seems to have plenty at present.

I did get out today, David, and it didn't feel like autumn at all down on the south coast again.

Tuesday 9th October. A none too shabby day at all weatherwise, with sunshine and temperatures nudging 20 degrees. I spent the morning locally, and managed to see at least seven Red Admirals scattered around the site. A few were nectaring on the ivy, but never for very long, and all ended up disappearing towards the sun in energetic flight. They must be passing through I guess, and there could be quite a few headed south across the country at the moment. Quite possibly all the ones Goldie has been seeing are down here now... Also seen were two of the Small Coppers from a couple of days ago, including the one I first saw back in September......and three Common Blues. Add to that a Comma, a Speckled Wood and three Small Whites, and I reached six species today.

For the afternoon, I had another look at Denbies. Things really are winding down here now as in a there-and-back traverse of the slope I managed only six Small Heaths, two Meadow Browns, two Common Blue females and a single Clouded Yellow. Photos were very much at a premium too, as the Clouded Yellow (a male) was not playing ball at all. Dave

Wednesday 10th October: With a weather forecast that was encouraging to say the the least, there had to be one more visit to Mill Hill. I arrived around 1100, and there was a bit of a breeze at the top of the hill, but it was a warm one and the sun was amazingly strong for the time of year. By dint of heading for the sheltered lower slopes, I managed to miss Trevor, and for the next couple of hours somehow continued to do so. I did however bump into Ben again as he hunted for Wall eggs along the bottom of the hillside.

I think I may need to split this post again...

Since my last visit five days earlier, not a great deal had changed, and clearly the day of rain, wind and cold last Saturday had made no difference whatever. Clouded Yellows were patrolling everywhere I went, and curiously as I think Bugboy mentioned, I didn't notice any definite females amongst them. As ever, they were almost impossible to approach.The lower slopes still had plenty of Common Blues, Small Heaths and Meadow Browns.There was even a Small Copper..
Part two to follow shortly...

Dave

10th October
Mill Hill: Part two

A visit to Mill Hill wouldn't be complete at the moment without a few Walls. The warmth and sunshine today was summery enough to energise them rather more than last week, and for the males there was less nectaring and more sitting on bare patches with wings nearly shut. The females were busy egg-laying, and difficult to track down as they often get right into the foliage. So - not so many shots today, though the butterflies were to be found everywhere, and still in reasonable numbers. The renowned patch of hemp agrimony was a bit windswept today, though the breeze died down a bit during the course of the day. I saw no Peacocks here, nor Painted Ladies (though Ben had seen one of the latter earlier on), but there were an assortment of Red Admirals, including one much smaller and more worn than the others. Maybe it had come a long way.I did see a Brimstone fly by, and something that could well have been a Peacock, but there was no sign of the Comma of which Trevor got some good shots.

However, on my last pass by the agrimony patch, there was a newcomer. But I'll leave that for part three.

Dave