www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Some smashing recent reports Trevor

Only wish I could find White-letter Hairstreak on the way to my local supermarket, I'd probably end up volunteering to do all the shopping

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Later this morning i managed a shot of what i think is a summer generation G.V.White female.

TREVOR.

HI All,
A problem i cannot identify has wiped three attempts to post a report from yesterday, so i will only
post the images taken and hope they upload.

Sorry,
TREVOR.

Hi! Trevor, that's happened to me a few times with my postings and other's as well I believe. Great shots any way, lovely photos, where did you take them? Goldie M

It's happened to me too Trevor, generally just as I'm uploading the final photo - I think it might have something to do with lots of people all trying to do a posting at once? Mind you your photos tell a fantastic story by themselves

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It's also happened to me Trevor, usually after spending ages on the text, and like Wurzel just as I'm uploading the final photo I agree that your photos tell the story of a great day, without any need for text

Mike

My weekly visit to Eartham Wood was brought forward by one day. The early morning session was not
possible owing to the weather, but by the evening things had improved and some of the more common
Butterfly species were flying, or in the case of the Comma's sunning themselves. I also obtained my
first images of a Gatekeeper for this season. No sign of him though.

TREVOR.

Hi Trevor, great photos

After having lost a few posts at the point of posting every so often, I am now in the habit of writing them in Word and then copy and pasting before adding the photos to post. At least then if it disappears into the ether I still have the original to try again.

Cheers,

Neil

Nice selection of shots Trevor I'm sure He will trun up when you least expect it or just as you're leaving to head home, I swear they watch and wait

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Many thanks Goldie, Wurzel, Maximus and Neil.
The problem i occurred when i went to post the report. When i pressed ' submit ' log in kept repeating ,
of course i had logged in to get that far in the first place !.

Many thanks for your help,
TREVOR.

Some images from today, suffice to say, the Butterflies were magnificent, and plentiful.
(My more comprehensive report was wiped again !)

TREVOR.

Great to catch up with you yesterday and great Purple Emperor photos!

This week i have been to Botany Bay on three occasions, Monday, Thursday and today ( Friday ) principally
for the Purple Emperor. The first two days saw several down on the ground, but either with closed wings
or in a bad position for photography. I only witnessed several in the air today, but a group of others
had an adventurous individual who landed on hats, hair, feet and permitted being positioned for some
sensible photography. Well done to them!.
Throughout the three days many White Admirals and Silver Washed Fritillaries were seen , both it would seem
having a very good year. Today i saw two second generation male Holly Blues before reluctantly
having to leave.
Also i would like to offer my congratulations to those who have managed to photograph the Monarch
in Brighton. I've seen your lovely images.

TREVOR.

On Monday evening we witnessed some tree top action from H.I.M.
The fun bit was trying to locate the Emperors once they had landed back in the trees

TREVOR.

HI All,
This morning i went to the Knepp Estate in West Sussex to see some Purple Emperor action. In this respect
Knepp is as good as it's cracked up to be, with multiple Emperors in the air at any one time, flying around
the Oaks, and from the Oaks to the Sallows, and of course the occasional dog fight. I would estimate that
about 25 were seen in the first hour. Photography, without expensive cameras and specialist lenses, is a
bit of a challenge at this site because the Butterflies never seem to settle low down, and often stay on the
wing. I did manage one shot when an individual perched in a Hazel for a short while.
I also managed a shot of one of Knepp's wild Pigs, which roam free.

TREVOR

Great shots Trevor, I hope I catch sight of the PE next week Goldie

Some great shots of the PEs, I like the "top of the tree ones" as they express the behaviour and character of Him, so aloof

Have a goodun

Wurzel

After two days of relentless grey gloom, a few clear patches of blue sky this morning was all the
encouragement i needed to get out with the camera. I initially set out to look for White Letter Hairstreaks.
There are a few Elms i have seen from the car with Thistles and Brambles beneath that looked promising.
But either there is no population or the cloudy conditions meant no show. None of the trees i looked at
were at known sites.
At the last location i looked at i was pleased to find several Small Tortoiseshells, a Red Admiral,
some Gate Keepers and a Green Veined White with creamy/yellow underside colouration, all
Butterflies were very fresh.

TREVOR.

WHITE LETTER DAY !

After yesterday's failure to locate the White Letter Hairstreak i thought i would have another try today.
This time i went to a reliable site in Brighton, where i saw some in 2013. For the first hour the weather
was not good, with very few breaks in the cloud, but the temperature was ok at 20c.
With a short spell of sunshine my first Butterfly came down to nectar on a Thistle, and stayed for
about 40 mins. I then saw two other Guys with cameras photographing another specimen further along
the site. It was then a case of you show me yours and i'll show you mine !. With two WLH in the bag i was
very pleased, but by now we were in full sunshine and the Butterflies kept coming .
In all i would estimate about twelve WLH were seen, some newly minted and some with wear and tails
missing. In all a very rewarding day.

TREVOR.

Superb photos of the White-Letter Hairstreaks and Purple Emperors, I'm very envious. Interestingly, your first photo from July the 14th looks like a Large Tortoiseshell - a very notable sighting!

Elms are one of their foodplants...

BWs,

William