www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Cheers Janet I'm sure you'll pick up a few more, they're much more approachable in the autumn


July 2017
Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a nice "brown-and-orange" day you had there Wurzel. The June Gap butterflies generally are - I wonder why?

Dave

I like those Meadow Browns on the Ox-eye Daisies

Hi Wurzel,

I really enjoy reading about the outings of 'The Family Wurzel'...it is great seeing what you find in places that aren't the usual 'butterfly hotspots'

Cheers,

Neil.

Sorry (not sorry) about all His Nibbs pictures . just to pre-warn, there will be more purple in the coming days

Cheers Dave Now you come to mention it I know what you mean, why is that they're all 'golden' or orange and brown?
Cheers Bugboy The Ox-eyes seem to contrast nicely
Cheers Neil Seeing what is about at non-butterfly sites is great, but doesn't always go down well with Mrs Wurzel
Cheers Bugboy (again) - I'll get a bucket ready before I read your next couple of posts

Larkhill 07-06-2017

This was the quickest of quickest of stop-offs – I didn’t even make it to the paths as I was rushing to get to work and not be late. As it was I manged to find two Large Skippers immediately I left the car so I kept an eye on them while I got my camera from the boot. One made to leave so I concentrated on the second, a few shots in the bag and I was away to work. And that was it for that week due to Breakfast revision sessions, after school sessions and meetings.

Larkhill 13-06-2016

A morning stop-off and things were warming up nicely. I walked down the Eastbound track scanning ahead and then left and right. I wasn’t expecting too much as the outgoing trip often yields fewer butterflies but this time things were different. There were a couple of Small Heath and a velvety chocolate butterfly caught my attention. My first Ringlet of the year which was closely followed by my second. Further along I added two Large Skipper and 3 Meadow Browns before turning round and starting the return journey. Again there were a few Meadow Brown, the same Large Skippers but this time a Small Tort and Red Admiral put in an appearance. I was left musing whether they’d been there previously and I’d missed them or perhaps they’d just dropped in. Either was they made a nice change from the other species even though there were still largely orange/brown. A little further on I found one then a second Common Blue, both males but the second was certainly getting slightly past it. Larkhill 15th June 2017

AM
I set off down the Eastbound path expecting to see plenty of butterflies but it was actually pretty quiet. I then remembered that due to the change in the times of the school day I’ve been making my walks 30 minutes earlier, so when I arrive at Larkhill now only the early risers are up and about. Those up with (and hoping to avoid) the Larks this morning were a Small heath and Large Skipper. I’d reached the same place that a couple of days earlier had held my first Ringlets and there was my first Marbled White of the year. Rather unusually it seemed to want to land high up on the Hawthorns rather than down in the grasses where I’d expect to see it. I got down to the half way point and saw a second Marb, a few more Meadow Browns and Ringlets (they’re old hat now) and a couple of Large Skippers. At the bottom of the little depression a female Common Blue shone out form the grass looking gorgeous. On return journey male Common Blue failed to impress but I was wondering whether it was the same decrepit one that I had seen a few days previously only ravaged by a few more days. A Red Admiral erupted form the path and there were three Small Torts in the little lump of Hawthorns. By the time I was back at the car my tally of Marbled White had reached three. PM
I started the stop-off at half way point and there were Small Heaths and Large Skippers a plenty along with 2 Meadow Browns and a single each of Marbled White and Common Blue. Rather than turning left and taking my morning return journey I turned right, got to the top of the hill and turned right again along the track which cuts not the MOD land. There must have been an emergence of Small Torts as at least 5 were flying in this one little area. On my return back to the car there were a further three Small Torts down on the deck so 8 Small Torts in as many minutes. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Larkhill looks a busy place. Is the site along the Packway ?.
Looking forward to your Emperor.

Trevor.

Nice range of species there Wurzel and I'm glad I'm still not as far behind as you in the updates

Hi! Wurzel just catching up with my posts, been busy with the family etc I love your Marbled Whites, I hope I don't miss them this year, I'm off on the 14th to Kent, on the way we were going to stop at Fermyn Wood but it seems like we may have missed the PE this year, I think we'll still give it a go you never know! looking forward to seeing your photos. Goldie

Cheers Trevor My site is along the Packway, there's a pull in at the crossroads which leads to the Quinetic site (used to be the Bustard Inn ) Unfortunately I only saw my Empress, she didn't come down, but the day was still one of those 'days of legend' Come September you might be able to read about it
Cheers Bugboy Unfortunately some of us have to work for a living
Cheers Goldie I hope you get your Marbs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Nice selection, Wurzel - even though you're a bit behind, they all look familiar and could have been seen today, except for the Common Blues. There should be a new lot of those arriving any time I should think, though! Looking forward to your Legendary Day...

Dave

Cheers Dave I hope I haven't built it up too much now...

Slop Bog 13-06-2017

The speeding up of the season had slightly caught me out and so I found myself on my annual pilgrimage to Slop bog. The earlier finish time of the school day meant that I got to change at home and get a few chores completed before heading out – it’s always a good idea to pick up Brownie points before a trip.

As with most of my journies to Slop Bog I again found myself racing the clouds which seemed to be thickening and the periods of blue sky and sun were becoming less and less frequent as I approached and then made my way across the site. However almost immediately I found my quarry and the first part of Silver Studded Heath held at least 5 males in a few metres square. Because of this I spent some time here and I was just about to wander off I spied a female. It wasn’t hard as her studs were huge and glowed fiercely in the early evening sun. From here I traipsed along the paths some of which proved impassable as they petered out to Bog. One such path housed a small pond which was fenced and here I switched briefly from butterflies (after a few more Silver Studs) to Dargonflies. There were some blue Damselflies including one which was actually violet – my first violacea Blue-tail completing the set. A male Broad-bodied Chaser held court for a while, always returning to the same perch after his roving and quartering was completed. All of the Dragons and Damsels disappeared though when a faster, larger Dragonfly appeared – an Emperor? After my Odonatalogical interlude I worked my way back onto the drier Silver Studded Heath seeing the usual moths and a different looking Dragonfly on the way – Clouded Buff, Lattice and Common Heath. As I reached the area I’d started at the sun finally broke free from the clouds and I was able to start getting some nice stuff; nice bright closed wings and the males started opening up as more started appearing as if from nowhere when they’d been there all along. I also found a female and she posed beautifully for me, the evening light refracted at a multitude of angles made her transform before my very eyes. She went from a uniform milk chocolate to an iridescent rainbow jewel. There was an oil like quality to her wings with oranges, reds and greens highlighted by the brilliant purple and white margins. Absolutely stunning and worth any possible risk of Tick bites. I headed home with her lusciousness still emblazoned on my minds’ eye.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wow! What a smashing set of shots Wurzel, but I don't think I have ever seen that 'oily' sheen captured quite so well. I've never managed it. I don't think any photo can quite capture that beauty but your images come as close as is possible

Those are the best Silver Stud. images I've seen this year. Great stuff !.
Off for some French Butterflies this morning, catch you next week.

All the best,
Trevor.

I think you've caught the beauty of that Butterfly Wurzel, what a great day out you had. Goldie

Great Silver studs Wurzel, in particular that first oil-sheen female .. lovely .

I like the Dragonfly shots too . Did you get the in-flight male Emperor in "Sports mode"

Phil

Absolutely beautiful Silver Studs, Wurzel. You have managed to capture a brand new female in all her glory - there is nothing like this and those shots are perfect. Huge

Dave

I can only concur with what everyone else has said about those Studdies, the evening light has really done them justice!

your unknown Dragonfly is a female Keeled Skimmer btw, a very nice one as well

Have to agree with the others Wurzel, that's a great set of SSB images, You've captured some beautifully 'studded' examples there, the ones I photographed a couple of years ago were not particularly well endowed with studs. Being a Dragonfly fan myself I'm always pleased to see some photos of these fabulous insects.

James

HI Wurzel,

Like many others, the Silver Studded Blues photos are wonderful. The second shot of the male is amazing, I've never seen those blue markings so vivid before.
And what a name for a location, Slop Bog

Regards Kev