www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks for the beetle ID confirmation, Wurzel.
Also, I know you meant it as a joke but since I am taking all wing-roll ideas in the spirit of a brainstorm, I shall add the "greeting" idea to my list.

Odiham Common - 5th July 2018

There were hundreds of butterflies flitting about over the common today, you almost did not know where to look for the best. There was S & L & GV & M White, S & L & E Skipper, MB & Rs, Gatekeepers were on the up, a few SW Frits, 2 Commas, 6 new Purplestreaks, 1 WL Hairstreak and 1 male Holly Blue. No Small Coppers yet but I am sure they are soon to come. They were here last year near this time.
There were a few Lesser Cream Wave moths.
Non-butterfly Snapshot of the Day

A dead shrew, very sad. But it was alive until recently so its a valid wildlife record for this site.

Folly Hill - 6th July 2018

The site I call Folly Hill in Farnham is actually named Tuxbury Hill on old OS maps. It was once an Iron Age Hillfort (aka Caesar's Camp) begun in the Late Bronze Age but was converted into a park in medieval times when it was annexed by Farnham Castle and some of the earthworks today may be from that later time as a “Park Pale” or park boundary.

It is mainly dry heath but does have a large pond and is fringed by woodlands.
I came here today for Grayling because I had no luck at Thursley the other day. Here I found seven! As usual they were on the ground and in flight but two individuals perched on tree trunks too. When disturbed they can fly for some way and very fast, often too fast to follow, but they can on occasion come right up to you and fly around you to see what it was that disturbed them. In the past I have had them land on me when they feel they are not threatened.

Here are some of the pics I took today. Even though it was morning it became hot quickly and I got the impression they sought out the shade whenever they could.
Since this is my first spot of the year for this species, here are some of my past pics. Mostly today they had their forewings retracted (for camouflage as well as heat reduction I expect) but in the past I have had some decent shots of the forewings of both genders.
On one occasion a pair circled around me and landed on the ground in front of me facing each other.
The male proceeded to flap his wings slowly and lift the hairs on his back. It appeared he was wafting scent at the female. You almost never see them with their wings open at rest so I was astonished by this.
Whatever he was doing must have worked because a moment later they were back to back in-cop. At one point with their wings down…
But then one with wings up!
It was one of those “moments” - you know what I mean, an experience I will never forget.

Also today, I must have seen well over 100 Gatekeeper. Only a couple of days ago there were none. Plus MB&R, S, L, GV and M White, S, E and L Skip, 1 Small Heath, 1 DG Frit and 4 SSB’s, two of which were wing-rolling for me - one was an aged female.
The birds were no less interesting. There was Jay, Swift, Stonechat, Linnet flocks, Goldfinch flocks, Coot on the pond and Dartford Warbler on the gorse.

There was also a Roe Deer.

Non-butterfly Snapshots of the day

There was one large patch of the heath that was regenerating after what must have been a fire because only fresh, low heather was growing there except that it was covered by Common Dodder – a parasite of various plants in Southern England but mainly of young heather. I have seen Common Dodder in bloom only twice before, once I had it pointed out to me by the ranger at Arne Nature Reserve in Dorset and the other time, small amounts of it along a sandy track across the heath at Longmoor in Hampshire. But here it grew liberally in masses over all the young heather. Quite amazing.
Also there were many species of dragonfly buzzing around. Here are a couple of my better shots of them. As usual – if I have got the IDs wrong, please correct me.
And finally – beside the pond was a blighted tree which the local House Martins were using as a roosting point.

Magdalen Hill - 7th July 2018

My target species today was Chalkhill Blue. I had heard from the Butterfly Conservation website that they were flying already at Magdalen Hill.
I found five males, all in one area of the reserve, here are two of them.
And two of the five were wing-rolling!!! Last year I scrutinised many from the thousand or so at peak flying time at Old Winchester Hill and only found one that gave a hint that he might do so if there was a good reason to. He seemed to do just one stilted roll then stopped so later I wondered if I had just imagined it as none of the others I saw last year did it. But no. They were doing proper, full-blown wing rolls today at Mag Hill.

So the Chalkhill Blue is another butterfly to add to my species log of wing-rollers on the “general” thread of this website.

Interestingly I had observed this difference with the SSB’s this year too. When there were a lot of them in a densely packed area such as a lek, the frequency of wing-rolls seemed to reduce (but not disappear) and when there were fewer butterflies in a given area, the wing-roll activity appeared to increase. Hardly scientific it has to be said, but it may be worth further investigation. If it is done to deceive predators, then it may be that they take “safety in numbers” into account somehow. Perhaps if there are a lot of them about, they expend more energy in bouncing off one another than those in less dense areas so conserve energy for this by dropping the time they spend wing-rolling. It is not therefore a conscious decision on the part of the butterfly (I never thought it was of course) but a natural consequence of how energy is expended in differing circumstances.

Since this is my first spot of this species this year, here are some past pics.
Also seen today were loads of S&L&M&GV White, MB&R&G, L&S Skip, 7 Brimstone, 4 Peacock, 3 Small Torts, a single DG Frit, Comma and Holly Blue. Also many 6-spot Burnet.
There are signs up around the reserve telling of the efforts to re-introduce the Duke of Burgundy here. I mentioned some time ago the thousands of Cowslips that grow on the lower slopes of the hill beside the road. It would be great if in future years this site eclipses Noar Hill for Dukes.

Non-Butterfly Snapshots of the day

Yellowhammer and Linnet are a feature of the birdlife on this reserve.

ernie f wrote:On one occasion a pair circled around me and landed on the ground in front of me facing each other. The male proceeded to flap his wings slowly and lift the hairs on his back. It appeared he was wafting scent at the female. You almost never see them with their wings open at rest so I was astonished by this. Whatever he was doing must have worked because a moment later they were back to back in-cop. At one point with their wings down … It was one of those “moments” - you know what I mean, an experience I will never forget.

Hi Ernie,

What you're experienced here is the Grayling courtship. Here's an excerpt from a book coming out next year

When the male is successful in finding a potential mate, he undergoes an elaborate courtship that was first spelled out by the Nobel prize-winning Dutchman, Nikolaas (Niko) Tinbergen, who dedicated his life to the study of animal behaviour and found the Grayling an interesting enough subject to include in his work. The courtship is normally preceded by the male flying upwards toward and overhead a passing female. The pair land together with the male near and usually behind the female and the male then moves around the female, always facing her, until they are facing each other. An unreceptive female will flutter her wings to deter the male, while a virgin female will remain still, encouraging the male to perform an elaborate courtship that comprises four main stages – quivering, fanning with antenna spinning, bowing and clasping.

1. Wing quivering. The male starts the courtship by slowly raising his forewings, so much so that the orange patches found on the underside of the forewings are revealed, with the wings held slightly apart, before rapidly closing and lowering them.

2. Fanning with antenna spinning. The male then, with forewings held up and the wings held slightly apart, vibrates his wings rapidly in front of the female. During this fanning, the male spreads his antennae horizontally and rapidly rotates them.

3. Bowing. The male then undertakes the most elaborate aspect of the courtship; with his wings steadied and held open, he bows forward, drawing the female’s antennae across the sex brands on his forewings, gently closing his wings with the female’s antennae held between them. The androconia on the sex brands, to all intents and purpose, emit a scent that seduces the female. This is one of the few occasions when it is possible to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Grayling upperside.

4. Clasping. With a willing subject, the male then moves to the side and slightly behind the female while facing the same direction as her. He then bends his abdomen round to mate with her, before moving to adopt a typical mating position with male and female facing away from each other. The pair remains coupled for between 45 minutes and two hours before parting.

This description may give the impression that the courtship always rigidly follows this sequence, but this is not the case; this sequence may be repeated, steps may be performed out of sequence and some steps may be omitted altogether. The description is, however, an excellent rule of thumb regarding the typical sequence.

I've also filmed this sequence (in Ireland) and you can find the two videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNat4V3XlwI[/video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vHzIVvIUv8[/video]

Cheers,

- Pete

You're very lucky to see that courtship Ernie. I've been after some upperside shots for several years now and that's the best time to get them but I've yet to stumble across a courting pair. I did get to watch and photograph an egg laying female last year though which was rather satisfying

Great to see the upper wing Grayling shots Ernie, I too have been trying for those for a while but still haven't found a courting couple

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Pete - Thanks for the information on Grayling courtship, its fascinating. I shall go back to my pics and zoom in to see if I can interpret them in this new light. I could not access your video though. How do I do that?
Bugboy - I am thinking it might be a good year for Grayling. I saw seven at Folly Hill and its close to the start of their season. Just need to be there when a male and female meet. Easier said than done though. I need to read up about them more, especially if I am to copy your success in finding an egglaying female.
Wurzel - I was very, very lucky. I only spotted it because they flew around me to start with. This must have been the start of the courtship ritual as Pete recounts "The courtship is normally preceded by the male flying upwards toward and overhead a passing female". In my case I got in the way.

Longmoor - 8th July 2018
Buoyed by my success with Grayling at Folly Hill the other day I decided to pay Longmoor a visit. Another heath I have seen them at in past years but I found none today.

Instead there were the masses of S&L White, M Brown and Gatekeeper (but surprisingly no Ringlet), loads of Large Skipper (this is the best site for them I have found near me), a single Small Skip and Speckled Wood, also 3 Red Ads, 3 Purplestreaks and 6 Silver-studded Blues.
This one kept her fore-wings tightly closed while her rear wings were held ajar. She was like this for some minutes.

Later in the day I went to a local garden centre with my wife (but without my camera) and while we sat down outside in a shady nook polishing off a couple of ice-creams, out in the sunshine there were 2 Red Ads, a Comma, a Purplestreak, a Brimstone and again loads of Small and Large Whites. One of the Large Whites flew in through the open door of the garden centre building but I don’t think they had what he wanted.

Non-butterfly Snapshot of the day.

Back at Longmoor, the ruts in the sandy tracks are the ideal location this time of year for a plant called the Coral-necklace because they usually hold damp patches. In recent years I have captured pics of this rare plant but today the tracks were bare. The weeks of blistering heat has totally “evaporated” any chance of seeing it this year I would guess.

I can see how the Coral-necklace got it's name Ernie Good to see the Silver-studs still hanging on in there

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Love the Grayling shots and info Ernie. I hope to see my first of the year very soon. Great Chalkhills as well.

Wurzel - Yes the SSB's are in their final decline now but there is still a surprising amount still at Broxhead too.
Andrew - Thanks. Good luck with your Grayling.

Regards

Noar Hill - 9th July 2018
Butterflies plentiful here today. All the usual characters: Teeming S&L&GV&M White, S&E&L Skips, MB&R&G&SW, plus 3 Brimstone, 4 Red Ads, 2 Comma, 1 Purplestreak, 2 SW Frits doing their courtship flight, and 2 DG Frits in separate parts of the reserve, one of which landed on different flowers in different places but only fleetingly on purpose to make me run about after it for pics. What fun we had!
Plus the Small Heath that kept flapping its wings open while at rest - the first time I have ever seen this. I got a few fuzzy shots but I am happy because these are my first actual photos of the upper wings - before now I only had a video still of them.
Yesterday I reported on the Silver-studded Blue that held its rear wings ajar while keeping its forewings closed. I wonder if this prolonged heat-wave, with very high morning temperatures, is making these butterflies do things they would not normally do in order to try and cool themselves while nectaring.

Non-butterfly Snapshot of the day

The Spotted Flycatchers are in evidence - a danger to any unsuspecting insect and the bane of Noar Hill's butterflies.

Folly Hill - 10th July 2018
I saw my first summer brood Small Copper today. I was getting a bit worried for them because the parching heat was drying out the sorrel and the bell heather was going-over quickly for I guess the same reason, but there was one spot here at Folly Hill that seemed to provide both. He was repeatedly doing the stem-dance on flimsy grasses, time and again walking down a few steps tapping and then flitting to the next, etc, etc. This seemed to be occupying his entire time while I watched. Unfortunately my pics all came out blurred because the grasses blew in any breeze and he too would make them bend over. At one point, one bent over so much he fell underneath it, gripping onto it for dear life while fluttering his wings to try and right himself.

A moment later I came across a male Silver-studded Blue, looking very faded and jaded by now.

A moment after that I came to the place where the other day I was able to take pics of a Grayling on a tree trunk. He was not on the trunk anymore but was still in the vicinity. However, this time so was a rival and they spent some time fighting a border dispute. The aerial acrobatics was quite something to see. They finally split up and went their separate ways. I found one perched on the ground in “camouflage” mode with wings down. Even in this relatively close-up shot he is not easy to see straight away!
Non-butterfly Snapshot of the day

I spoke to one guy who said there was a pond on the common where Crested Newts lived. I found the pond but not the newts, however there was an amount of Water Fern floating on the surface which is an odd aquatic plant. I have seen it before at Greywell Moors covering a shallow pond there, but here a number of “leaves” of the fern had detached and were floating freely by themselves so that you could see the roots beneath them.

Interesting to see the Small Heath opening up, I reckon it is down to the heat as the butterflies round my way have been acting oddly, we've had DGFs in gardens and I've seen some butterflies actively seeking shade

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I agree, Wurzel - this long period of sun and heat is certainly having an effect on them.

Alice Holt: The Straits Enclosure - 11th July 2018

I had not intended to revisit here this year – my usual purpling expeditions I thought were finished but I was in the area anyway so I stopped by. I am glad I did. The place was throbbing with butterflies – hundreds of them. Not only that – 2 more Purple Emperors and no less than 12 new Purplestreaks. Loads of L&S&GV White, Brimstones, Peacocks, SW Frits, Red and White Ads, S&L Skips, tons of MB&R&G as well as 2 Holly Blues and a Comma.

I spent much of my time getting backlit pics of some of the closer butterflies – the SW Frits were very amenable in this respect.
Non-butterfly Snapshot of the day

I saw this pair of beetles mating. I think they might be Rhagonycha fulva beetles but I am not entirely sure. Any suggestions?

A fascinating series of reports, Ernie. I have often watched Grayling and there are some past observations buried deep in my PD from 2nd August 2015 that you might be interested in, including some open wings seen during mating. /viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6157&start=960 (You'll need to scroll down the page a bit.) It's a real shame you rarely see the uppersides a the female in particular is a beautiful creature.

Dave

Great to see the Silver-washed Ernie I really need to get back to the woods before they disappear for the year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel - re the SWFs, they seemed to me to start late this year but they are in full swing now.

Dave - I checked out your reference to see your unbelievable pics of Grayling. Two males mating with the same female at the same time?!? Stunning encounter. Plus all those crisp upper wing images, not to mention around the same time those mating Wood Whites.