www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks Dave, I was pleased to see ihe Copper, my first of this year I'll be going to HLB again today if the weather keeps up
Goldie

As Dave said - good work with the Small Copper I don't know if it's the changeable weather but everything seems a little skittish at the moment and getting close to a small, fast moving butterfly can be really tricky Hope you get onto plenty of butterflies in the coming days

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, the weather was awful yesterday, really heavy showers and I'm still waiting for the warm weather they keep forecasting This mornings been cold and looking like rain so it looks like the Butterflies will have to wait a while longer.
Having said that, I can see some Sun trying to get through the cloud Goldie

I hope the sun shone eventually Goldie It looks like it doesn't matter where you are over the next couple of days it's going to be difficult for butterflies - wet up North and ridiculously hot down south Hope you get something

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Goldie M wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:53 am..the weather was awful yesterday, really heavy showers and I'm still waiting for the warm weather they keep forecasting..

Hope you're getting some now, Goldie. It's roasting in S. Wales today and tomorrow looks very much the same.

Just catching up on your diary Goldie now I have got a stable internet connection again.

Goldie M wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2020 8:07 am ... two Red Admirals, they were lying low in the Brambles because when the Sun did emerge from the clouds it was hot and I don't think the RA like a hot Sun!

I have noticed the same thing with Red Admirals, they have a tendency to duck into the shade in hot sun.

Hope you have a good time in Kent and see loads of butterflies.

Cheers,

Neil.

HI! Wurzel, David, and Neil, thanks for your post, the weather has been too hot for the Butterflies and it's been a frustrating couple of days here

I went to Hall-Lee-Brook early Wednesday Morning, my thinking was ,going early I'd see more Butterflies before it got too hot, I was surprised to see very few, the L Skippers and Small Tort's were the only ones I saw, which was better than none I suppose

That same night how ever i was in the Garden after 6pm and a Painted Lady flew in and out never settling , then a Red Admiral did the same, and on it went, Small Torts and whites, Really frustrating even a Large Skipper and Meadow Brown, they flew over the fence

Yesterday was very similar except in the morning a Humming Bird Hawk Moth arrived in the Garden, it wasn't in long and did the same except I did grab a quick shot which wasn't very good, after that I managed one shot of a white and two of a Small Tort both were hiding a way for the night

Any way the Butterfly bushes are coming out now so there's hope Goldie

This morning it rained really hard but after Lunch the Sun returned and was really hot, this time the Butterflies landed a few times instead of flying through, I took some shots but I didn't see any Painted Ladies or Red Admirals , the Small Tort's did land but kept mostly to the shade.

I included one shot of an open winged white although it's wing was damaged at least they were open
I saw this one Butterfly that looked like it was still uncurling but I could be wrong and from the distance I was taking the shot I wasn't sure, I couldn't resist the Small Tort shot , he was keeping cool

Hope fully I'll get to Brockholes soon when they open the car park and see the White may be even the Purple Hair Streaks, I'm certainly ready for a few changes Goldie

Great shots Goldie I too got caught out by the idea that going early would mean seeing the butterflies before they got hot enough to move around like they had rockets attached All that happened was there as nothing about for an age and then when they did wake up they warmed up within 30 seconds and flew around like they had rockets attached! Hope things perk up for you soon!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, the weather here as gone down hill, real thunder showers all day and the next week looks awful, there may be a chance of better weather the following week fingers crossed
Hope fully I should be in Kent by the end of July if all goes to plan , you never know, when you see people crowding on the beaches there could be another out break, we could be back to square one, let's hope not Keep safe Goldie

I went to Hall-Lee-Brook this afternoon, in spite of a blustery wind, at least the Sun was out, has were the clouds
After the Gale force wind yesterday it wasn't too bad today, although I expected a shower, it didn't arrive

I'd not seen a Butterfly for nine days, so even the Meadow Brown brightened me up even though they were too quick for shots, (making up for loss time. )

I was pleased to see the Small Tort's and one Male was trying his luck , to no a vale I saw 14 altogether so their doing well inspite of the weather. I also saw deep in the hedge keeping out of the wind a Peacock, further along the path a Comma, I saw another Comma in the field, this one had closed wings and looked darker than the first.

There was still loads of Large Skipper, one in particular caught my eye because it seemed to have more of a brighter pattern.
Then I spotted my first Small Skipper just as it was about to take off, at least I think it's a Small Skipper The next one I saw shot down to the base of a grass stalk and looked petrified No wonder I was following it down with the Camera

Any way I was pleased to get out for once in the Sunshine after all the rain and finally see some Butterflies Goldie

Good to see you have got out and seen some butterflies Goldie

You've beaten me to a summer Peacock, not seen one of them here yet although I am expecting them any time now.

Cheers,

Neil.

It is great to get out after a couple of days isn't it Goldie? Mind you at the moment the days when I could because I'm not in work but working form home are generally the worst weather wise Good call on the Small Skipper ID Looking forward to your forthcoming Kentish reports

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Hi! Neil, thanks for your post I was surprised to see the Peacock but it was certainly crouched down in the briers out of the wind It was good to get out again after days of rain and it's pouring down again at present. Goldie

Hi! Wurzel, the sooner I get to Kent the better It's not been 2 days here of rain it's been nearly every day and when it's not rained the wind as been very strong, I was surprised to see so many Butterflies yesterday because it rained hard up to lunch time
then the Sun came out but the wind was still strong, I was so fed up I thought blow it I'll chance it and the fact I found a Small Skipper was a nice surprise and worth the visit, although it was hiding from the wind as was all the others, they were a bit awkward to get's shot's of , i 'd to keep moving the tall grass out of the way and trying to hold it back whilst the wind was blowing it about Goldie

Hi Goldie, you've beaten me to the Small Skipper! Good to see the pics of the Small Torts courting. Good luck butterflying in Kent - you should see a lot more than we do up here.
Janet

Hi! Janet, I was looking for a Gate Keeper yesterday but never saw one, no doubt I'll see one in Kent now, ( hope fully ) we've had some shocking weather lately but I believe it's to be better next week, would be when I'm off

Did you know that Brockholes is open now and Wall, Dark Green Fritillaries and Green Hair Streak are to be found there, I was going to see the White Hair Streak and may be the Purple HS but with the weather being so inclement didn't get there, hope fully I'll get both or all three next year Goldie

Be sure to visit Lydden Temple Ewell reserve while you are down here Goldie, if you are able. It was teeming with Marbled Whites when I was there last week, and any day now, the first Chalkhill Blues will appear.

Maybe see you there!

I'll certainly be doing that essex, it's one of my favourite places to go when I'm in Kent I'll have to bend a few arms though I hope I see you there Goldie

Yes Goldie, I too hope you have an enjoyable stay down here in Kent ,as Essex says you should be spot on at Lydden ,for the Chalkhills ,I saw my first of the season their ,a male on the 26th June ,so I,m assuming that there will now be many more on the wing If you,re down
Dungeness way ,there are still good numbers of second brood Small Coppers on the wing ,ranging from mere "ghosts" to pristine individuals .
Silver Wash frits ,are about in Orlestone ,with a few reasonable conditioned White Admirals also still about + many Purple Hairstreaks,
And who knows you could even get lucky with one of the very elusive Purple Emperors !
Good Luck ! Regards Allan.W.

Good you managed to get out, Goldie. Bit like a return to early spring with all those Torties, Peacocks and Commas.