www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Lovely couple of reports since I last commented Trevor Love the Large White - they suddenly seem to have started behaving (at least ) That Meadow Brown is beautifully marked - with little orange 'sausages' running down the wings cool

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Aah! Female Hedge Browns, a sure sign that we're in the second half of summer.

That's a beautiful Large White. Love it.

Thanks Wurzel & David. There are a lot of Large Whites around at the moment.

Yesterday I thought I would try for something a tad more exotic.

Leaving home at silly o'clock I arrived on the Isle of Portland at 08.20, to hopefully track down an LT.
There was only enough time in a day to visit one of their haunts properly.
The site I chose was Church Ope Cove, several Large Tortoiseshells were seen and photographed
here, flying and basking around the many beach huts, back in the early Spring.

The weather was warm, but there were only brief glimpses of sunshine, and the butterflies responded
while the sun shone. I thought my luck was in when a ginger/brown butterfly landed on a distant
inaccessible fence. I set my camera on full zoom and managed two shots, the result a Comma.

Church Ope Cove is accessed via a flight of steep steps, which lead off a dead end lane.
Looking up at the cliff from the boulder strewn beach it becomes clear why Large Torts
are breeding there. The cliffs are covered in Elm trees, some mature. Importantly the was
little sign of Dutch Elm disease die back on this years growth, though some branches were already dead
from previous attacks. From what I've seen of Elms recently these looked generally healthy.

No luck for me this time, but I did have a very enjoyable day.
Trevor.

Anyway an area above the Ope Cove car park did provide some butterflies,
but nothing I couldn't have found nearer home!. There was a bonus here though,
a pair of mating Beetles!.

Always nice to try somewhere different once in a while Trevor so good on you for giving it a go. Mind you, as I recall, you have already seen a LT - even if you didn't know it at the time!

Thanks Pauline. A certain law has controlled my butterfly activities this year.
So much so that a fresh Large Tortoiseshell was seen and photographed in
another part of Portland yesterday.( see facebook butterflies UK ).

Stay safe and well,
Trevor.

I know the Law of which you speak Trevor I've been caught out by it many times in the past The 'some were seen the next day' line is right up there with 'If you'd been here five minutes ago' line for making me gnash my teeth in frustration...At least you tired I've chickened out on going twice now...mind you reading your post has got me wondering about a trip back home...

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Nothing wrong with trying your luck, Trevor, and who knows what could turn up in a coastal area like that even if Large Tortoiseshells were not around.

Thanks, Wurzel & David. I didn't find it very soothing when I learned that there were
three Large Tortoiseshells on the same Buddleia in another part of Portland that day.

Anyway, success this evening with the Chalkhill Blue at Birling Gap.
For me the Chalkhill is either an early morning or evening butterfly, and not one
to go after when they are warm and active during the day.
I arrived at Birling Gap just as they were starting to roost, and saw many males
but no females this evening. It was interesting to observe some communal roosting
as the light began to fade.

Stay safe,
Trevor.

Very nice Chalkhills, Trevor. They put on a great show at the end of the day like that.

You really were unlucky with your Large Tortoiseshell expedition - I have to say that I wouldn't have had a clue where to look on Portland either, and your logic looked sound enough to me!

Cheers,

Dave

Cheers, Dave.

From home to Portland takes over three hours, even in the early morning.
I think it's a destination for an overnight stay next time, for some more
relaxed and thorough searching. I only had time to visit the one site.

Stay well,
Trevor.

Three Chalkhills on a single stalk. Nice one.

Lovely Chalkhills Trevor - they do look extra special during the evenings 'golden hour'

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Lovely Chalkhills in the evening light Trevor

Cheers,

Neil.

You've definitely done justice to those Chalkhills, Trevor, especially with that shot of the threesome.

You can't always have a perfect day, but you can regularly have a very good one, and you certainly had that.

Many thanks folks, I was delighted to catch those Chalkhills just right, some open, some roosting.

This morning dawned cloudy with a few sunny breaks and very mild.
Up at High and Over these conditions were perfect for not relaxed, but slightly calmer Wall Browns.
Even so one of those heavy cameras with a luxury length lens, where a decent image taken from a
great distance can be obtained, would have made life easier.
It was an all male show, and nearly all were in fresh condition. I would estimate that well over a
dozen were found, but only one female was seen, lurking deep in the undergrowth, hence the poor shot.

In the long grass, near the steps, many fresh Common Blues were still trying to catch the early sun,
as was the only Holly Blue found today.

A great morning,
Stay well all,
Trevor.

You did far better with those Walls at High & Over than I did on Wednesday, Trevor, despite an earlyish start. It was probably too sunny then, and there were an abundance of dogwalkers as well. Some terrific shots there of a tricky butterfly!

Cheers,

Dave

Great set of shots Trevor They're right bu££ers so you did really well with them. The calming effects of a bit of cloud shouldn't be underestimated

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Quite late last evening a Red Underwing moth flew in to the house.
I tried to photograph the moth this morning on a window, but with bright light outside
and the moth indoors it was difficult to get anything other than a black silhouette.
In the end I had some success, then released my visitor, none the worse for wear.

Trevor.

PS, Wurzel & Dave. Those Walls were a little easier than usual, and all in good condition.

Cracking looking moth Trevor The light streaming through from behind makes some of it's less obvious markings really stand out

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel