Goldie M

[Goldie M]

I really am essex, I think when you've not been able to get out for so long you appreciate every thing more, plus I've been so lucky with the Butterflies

Many thanks Trevor, a warden once told me at East Blean Woods to go about tea time to see the PHS's, we were there 3-15 pm then we went into the woods for a walk first and it would be about 3-45pm that we were back in the car park and there they were on the Oak Tree's there.

Hi! Allan, I looked for Brown Argus but I didn't see any or any SSK's at TE or Dingy Skipper, I'd like to add all three to my list
I'll have to try and get back there if possible .
When I went to Reculver I felt really sorry for the Butterflies, all up that lane to the left was completely cut down, that poor Wall was up and down the lane and along the Wall , it only stopped the once, luckily it was just in front of me, also there I saw the HB's but again they were doing the same.

Many thanks Neil, I was really pleased to see them, after the year I had last year and early this year it was like being out of Jail Like you I love my garden but one can only stand a place for so long I hope you get some shots of the Hair Streak soon Goldie

[David M]

Lots to be envious of there, Goldie -White Admiral, Holly Blue, Wall & Chalkhill Blue just for starters.....

Seems like a great trip up to now, have you any surprises in store before you return to the north west?

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your post David, the answer is yes I got a big surprise today at Temple Ewell, didn't see any Silver spotted Skippers but did find some unusual Butterflies

We made a Bee line for the top field where the grass is shorter and we saw a Dingy Skipper, another first for me for this year
A Man came up to talk to us asking about the Skippers and said he'd seen a Small Blue in the lower field, I'd never heard of Small Blue being at Temple Ewell so I was a bit skeptical, we went down to the field following his instructions and we finally spotted it .
I've not seen one for years so I'm hoping it's a Small Blue
When its wings were slightly open they were very dark Blue, however fully open much lighter. I'm well pleased with today's haul.

Also took shots of a Large Skipper, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, and a very Small Moth I don't know the name of the Moth.

Many thanks Alan for the info about the Butterflies Goldie

[millerd]

Definitely a Small Blue, Goldie! Excellent to find it. Second brood Dingy Skippers are appearing all over the place it seems, so it's great you found one of those too. Your haul from this stay in Kent is going to be amazing! With a bit of luck, you still might get to see a Silver-spot as well, or even an early Adonis Blue. Fingers crossed...

Dave

[David M]

Great, Goldie.

You're now even seeing stuff that you wouldn't normally expect.

So pleased for you.

[Allan.W.]

Hello Goldie,
Thats a brilliant find !(ie;Small Blue) ,funnily enough i found loads of Kidney vetch there and wondered if there was a chance of Small Blues hanging on there
They used to be found in a couple of very small specific areas on the downlands there ,but i,ve looked where i,d seen them in the past ,and its now much too overgrown ,think i last saw some there at least 25 years ago maybe more .......................Well done ,great find !
Pleased you also managed a Dingy Skip ,all in all Goldie ,i,d say you,ve had a very rewarding trip !
PS; I think your moth is a worn Mint moth.

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your posts every one, it's been a real adventure this holiday, I can't believe the Butterflies I've found , ones I've looked for before and not found I'm still on a High

Hi! Dave, I don't think I'll be seeing too many more Butterflies here in Kent Tomorrow it's family day we're having a party before I go home and I think the weather may be dull, Saturday is Cricket day Sunday I'm off home My Daughter's coming to stay for a few day's so it's back to normal I can't grumble,I've seen loads of Butterflies all the ones I wouldn't see at home, I'll be off looking for the White Letter Hair Streak if it's still a round at Brockholes

Many thanks David, It's been a fantastic day, it must be ten years since I've seen the Small Blue so to see one again was great

It was a great day out today Allan, the Dingy Skipper can only be found up near the lakes near me so to find one was great.
I wouldn't have known about the Small Blue but for that man, if your interested , ( I only saw the one but it could be they're on the way back at Temple Ewell ) It was found at the far end of the large field in the sheltered area where you can go up into the hilly part where the Skippers are, we looked all through the top field for the Skipper's but saw none so their not out yet, good luck in finding them Goldie

[Allan.W.]

Hello Goldie ,
Had a great afternoon myself ,today at Temple Ewell,about 2 hours in all ,I found Small Blues just where you,d described ,a spot that i did think a while back looked very promising for them ,but some distance from where i saw them last ,i saw 4 males in all ,masses of Kidney vetch on the small bank by the fence ,i also had a quick look at another couple of likely spots nearby ,but no joy !
Next time you visit ,do the next field over ,i,ve rarely bothered in the past ,but today it was absolutely ALIVE ! hundreds of Chalkhills ,and at last
good numbers of Common Blue .....................but best of all 1 (poss 2 ) Silver Spots ,2 male Adonis ,2 Clouded Yellows + single Wall ,Brown Argus
and Small Heath ,in future (because i,ll be back there shortly !) i,ll make a bee-line for this field.
Safe journey home ! Regards Allan.W.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Allan, looks like I missed out a bit, It's just one of those things, you win some you lose some At least I got the the Small Blue I've never looked in the field you mentioned either but I will next time

We didn't do much today, it's a long drive home so my Daughter was taking it easy, I went out into her Garden and saw an unusual Gate Keeper, it seems to have three spots instead of two on one wing and the week before I saw one with just one spot I wondered if the one with one spot was a bit weathered that's why i didn't post it.

I also found an Holly Blue egg laying so I took a sequence of shots, hope there's not too many posted them wrong way round Goldie

[David M]

What a charmed visit you've had, Goldie. Holly Blues laying in the garden!! You don't see that every day.

Hope you have a safe journey back on Sunday, and given your current form if I were you I'd be out looking for Scotch Argus next week.

[Goldie M]

Many thanks David, I'm not sure I'll get up to the Lakes when I get back but I'm certainly going to pay Brockholes a visit, weather permitting, I believe the weather's been awful up there, just may be it's delayed the WLHS, you never know Goldie

[Wurzel]

Fantastic set of posts recently Goldie - makes me slightly embarrassed that I had a night or two off from UKB Great that you caught up with the unexpected Small Blues, even better that it's a second brood one Interesting Gatekeeper too - could the extra spot be a hole in the wing and the petal is showing through? Brilliant shots of the Holly Blue laying eggs Safe return journey!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel it could be It just looked strange with the yellow gold colour and odd spot
Long journey tomorrow, fingers crossed a safe one, I'm going to miss everyone though, I'm seriously thinking of moving. Goldie

[Wurzel]

If you do move Goldie I can think of one small butterfly that you'll definitely be able see/photograph I've heard of people doing extreme things to see a particular butterfly but moving home is right up there!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

...I'm seriously thinking of moving.

Me too, Goldie. The older I get the more I realise how I'm missing out.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, my Daughter really wants me to move, it makes sense really, I am stuck on my own up here now
It was a great holiday with my Grandchildren dropping in and actively going out, I realised what I'm missing when I can't get out, not seeing family, etc. I could be near them and I'm still driving, just think of all those Butterflies and places I could go

Hi! David, You're right, it's seem's daft to wait, might as well do it while you still can.

Well ,I got home safe and sound my Daughter driving all the way but the Journey was good, good, until I'd a Bacon sandwich at one place on the way and spent Monday in bed all dayUGH!! I didn't miss any thing because the weather was awful.

Tuesday wasn't much better but I was, thank goodness It was this morning that the weather improved, I waved my Daughter off and was greeted with the sight of a Small Tort on My Butterfly bush It made me smile through the day I counted loads of White's both Large and Small, even a Meadow Brown arrived towards 5pm I spotted a Peacock and a Red Admiral but my attention
was caught with two White's one of which was refusing/ at least she seemed to be the Males advances I wonder what tomorrow will bring Goldie

[Allan.W.]

Hello Goldie ,
Very pleased to see that you had an enjoyable holiday with your family , and also an excellent butterfly trip . Thought you may be interested in a little Temple Ewell update ,i had another two hour visit this morning ,on site at 6.40 am ,and headed straight to that far field (over the
fence ,from the Small Blues ) It was superb with very high numbers of Chalkhill Blues just hanging in the grass ..............warming up !
Also good numbers of Common Blue ,Meadow Brown ,Gatekeepers , no Clouded Yellows ,or Dingys or Adonis and only 2 Brown Argus ,found 2 Abberant
Chalkhills ,and saw 5 Silver -Spots (all males)and a single Small Tortoiseshell ,I left at 9.30 am ,by then it was too difficult to get reasonable pictures ,as the Blues were just too active(as expected !).
I had a quick look at the Small Blue spot ,and found 6 ,4 males and two females . I know that i,ve already said it ,but you must try
this field next time you,re down.
Regards Allan.W.

[millerd]

Glad you're feeling better, Goldie - you timed it well to be poorly on a lousy weather day. Very well planned! I see the butterflies have got together to welcome you back - that's quite a selection that appeared in your garden. But definitely come south if you can - the butterflies are out on cloudy days down here!

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Great set of behaviour shots of those Small Whites Goldie
" I could be near them and I'm still driving, just think of all those Butterflies and places I could go "...Let me know when get down here and I'll get you a Grizzlie and more, after the success today (we managed to find Philzoid all 5 of his target species) I'm thinking about setting up Wurzels' Wiltshire Safari - but bring your passport as we might venture into Hampshire

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Pauline]

That really is a very good sequence demonstrating rejection behaviour in the Small White M. Better than anything I've ever managed