Trevor

[bugboy]

Well you've certainly come up with the goods on those posts

[Wurzel]

Brilliant stuff Trevor - great to see Tilshead throwing up the goods - cracking ab But those shots of the female Borstreak - lush she is mint Good to see Shipton delivering again - I was a bit worried after reading that the 'Collector' had been there again last week but there are still reasonable numbers of females about

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Fantastic images of the Brown Hairstreaks, Trevor! Looks like they are having a better year than last year!

[David M]

That second Brown Hairstreak is immaculate, Trevor. I reckon that's as good as it gets.

[Neil Freeman]

A lovely female Brown Hairstreak there Trevor

Cracking Adonis Blues in your previous posts too

Cheers,

Neil

[trevor]

Many thanks, all. Those two female Brown Hairstreaks were hard won.
The first one required loads of patience, and the second one was in a bramble thicket.
I had to stand for quite a while with thorns penetrating my thick jeans.

It occurred to me that the fresh open wing female was probably the finest specimen
I've seen since 2012.

[Goldie M]

That's a fantastic shot of the Hair Streak one I've yet to see Goldie

[Wurzel]

I might have given up after getting a shot like that Trevor - getting anything better would have seemed impossible

Have a goodun and say safe

Wurzel

[David M]

It occurred to me that the fresh open wing female was probably the finest specimen I've seen since 2012.

The one in 2012 must have been quite something to eclipse that latest one, Trevor.

Nothing finer than an immaculate female betulae.

[trevor]

Many thanks, Goldie, Wurzel & David.

I remember Neil Hulme commenting on that pristine Brown Hairstreak at Steyning in 2012.
His theory was that the butterfly was so fresh, that it had yet to take it's first flight up to
the nearby Ash trees.

On Sunday, in inclement weather, I found my first Painted Lady of the year, sheltering
high up in a crevice on a very old brick wall.

Keep well, all.
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

You did well with that one Trevor - they've been very thin on the ground this year - often the way after a 'Painted Lady Year'

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

...On Sunday, in inclement weather, I found my first Painted Lady of the year, sheltering high up in a crevice on a very old brick wall.

Only seen single figures myself, Trevor, and that includes two trips abroad, to France & Spain.

Amazing how a butterfly can go from being so common one year to so scarce the next.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Trevor, I'm still looking for my first Painted Lady , hope fully before the Summers gone Question is, ( Is the Summer still here ) Goldie

[trevor]

Today had a real end of season feel about it, and as I wandered around Rowland Wood
butterflies were hard to find. A Speckled Wood was the first find of the morning, then
two worn Small Coppers were found on the dwindling Fleabane.
Park Corner Heath eventually provided two fresh butterflies, first a glowing Small Copper
spent ages basking on the path, then a little later on a beautiful female Large White,
well endowed with black markings, flew from plant to plant, allowing for several shots.

There were still no signs of any second brood Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries.
I am pretty sure there has not been a second brood at PCH/Rowland wood this year.

Stay well all,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Things have taken a real Autumnal turn over this way too Trevor I wonder if we'll have an early doors year or whether there will be a sudden rallying with an Indian Summer? Sorry to hear about the lack of 2nd brood Small Pearls - I did see mention of them over in Somerset a few days back and the South West populations are often the first to emerge the first time round - is there still time over your way?

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel, On August 5th last year I saw three 2nd brood SPBF on the small patch Heather
at Park Corner. I've been over there about six times since early August so I think
any 2020 2nd brood would have appeared by now.

BUT!, I discovered the 3rd brood of another species today.

Stay well,
Trevor.

[trevor]

Early this morning I drove up to High and Over to see if any 3rd brood Wall Browns
had appeared yet. In previous years, about now, it was possible to find a few fading
2nd brood Walls and he odd 3rd brood example.
This was the case today, but as the sun warmed they proved absolute devils to approach.
Indeed it became so warm against their favourite hedge, that they closed up as soon as they landed.
So I have plenty of closed wing shots, but not many basking.

In all I saw five fresh males and one tired old 2nd brood male. One of the fresh males had a deformed
RH hind wing, which appeared to be stuck to the forewing.

I also found a bonus Comma, and a most gorgeous, fresh, vibrant Red Admiral.

A wonderful morning,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

A fantastic set of Walls Trevor - the hind wing 'eyes' really stand out against the cryptic colouring The one with the deformed hind wing is really interesting, especially as the markings seem perfectly formed, just painted on a smaller canvas

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[trevor]

I wonder if any of the Wilts Wall Brown colonies have a Third brood, Wurzel.
High and Over is quite reliable in this respect.

In search of some late Summer/early Autumn colour and some butterfly variety,
I visited the gardens of Herstmonceux Castle this morning.
Sunshine was limited, but when it shone the butterflies responded in good numbers.
Whites dominated, both Large and Small but a single Green Veined White was found among them.
This is also a very good site for Small Coppers, and many were seen including an ab (radiata ?)
but fresh ones were at a premium. A single, fresh, Peacocck completed the day.

Stay safe and well all,
Trevor.

[millerd]

That's a very nice Small Copper ab., Trevor - the hindwings are almost bereft of orange altogether! I wonder if that Peacock (being fresh) is a second brood example?

Useful to know the third round of Walls have started at High & Over - I feel another Sussex trip will be required very soon, with an early start to catch them before they are too active...

Cheers,

Dave