www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Great Orange-tip photos Paul They seem to be down in numbers a bit around my way this year.

Also, great photos from your trip to the Chilterns, one area that, apart from trips down to Aston Rowant later in the year, I have never visited. I must rectify that sometime.

Cheers,

Neil.

It's great that you got those shots of the Ring Ouzels, not yet seen one myself, unfortunate that they're red listed and in decline in the UK BTW the Dukes are none too shabby either

Thanks Neil, after a promising start OT’s seem to have vanished round here too? I’m only familiar with this part of the Chiltons but there is a lot to see (see below). The Dukes here have a prolonged emergence depending on the micro climate of each individual population. The first ones are on par with Noar Hill most years, this year the first one recorded was the 15th April, but some of the nearby populations in more exposed slopes will still be producing adults at the end of May or into June. Here's a dodgy phone image of the hillsides that support them and numerous other species. Thanks Max. Yes, it’s sadly the fate of many of our summer migrant birds. Not much more than 6000 Ring Ouzel pairs breed here these days. Apparently they used to breed in Surrey and Sussex in the 1900’s! They hadn't gone far when I returned at the end of the day.

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April 2022

Tuesday 26th Cont. As I said there much more than just Dukes flying. Once the day warmed up, Dingy Skippers began to turn up and were probably the most numerous butterfly of the day. I came across a curious sight of four getting some form of nutrients from a dead Fox. The Fox was nearing complete mummification but still had slight whiff about it so I didn't hang around too long . Before things got too hot a passing Orange-tip settled close enough and long enough for a few shots. Curiously these seem to have dropped of the radar since this sighting, perhaps I’ve not been going to the right sites but I’ve not seen one since Another notable sighting (for me) was my first Small Heath of the year. Lurking in a sheltered corner I stumbled across a Green Hairstreak lekking spot A couple of remarkably fresh hibernators caught my eye, I’d have been happy with these back in March! I nabbed my first open wing shots of a Holly Blue, she only paused briefly, just long enough for a quick burst of distant shots. There were several others around but she was the only one I saw settle. I had a go at catching one of the many Brimstones flying around, an unusual angle but not quite in the same league as Millerds recent epic image from these parts. A Small Copper made it a hat-trick of season firsts for the day Things started to turn a bit more gloomy from 2 but I still managed to find some roosting butterflies. The day ended with more Kites, Ring Ouzels and a roosting Orange-tip.

Great range of species there, Paul, and supplemented nicely (again) with those birds.

That Tortoiseshell and Peacock are amazingly fresh for late April. They must have overslept!

Dukes and Ring Ouzels! Cracking stuff Bugboy, I saw my third ever passing through at Martin Down a while back so to see several in one sitting

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks David, The Tortoiseshell was a female (she was looking for somewhere to lay) and I suspect the Peacock was too, so that probably explains their good condition, still nice to find though
Thanks Wurzel, definitely a day to remember. No sign of those Ring Ouzels yesterday though, most likely up north somewhere now nest building on some windswept moorland.

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April 2022

Wednesday 27th. In contrast to the previous day it was a dull and gloomy from the get go, so rather going on a fruitless butterfly hunting trip I went off to see if I could find any White Admiral cats. A slow wander along what would have been sunlit lanes produced not much. I was a little disappointed by the lack of roosting Orange-tip. I did find signs of their past presence plus a GVW. In the more dimly lit woodland paths I found quite a few signs of White Admiral activity but just the one culprit, just beginning to get the emerald livery it’ll be wearing as a fully grown cat. Adding to the list of caterpillars found was a nest of Small Tortoiseshell. And since my PD is still back in Bluebell season…

April 2022

Thursday 28th. Today was a continuation of yesterdays rubbish weather, not quite as gloomy but not far off either, however I did have in mind to visit Abbots Wood to find some Pearls. I knew they’d been out for a few days thanks to Trevor and I’d left it a week in the hope numbers would build a bit. Apparently, it had been a glorious sunny morning but by the time I arrived it had clouded over and it wouldn't get much better for pretty much the entirety of the day.

I arrived at ‘The Triangle’ to find Trevor already there and together we wandered around somewhat aimlessly looking for a butterfly, at this stage any butterfly would do. I can’t remember if it was before or after Trevor left but eventually a White did flutter by but Trevor left with an empty camera with plans to go to High & Over, I was in it for the long haul though. Approaching midday the familiar figure of B’rex showed up and as he walked up to greet me he put up a Pearl that had snuck in when I wasn’t looking. The cloud had thinned barely perceptively but obviously just enough. For the rest of the day we, and a few other over expectant enthusiasts chased between 4 and 6 Pearls as slithers of blue sky briefly bathed us in sunlight and kept the male Pearls rather lively. To add a slither of variety I managed a shot of a Large White and lots of shots of a Grizzled Skipper Somehow I still managed over 300 images in the camera

Some very nice Pearls, Paul, but for me it's actually the Grizzly shots that steal the scene.

Cheers,

Dave

Glad your visit to Abbots was not wasted Paul.
And yes the sun came out when I got home! ( that law again ).
I would also go for the Grizzlie on the bluebell, nice shot.

Good to see you again,
Trevor.

I'm with Dave Bugboy the Pearl shots are great but there's something very pleasing to the eye of those Grizzlies Have a for the Pearls and for the Grizzlies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 6:09 pm I'm with Dave Bugboy the Pearl shots are great but there's something very pleasing to the eye of those Grizzlies...

Agreed. Those Grizzlies on the Bluebells are superb and make a lovely change from the usual type of images of this species

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks guys, she was very amenable to being photographed so there were quite a few snaps taken from various angles, here’s another one
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April 2022

On Friday 29th I went searching for some Walls. There’s plenty of places I could have gone but I chose Newhaven Tidemills where they’ve recently re-colonised on account of it being close to a secondary target species that I needed to re-acquaint myself with, after losing all my pictures of them with my hard drive mishap a few months ago. It was a rather breezy day and not much was seen for a while. A few Small Heath and a sparkly new Small Copper had found some sheltered nooks whilst several windswept Whites battled in the less sheltered areas. I guessed any Walls out would be frolicking around the ruins at the far end of the site. I was right, and like I do every year, I had to re-acquaint myself with the frustrations of their skittishness, all part of the fun of the species! A few hours later with a large selection of orange blurs from various angles in the bag I headed off to the Fort for the other species I was after, on the way stopping to watch a Herring Gull attempt and fail to eat a Plaice several times. When I left it, it had given up on trying to eat it in one and was angrily stabbing at it! Even in death the fish was putting up a good fight The second target for the day was the Fulmar who put on an excellent display in the windy conditions, barely a single flap in the hour or so I spent watching them. There weren’t many butterflies, save for the usual selection of Whites which are ever present in these parts. A female Speckled Wood was worthy of my attention though. I returned to the ruins just as cloud descended but I had just enough time to find some more Walls before they all slunk off to their roosting places. In between the Walls there's always a good selection of birds here to occupy me

Great report Bugboy And great to see the Walls although I need to stop looking too closely at the Browns - I always end up seeing extra spots like on the last shot

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A wonderful selection of nature photos Bugboy. I must have missed the mummified fox photos when you posted them. That was a bit of a gruesome find (and its aroma).

Nice to see you got a few PBFs when the weather was far from ideal, Paul.

Even better are those images of the gull with the plaice. Possibly the greediest bird on the planet and you've captured it superbly.

Thanks Wurzel, that Wall would have been a real looker had I seen her a week before!
Thanks Otep, not nearly as whiffy as when it was freshly deceased I’m sure!
Thanks David, that Gull did look like it was rapidly losing its temper with its lunch

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April 2022

Saturday 30th. Time to explore another new site for me, a place I’d seen mentioned countless times but hadn’t looked closely enough to see how easy it was to get to, turns out not as difficult as I thought it might be. A train to Uckfield, a short bus ride to East Hoathly (those familiar with East Sussex geography will have worked out the destination by now) and a short but somewhat hairy walk along the A22 got me to Rowland Wood. Up until today, apart from a trip to Bentley wood several years ago to find my first SPBF where a few aged ones were still clinging to life, I’d only seen PBF at Abbots Wood. Time to change that!

There was a rather annoying bank of cloud across Kent that was spilling over the border and after locating Park Corner Heath I had to wait another hour before the sun broke through enough to wake the first Pearl, but once play started it was a very enjoyable day with enough clouds drifting over to stop the subjects from getting too hyper. It’s always difficult to get a handle on numbers as they seem to be everywhere at once sometimes but I think I just crept into double figures, including two egg laying females who were doing an excellent job at avoiding male attention. One of these females was easily identifiable due to one of her black spots on each hind wing having a rusty tinge. She seemed to be following me all day and cropped up in every corner as she went about her day. Not a great else was seen, a couple of Peacock, some Brimstones, Speckled Wood and a Grizzled Skipper. Whilst waiting for my bus back to Uckfield I couldn’t resist a wander round Moat Wood, who’s main ride next to the bus stop was bordered with a carpet of Bluebells and Greater Stitchwort. Now I know I can get there, and SPBF are out and about, a repeat visit will have to be squeezed in at some point in the days to come

Lovely set of Pearls Bugboy It's always nice to visit a new site , although I'd rather just keep going to Bentley for Small Pearls - fingers crossed

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Always a treat to try a new site, Paul, particularly when Pearl Bordered Fritillaries can be found there. I look forward to you seeing Small Pearl Bordered on your next visit.

Hi! Bugboy, just seen your shots of the Grizzlies on the Blue Bells , fantastic, Goldie

Thanks Wurzel, Bentley is significantly more convenient a place for you to visit to be fair. Since they seem to have vanished at Abbots Wood, this is likely to be the most ‘convenient’ place for me now!
Thanks David, it all hangs on the weather behaving as to whether I’ll be able to see the SPBF, far from guaranteed!
Thanks Goldie. That certain law has dictated that your first summer down here has coincided with the Grizzlies having a poor season . They are around though so keep looking !

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May 2022

Thursday 5th. It looks like dry Aprils followed by wet May’s are now a thing, which is very irritating when planning your time off work to coincide with decent weather to deal with silly season. Anyway, today was a work day but I finished early so had enough time to pop down to the local marshes to see what was about before the sun set. Not a great deal, just seven individuals of three species. I found four Peacock in their usual haunt at this time of day, guarding a south facing Hawthorn hedge. A couple of GVW where found And finally a solitary Small Tortoiseshell