www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Cracking shots Paul, especially the Greenstreaks and the side view of the Grizzlie

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I agree with Wurzel, I really like the Green Hair Streak though Goldie

Catching up with your diary Paul, some interesting images, well spotted and illustrated

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Thanks all for your comments

A few bits and bobs from the last few days:-

Sunday 24.5.2015 At Home
I was doing a few bits in the garden when I noticed this Hover Fly which appeared to be freshly emerged, allowing me a couple of close up shots. Monday 25.5.2015 Stephens Castle Down - Peacock Eggs

An update on the fate of the Peacock eggs I mentioned in a previous post. Today it would seem that at least some of these Peacock eggs have survived. A healthy looking larval group was found working its way up the Nettle stem. I Imagine these are first instar larvae as there was no sign of any a week ago.
Tuesday 26.5.2015 Manor Farm Country Park

I unexpectedly found myself at this location for work at around 6pm. The work aspect was a non starter so I took the opportunity for a quick walk. I am glad I did because of the two butterflies I saw, one was my second Painted Lady of the year That must be a good sign, after all it is still only May I managed a couple of pics with my phone

I have managed to get out quite a bit over the last week so my diary is a bit behind. Here are a few brief bits and bobs:

Monday 25.5.2015 Stephens Castle Down

I was getting a bit worried that I had not seen any female Duke of Burgundy at my local site. It is quite a late site but just males to date. Today I was pleased to find my first pair of Dukes and thus my first female of the year. A few fresh common blues around as well including a couple of 'blue' females. After a few years struggling with Holly Blues there now seems to be abundance of them at my local site Other species seen were Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Orange tip, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper on this cool and breezy day.

Really nice photos of the Dukes and Common Blue's jack, I also like your Hover Fly, You've made me wonder about some shots I put in my posting, I think my Bee could be an Hover Fly, I give up, I'd better stick to Butterflies Goldie

Love the blue Common Blue female Paul And what hone do you have cos the Painted Lady shots came out really well

Havea goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Goldie Sometimes I have to double check with the Hoverflies they are such good mimics. I think yours is definitely a bee though.

Thanks Wurzel Yeah I was quite chuffed with that 'blue' female. Don't ask me about the phone Its a newish work phone and its a Nokia that's about the limit of my knowledge, I have almost worked out how to use it

I have been spending a little bit of time recently looking for new sites locally, without a great deal of success it has to be said Although I have not made any earth shattering discoveries here are few 'bits and bobs':

Wednesday 27.5.2015
Within a mile or so of Beacon Hill at Warnford I inadvertently found myself within, what seemed to be, somebody's private hunting estate. I had a mooch around before I left. Plenty of Peacock, Small White, Holly Blue and Common Blue including more 'blue' females. Just down the road my first Large Whites of the year accompanied by Brimstone and Orange Tip were enjoying a field of Mustard. Whilst here I also found an amorous threesome of the Golden-Bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle. I first encountered this species last year when one almost flew into my face and landed on the brim of my cap. In trying to dislodge it I became aware that they can emit a loud squeak. Today they were too otherwise occupied for squeaking. By this time I had exhausted my camera batteries, but managed some shots on my phone Thursday 28.5.2015 Botley Park Hotel
Within walking distance of home is some land which I think is imminently about to disappear under new housing. There is a small hill on the edge of the Golf Course covered in wild flowers so went to have a closer look before it is lost. It is what appears to be no more than a spoil heap from the creation of the golf course but it is densely covered in Vetch, Oxeye Daisy, knapweed etc. It was a bit on the windy side whilst I was there but I did manage to find another 'blue' female Common Blue In fact I have yet to see a normal 'brown' female this year. I wonder if anybody has done any monitoring of the ratios of 'blue' to 'brown' females Thursday 4.6.2015 Monks Brook, Stoneham, Southampton
Land just off J6 of the M27 which I pass several times a week. It always looks very tempting to pop in. Today weather looked very promising, sunny and warm and the site densely covered in wild flowers. However, butterflies were in short supply, just 2 species seen. Common Blues and my first Large Skippers of the year Sunday 7.6.2015 Knowle/Aytesbury Copse
Today another Painted Lady came my way, my third of the year so far This one was a little more ragged than the others I have seen. Hopefully there will be more here as there is a large expanse of Thistles close by. Today is also the first time I have seen Common Blues at this location Unfortunately this place is also likely to suffer at the hands of the developers

I've been waiting to see those shots Paul (the Longhorn) and they were worth waiting for Great find and well captured

Just love your imaginative shot of the six antennae Longhorn...obviously new to science nice one Paul!

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Hi Pauline & Willrow
Thanks for your comments

Sunday 14.6.2015 Bramshott Common - Silver Studded Blue

Last year I managed to completely miss this species despite it being one of my favourites. So I was determined not to miss out this year. After reading of the colony at Bramshott Common in Paulines diary and armed with her directions I headed off. It was actually raining when I left and I almost did not go at all until I remembered previous experience to ignore the weather. I found the spot very easily, but when I arrived at 9.15 it was cool, grey, breezy and with the faintest whiff of drizzle. There also seemed to be some active military goings on as this is an MOD training area. Not much chance of seeing anything flying today so I set about looking for butterflies roosting. After an hours search all I had found was a couple of fresh White Ermine Moths, no butterflies at all Then BINGO I spotted a little flag waving on a grass stem and went to investigate. This one was a Common Blue and close by were three more, but none of the Silver Studded variety After another 20 minutes I was on the point of calling it a day when I spotted one, a beautiful fresh Silver Studded Blue roosting on a grass stem Whilst taking a few photos of this individual a passer by directed me to another area close by where I immediately found a second male. Both had looked pretty fresh but with wings firmly shut in roosting mode and no sign of brighter weather I thought that would be it. To be honest I would have been happy with just the two, but I thought I would go and have just one last look at the first area before I left.

Well they must have been there all along but now I could see 4 Silver Studded Blues all fairly close together including a male and female together on one grass head and one that looked as if it had just emerged:D I spent some time taking pictures and then noticed the sky was looking marginally brighter, I decided to hang around in the vague hope that there might be a chance of an open wing shot though I was not very hopeful. I sat patiently as the distant sound of machine gun fire seemed to get closer by the minute. After 20 minutes or so I started to feel some warmth although there was still no sunshine. That was just enough, when I looked around me there were now several sets of blue wings shining up at me and most looked freshly emerged. There were several females amongst them, some were so different you could be excused for thinking they were entirely different species. The moral of this is never be put off by the weather. Although it took a while to get going this was a wonderful morning spent with one of my favourite butterflies

The duller light often makes photographic results rather more appealing. Some lovely shots there, Jack. Perseverance sure paid off there.

I'm glad you found the spot Paul. You managed to get some lovely images there. I've seen lots of moths there but not that type so I'll have to keep my eyes open - and thanks for the tip re PE.

Them male Silver Studdeds are real beauties,nice one.

I must go and find some this weekend.......

Dave

Hi David, Pauline & Buchan Boy
Thanks for all your comments Good luck at the weekend Buchan Boy and thanks again for the directions Pauline

A couple of bits and bobs from the last week:

Saturday 13.6.2015 In The Garden

My washing line is right next to my wild patch in the garden My wife has not worked out yet why I spend so long hanging out the washing It gives me a chance to check on whats lurking
I noticed a small bee had been nectaring on our Potentilla for quite a long time. When I looked more closely something more sinister was going on. Then I found another similar spider close by. Are they the same species Thursday 18.6.2015 In The Garden

This rather nice plume moth is one I have not seen in the garden before. I am not sure if it is Amblyptilia acanthadactyla or punctidactyla. Maybe somebody could confirm the id for me

Amblyptilia punctidactyla Brindled Plume for me Jack...but I've been wrong before now

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Beautiful Silver Studs Paul I would go with Willrows moth ID too.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Willrow thanks for the id
Thanks for the comments Wurzel

Wednesday 24.6.2015 In Search Of The White Letter Hairstreak

I went out today hoping for my first ever encounter with the White Letter Hairstreak. Over the last couple of seasons I always seem to have missed the opportunity. My intentions were to spend the whole day just on this one species, starting in some known sites and then hopefully discovering my own. It did not quite work out that way, lack of time meant that I had to make do with just the one location. Searching for my own colony will have to wait for another day. The location was easy to find and I appeared to have the place to myself. I did not have to search very hard either, as soon as I arrived there was my first White Letter Hairstreak sitting on an Elm Leaf in front of my face In fact it was too close really I struggled to get far enough away to get a photo, by which time it had flown back up to the canopy to join the others. It was a hot day today in the blazing sun and Hairstreak action was frantic at times. Every few seconds 2 or 3 or even 4 would spiral off at high speed, whizzing around just above my head. I would have benefitted from eyes in the back of my head because they seemed to be darting around all over the place. Typically they settled just slightly too high for a decent photo. It was difficult to keep track of how many there were but there were at least 6, and probably double that, all looking pretty fresh. In the best spot there was a single spike of Privet flowers at convenient height. Several came to investigate, frustratingly not stopping. Eventually one settled on the Privet nectaring for a while allowing me to take some pics. A further couple settled briefly on leaves close by. All the while I was accompanied by a Speckled Wood which did not leave my side the whole time I was there. It just occasionally fluttered around distracting my attention when I could see it out of the corner of my eye Marbled White and Meadow Brown also visited briefly. To be honest I was not expecting this enigmatic species to be so easy, beginners luck maybe I did however feel a little strange lurking in the bushes out of sight, the things we have to do in pursuit of our hobby