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Cheers, Wurzel - an awful lot of effort can be expended on new male Meadow Browns in June...

However, I've skipped an episode. First thing on Thursday 28th May, I set off for Fairmile Common, just off the road between Cobham and Esher. Knowing they had been seen elsewhere, I hoped to see some fresh Silver-studded Blues. As I rather expected, the site looked very dry and bare, but there was an extra element - though there was a good spread of various heathers throughout the common, virtually none of it was in flower. All the flowers seemed to have been crisped - brown instead of pink and purple. I have subsequently been told that the late frosts at the start of May were to blame, enough to wipe out the majority of the early flowers. Though they will certainly bloom again, this may be after the rather early flight period of the SSBs this year, and their prime nectar source will therefore not be available. I believe that a number of SSB sites (being sandy soils and prone to frosts) have been similarly affected - which is hugely worrying.

I did see the butterflies, perhaps a dozen males and a single female. They were indeed searching high and low for any flowers they could find, resorting to alternatives like the stonecrops that grow here, and some of the brambles that have come into bloom. Here's one on stonecrop.They were all very fresh and new, and were no doubt still emerging across the site. I found one still attended by an ant or two.A selection of the others: Dave

A lovely selection of photos Dave. A tough call but I would say my favourites were the last two.

Yes, I am new to Meadow Browns and the few I have seen (less than 10) are incredibly active. Furthermore, I concluded that they have a bit of a bad attitude about them.

Lovely sequence of shots Dave Fingers crossed the butterflies can get on and copulate quickly Slop Bog was similarly affected I'm just hoping there are enough florets for a few of them to get by on

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thank you, Otep - SSB are splendid little things when new. You're right about Meadow Browns - I was trying to get a shot of one yesterday, and every time I pointed the camera at it, it swivelled around so it was edge-on. No attempt to fly away, just persistently being awkward.

Cheers, Wurzel - fingers crossed for them being able to improvise with what else is around and get themselves through the life cycle. At least the disappearance of the recent hot sun means they don't have to fly around for 12 hours every day and use up all their energy.

On Friday 29th May, I had another look at Fairmile, principally to see if I could locate a female SSB. I was successful, but inevitably got sidetracked by the males as well. First, the female - which looked as if it had been out a day or two as it had mostly lost the rainbow sheen a fresh female has.Second, a selection of males. Dave

Love the SSBs in your recent reports Dave. In many ways my favourite species of Blue although one I will be missing this year.

Cheers,

Neil.

That's a shame, Neil - they are indeed a lovely species. I imagine the colony in Shropshire is just a bit too far for an easy daytrip from Solihull.

After Fairmile on 29th I paid a visit to Box Hill to see what might be about. There was an easy answer to that one - almost nothing at all. I covered the slopes east of the viewpoint and beyond, and then over to Burford Spur, but came up with one or two Common Blues, a few Small Heaths and Meadow Browns, a single Speckled Wood and finally this lone female Adonis Blue searching out horseshoe vetch. Everywhere looked dry, there were not many flowers of any sort and the grass was not exactly lush. Not the conditions right to welcome the imminent arrival of early summer species.

Dave

Saturday 30th May - no major excursions today, just a couple of local walks. Lots more warm sunshine, so I went round my standard local patch quite early. After only appearing a couple of days ago, Meadow Browns were already getting properly going, with double figures seen. All males so far, and consistently difficult to approach.Nearly as bad were the numerous Small Heaths......and Common Blues. These were getting distinctly careworn.I found the regular Small Copper, exactly four weeks after his first appearance in this diary......and a Brown Argus which was enjoying frequent sparring matches with him.Rather newer were the Large Skippers.Every time I go out I seem to find additional nests of Peacock caterpillars, some of which are getting quite large now.Also seen today: Speckled Woods, Small Tortoiseshells and Holly Blues, with a total of over 60 butterflies over the morning. Finally, out in the middle of nowhere I came across a solitary orchid, almost swamped by the long grass.I think this is a Bee Orchid, but happy to be corrected.

Dave

Late on the afternoon of Saturday 30th May, I went down to Staines Moor for the first time in a while. A few worn Small Coppers were still flying, as well as Brown Argus, Small Heaths and a couple of Common Blues, but my attention was immediately diverted by something larger and bright salmon-pink zooming up and down the path. When it finally stopped, I immediately identified a Painted Lady.Within a few seconds it was off again, and it quickly became apparent that the reason for its departure was the arrival of a second one. Watching them fly up and down the same stretch of path, I became convinced that there were almost certainly three different butterflies.There may have been a fourth, but I only managed photos of three distinct individuals. After twenty minutes or so they all decided to move on at the same time, heading with the strong wind northwestwards. A very fortuitous encounter really, and great to see - maybe part of an influx from the south and east? I know others have been seen around the country in recent days during the spell of warm winds from the continent.

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Sat Jun 06, 2020 6:39 pm That's a shame, Neil - they are indeed a lovely species. I imagine the colony in Shropshire is just a bit too far for an easy daytrip from Solihull.
Dave

It's about on the limit of what I would do for a day trip. Whixall Moss is just a bit further so you can do both in one trip, which is what I have done before to see SSB and Large Heath in one day. The thought has been crossing my mind but Prees Heath in particular, being the only SSB site in the midlands, can get a bit busy, so I think I will be happier leaving it for this year.

Looks like you had better weather than us yesterday (Saturday). We has some brief sunny spells but also loads of rain including some very heavy stuff and even some hail.

Cheers,

Neil.

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:11 am
Looks like you had better weather than us yesterday (Saturday). We has some brief sunny spells but also loads of rain including some very heavy stuff and even some hail.

Cheers,

Neil.

I'm afraid I'm a week behind in my posts, Neil - those Painted Ladies were a week ago yesterday. Yesterday's weather (6th) was atrocious (like yours) for most of the day.

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:24 pm

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:11 am
Looks like you had better weather than us yesterday (Saturday). We has some brief sunny spells but also loads of rain including some very heavy stuff and even some hail.

Cheers,

Neil.

I'm afraid I'm a week behind in my posts, Neil - those Painted Ladies were a week ago yesterday. Yesterday's weather (6th) was atrocious (like yours) for most of the day.

Dave

Doh! Thats what's happens when I post before I have had my first coffee in the morning

Cheers,

Neil.

Very much enjoyed meeting up with you and Wurzel today, Dave.
The BH weren't performing at their best, despite the almost perfect conditions.
Still a day like today makes us appreciate the good days even more.

See you soon no doubt!.
Trevor.

I know what you mean about the coffee, Neil - an essential morning ritual, after which everything gradually comes into focus.

You're absolutely right, Trevor - if we didn't have to work hard at it sometimes I think the whole thing would lose its interest. And there are often surprises when you least expect it.

Back a week again to Sunday 31st May. Clear blue sky and warm sunshine once again to finish off May and break all kinds of spring weather records by miles. It has been exceptional.

I met up with Wurzel and Philzoid again down in Bentley Wood, hopeful of seeing a few more Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. We succeeded, but they were hard work and there were really very few flying. The first one seen was perhaps the easiest, with Wurzel spotting it clambering from its overnight roosting spot. It actually seemed a bit the worse for wear, distinctly faded and translucent and not particularly mobile. Another one seen was less faded, but had a chunk missing from one wing. The best-looking one we saw failed to oblige with a photo. There were a few other things around: A couple of Marsh Fritillaries, and at least one rather worn Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Two or three Grizzled Skippers......and a few Large Skippers.There were also new Meadow Browns, including my first female of the year.Mixed outcomes really - we got to see the target species, but they weren't particularly impressive, and we all started to recall previous seasons up to ten years or so ago when the SPBF were far more numerous.

Dave

There was still time when I returned home on 31st to go out locally and make the most of the last of the extraordinary number of hours of May sunshine. Several species were enjoying the early arrival of bramble flowers (I expect to see ripe blackberries at the start of July, if not before).

Holly Blue......Red Admirals......and even one of two very ancient Commas seen.I spotted a Brimstone caterpillar in its curious priapic pose......and two Large Skippers chasing each other and anything else that moved.One of the many insects they disturbed turned out to actually be a pair, revealed by the lugubrious flight they made under the power of the male butterfly only. A conjugal couple of Large Whites.A fresh Speckled Wood sat in the sun. All in all, well worth the extra wander out.

As has been publicised, the spring sunshine of 2020 has been exceptional, and that during May in particular. My source of local weather stats (for Heathrow - the weather station is just on the northern perimeter of the airport, only a few kilometres away from me) reveals that we experienced 310 hours of sun in May (exactly 10 a day), with an average maximum temperature of a shade over 21 degrees. The butterflies round here must be worn out!

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:51 pmspotted a Brimstone caterpillar in its curious priapic pose...

That's Priapus after a night on my homebrew, I think!

Guy

Crickey Dave - it's been a bit of a marathon catching up with your PD Stunning looking Silver-studded Blues, probably my favourite of group I've still to see a Painted Lady, get alone get a shot of one Cracking looking Meadow Browns - really large spots on the hind wing Bentley Wood was a good trip, if hard going butterfly wise, they certainly made us work for the shots after that first drowsy one Hope to catch up again soon, possibly in a wood somewhere with a faint odour of Tesco Tuna chunks

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Padfield wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:57 pm

millerd wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:51 pmspotted a Brimstone caterpillar in its curious priapic pose...

That's Priapus after a night on my homebrew, I think!

Guy

Goodness, Guy - what goes into your homebrew?!? It's the bright green colour I think I'd be most worried about...

You're right Wurzel - the heady aroma of Mr. Tesco's finest canned tuna gently warmed by the sun certainly evokes a certain type of summer morning... Hope you can make it.

Monday 1st June. The warm sunshine continued - for a couple of days at least. Small Heaths and Common Blues provided almost all today's sightings, though Meadow Browns are rapidly increasing too. Female Common Blues provided most interest - there have been none of the very blue ones seen in this brood during 2019, most being a bit blue, a bit brown.I thought I was following a Holly Blue when this male flew up and nectared on the bramble.A relatively new Small Copper appeared - I thought the first brood were done, but it could be an early second I suppose.The next generation of Peacocks were getting larger and blacker.Adding to my hopes about a bit of an influx again, a Painted Lady turned up on the nearest brambles to home. For the afternoon, I thought I would have a look at Thursley Common to see how the Silver-Studded Blues were doing, and if the heather there had also been affected by frost. What I hadn't realised was that the area had suffered a bad heath fire at the weekend (almost certainly started by disposable barbecues left by the rash of picnickers who had visited). Accessing the village (let alone the common) was prevented by a notable Police presence.

Plan B - a quick visit to Chiddingfold, which is after all no great distance from Thursley. The woods were very peaceful, and first brood Wood Whites were still flying, though I only counted eight or so. They barely stopped for a second in the hot sunshine, and I decided photos would take a lot of getting! Aside from these, there were a couple of Large Skippers and nothing else at all. Hard to imagine how those paths will be in just a few days from now.

I then returned to the original plan, which was to call at Dawneys Hill on the less direct route home, and look for Silver-studs there too. There were only a few males flying - I counted no more than half a dozen. Here as well the heather (what there is left of it as the gorse is quickly taking over) had been frosted and there were virtually no flowers. Alternative nectar sources here are vanishingly few - the odd low-growing bramble is about it. The population here could well be on the way out... A few shots of the Blues: No other species were seen here at all.

Dave

Some really electric looking Silver Studs there Dave I hope they can muddle through; I've frequently been surprised by how effectively butterflies can bounce back - I hope it's the case here too

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Sounds like that site could do with a bit maintenance, Dave. Do you know who owns it?

Cheers, Wurzel - the blue colour of fresh SSB is stunning. Let's hope this site recovers.

I don't know exactly who manages it, Mark - it has to be done with the Grayling population in mind as well, but the unchecked spread of the gorse at the expense of the heather will eventually also swallow up the bare areas the latter species favours. It won't be long before they will also be appearing.

Tuesday 2nd June. Another hot sunny day, but probably the last for a while. The bright sunshine made everything very active and also made getting any decent photos more difficult than usual. I managed to pin down a couple of Large Skippers for a second or two......and likewise the odd Small CopperOne of these was an old friend.Another customer at the bramble refreshment stop was a Brown Argus - they also seem to go on for ever.My attention today was distracted by some other insects. A juvenile cricket......and a couple of dragoflies which unusually both allowed close approaches and were actually sitting only a few metres apart. For the afternoon of the 2nd, I decided to see if anything more had appeared at Bookham. To start with, only a few Meadow Browns and a couple of Large Skippers were seen, but then I spotted something else gliding through the dappled shade. I suspected it was a White Admiral, but it wasn't until a few minutes later that another one came into view to confirm it. The brambles here were only just opening and the majority were shaded or inaccessible from the paths, and when I finally found a butterfly actually stopped for refreshment I couldn't get either a close view or a clear view. Over an hour or so, I counted four or five in different parts of the woodland, gliding gracefully in and out of the shade, generally avoiding any direct sunlight. A very early emergence for the species - certainly as early as I have ever seen them. There was still time for another stop or two. I popped into Denbies next and confirmed that Marbled Whites were on the wing. There were as yet only a handful, all keeping to the shade along the top of the hillside and rarely stopping.I also caught sight of three Dark Green Fritillaries - one in Steers Field and the other two flying up and down the main hillside at high speed. Having seen these, I also had a quick look at Box Hill, Burford Spur in particular, but there were no Marbled Whites here yet, and only one equally energetic DGF.

A full day, with three new species for the year seen at the end of an extraordinary spell of sunny weather. Things would now change...

Dave