www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

It was quite a revelation yesterday Ben, I am used to finding just the odd
one or two at a time in recent years.

I’m hoping the numbers this year will reignite the debate around ST. We’ve had an unusual year in many ways, but the high rainfall leading to lush nettle beds, and the cold spring/late start must be significant factors. Throw in the parasitoids and you’ve got plenty to untangle!

That is a brilliant sight to see Trevor - especially coming from the South East I couldn't beat that this afternoon, the Buddleia outside the Vets only held a Painted Lady and three Small Torts Cracking day today must do it again next season

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel, and thanks for a great day. Good to see Dave as well.
Also we met some very pleasant and helpful fellow enthusiasts
Hope to pop back tomorrow if the weather holds.

Enjoy the pickle and stay safe,
Trevor.

That's an impressive tally of Tortoiseshells, I'd struggle to get that many near me and they've not declined so drastically in recent years as they have near you!

Thanks Paul. I have also seen more singles of Small Torts locally so far this year,
than in the last few years. Maybe the weather this year is more to their liking.

Late yesterday afternoon I called in at Tilshead, Wilts. It was both cloudy and windy
so most butterflies were hunkered down or had assumed roosting positions, except
for a mating pair of Adonis Blues.

Lovely shot of the Adonis Blue pair, Trevor they look mint

Thanks Mike. The Adonis paring was the icing on the cake for Monday.

On Monday 16th Aug I made my way to Shipton Bellinger for the second time
this month for the Brown Hairstreak. This time it had been arranged to meet
Wurzel there. When I arrived Wurzel and Dave ( millerd ) were already on site.
Initially the weather did not look too good, with almost complete cloud cover
and a very strong cool breeze. Fortunately the dense shrubbery offered complete
protection, on the Hampshire side, from the breeze. And before long we had a
few breaks in the cloud and things were starting to look ideal !.

Wurzel is a great Hairstreak spotter, and it was not long before our camera's were busy.
Away from the main area of activity Wurzel found a male BH on a tall thistle.
As we clicked away Wurzel said ' he's opening up Trev ', knowing that an open wing
male was high on my agenda, but I had to make do with a partial view of the upper side
as he never opened fully for us.
We were also very fortunate to meet an enthusiast couple who were very friendly,
and were keen to share their finds with others. Hence our best open wing female of the day.
Another male BH had been spotted high up, and very distant, on bramble blossom.
I think we all managed an image of sorts using full zoom.

In all I believe ( Wurzel may correct me ), that we saw seven Brown Hairstreaks in all.

My sincere thanks to Wurzel and Dave for a very enjoyable day.

Trevor.

Great stuff. Lovely selection of images there. Well done, Trevor!

Thanks Mark, it was a fabulous day.

A complete surprise for us at Shipton Bellinger was when a very fresh,
female Wall Brown flew past us at speed then settled a short distance away.
She displayed perfectly for us, with a lovely backdrop for a change.

No other Walls were seen that day.

That was a cracking day Trevor I'll have to consult my notebook for the final tally but it seems about right as we managed to photograph at least 6 and there were a couple of fly-bys Hopefully next year we'll get fully open as we only got half your target this year

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

That's what I always say Wurzel, there's always next year!.

This morning I went up on to the Downs above Willingdon Village, just outside Eastbourne.
I have not visited there for a couple of years, and past scrub clearance has allowed Hemp
Agrimony and Wild Marjoram to really flourish.
A strong breeze kept most butterflies down, but a few Common Blues braved the wind,
as did a solitary Brown Argus. Of the larger species, several male Brimstones and Red Admirals
completed a morning of challenging conditions.

Trevor.

Great shots from the day at Shipton, Trevor, that female Brown Hairstreak and more especially the lovely female Wall as I didn't get that close to her. An excellent day as you said - we were very lucky to have the shelter and the spell of sunshine.

Cheers,

Dave

Fabulous Brown Hairstreaks, Trevor, and the Wall Brown was the icing on the cake!

Good to know about the encouraging numbers of Small Tortoiseshells on your patch these last few weeks too. Let's hope this isn't a temporary 'blip'.

Thanks Dave & David. I am always pleased to find a female Wall Brown,
but the one at Shipton B. was special because it was so unexpected.

STATUESQUE.

Yesterday afternoon I returned to Herstmonceux Castle.
The Small Tortoiseshells were slightly down in number from my previous visit,
but were still plentiful, and a few more fresh Painted Ladies were present.
The dominant species seemed to be the Red Admiral. A single male Wall Brown completed the day.

This morning I went over to Steyning for the first time this year.
The weather was warm, but it was not until the final hour that we had any real Sun.
While we waited and searched a feisty Small Copper was regularly seen defending
his territory, seeing off any passing Meadow Brown.
Some fairly fresh Speckled Woods spent ages basking, including a fine female.

I must thank Kirsty Gibbs for alerting me when she found a Brown Hairstreak,
but by the time I arrived at the spot it was in the air. I had a rough idea where
it landed again, and later saw it on a bramble leaf. After two shots it was gone.
In all three Brown Hairstreaks came down, but I only saw the one.

Trevor.

The Castle looks like a great site for Walls on a wall Trevor - that shot is making an annual reappearance Good to see Brostreaks from other sites, how does it compare to Shipton

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel