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Today I went to Botany Bay a little later than planned. I arrived at 12. I found my first Emperor of the year at 2.27pm at the High point. Later, at 3.17 I found another near the triangle. It was somewhat worse for wear but kept disappearing and reappearing until about 4 when I left. Also seen were Silver-Washed Fritillaries, Large Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, a Red Admiral, a Large White, a Comma and a Purple Hairstreak high in a tree.
It was a pleasure to see Trevor again, and meet Millerd, Francis and Robin amongst others.
Following Trevor's previous post re bait the first Emperor was on Neil's bait although probably not a statistically significant observation as I think Trevor only had one whereas Neil had several areas baited.

I decided to stop off at Chantry on the way home to sit out rush hour and found some Marbled Whites and my first Small Skipper of they year.

Great shots of His Nibbs Katrina I was always led to believe that they were a morning sighting so you finding them in the afternoon has made me think tht perhaps I need to spend even longer out looking for them

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, I was relieved I got away with the lie in this morning.

Well done finding those Emperors, Katrina. I watched Neil lay down the bait up at the high point and it's a pity I couldn't have stayed longer by the look of things! Good to meet you too - and put a name to a face.

Dave

HI Katrina,
I'm over the moon that you had an audience with the Emperor...........
........... But you should have come today!.

Lovely to meet you again,
Trevor.

Lovely Emperors Katrina

Wurzel wrote:Great shots of His Nibbs Katrina I was always led to believe that they were a morning sighting so you finding them in the afternoon has made me think tht perhaps I need to spend even longer out looking for them

Don't forget Wurzel, they don't read the books we get our information from !

Great scenic shots again Katrina and well done with the PE.

Dear Katrina
Good to meet you at Chiddingfold. Thanks for finding the Emperor.
Francis Kelly

Hi! Katrina, lovely Emperors, Of course i'm very jealous Goldie

Thanks Pauline, still awaiting the full purple shot like yours and losing track of Trevor's ones but in some ways I like having that to still aim for. Really enjoyed your Purple Hairstreak photos.
Good to meet you too Francis. I am sure you would have found it anyway.
Thank you Goldie, it was sheer undeserved luck I found them.

I have been on holiday for the past week up in Scotland. Rather cloudy weather and not much sun. I visited Insh Marshes several times and found many Ringlets and Chimney Sweeper Moths, a couple of Meadow Browns , a Common Blue and a Small Heath. Later in a bit of sun I found about 10 Northern Brown Argus, 2 Dark Green Fritillaries and a SPF. I also found a newt, a lizard and a frog. One trip round the Lochindorb area produced about 8 Large Heaths, in a different area to last year, and a trip to Grantown on Spey produced one Dark Green Fritillary and lots of Ringlets and Chimney Sweeper moths

The purple background works amazingly, so beautiful! Brilliant scale detail.

Thank you Jamie. There is a lot of purple up there at the moment with bell heather and thyme in flower.

Glad to hear that you saw some butterflies up here despite our weather!! It has been like this for that last two years!!!

Oh dear, if it is any consolation it feels like there has been much less sun than usual on the south coast this summer.

Those NBAs are little gems beutifully captured Katrina

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you Wurzel, they are one of my favourite butterflies.

I saw one very friendly Red Admiral at Victoria Gardens today.

This afternoon I walked round Pulborough Brooks with a friend . We saw many Meadow Browns and Red admirals. We also saw some skippers, Gatekeepers, Several Peacocks, two Commas, a Speckled Wood and a Painted Lady.
We went onto Chantry where I saw my first Chalkhill Blues of the year, one Silver-spotted Skipper (also my first of the year), a few Marbled Whites, Dark Green Fritillaries, a few small/ essex skippers , Red Admirals and lots of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers.