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Brilliant Small Coppers, Trevor, especially that lovely ab radiata

Doing well with the autumnal brood of Coppers this year Trevor, they normally have a final flourish down Bookham way but I only found one today

Cheers both. More Small Coppers today.
Thanks for reminding me of the name for that ab, Mike. I now recall there
was some discussion about that particular ab. on here some time ago.

It got better today Paul, blue sky, sunshine, a Cloudie, more coppers and a
very civilised coffee break in the company of Katrina, and John W. What's not to like!.

Today's smallish haul at Herstmonceux Castle.

Great find that ab.radiata Trevor The second one looks a little different as well, those markings are very much reduced - could that be an ab.oblitera? You did well with the Cloudies as well I managed to get some shots of one at Martin Down but in the process I did a good 6 weeks worth of exercise

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. I have rather milked the Coppers this Autumn, for some reason
I rarely find them in the wild, and the garden flowers really set them off.
You're right about Cloudies they can be real calorie burners!.

Stay well,
Trevor.

Wonderful Small Copper ab., Trevor. I'm actually more envious of that than the Clouded Yellows!

Your Painted Lady is indeed striking a memorable pose. You really couldn't have placed it any better.

Thanks David. I was very impressed with that Painted Lady's pose.

Yesterday at Herstmonceux Katrina mentioned that she had read about a small
third brood of Wall Browns at High and over. I had planned an early visit but a lack
of petrol, and grey gloom with drizzle looked like trashing my plans for today.
I managed to fill the car up at 5.45 this morning, but later on had to wait for
the weather to improve.
By lunch time the sun was winning over the cloud, so I set off. I was greeted by
a pair of brawling Walls, sparring near the steps, and another male near the gate.
I can only vouch for observing these three Walls, but there were probably more as
it was almost impossible to keep up with them in the 21c warmth.

They were as slippery as ever!
Trevor.

Well done, Trevor. With the late season this year, I did wonder if any third brood adults would emerge.

Clearly they have!

I missed you by a day, Trevor - I was there on Friday, bumping into Bob (who was showing Lisa around) and several Walls that were likely the same as yours. You definitely managed better shots than I did - they were very active in Friday's sunshine. We both wondered if you'd appear!

You were lucky again with the sun - the grey gloom persisted near me until just before sunset.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks Mark and Dave. I went back to H&O this morning but was beaten by low cloud.

Determined to make the most of this afternoons fine weather, which might be the last
for a while according to the forecasters, I went back to Herstmonceux Castle.

Butterflies were fewer in number, but this was made up for by a variety of fresh specimens.
Firstly, there were a number of fresh Small Coppers, including another fine blue badge.
A couple of fresh Red Admirals, and a fresh Painted Lady completed my visit, which again
ended early due to deteriorating weather.

Hopefully today was not the end.
Trevor.

Nice selection again, Trevor, and you're really doing well with the caeruleopunctata Small Coppers.

Great to see the Wall Browns. Like Mark, I wasn't sure if there would be too much on the additional brood front this autumn, but clearly you have come across some.

Again great to see your late season efforts Trevor - you certainly seem to squeeze every last drop out of the season - good for you!

Thanks David and Ben.


The lashing rain this morning eventually gave way to blustery sunshine.
Noting that the strong wind was blowing from the west, I headed for High and Over,
where the seaward side of the hedge in the meadow offers protection from a westerly.
Sure enough several Walls were performing, plus a fresh Comma was indulging on
over ripe blackberries. A Painted Lady escaped without an image, but a Peacock
basking on a dried cowpat did oblige, both closed and open wing.
The only other butterflies today were a single Small Copper, and two Large Whites.

Trevor.

Well done with those Wall Browns, Trevor, and the Peacock and Comma, it's good to see these late season butterflies

Cracking set of Coppers (I don't think it's possible to overdo them ) and Walls Trevor The real surprise for me was the Peacock - I always think of them tucked up in hibernation first and I've not sen one for a fair old while now - that one must be a dirty stop-out

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Nice to see a Peacock on the PDs, Trevor. I think I went the whole of September without seeing one.

Good to get a decent shot or two of that Peacock, Trevor - there was at least one knocking around when I was there last week, but it wasn't posing. It could well be one of a small second brood - apparently late nests of caterpillars have been seen down your way. I saw a Peacock flying at Mill Hill last Friday as well.

Cheers,

Dave

Many thanks Gentlemen for your replies. There are still a few Peacocks to be found locally.

I have been offline for a few days. It is now back on again. How do these things work? .

Anyway on Sept.29th my garden had a visit from a female Speckled Wood ( no image ),
and a more obliging Comma, which spent a good 10 mins basking on my garden wall.

Good to be back,
Trevor.

There have been some funny thing going on recently in 'computer land' Trevor good to see you're back and making suitably grand re-entrance with those cracking Commas

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Nice Comma, Trevor. They've been pretty scarce in my neck of the woods lately so good to know they are still out and about.