www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

It's great to have a personal guide when at an unfamiliar site.
Wurzel fulfils this role with aplomb!. It would seem that you and I both had a great time at Shipton B.,
and we both came away with a camera full of Brown Hairstreak shots.
I agree that the upper side of the male BH is unremarkable, but it was great to see, in my case. for the first time ever!.

Great stuff Dave, and keep well.
Trevor.

Cheers, Ernie - yes, I rather like that particular shot as well! There was a bit of computer tinkering to bring out more detail on the butterfly as it was quite dark against the brightness of the sky, but the result was surprisingly good.

Thank you Goldie - I hope you get to see them as well - Brown Hairstreaks are worth seeking out.

The upperside of that Common Blue was entirely normal when I saw it in flight, David, though I didn't get a shot of it. Other flavescens I've seen have been unremarkable on top as well. It's certainly listed as an ab, but like so many, I suspect there are all shades in between this and the "normal".

You're quite right, Trevor. Wurzel's knowledge of Shipton B. is invaluable, and the first of those male Brown Hairstreaks were right where he said they would be!

Saturday 1st August was just as sunny as the last day of July, but a great deal cooler. I took myself off up to Aston Rowant again, hoping the change in conditions would make spotting Silver-spotted Skippers a bit easier. True, they were easy enough to spot, but actually getting close was distinctly tricky. Eventually, I saw one go to ground, and stay long enough for me to approach. When I sat down close by I saw not one, but two cute skipper faces peering up at me.They didn't stay like that for long: very soon the male made his intentions known.The female didn't appear interested, and the male moved a little way away - though he remained quite agitated and knew where she was.I was able at this point to get a shot of each of them separately.The object of the male's desires then flew a few centimetres up on to a flower to nectar, and he was off in an instant to land behind her.Back down to the grass she went, and this time his positioning when he followed her was pinpoint accurate, despite a bit of fluttering on her part.The connection was made......and consolidated.A bit of brighter sunshine caused both parties to open their wings...... but the attachment looked to be solid. I think the remainder of the butterflies seen there can wait for another post!

Dave

Absolutely cracking set of Silver Spots Dave - its quite amusing watching them buzz in and then walk towards a female waving their abdomens around like that Looking forward to the Northern species, I don't normally like spoilers but I'm wondering if there might be a second brood NBA this time?

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

ps - cheers for the ab.flavescens reminder - I found one at Martin Down on Monday so now I can name it correctly

Cheers, Wurzel - those SSS make a great subject for a series of photos! I'm afraid where I went up north, there either aren't any NBA (Yorkshire Wolds) or they were over (Cumbria). In the latter area, the summer has been at a normal pace and much wetter than down here, so a second brood was probably unlikely. Certainly I saw none at either Smardale or Arnside.

Other than those two Silver-spots at Aston Rowant on 1st August, I saw plenty of others darting about - another good season for them here by the look of things. The Peacocks, so numerous here recently, were reduced to just two or three, but there were instead a good helping of Small Tortoiseshells.Also a reliable find here was a reasonably fresh Small Copper......and plenty of Brown Argus.However, it was impossible to ignore the shimmering Chalkhill Blues, flying just above the turf every time the sun peeped through. There were pairs......and gaggles of males with a female somewhere underneath.One even managed to photobomb my SSS shots.The females were probably actually just as numerous, and quite variable in colour.However, one in particular stood out, but unfortunately was the least willing to open up for a decent shot.I have seen examples with a lot of blue here before and I think a good view of a fresh example like this one would be quite striking: the hindwings seemed largely blue and the forewings had patches of blue scales as well..

Another excellent trip out.

Dave

Just catching up on your recent reports Dave, great stuff with more great selections of species

millerd wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:15 pm CWolds)...so a second brood was probably unlikely. Certainly I saw none at either Smardale or Arnside..

As far as I am aware, NBA never have a second brood, although I suppose anything is possible these days.

millerd wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:15 pm ...I have seen examples with a lot of blue here before and I think a good view of a fresh example like this one would be quite striking: the hindwings seemed largely blue and the forewings had patches of blue scales as well..

I remember seeing a striking female CB with blue hindwings at Aston Rowant a few years back and have seen a few similar ones reported over the years. Strangely enough, I have never seen any as striking looking reported from anywhere else.

Edit: It was 2014, just dug out a photo. Feel free free to delete it Dave if you don't want it in your PD.
Cheers,

Neil.

" Certainly I saw none at either Smardale or Arnside." Oh well one less thing to be envious about then I was wondering though as there were some shots of the Scottish NBA from a few days back and they were really fresh Lovely set of shots from Aston That is a really interesting looking female - she could almost be a partial Gyandromorph

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thats a very unusual female Chalkhill Dave ,very nice find ,never seen a female with a Blue hindwing like that ,nice One !
Regards Allan.W.

Thank you Neil. I haven't yet heard of a second brood in NBA either, even in the more southern populations, though I assume these emerge earlier than the Scottish ones. I've only seen them at Arnside, and the latest there has been late July.

Cheers Neil, Wurzel and Allan - that was a very interesting Chalkhill female, and it's worth noting that you've seen something like it there before, Neil. I saw something similar back in 2012, also at Aston Rowant - both examples are on the UKB abs pages. Maybe it's in the local gene pool.

The following day, Sunday 2nd August, similar weather sent me south instead to the slopes of the North Downs. I started off at Box Hill (getting parked on a Sunday at the moment means an early start too.) Chalkhill Blues were the most prominent feature of the slopes at Dukes......with good support from the Silver-spotted Skippers too.However, I was also pleased to find that the first male second brood Adonis Blues had emerged.I counted four individuals altogether.

Dave

2nd August continued...

The queue for coffee at Box Hill had become too long for a comfortable wait, so I headed across the Mole Valley to Denbies Hillside and (to be honest) much better coffee from the van there. I think I've mentioned it before, but the slopes at Denbies are generally far drier and less green than those up at Aston Rowant, and the butterflies more spread out. There were once again plenty of Chalkhills across the main slopes......and down at the bottom I found a very worn second brood Dingy Skipper (this is the fourth place I've seen them this summer).However, I only caught a few brief glimpses here of any Silver-spots, but moving onto the slopes east of Steers Field I found rather more. This area is more sheltered, has more scabious and other nectar plants, and also has numerous rabbit scrapes on which the species likes to bask.Finally, I came across a very delicate and attractive moth, which I'm sure someone will be able to identify in a few moments! Dave

Lace Border Moth

Thank you, Martin! A very apt name for it too. I see it is found most commonly on the North Downs, though not as much elsewhere, and overall is considered "scarce".

Dave

Monday 3rd August. With another sunny morning forecast, I went down to Noar Hill again hoping perhaps to bump into Pauline who might show me the best bits of the site for Brown Hairstreaks. I was there quite early, but somehow managed to miss both Pauline and Ernie, who had been there even earlier... I spent some while looking at likely areas, and at one point a male Brown Hairstreak landed quite close by on a hazel next to the path. It posed nicely, but far too briefly as it was immediately disturbed by a large fly before I had even pointed the camera. There was plenty of other variety, and one particular area of hemp agrimony (apparently renowned for attracting Brown Hairstreaks in the past) hosted around a dozen Red Admirals, and a few worn Silver-washed Fritillaries.Elsewhere there were Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.There were Common Blues all over the site, mostly worn, but this female was an exception.I looked in vain for the second brood Dingy Skippers I had seen last time, but did find a couple of Small Blues (also looking rather the worse for wear now).Eventually, looking up at a likely ash tree I noticed several butterflies darting around in the branches. I watched one of these drift back and forth, coming lower and lower until it settled just above head height but on the wrong side of a jungle of brambles. I knew any attempt to wade into that was bound to disturb the butterfly, so I accepted it would have to be a bit of zoom if I was to get any shots. The butterfly sat with its wings shut, nearly edge on but enough to identify it as a Brown Hairstreak - distinctly sandy-coloured so a male.After a few encouraging words from me it opened up a bit, just long enough for a single shot.I think Pauline has mentioned that they've been hard work at Noar Hill this year - I can vouch for that: I saw no more during my visit.

Dave

Hi Dave

I think I got lucky way back in July when I saw all those newly emerged males. Since then they have taken a lot of finding and I have only managed 2 females to date. Just like last year the eggs seem to be disappearing quickly. You did well to find a fresh male. Such a shame to have missed you.

Thank you Pauline - there was quite a lot of time invested in finding that male, but Noar Hill is such a lovely spot, it can never feel lke time wasted.

On the way home from Noar Hill on 3rd August, I dropped by Dawney's Hill to look at the Graylings. It was getting pretty warm by now and the bright sunshine was going to make things difficult for photographing them. Initially I began to wonder where they were, but in the area furthest from the gate where the gorse has yet to encroach, half a dozen or so appeared. As usual, they found me as much as the other way around, and one in particular was particularly hard to shake off - I thought at one point it might have to come home with me...As expected, they angled themselves edge-on to the sun to keep cool.They also stood on tiptoe if the ground was particularly hot.One individual spent some time cruising back and forth close to me, displaying a shyness the earlier one seemed to lack. I had a crack at catching it in flight as it passed by, and surprised myself with something that was rather less of a blur than all the other attempts were.The scent scales of the male are actually clearly visible on the forewings.

Wandering back to the car, I turned up a few more Graylings around the bigger gorse bushes and the small areas of heather frequented by the Silver-studded Blues a few weeks ago (plus one or two Meadow Browns doing Grayling impersonations), but overall numbers seemed low and I don't think I saw a female. I will return in a coule of weeks and see if there is any difference.

Dave

On Tuesday 4th August, knowing that I would shortly be away for the best part of a week and seeing the morning's sunshine might not last, I went down to Bookham again with Brown Hairstreaks in mind.

To start with, I was distracted by a few other butterflies......but before too long I found my target, happily nectaring.Shortly afterwards, there was another......and then one more.Overall, including those I failed to get anywhere near, I saw six or seven individuals: not a single one opened its wings. I'm confident however that the first one pictured above (first three photos) was male, but the other two (last four photos) I'm not 100% sure about. Any opinions welcome!

Dave

After recent events I am a bit wary of sticking my neck out on this one Dave . Fresh males can sometimes look remarkably similar to females and in this case I would guess they are all males. I shall wait to be corrected now

Another massive catch-up session Dave So to get started...

Is that first slightly open wing Adonis Blue a ab.scalens (?) as it has the spotting on the hind wing?
Cracking sets of Silver-spots and Chalkhills
Interesting looking Ringlet
'Sexing' Brostreaks from photos is really difficult Dave as it all depends on the lighting - I wouldn't touch it with a 60ft pole But if I had to I would have those down as males as they all looked a bit 'honey' coloured and not a bright orange

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thinking back to the day itself, Pauline and Wurzel, I came away believing I had only photographed males - it was only going through the shots later on that any doubt crept into my mind. I saw a female today at Bookham, and comparing that one and the definite female I saw at Shipton the other week, I reckon you're right: the females are a much brighter shade of orange. I'm just not used to seeing so many males down nectaring - it's been a very odd season for them.
I'll have to check that Adonis variety out, Wurzel - I know I've seen a few like that before. There are minor abs everywhere you look!

5th August was spent travelling up to see my sister in Yorkshire. With the impending heatwave forecast, I was pleased to be heading for more temperate weather, and generally it was cooler and cloudier up there.

On Thursday 6th August, despite initially cloudy skies I drove out to Kiplingcotes, the old chalk pit reserve near Market Weighton. As I had anticipated, it was bright and warm enough for butterflies to be flying, and towards the end of the time I spent there the sun did make an appearance.

As usually happens, my walk down from the car park was accompanied by Speckled Woods and a few Green-veined Whites.I wondered if there would still be a few Marbled Whites still flying with the many Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, and there were, though they were very worn.There were good numbers of Common Blues, initially just roosting but prompted into basking and flight by any brightness.I looked in vain for Brown Argus amongst them, and also for Small Coppers - both species I have seen here at this time of year in the past. I did however come across a Small Heath.Peacocks were everywhere - good to see them again as they have all but disappeared into hibernation at home.When the sun appeared, so did a Brimstone - avidly nectaring every moment the sun was out and seeking cover as soon as cloud obscured it.I chatted to a fellow enthusiast who had taken the bus from York to Market Weighton to get here: he asked me whether I'd seen any Essex Skippers as he'd heard they had expanded their range into the area. I then set about looking more closely at all the skippers flying which I had routinely dismissed as Small. Fairly quickly, I found one that seemed comparatively fresh and luckily it obliged with a few suitable poses.Quite clearly, this was an Essex Skipper. I have to say it felt odd to reckon this as a significant find when I was seeing dozens of them at home only a few weeks back. There were Small Skippers as well of course.Naturally there was the obligatory small but attractive moth to be identified... Last of all, amidst the many Meadow Browns flying I found one that opened up long enough for a photo. A good thing really, as it seemed to be a very dully-marked individual with the orange markings replaced by a yellow-buff colour.They vary hugely, but it may still have a name...

Dave

6th August (continued).

On my way back to my base in Wilberfoss, I stopped a mile or two short at Calley Heath, which is notable for Small Coppers in particular. They obliged, though not in great numbers.This is also a good spot for Brown Argus, but the few that I saw were new so the second brood is likely only just starting in this northerly population.There were a few Small Skippers (no Essex that I could find!), plus a Red Admiral or two, a few Peacocks and a couple of Commas.However, holding centre stage as it dashed madly between clumps of ragwort in characteristically energetic flight, was a fresh-looking Painted Lady.I invariably seem to see Painted Ladies on my summer trips to Yorkshire, whatever kind of season they are having nationally, so I was pleased to continue the sequence for another year.

Dave

Lovely looking Lady Dave - they've certainly been at a premium this year - I've only seen two so far all year Mind you hopefully the Cloudies will pick up some of the slack Interesting to see things comparatively behind up North - are they about a fortnight slower?

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel