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Hi

Lovely today at Magdalen Hill Down and lots of Butterflies about, 30 plus Brimstones, Orange Tips and Green Hairstreaks ... 20 plus Holly Blues ... along with Green-veined Whites, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and a Grzzled Skipper ...

Clive

Hi

Back to Magdalen Hill Down again yesterday (Sunday) and nice to bump into Gary, Lisa and Ian ... again the Green Hairstreaks put on a fantastic display ... also found 6 Grizzled Skippers along with the Brimstones, Orange Tips, Holly Blues and Small Tortoiseshells ...

Today Shirley had a Orange Tip and Holly Blue for company in the garden ... didn't help me being at work!

Clive

Hi

Very happy to find 45 plus Duke of Burgundy today at Noar Hill ... along with 30 plus Dingy Skippers ... good numbers of Holly Blues, Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites and Brimstones ... a couple of Green Hairstreaks and Small Heaths ... and a single Grizzled Skipper ... a Small Tortoiseshell joined us for coffee back at the car ...

Clive

Hi Clive,

Last week whilst at Noar Hill we met a local guy who does transects there. He said there's only been one Grizzled Skipper there - way back in 1993! We'd heard that one had been seen (this was on 21st) and he asked us to get a pic if we saw it and send the record in.

Hope you got that pic!

All the very best, was thinking of you and Shirley when we were at Bentley last week.

Seth & Sam.

Hi Seth

Only managed a record shot of the Grizzled Skipper at Noar Hill ...

Still hope to bump into you and Sam again one day ...

Clive

Hi

Stockbridge Down today ... quite windy but warm ... a good selection of Butterflies found in the more sheltered spots ... Grizzled Skippers, Dingy Skippers, Brimstones, Orange Tips, Common Blues, Holly Blues, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Small Heath and Small Copper ...

Clive

Your pics are superb Clive.

Many thanks Zonda ...

Clive

Hi

Not so far from home this afternoon, about 300 yds, I spent a couple of hours with the company of half a dozen Large Skippers ... a worn Common Blue, a very worn Dingy Skipper was also seen along with a Burnet Companion ...
Also found this critter ... any help with ID please ...
Thanks Clive

that would be Agapanthia villosoviridescens

Chris

Many thanks Chris ...

Clive

ChrisC wrote:that would be Agapanthia villosoviridescens

Chris

That's easy for you to say.

Cracking shot, Clive!

Susie wrote:That's easy for you to say

You're right ... Longhorn Beetle ...

Thanks Susie

Clive

Hi

A visit to Silchester Common today to look for the Silver-studded Blue ... I wasn't disappointed, as there was a good number ... males and females ...

Also a few Small Heaths and a couple of Meadow Browns blowing about in the wind ...

Clive

Hi

We had a very nice walk around Pamber Forest yesterday ... loads of Speckled Woods and Large Skippers ... but the real excitement for us was our first White Admirals this year, three in all ... followed by our first Silver-washed Fritillary ... seven species seen altogether ...

We didn't see Pete (I've just read your Diary)

Clive

Clive wrote:We didn't see Pete (I've just read your Diary)

Hi Clive - I was only there for 30 minutes while walking the dogs, since I had quite a few errands to attend to! Hopefully we'll bump into each other again at some point!

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi

Returning home from work today to find out the washing machine had broke again for the third time in as many weeks ... Shirley really was not a happy bunny ... I thought I'd better disappear for half an hour and check out the Skippers! ...

300 yds from the back gate and they are still there, along with a Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and Beautiful Demoiselle ...

First photo I think is a female ...

Clive

Stunning shot of the female - I'd agree with you as it doesn't have the androthingy scales/brand thingy (still learning the technical terms!). Was it keeping low to the ground as that is supposed to be one of the behaviours that they show as opposed to the males?
Anyhoo keep up the good work! Have a goodun

Wurzel

ps - did staying out of the way help - I've tried that with my wife but it merely postpones the inevitable!

Thanks Wurzel ... she was about 3ft above the ground on this bramble leaf (the brambles are very tall here) stayed there for about 5 mins and then started nectaring on the brambles flowers, about 5 - 6ft high ...

Staying out the way helped a little last night, but she is still not happy and it was raining tonight!

Clive

Hi

Another visit to Pamber Forest today ... 8 White Admiral and 9 Silver-washed Fritillary along with a good number of Large Skippers (we have seen a lot of these this year) and Speckled Woods, 4 Commas, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Brimstones and a few Meadow Browns ...
Also found this critter, what ever it is ...
Thanks Clive