www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Padfield wrote:

bugboy wrote:I'm 100% certain it's a worn Peacock....... I could be wrong of course!

100% certainty and self-doubt - you are a complex character, Buggy!

But I agree it is a peacock (which is, technically, a kind of tortoiseshell).

Guy

Does this help?

That's very ingenious, Vince, and totally convincing - though I've not seen 4 antennae before

You've been learning a lot about Photoshop, I think.

Mike

Brilliant. Definitely an aberrant Comma then.

Green Hairstreaks are having a good year on Mendip.

MikeOxon wrote: You've been learning a lot about Photoshop, I think.

Thanks Mike, but I know my limits

I have only local reports for June, starting with an unexpected Clouded Yellow in Tilgate Park, Crawley at lunch time today.
It looked very fresh and had a pale underside, although the upperside appeared normal in flight.

On 4th June, I had a Large White egg laying on nasturtium in my Crawley garden.
Also in the garden there are 7 Brimstone larvae feeding on my potted Alder Buckthorn plant. These are from 9 eggs that were laid on the plant during April.
Finally, only one of the 3 Brown Hairstreak eggs laid in my front hedge hatched and I moved the larva into the cage containing my other rescues. For the past three days it has spent its resting phases under the same leaf in the company of another of similar size.
These are almost fully grown and should be descending into the leaf litter soon to pupate.

Vince

A very quick trip to Mynydd Marian , North Wales today and i got my first Brown Augus which is a first for me.
also seen, the first small heaths of the year for me[ plenty about] and i couldnt ID the small blue butterflies that were very active but possibly sliver studded blues

Just over an hour spent on Fairwood Common, Gower, between 2pm and 3.15pm produced the following:

Marsh Fritillary 40-50
Common Blue 15-20
Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary 10-15
Large White 1
Green Veined White 1
Small Heath 1
Peacock 1

Sunday and part of Monday morning spent in the good company of Phil Bromley and Rosalyn (fellow UK Butterflies members) at Aberbargoed Grasslands NNR, Gwent (Monmouthshire) where we enjoyed the Marsh & Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in nice sunshine and a gentle southerly breeze Pleased to say that good numbers of both species presented ample opportunity for study and good photographs, and considering that both Phil & Ros are keen photographers of all things butterfly some very nice images were captured...at least they were by Ros...cos' the lady is a photographic 'super-star'

I want to say how much I enjoyed Phil & Rosalyn's company - cheers guys

Further details of our day are available on my Personal Diary
Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Thank you Bill. We are always guaranteed a good day with your invaluable knowledge. Thank you for showing us the Golden-ringed Dragonfly, a first for us. The evening sun was glorious at Aberbargoed Grasslands NNR (see I didn't forget the NNR ) A delight to be part of a perfect day
The Small Heath were a little worn so just as well you didn't come running

A brief visit to East Blean Woods car park last night on the way home from work produced a very nice photo opportunity of the Heath Fritillary. I have tried for a photo from this angle for a few years now but with no planning, everything just fell into place. Certainly on of my better Heath Fritillary photos. More @ http://www.marcheath.blogspot.com.

Marc

Its been over 3 years since i sighted a Heath Fritillary, so i made the effort this last Sunday (7/6/15) to visit a well known site in Kent.
Very good numbers seen on the day too, i even managed to capture 3 Heaths in the same shot/photo.

Location - East Blean Woods, Kent.

Cheers Paul.

Rosalyn wrote:We are always guaranteed a good day with your invaluable knowledge.

...your very kind Ros!

Some lovely images, I just feel the evening light added something different to your marshy pics. Your Small Heath is also a little different, they seem to be having a conversation or perhaps singing a butterfly love duet while holding hands...operatic...probably something from Madame Butterfly ...sorry I could'nt resist

Best Wishes,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

A trip to Crymlyn Burrows this morning saw me notch up my first Large Skipper of 2015:
Later on, my neighbour summoned me to check out a butterfly on the flowers in front of her cottage:
No Dark Green Fritillaries around here yet. Everything is at least a week behind normal.

I managed a few hours out in the sun on Sunday and connected with my first Northern Brown Argus of 2015, at Latterbarrow NR in Cumbria, it was freshly emerged and had a crumpled wing. Also seen were a Painted Lady and a Silver-Y Moth. Moment of the day was when the Northern Brown Argus landed on a Fly Orchid!

Marc Heath wrote: Certainly on of my better Heath Fritillary photos.
Marc

Marc, A very fine photograph indeed, well done. If that photo finds itself in the annual competition, then the bar has already been raised high.

Regards Kev

David M wrote:Later on, my neighbour summoned me to check out a butterfly on the flowers in front of her cottage ...

That painted lady has a most unusual hindwing. I see very little variation in painted ladies, beyond the presence or absence of blue pupils in the hindwing spots - and I've certainly never seen one like that.

Guy

Padfield wrote: That painted lady has a most unusual hindwing. I see very little variation in painted ladies, beyond the presence or absence of blue pupils in the hindwing spots - and I've certainly never seen one like that.

Me neither, Guy. It is abnormally sparsely marked on the hindwings.

I took a check to see if it was still about this evening as I would have liked to have seen the undersides.

No such luck though. Our 'Lady' appears to have moved on.

4 Glanvilles seen at Hutchinsons Bank today, 2 in good condition and 2 past their best, other butterflies Small Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, and a Hummie egg laying on hedge Bedstraw. The Glanvilles are now in their 5th Week, so wont hang on for much longer, but will hopefully last until after Sundays Butterfly Walks.

Marc Heath wrote:I have tried for a photo from this angle for a few years now but with no planning, everything just fell into place. Certainly on of my better Heath Fritillary photos.

Guess that's the way it happens Marc and the results in this instance have provided you with an image to be really proud of

Kind Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Wall Brown in the garden this afternoon - a first for the garden and a species I only see rarely and sporadically here in the east Mendips.