Thanks
Pete, Bookham didn’t seem to do so bad with White Admiral this year, there was certainly plenty of larvae to be found before they got picked off by the Tits/went into hibernation. Last week I found one that had moulted to 4th instar so might a be a few to be found in October if the weather doesn’t fail.
I didn’t actually
Guy. That would be the most obvious cause although when I poked it, it just fell into the undergrowth like a dead leaf. I did notice the spider below though!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 2024
Thursday 4th. There was a lot more life on Box Hill than there was at Bookham two days earlier. It did help that the sun was out, and it was significantly warmer. I put off the visit until mid-afternoon hoping that I wouldn’t have to wait so long for one of the targets, Dark Green Fritillaries to slow down. Whilst waiting for them there were plenty of Marbled White around.
For the first time this year Small Skippers were also easy to come across.
I had a go at getting some Small Heath uppers, this is the best I got, at least its recognisable!
Gatekeepers were had only just started to appear with just an occasional fresh male making an appearance.
A few Red Admirals had taken ownership of some clearings at the top behind the visitor centre, these two look like they’re at either end of their lives.
After four I finally started to be able to grab some Dark Green Fritillary pictures, only males though.
All the Skippers seemed to be Small’s except for one unfortunate Essex who was having a very bad day.
Note how fat the Spider was, there’s a good reason for that, previous victims littered the turf under her chosen hunting spot!