Trevor

[Steve Kirtley]

Good to meet you at Whitehawk Trevor!
I think that I left as the lull started....

[David M]

Things been relatively frustrating for you lately, or so it seems, Trevor. Persistence pays off though, and I'm glad you finally caught up with those Long Tailed Blues.

[trevor]

Thanks Steve. Must visit your area, all the species I have yet to see are in the North.

Cheers David. No frustrations this morning.

Early this morning, 8am is now early as the sunrise is now later, I went over to Horseshoe Plantation,
mainly for Adonis Blues. With few exceptions most Adonis clung to their grass stems because of the
strong cool breeze, and refused to open up.
Soon after arrival I found a pristine Clouded Yellow, again too cool to fly far, but once I had taken a
few shots I clumsily rose to my feet and disturbed the Cloudie which promptly flew nearby and landed
with the other side on view.
A resting Hummingbird Hawk moth was a surprise find, and along the edge of the wooded area many
Speckled Woods basked and squabbled in the direct sunshine. Two fresh Commas were also found here
indulging on ripe blackberries. My last find on the way back to the car was a ' blue' female Common Blue.

A very satisfying two hours!
Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Lovely shots of the Cloudy Trevor, much better than I took Goldie

[Wurzel]

Brill Cloudy shots Trevor The ones I've found have all been a bit tatty but yours is in fabulous nick Fingers crossed I can catch up with one like that from the next 'batch'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Thanks Goldie & Wurzel. Not only was that Cloudie fresh, it was in no hurry to escape for a change.

Having read that there was a third Brood of Wall Browns I thought a visit would be worthwhile.
Conditions weren't ideal, with very warm sunshine combined with a stiff breeze never the less
I was greeted by a pair of squabbling Walls and in the meadow several more were seen, all males.
They varied from a few days old to fresh, but most closed up on landing, open wing shots
were at a premium. On arrival back at home my neighbours buddleja was host to a Comma,
two HBHM and several fresh Red Admirals.

[trevor]

With a couple of spare hours this afternoon I went over to Herstmonceux to see
how the Small Coppers were coming along, it is usually about now that numbers peak there.
As most were fresh it's possible that some have still to emerge. But numbers seen today
were well down on previous years. A few Common Blues were seen too.

[Wurzel]

Great to see you have slightly more luck with the Walls there than at Shipton Bellinger they were just too turbo charged that day I can't work out how you got the blue rinse on the Small Copper either but it makes for a very striking image

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Gorgeous Small Copper photos

[trevor]

Can't explain the blue rinse either Wurzel. The only processing by me was to brighten
and slightly crop the image, otherwise it's what the camera saw. I agree it's a strange one.

Thanks Katrina. The Coppers were found in their usual areas.

This afternoon I went over to Rowland Wood hoping for more Small Coppers, none seen.
But several Common Blues were flitting about the remaining Fleabane flowers.
A fresh Peacock was also on the Fleabane, and had already suffered a bird strike, with two
small nicks at the base of the hindwings.

[Wurzel]

Love those shots Trevor Interesting to see the blue-white spots in the middle of the hind wing of the female Common Blue - I've started seeing more and more of this variation

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Love the Cloudies, Walls and Coppers, Trevor, but what I'm most envious of is the Peacock - I've only seen two since mid July.

[Goldie M]

That's a belting shot of the Peacock Trevor, It's one of my favourite Butterflies, I mean the last shot you took, it's very rare to see all the under sides at once and so clear, they've always been a side view for me Goldie

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. Unfortunately that female Common Blue was a bit faded.

Thanks David and Goldie. The Peacock was in a lovely setting with just a yellow and green backdrop.
For some reason Goldie that underside shot reminds me of Queen Victoria's mourning dresses!.

This morning I went up to High and Over for third brood Wall Browns.
The breeze up there was much stronger than at home, as a result only one male was found in the meadow..
Returning to the gate at the bottom of the steps I was greeted by three males brawling in the breeze.
It became clear that the sheltered hillside by the white horse was where the action was. Occasionally
a male Wall would flip over the brambles and bask on the well known steps.
Because of the cool conditions each landed and basked open wing, whereas om my last visit it was hot
and most closed their wings on landing. The third brood seems to be showing well despite the conditions.

Trevor.

[trevor]

Let's play ' Spot the Cloudie '.

On my last visit to Horseshoe Plantation a car pulled up and the driver beckoned me over.
He seemed to know me, but he was new to me. The reason he stopped was to tell me of
a nearby field of lucerne which was attracting many Clouded Yellows.
This afternoon I had plenty of time to investigate, and sure enough the were probably
hundreds of Clouded Yellows skipping over this very large field. Unfortunately the field
was protected by a very unfriendly looking electric fence, so I had to be satisfied with
being a distant onlooker. A few Cloudies flew close by but none settled, so below are
some very distant shots, the best I could manage in the circumstances.

[Katrina]

How wonderful to see hundreds

[trevor]

Thanks Katrina it was unbelievable but frustrating !.

[trevor]

On the way back to the car this afternoon I called in at Horseshoe Plantation.
Among the worn Adonis Blues was one very fresh one, which I followed around
to several different locations as I am unlikely to find another so fresh until next Spring.
An almost expired Chalkhill Blue was at the other end of the scale compared to the Adonis.
Over by the woodland edge three fresh Commas were basking after indulging in ripe blackberries.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

That must have been really annoying Trevor - so many Cloudies so close Still those nice looking Adonis must have been some salve

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Seems to be something of a 'crocea-fest' going on at the moment. Long may it continue!

Not surprised that field was full of them, Trevor. There can't be too many fields like that rammed with their preferred foodplant. Amazing sight, though I accept it must have been driving you crazy not to be able to get in amongst them.

Great to see such fresh Adonis Blues in September, and nice Commas too, especially that first one which has a discal mark joined to the costa that is strikingly large!