www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

R.I.P YOUR MAJESTY.

With almost ideal weather today I spent the whole day at Herstmonceux Castle gardens.
At this time of year, the gardens are at their best for butterflies, with lots of late nectar on offer.
I went hoping for the odd Clouded Yellow but was rewarded with a minimum of four identifiable individuals.
They varied in condition from very fresh through to very worn and all were lively in the warm sunshine.

The best of the rest to follow..........

Looks like they had a clear preference for one flower.
Looking forward to the best of the rest!

Thanks Katrina. Cloudies flower of choice seems to be Verbena. I didn't see them on anything else.

Here are the best of the rest.

I had a very rewarding morning at Whitehawk Hill today.
Another enthusiast was already on site, and had driven from Broadstone, Dorset, for her first Long Tailed Blue.
It was a pleasure to show her the best spot to see them. Only one tatty male was seen and paid several
visits to the few pea flowers still in bloom.
The morning did get better however, firstly when a female Clouded Yellow landed on hawkbit just long
enough for me to walk over to it and obtain several shots. Shortly after this I saw a high speed Wall Brown chase,
this lead to a mating pair although the male looked most uncomfortable !.
Then I noticed a Speckled Wood with almost ' bleached out ' hindwings land on a bramble,
but as it was lively in the heat it was sometime later before a shot of it was possible.
Several more fresh Speckled Woods completed an interesting morning.

Crickey Trevor you've had a busy few days - my cup may almost runneth over with Canary yellow Cloudy , Long-tailed Blue , pathological Specklie - very interesting to see and to top it all a mating pair of Walls Brill!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. I did indeed have a busy two days, and both exceeded expectations for a change .

Some nice finds there Trevor especially the mating Walls which I have only ever seen twice before. Well done.

Thanks Pauline. It was the mating Walls, and the female Cloudie that made the day.
How many visitors have come away from Whitehawk where the LTB wasn't the highlight!

On Sunday 11th Sept. on my visit to Herstmonceux gardens it was hard going to find a fresh Small Copper.
Since then we've had two days of poor weather, and this morning didn't look too promising either.
But as the cloud began to break a little I risked another visit. On arrival it was mild rather than warm,
and the cloud had filled in again. Not holding too much hope for the day, I was surprised later on to find
quite a few fresh Small Coppers and very few worn ones. This suggested that the Coppers are still emerging.
Fortunately, several were found basking on the stone paving slabs and in an ideal position for their portraits
to be taken, as well as some also resting on plants for the more normal shots.

The supporting cast wasn't too bad either once the weather improved................

a for that blue badger . They've been pretty scarce on my travels this year, probably only just into double figures.

Cheers Paul, I've only seen two so far, both today.

Later on this afternoon there were two short periods of bright sunshine, and each persuaded a
Clouded Yellow to nectar on Verbena, the first one was in good condition, but the second was
very fresh and looked as though it had already suffered a bird strike.
A great surprise was a fresh, male, Wall Brown, so it could be that a small third brood has started
at Herstmonceux. I remember finding a fresh female Wall there on 9th October 2020.
An obliging Large White completed a fairly long day.

Trevor.

Glorious Clouded Yellow and Wall, Trevor, but I think my favourite, believe it or not, is perhaps the Large Cabbage White! Don’t often see them with their wings open like that. Excellent picture!

I was very lucky with that Large White Mark. Usually, one of the trickiest butterflies
to photograph at the best of times.

Yesterday was all about Small Coppers and Clouded Yellows, today it was Wall Browns
and Clouded Yellows, plus two stunning, fresh, female Common Blues.
It was good to find at least five fresh male Walls and a single female.
For the first time this Autumn I was able to watch the Clouded Yellows searching
for a suitable spot to ground on when the clouds came over.

A nice late season selection there Trevor

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks Neil, not too much time left now.

Cracking Cloudies , wonderful Walls and that last female Common Blue is very striking By the way I think that Blue Badger Small Copper holds the rank of Superintendent

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. I think a blue badge Copper I saw today might rank as a commissioner,
see what you think!