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Re: Trevor
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 7:48 am
by David M
Wonderful juxtaposition of the Argus & the Hairstreak, Trevor.
Must have been entertaining to watch that.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 8:04 pm
by trevor
Thanks Katrina & David.
Good to catch up Wurzel & Dave, for what is now an annual event!.
Wiltshire Day 2. Thursday 10th August.
The early morning mist delayed my visit to Tilshead until some signs of blue sky appeared.
Once there my wellies came in useful once again, as the grass was very wet.
As usual I spent some time searching the grass stems for fresh looking, roosting, butterflies
that would make good subjects as the sun tempted them to open up.
The first find turned out to be a stunning, fresh, ' blue ' female Common Blue. also a fresh
male Common Blue had a Brown Argus for company. Only one Chalkhill obliged for a shot.
One species I had hoped to find was an Adonis Blue or two. Now here's good fortune for you.
As I made my way back to the car a flash of bright blue rose up from the grass very near my feet
and weakly flew off, almost out of sight. I went over to the rough area where it may have gone down
and searched around, nothing. Then I looked up and there, displaying perfectly, was the Adonis
on a Hawthorn branch.
On to Shipton Bellinger on what promised to be a perfect day for a Brown Hairstreak hunt.
But up until lunch time we only had several fleeting glimpses, and that was it!
Time to head home.
A great two days in good company!
Re: Trevor
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 9:28 pm
by bugboy
well that looks like it was worth the effort!
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Re: Trevor
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:51 am
by Katrina
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
for the Adonis.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2023 3:15 pm
by Neil Freeman
Lovely bright Adonis Blue Trevor
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
and I love the doubles of the Brown Argus and Hairstreak
You seem to have knack for finding Brown Argus in a sharing mood
Cheers,
Neil
Re: Trevor
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:27 pm
by Wurzel
Stunning Blues Trevor
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
I still can't work out why we saw so few Hairstreaks that day? One female did play ball later but she didn't open up
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Trevor
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:09 am
by trevor
Many thanks everyone for your comments on the Blues at Tilshead.
I just wish I could be there when 2nd brood numbers peak, a wonderful site.
A sad sight in my garden this morning as an almost expired Silver Washed Fritillary
seemed to be looking for somewhere to die, fluttering aimlessly among the plants.
It took great effort to fly on to the wall of my house.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:14 pm
by Wurzel
It always seems a shame to see the expiring butterflies Trevor
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Still they live fast and cram a lot in
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Someone saw a Cloudy today, which I missed
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
, so next time will be third time lucky - fingers crossed
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Trevor
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:51 pm
by trevor
Ladies day.
I couldn't waste the fabulous early morning weather today, mild, very sunny and
not a breath of wind, just right for a trip to the seaside, or at least close to the sea.
The Birling Gap area up to and beyond the wooded area was home to many Chalkhill ,
and to a lesser extent Common Blues, and there were many females of both species.
I had hoped the Adonis Blue might have started their second brood, but none were seen.
In keeping with the female theme a Wall Brown kept one step in front of me, leading
a merry dance until I caught up with her on the path.
A great early morning in perfect weather.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 9:29 pm
by Wurzel
Lovely looking Chalkhills Trevor and that Wall is a peach
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
The Evil-Book-of-Face is showing a few Long-tailed Blues...
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Trevor
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 9:49 pm
by trevor
Cheers Wurzel. Yes the Long Tailed Blues seem to have started in Sussex.
Even a mating pair has been seen. Keep an eye on the Sussex BC sightings page.
Might be worth a trip to the seaside later on!
Re: Trevor
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2023 10:38 am
by Goldie M
Lovely shots Trevor, especially the Wall, Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Trevor
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2023 2:13 pm
by David M
You're doing a roaring trade in stunning, blue female
icarus, Trevor.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
I'd say they even top male Adonis for sheer, eye-catching beauty.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 7:18 am
by trevor
Thanks Goldie. I hope you have found some Walls in Kent, slippery devils though.
Thanks David. Blue female Common Blues seem to turn up more frequently than
the ' normal ' brown variety. At least they can't be confused with the Brown Argus.
Even more special is the blue female Adonis Blue!
Re: Trevor
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2023 9:50 pm
by David M
trevor wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 7:18 am...Even more special is the blue female Adonis Blue!
Yes, I agree, Trevor. That is ultra special.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Re: Trevor
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 7:14 pm
by trevor
On Friday 18th I decided it was time to track down the Silver Spotted Skipper,
a species I've not seen for several years. My favourite place to find them was on the Downs above Lewes.
Unfortunately the once grazed site is now very overgrown and unsuitable for Silver Spots. None seen.
Yesterday, Sunday, I went over to Horseshoe Plantation and had a quick glimpse of a Silver Spot.
So early this morning I returned for a dedicated Silver Spot hunt. Eventually five were found suitably
posed for photography. I had two one shot wonders, and three reasonably settled, and even more
flying like bullets without a positive ID but were almost certainly Silver Spots.
Ever tried tracking one ?, forget it.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 8:44 pm
by trevor
Chalkhill Blues seem to have a protracted emergence with some very worn
specimens, several weeks old, flying with some very fresh ones.
This applied to both male and female.
Although not fresh, I was struck by a very blue female Common Blue this morning.
Re: Trevor
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:33 pm
by millerd
Well done on reconnecting with the Skippers, Trevor.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Very charismatic little things if you can get close to them. Following them in the air is a forlorn hope as you say, though if you find a female out egg-laying you may find she doesn't whizz about so much.
That female Common Blue is an extraordinary shade! I wonder what she was like when new?
Cheers,
Dave
Re: Trevor
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 7:16 pm
by Wurzel
Re: Trevor
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 10:30 pm
by essexbuzzard
Agreed, Trevor. That site looks totally unsuitable for Silver Spotted Skippers, certainly compared to any place I’ve ever seen them. On a more positive note, you have a couple of absolutely stunning blue female blues there!