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Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 5:50 pm
by Wurzel
Really interesting Meadow Brown Pauline, a named aberrant with a touch of the pathological as well
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Cracking emergence sequence as well - the 6th image brings to mind the the wolf archers from Disney's Robin Hood
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 6:51 pm
by Pauline
Cheers Wurel - I was in your neck of the woods on Friday along with half a dozen others looking for BH. By the time I left at mid-day, most of the others had already given up with no sightings between any of us. I had looked everywhere I thought they might be - seeking out moisture, on the ground, just emerged etc etc. Just as I was about to head down the track to the village I noticed a lot of activity at the top of a tall apple tree. Wasps and bees were all making, well, a beeline for it , along with Commas and the odd Red Admiral. It was these other butterflies that disturbed the 2 BH that were feasting on the apples. But oh, it was soooo tall, and I was shooting into the sun, and the Hairstreaks kept twisting around the wrong way, so it is with some (a lot) of irritation that I could only get this shot, one of my worst ever:
![P1280919ad.jpg (385.52 KiB) Viewed 2489 times P1280919ad.jpg](./files/thumb_1095_4b63ef1f01ed9c2d6ee92b70d4c3cb79)
Nevertheless, there were some smashing butterflies there including more Wall Browns than I have ever seen in any one place, but boy, were they super charged in the heat and photos were limited:
Lots of other butterflies included this Gatekeeper, intent on mimicking a BH and gave me a heart-stopping moment and a Clouded Yellow which was reluctant to pose:
There were some lovely fresh Brimstones around and this Small Heath looking very autumnal:
It was a pleasure to bump into Mike G - enjoyed our little 'catch-up' and hope you managed to 'catch-up' with the special butterfly you had spotted. Looking forward to a return visit.
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 7:01 pm
by Pauline
Back in the duck shed - another Poplar Hawk-moth and what I believe is a Yellow tail (?) which is another one I rescued from a spider's web:
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2022 6:15 am
by Pauline
OK, back to the Speckled Wood. It is unfortunate that the main emergence sequence is now on the previous page, so to avoid any discontinuity (and to save folk having to look back), a quick summary below. I should add that the emergence took just under 4 minutes in total:
I must be getting better at this rearing lark as, despite never having reared a Speckled Wood before, I only had to wait 5 hours for the butterfly to emerge from its pupa. This is much, much shorter than my 'norm' but I think it is largely due to the rapid rate of development as it remained in the pupal stage for just 10 days, helped no doubt by this warm weather. Because I like the pupa, a few shots below, hopefully demonstrating the quick development.
29 July, 13.50
29 July 18.57
30 July 7.46
30 July 9.59
Just prior to emergence:
I had been expecting a pupa that was largely brown but that was most definitely not the case. It is not a trick of the light - the pupa was a multitude of colours with a blue-ish tone being the primary one. Quite a surprise which left me wondering if they are all like this.
As the butterfly was drying its wings (which really didn't take long at all compared to some species I have reared), I experimented a little with different backgrounds:
However, it was not long before it surprised me by taking off and landing at the top of a high shrub, which required a ladder - but still no open-winged shot:
At least he's back where he belongs!
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2022 4:46 pm
by Pauline
Just a few shots of the SSS from yesterday. Numbers are building quite nicely at Oxenbourne but no females seen yet:
As we watched, this one expelled pale coloured meconium so I reckon we witnessed its maiden flight:
Re: Pauline
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2022 5:26 pm
by Wurzel
Lovely set of Silver-spots Pauline
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
"I was in your neck of the woods on Friday along with half a dozen others looking for BH." I must have missed you by moments Pauline as I was there on Friday too - missed the Cloudy as well which is a bit of a pain
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
but did see two males and got loads of shots of one
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
It was great to see so many Walls - every bit of the site I visited had at least 2 of them
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Pauline
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2022 5:39 am
by Pauline
Cheers Wurel -it's great when you just happen to be in the right place at the right time, isn't it?
I was pleased to get these shots of the Hummingbird Hawk moth recently - not because they're great shots but because they must be the best shots of this moth I have ever taken. Also seen were a couple of Gold-ringed Dragonflies; I believe this is a female?? What magnificent creatures. It was huge!!
Re: Pauline
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 5:37 pm
by David M
Fabulous Silver Spotted Skippers, Pauline, and thanks for the presentation regarding the Speckled Wood emergence.
Your patience and commitment are beyond admirable.
Re: Pauline
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:00 pm
by bugboy
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
for the Golden Ringed Dragonfly. I've only seen them on trips up in Scotland. They are indeed impressive insects though
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Pauline
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 1:38 pm
by Pauline
Your comments are always appreciated David - thank you. You already know I hate the waiting but it is quite special to see stuff like this first hand and there is always something to learn.
Do I get 2 Mr Greens for a close -up Paul?
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
A couple more just for you:
My first visit of the season today to Noar Hill to look for Brown Hairstreak. There's been a lot of folk searching. I can only hope they had more luck than me. I did stumble across this little beauty tho' so not a wasted trip:
Re: Pauline
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 2:58 pm
by SarahM
I will give you
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
for your Clouded Yellow Pauline! Stunning
Sarah.
Re: Pauline
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 3:07 pm
by bugboy
Oh go on then
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
. None for the cloudie though since I've already had a good encounter a couple of weeks ago
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Re: Pauline
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 3:34 pm
by trevor
A
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
for the Cloudie. They don't come fresher than that!.
Lovely specimen.
Trevor.
Re: Pauline
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:03 pm
by Wurzel
You can have
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
for the Cloudy from me Pauline as I've spent a Cloudy (but not cloud) free week in Wales so I'm itching to find some of these yellow beauties
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Pauline
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:09 pm
by Katrina
I too will jump on the bandwagon
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
for the Cloudie on the flower!
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:10 am
by Pauline
Thank you Sarah - much appreciated. Certainly a butterfly I shall never tire of seeing.
I'll settle for that Buggy
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- look forward to seeing your shots.
Cheers Trevor - I reckon it must have emerged on Noar Hill as it was spotless
Hi Wurzel - they seem to be everywhere just now so finding them should be easy - the problem might be keeping up with them!
Thank you Katrina - that one is my favourite too
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
(PS your Peacock was stunning too!).
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:18 am
by Pauline
A few bits and pieces collected on my search for BH which seem to be particularly elusive this year around here. I am seeing quite a few in the trees but nothing low down as yet:
Lots of Brown Argus:
A couple of moths:
Vapourer
Unknown
And a lovely fresh Painted Lady:
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:29 am
by Allan.W.
Hi Pauline ,
Your Vapourer is actually a White-point and the White one i think is Sitachroa Palealis ...............Some superb emergence shots !
Regards Allan.W.
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:17 am
by Goldie M
Some smashing shots in your posts Pauline and I see you got a Wall
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
that must be a plus for you
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Pauline
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 7:12 pm
by Pauline
Cheers M - but as you know, I'm never satisfied
Thank you Allan - the emergence shots take some effort. I appreciate you putting me right on the ID - I could have sworn it was a Vapourer but my mistaken ID's of moths must be becoming legendary. They do look similar tho', don't they? ............. and thanks for the other ID.
I now have some other questionable ID's. I'd appreciate it if someone could confirm these are both types of Robber Fly and even more grateful if a specific ID could be provided. Both fearsome looking critters: