www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I see what you mean about the 3D effect Trevor, I got it up on the screen and went to get my cuppa, when I came back in I was reaching for my camera before I twigged it was on the screen That last shot of the view wouldn't have been possible last year,hopefully 'opening' up the hollow won't affect its productivity

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. Pleased you enjoyed the 3D effect.

MUCH MORE TO COME.............

Looking forward to the next installment of 'To the Hill...'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. No, not ' The Hill ' but two magnificent mornings at Tilshead.

I spent the weekend 2nd/Mon 3rd June with my Daughter and family in Wiltshire.
This enabled two early morning visits to one of my favourite butterfly sites just
outside the village of Tilshead. The site is a vast area of unmanaged grass land
with a stunning selection of wild flowers, including hundreds of Bee Orchids.

For this first report of the weekend I'll start with the moths and Bee Orchids.

A QUICK TASTER FROM THIS MORNING 5/6.

Tilshead is an excellent site for the Adonis Blue.
Over my two early morning visits it was clear that they were still emerging,
with several still drying their wings, which were soft and flopping about in the breeze.
Only a few female Adonis were seen, and even fewer Common Blues were present.
Unfortunately I can't, but I would have liked to have been able to return to the site a week later.

That’s a lovely photo on the dropwort Trevor

Cheers Ben. Pleased you enjoyed that shot. Not long now, hope your hard work pays off!

During my two mornings at Tilshead the odd Marsh Fritillary would fly by, and occasionally land.
There could be a sizable colony of Marshies at this site but well spread out over the vast acres
of MOD land, and of course no one will get to explore the ' Red Flag ' areas to find out.
Other butterflies of interest were a ' near normal ' female Common Blue, and on Monday a
Grizzled Skipper took refuge on a grass stem when the cloud cover became complete.
A great two day visit, but nothing compared to what the following week back home had in store......

On Wednesday I popped over to Park Corner/Rowland Wood, having heard and read
several reports of the occasional Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary turning up.
I went prepared for a a wild goose chase, and a needle in a haystack type search.
A scan of PCH produced just three Large Skippers and nothing else. Not being the
sort to give up I then entered Rowland Wood. At both sites bracken has taken over,
and searching millions of fronds for a resting butterfly is not my idea of fun.
After a short walk I saw a quick glimpse of ginger through the bracken, looking
down, and gently parting the bracken there was a perfect, fresh, female SPBF
just sitting there, after many shots two other enthusiasts turned up, having travelled
a long way and both being SPBF virgins they almost fell at my feet when I called out
' there's one here '! As we chatted another Small Pearl appeared and was quite visible
from the path, another female. Then notorious butterfly Royalty turned up in the form
of John Wiltshire, and friend Monica, and much later Gary Linney.
The SPBF were now flying but settling frequently to bask, and we agreed that to be safe
about four SPBF would be the count for the morning, but in an unusual ratio of one male to
three females.

A great morning.

Would the tremendous luck I have enjoyed over the last five days hold out ?.

Yesterday, Thursday, the weather was a perfect combination of temperature,
sun and cloud and just right for a Black Hairstreak hunt.
On arrival at Ditchling Common, Kirsty Gibbs and Mark Jones were already on site.
Shortly after greetings had concluded Kirsty spotted the first BH to come down.
Chases and activity over the blackthorn was noted, but it was now a case of a long wait.
After Mark and Kirsty had to leave for work I had the place to myself, and after a short while
another BH came down while I was having lunch, but only stayed for two shots.
I then noticed a BH perched high up in a blackthorn, and somehow managed a discernible shot of it.
It was not until Vincent Oates appeared that another BH came down, but this one gave us
plenty of time for many shots during a cloudy spell and even flew to new and better bracken fronds
for a better view of this immaculate, fresh, male, specimen.

The recent weather has no doubt played a large part in my recent, and very lucky, expeditions.

"and of course no one will get to explore the ' Red Flag ' areas to find out"...You could doit but it might cost you an arm and a leg...literally
Cracking Adonis Trevor, then even more cracking Small Pearls and then even,even more cracking Blackstreaks - it's like nano-particles now!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Definite for the Small Pearls, Trevor - good to see they are still hanging on down there in Sussex. It's also good that the Ditchling population of Black Hairstreaks continues to thrive, though with the one at Epsom ticking over nicely too, the social activity is split between the two these days!

Cheers,

Dave

You've certainly been nailing down all the season has to offer!

Cheers Wurzel. My boots well filled last week, just how I like it, action packed.

Thanks Dave. I've heard that Epsom Common performed well this year, and it's an easier trip for you.
You might enjoy my post below!

Thanks Katrina. After the 2022/3 heatwaves in early June, I made the most of the temperate
conditions this year, and went for it!

Yesterday ( Sunday ) I drove over to East Blean woods in Kent for the Heath Fritillary
of which there were plenty, they were flying all over the woods. But I have always
subscribed to the theory expect the unexpected in this hobby, and the sequence below
was most unexpected. A very fresh, female Holly Blue opening up before my eyes.

The only other species, other than the Heath Frits, we saw yesterday was
the Meadow Brown, and it was my first opportunity to get properly near one.
My first sighting of one was last Wednesday.

Crickey Trevor that Holly Blue is something else

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Beautiful inky markings on the Holly Blue. Good work in getting the opening sequence all in focus!

Cheers Wurzel. I've gotten so used to Holly Blues keeping their wings tight shut,
that this one had me mesmerised as she opened up, and so fresh too.

Thanks Katrina. Yes, pleased they were all in focus as it happened so quickly,
less than a minute from finding it to the last shot, then it was off!

East Blean woods 9/6.

Heath fritillaries on cow-wheat.

It was interesting to read that cow-wheat is dependant on the wood ant
to spread it's seeds around, and of course the Heath Fritillary depends
on cow-wheat for breeding. All these ingredients were plentiful at East
Blean, many wood ants nests, plenty of cow-wheat and many Heath Frits
flying throughout the woods, including two in the car park.