Re: millerd
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 10:00 pm
Thank you all for your appreciation - of the Coppers in particular.
Now - back to my morning trip back on 14th May. The sunshine encouraged me up to Aston Rowant for the first time in 2023, and I headed briskly (it was distinctly chilly first thing) across the top of the slope to the hawthorn scrub along the fence running down to the bottom. In the shelter here I found the Green Hairstreaks I was expecting. They were generally not particularly fresh, but I was treated to the unusual sight of two nectaring in close proximity - clearly there is no squabbling allowed at the breakfast table! As things gradually warmed up more butterflies appeared - still mostly in sheltered spots like the gully at the bottom (which I think is an ancient trackway). The Dingy Skippers were particularly well-turned out... ...but the Small Coppers (this is one of two seen) had seen better days. In the absence of many other butterflies, I followed one or two of the moths and somewhat unusually for me managed some reasonable shots. Silver Y popped up several times... ...plus a number of these two tiny colourful closely-related moths whose names I always forget. I had been vaguely hopeful that some blue butterflies might be out as both Common and Adonis are found here, and I thought I'd struck lucky when something very blue headed over the top of the gully from the open slope. I clambered up to see where it had gone, and found it sooner than expected, sitting in a dogwood bush. Of course, it was not what I'd been hoping to find, but was instead a female Holly Blue. Largely oblivious of my somewhat precarious presence right next to her, she set about finding suitable spots to lay on the dogwood flower buds. Though Holly females frequently open their wings a bit to warm up during their laying sorties, especially when the air is chilly, I was treated to a rather nice display from this one. Dave
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
It was indeed a corker, Trevor!
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As far as I know there is only one subspecies in the UK (though as the species is amazingly widespread in Europe and beyond, I imagine subspecies exist elsewhere). However, it is quite a variable butterfly, with the initial colour ranging from deep shining red-orange to a brassy, almost golden yellow. There is also the very rare white aberration which is the holy grail for Small Copper enthusiasts! The heaviness of the dark spotting also varies, as do the number and intensity of the blue spots - many have none at all. As for wear, if you get the chance to follow an individual butterfly through its life, you will find that initially they remain quite fresh-looking for perhaps four or five days and then gradually fade and lose their vibrancy. As I mentioned somewhere else, they can live for up to six weeks, quite a lifetime for such a small creature!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
I've seen Holly Blues lay on vetch before, Paul: the other day at Bedfont Lakes they were using it quite a bit. But then nothing surprises me about this butterfly any more. There is another coming up shortly - dogwood this time!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
It was a great day, Wurzel, with a fine array of species despite the overall lower numbers for some than twelve months ago. The last year of weather has affected them all in quite different ways, and we shall no doubt continue theorising for a while yet.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Now - back to my morning trip back on 14th May. The sunshine encouraged me up to Aston Rowant for the first time in 2023, and I headed briskly (it was distinctly chilly first thing) across the top of the slope to the hawthorn scrub along the fence running down to the bottom. In the shelter here I found the Green Hairstreaks I was expecting. They were generally not particularly fresh, but I was treated to the unusual sight of two nectaring in close proximity - clearly there is no squabbling allowed at the breakfast table! As things gradually warmed up more butterflies appeared - still mostly in sheltered spots like the gully at the bottom (which I think is an ancient trackway). The Dingy Skippers were particularly well-turned out... ...but the Small Coppers (this is one of two seen) had seen better days. In the absence of many other butterflies, I followed one or two of the moths and somewhat unusually for me managed some reasonable shots. Silver Y popped up several times... ...plus a number of these two tiny colourful closely-related moths whose names I always forget. I had been vaguely hopeful that some blue butterflies might be out as both Common and Adonis are found here, and I thought I'd struck lucky when something very blue headed over the top of the gully from the open slope. I clambered up to see where it had gone, and found it sooner than expected, sitting in a dogwood bush. Of course, it was not what I'd been hoping to find, but was instead a female Holly Blue. Largely oblivious of my somewhat precarious presence right next to her, she set about finding suitable spots to lay on the dogwood flower buds. Though Holly females frequently open their wings a bit to warm up during their laying sorties, especially when the air is chilly, I was treated to a rather nice display from this one. Dave