millerd

[millerd]

Cheers, David. There has been a "hard core" of about a dozen species seen every day here throughout this month, with one or two others joining in here and there - but 14 seems to have been the maximum on any one day so far. Brown Argus continue to pop up all over the site in odd ones and twos, but the hotspot I found in August seems to have gone quiet now. With a brand new one appearing on my next visit (on 9th September), I wonder whether this is a third brood or just an extended late second one.

Monday 9th September was largely dull and a bit cooler, but there were still 13 species on the wing (though only 50 or so butterflies overall. One highlight was, as mentioned, a lovely new Brown Argus. I'd just seen a reasonable older one...

...when I spotted this immaculate individual.

It stretched its wings wide to take advantage of as much UV as possible from the brightness. I took a lot of shots, but can't decide which is the best of the bunch!

There wasn't enough sun to liven up this Comma...

...though it set a few Small Heaths in motion.

One looked decidedly bedraggled, however.

Small Coppers were also active...

...but this is the best a Meadow Brown could do at presenting its topside.

White butterflies were easy to find. They flew during brighter spells and sat on flowers or just on bits of vegetation when it was duller. I managed shots of all three species.

Aside from the splendid Brown Argus, there was one other butterfly that stood out on the day. I'd been seeing Painted Ladies for a few days now while out walking, but failed to find a nicely settled one. However, today one appeared to seek me out, circling me in characteristic wide and fast swoops but instead of just dashing for the treetops, it plonked itself on the ground within a metre or two and just basked. In the end it sat there for some while and allowed some very close approaches.

Dave

[millerd]

Tuesday 10th September was forecast to be the last day before temperatures nose-dived and Arctic air flooded the country. In fact, it was another warm but largely dull day with similar results from a local walk as the day before - but with one striking difference: the Red Admirals had arrived. On 9th I counted just 3, but today I managed to see 22 individuals with no trouble at all despite the lack of sunshine.

A few Commas were among the Admirals.

A species not seen the day before made an appearance today - a couple of Holly Blues.

In terms of numbers today, the Green-veined Whites outdid the others notably, with 13 seen. The species has done well here this year, with consistently good numbers - unlike the other two which until the recent immigration have been very thin on the ground.

That immigration has resulted in a steady trickle of new Large Whites in particular. Some of them are impressively large, too, dwarfing all the other butterflies including the Red Admirals.

A Speckled Wood looked a little strange, I think because of some damage in the pupal stage.

I only found two Small Coppers today, but as keeps happening one of them was one I'd not seen before - a female.

There are several little Copper spots around my walk, where the same one or two male butterflies appear each day, but females can be seen anywhere as they wander around - initially so that they intersect a male's territory and then later looking for suitable egg-laying locations. I often see males on multiple occasions, but usually only see each female once.

Finally, another Small Heath flyby...

Dave

[Wurzel]

Brilliant Coppers and Whites Dave and that is a 'well rounded' Specklie Star of the show must go to that delightful Brown Argus The local park threw up a Common Blue the other day which, as I'm just pottering, has been the highlight of my week so it's great to see your more 'exotic fare'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Cheers, Wurzel - the old local patch is doing well for itself at the minute! In terms of both numbers and variety of species it knocks spots off many of the more "specialised" downland sites at this time of year.

Wednesday 11th September was a case in point. With the forecasters confidently predicting low temperatures both night and day for a few days you have to wonder how this would affect the butterfly populations. However, the detail in the forecasts indicated that the chilly mornings would benefit from lots of sunshine before cloud and showers built up later in the day.

There certainly was a nip in the air when I went out on 11th, but out of the northwest wind it felt very pleasant in the sunshine. In the end, it turned out to be one of the better butterfly days of the year here, and I took nearly 900 photos (quite possibly a record for me), and it's taken the best part of a week to go through them all. Overall I counted over 130 butterflies, with 14 species seen - including a first sighting for the year.

With such a catalogue, I will have to split this post into sections...

11th September: Satyrids.

Though they like the sunshine, the cool wind today kept the Small Heaths from making their presence known as much as recently. They really don't like flying when its windy, but I still managed to count 18.

Speckled Woods could be found in any of the sheltered patches of the paths through the wooded areas - as you might expect.

I reckon I saw 7 of them.

I only managed 4 Meadow Browns today, but like the Small Heaths there were probably others hunkered down in the grass, or blowing past me too quickly to be seen and identified.

White Butterflies.

All three white butterfly species were observed, with GVW predominating again. 17 were counted, but there may well have been more as they also tend to keep low down out of the wind.

The same is true of Small Whites, of which I saw just 4...

...but Large Whites are much more capable of battling the breeze.

Part two to follow...

Dave

[millerd]

11th September continued: Blues (including Brown Argus)

At this time of year, when fresh examples of these species are encountered it's difficult to say whether they are second or third brood. However, all 6 of today's Holly Blues looked worn, and mostly stayed out of reach.

This one shared its choice of perch with other species.

I saw 6 Common Blues too - these three looked fresh, though one had already damaged itself...

This one was pristine...

...and this one was taking a big risk sitting on this particular flower...

(It evaded being arachnid lunch this time.)


All today's 4 Brown Argus looked a little past their best. After the very slow start of their second brood in mid-July, there has been a steady stream of this species and they have been popping up all over the site in ones and twos.

Part three next...

Dave

[millerd]

11th September continued: Small Coppers

This species has been a bit of an enigma this season. It started as usual in the spring with reasonable numbers, though never numerous in the first brood. Then came the second brood - or rather it didn't. For the majority of the summer period I think I saw just two examples of the species and didn't hold out much hope for the third brood in early Autumn. However, things have been turning out rather better, with different examples appearing almost every time I go out at present. On 11th, I counted 9 individuals: here are some of them.

Part four next...

Dave