www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I watched a female purple hairstreak oviposturing on sweet chestnut today. Apologies for picture quality - it was windy and cloudy:





I didn't see any eggs, and couldn't search either, as it was way above my head. When the sun came out she paused and sat on a chestnut leaf:



Is this a thing? Do they use chestnut (which is in the same subfamily as oak), or was she just going through the motions in preparation for the real thing?

Guy

Not listed in the BMNH database!

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/ ... ort=Family

Cheers,

- Pete

Ian Pratt wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:43 am

David M wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:28 am

Ian Pratt wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 5:21 pmAmazing number of chalk hill blue butterflies on Arreton Down Isle of Wight today. They rose like confetti when walking through the grass. Tens of thousands in my estimate. Incredible natural history experience.

Sounds positively amazing, Ian. I'll never forget visiting Aston Rowant in 2013 when they were around in the thousands. Standing near the top of the hill, all you could see was a pale blue shimmering effect as these butterflies gently fluttered a few inches above the ground. Looks like 2020 may be another of those years. Let's hope so.

I will try to get some video of it for the record today or tomorrow!

Great if you could, Ian.

Found a couple of nice female Wall over the weekend in East Sussex.
And here is a male.

Padfield wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:57 pm I watched a female purple hairstreak oviposturing on sweet chestnut today. Apologies for picture quality - it was windy and cloudy:





I didn't see any eggs, and couldn't search either, as it was way above my head. When the sun came out she paused and sat on a chestnut leaf:



Is this a thing? Do they use chestnut (which is in the same subfamily as oak), or was she just going through the motions in preparation for the real thing?

Guy

It would seem not completely unheard of Guy

bugboy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:59 pm It would seem not completely unheard of Guy
20200712_195024-tile.jpg

Thanks Buggy - interesting! I'll have to get a copy of that book.

Thanks Pete, too. I'll try and determine whether this was merely posturing or actual positing.

Guy

Padfield wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:05 pm

bugboy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:59 pm It would seem not completely unheard of Guy
20200712_195024-tile.jpg

Thanks Buggy - interesting! I'll have to get a copy of that book.

Thanks Pete, too. I'll try and determine whether this was merely posturing or actual positing.

Guy

https://www.watdon.co.uk/acatalog/B2523 ... lants.html

I have posted a couple of videos of chalk hill blues from this afternoon at www.flickr.com/photos/lepreskil
There are also some more photos of them there.

Ian Pratt wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 9:28 pm I have posted a couple of videos of chalk hill blues from this afternoon at www.flickr.com/photos/lepreskil
There are also some more photos of them there.

Thanks, Ian. Lovely footage. They're all over than knapweed like a rash.

I hope they emerge in similar numbers nearer to where I live. It's one of the great UK butterfly spectacles when Chalkhills reach such numbers.

Quite a lot of fresh-out-the-box small ones in my local fields yesterday. Two Brown Argus and a Small Copper were very close together in a small area - leading to what the late Eddie Waring would have called many a frack-ass, making them very hard to snap.

Saw my first fresh Common Blue there too (noticed another couple on my lunchtime walk today).

Walked down to a small local wood. Loads of Small and Large Whites and a couple of Silver Washed Fritillaries.

Spent a great day at Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent, this last Sunday.
Finally saw several Chalk Hill Blues (tried several days earlier, but no CHB's).
Also sighted 3 fresh Small Blues (2nd brood)...a 2nd brood Brown Argus, 2nd brood Common Blues (male an female) 2 fresh Brimstones, Large Whites, and very creamy yellow Small White (but failed to get a pic of that stunner) some Commas, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Marbled Whites, an a suspect rogue either Dark Green or Silver Washed Fritillary??...all in all a good day.

Some highlights, cheers Paul.
PS. only the Brimstone image is cropped some, all my other images have not been cropped.

Chalk Hill Blues up 1st. Brown Argus. Brimstone.

Does anyone know the largest number of chalk hill blue butterflies ever recorded on Arreton Down on the Isle of Wight? There were 50,000 estimated on 10 August 2013. I think there may be more at the moment.

A couple of ladies from this lunchtime. Some may say they're not that glamorous, but they are to me. (Melksham)

Stevieb wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:47 pm A couple of ladies from this lunchtime. Some may say they're not that glamorous, but they are to me.

....and me too, Stevie. Female pierids are always something I covet, being the only family of butterflies where the female is almost always more resplendent than the male.

The only exception is Brimstone, althoguh given how much less often they are seen than males, the rarity value alone is sufficient to boost their pedigree.

i saw my first Small Copper of the season at the weekend. also a colorful Peacock on Ragwort. Location: Little Paxton Nature Reserve Cambs.

I saw a striking Meadow Brown yesterday in Hatfield Forest. Does it qualify as an ab. nuragiformis?

ATB

Peter

Went to Essex to look for Walls today. A female surprised me last October on Two Tree Island but alas none were seen there. Wandering around Hadleigh Country Park though I came across two very fresh individuals, a male and an ovipositing female. Never seen them here before but things look good for the future . Presumably they've colonised from nearby Canvey Island.

Despite an overcast afternoon there was still a nice variety flying. Bewley Common.

According to the ID guides chalk hill blues have an average wingspan of 38 mm. I found one on Monday which was less than 20mm, fully formed in perfect condition. A dwarf chalk hill blue!

Painted lady in my garden