www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Any sightings of Black Hairstreak yet? Last year I saw my first on 10th June, the year before earliest report was 1st June. Most species were quite early in 2007, rather similar to this year. So Black Hairstreaks could well emerge on Monday (after Sunday’s rain).

I will almost certainly be taking a chance by going to Glapthorn Monday morning, arriving 1000/ 1100 hours. I will need to leave soon after lunch as I then have another job. (family taxi duty!). Weather forecast OK although temperatures only around 15°/16°. Anyone else with similar plans?

Jack

Jack wrote:

Glapthorn Monday morning

Scrubbed the idea for Monday as I don't think it will heat up enough before I would be obliged to leave for the family duties. (go to Ely). However, the reverse on Wednesday (ie Ely first then Glapthorn) might be possible, arriving Glapthorn late morning. Failing that option, next Saturday or Sunday followed by Chequered Skipper pub at Ashton.

Jack

Small heath, large skipper, speckled wood and a shed load of burnet moths at heyshott down, sussex this lunchtime. I was rather disappointed.

Went to Pound Wood, Southend, Essex yesterday for Heath Frits (Roger - Jack's forecast was spot-on - which meant I DID have some showers after the clearance came and warmed things up a tad).
Lots of HFs - not the "over 300" the day before as reported by the Warden, but into the dozens. With overcast conditions, another day when ISO was up-and-down like a w****'s draws. At least the Frits were cold and cooperative; as soon as the sun came out they were up and at-it! N

Hi Susie,
Not a great time of year for a site like this, as most of the calcicolous grassland/scrubby grassland species are 'done' for the year. Dukes, Green Hairs, Grizzled and Dingy Skippers fall into this category. There is a bit of a lull in activity before many sites come into the 'summer period' of abundance/diversity. If you climb to the very top of the Down in late June/July (recommend heading East towards Graffham Down on the South Downs Way), you will find some fantastic butterflying - a mix of grassland and woodland species including Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral, Ringlet, Marbled White, Blues, golden skippers etc etc.
Neil

Well done Nick.
Those HF are really fab. The last shot is a stunner and I'm with envy.
(Looks like the workshop paid off eh?)
Denise

Hi Neil, I could see it must be good for Dukes with all those cowslips about. It reminded me a lot of Noar Hill. The visit may have been disappointing for butterflies but it was good for lots of other things plus I will know where to go if BC have a walk there next year. I picked up some peacock caterpillars while I was out and will breed them on and see what emerges as per the latest copy of the BC magazine I received today.

Denise (referring to Nick):

(Looks like the workshop paid off eh?)

Nick’s a passable photographer but is far more useful watching someone’s back. He did a grand job when he was with me at Stumpshaw last week.Jack

You watch that leg Jack!
You really shouldn't be playing on the railway lines. Good job that you had Nick (who is a good photographer) to keep his eye on you.
Denise

Hello,

8 June 2009
An afternoon outing on an overcast day on the southern side of Buckingham Cutting, the small blue butterflies amongst the Brambles were all Small Blues and the estimate was 75+ in this small area. My first Marbled White Butterfly of the year made a sudden appearance.

There were eight species of butterfly seen in an hour on a cloudy afternoon including frequent Speckled Woods in Buckingham Park, Shoreham, and a Wall Brown on Mill Hill.

First Adur Butterfly Dates 2003 to 2009
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/ButterfliesFFT.htm

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2009.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2009.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2008.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: June 2009
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/June2009.html

Some wonderful shots there Nick, I agree with Denise, the last one is just stunning.

Gruditch

Denise:

You watch that leg Jack! You really shouldn't be playing on the railway lines.

You need to cross the railway to get into the fen. Access is via a style, but at my age, I can’t get my leg over as easily as I could in my younger days

Luckily the adjacent five-bar gate was unlocked.

Jack

Denise wrote:You watch that leg Jack!
You really shouldn't be playing on the railway lines. Good job that you had Nick (who is a good photographer) to keep his eye on you.
Denise

"Looking after Jack" (could be a name for a series...?) is not an occupation that I feel qualified or able to do; I'm not sure that anyone is, except perhaps his wife Suzie who must be a saint! Though perhaps he does need someone to point out that the gates DO open so he doesn't need to scramble over the fence (..."at his age " ).
And you ALL are too kind....
If you catch Heath Frits when they are cold, they don't move! (I was thinking, "I should have brought my tripod" - a first for me!). Apart from persistance, perspiration and practice, with a dollop of good luck, the rest can be learned.
After that it is down to personal preference and the angles and shots you see; this forum I think drives us all to better things. With such a wealth of talent and expertise on hand, the words of Tom Ang (lecturer in Digital Photography in London and author of many books) come to mind. One of the first things he teaches his students is "....how to cope with the fact that everyone is better than you!" I think when each Competition comes round we all feel like that.
N
..I have a few more....

Went to visit my sister who lives in Hockley, in Essex, which gave me a good opportunity to photograph heath fritillaries in the local woods.Lots of them and easy to photo.

Colin.

Great pics.

Plenty flying at Denbies Hillside today even though it is between broods. I had my first Marbled White of the year as well as a couple of dozen meadow browns, plenty of small heath, skippers, painted ladies, and tatty adonis and common blues.

Not just June, but a photo summary of my first season’s mothing to date. Near the bottom right is an as-yet unidentified species. Help!

http://s214580749.websitehome.co.uk/Moths-2009.html

Click on an image to see an 800x600 picture.

Jack

NickB wrote-

One of the first things he teaches his students is "....how to cope with the fact that everyone is better than you!"

Nick,
What a great presentation this would make for next year's Photographic Workshop.
Can he do it, or could you pinch his notes and do it for us?

See you soon.

I should have brought my tripod

I think you've got a big enough advantage over us mere mortals already, Nick. Looking at the last one the exif shows 1/100 second and f5.6, presumably without image stabilisation which shows some pretty good technique! Cracking pics.

Peppered Moth (trapped last night Cambs) posing on suitable cryptic background. First you don’t see it, then you do.

Jack

Of interest Heath Fritillaries are out in numbers over the past week or so at the four main colonies in south Essex, i.e. 151 in Hockley Woods mid week last week whilst Little Haven EWT and nearby Pound Wood each having counts in excess of 300 last Saturday. Belfairs Woods/Dodds Grove recently had a count of 175. Some must have been out for some time as they are showing signs of wear and tear but majority are pristine. Now is a good time to see this cracking fritillary in large numbers, weather permitting. For directions to the Hockley Woods colony see the directions on the Cambridge and Essex BC sightings page.