www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Yesterday I did my Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey around Friston Forest. The numbers of butterflies was quite poor but Dark Green Fritillaries did show well and was the most numerous species!! They all seemed to be in very good condition.

It was a classic Summer's day at Bradenham, Bucks, yesterday (7th July), with cricket on the green in front of the old church and manor house. As noted in other reports in this thread, Dark Green Fritillaries appear to be doing well, with a massive emergence across the meadows below Park Wood.
In the hot sunshine, they were extremely active, with just short pauses to re-fuel, making photography quite a challenge.

Other species on the wing included Marbled Whites (several but not in profusion), Meadow Brown, Ringlet, and Small Blue (in good numbers), plus a very few Common Blues.
Mike

I fear I'm failing miserably on the DGF front (as usual). Great job Mike and Badgerbob. I shall keep trying when time permits.

Pauline wrote:Great job Mike and Badgerbob

Thank you Pauline. That open wing shot was not easy - I had the camera set to high-speed continuous (8 fps) and took several bursts as it flicked its wings during feeding. The sharpness is not up to your standards.

Mike

Recently my regular visits to Botany Bay have been disappointing.After the Wood Whites all seemed to go quiet.Then about 10 days ago Speckled Woods appeared,and then I went to Kandersteg.On returning yesterday my wife wanted to get rid of me this morning and suggested I went for a walk looking for Butterflies.Firstly I noticed Ringlets had reappeared in numbers.Then I saw my first Dark Green of the season,and then a White admiral.But behold a prize greater than all this-my first Purple Emperor of the year.Spotted with two other butterfliers,one whom had journeyed from Kent,at 11.25am hiding in the grass.He then emerged in full glory.I think this is the first record for Surrey this year?
P.J.Underwood

Southwater woods this morning . Silver Washed Frits and White Admirals beginning to emerge in numbers . More Silver Washed in the Eastern woods and White Admirals in the Western woods but all looking very fresh . I would expect numbers to grow in the next few days . No Purple Hairstreaks or his majesty but can't be too far away .
Seen today

Speckled Woods and Meadow Browns plentiful ( one Meadow Brown a miniature half size )
Silver Washed Frits circa 15
White Admiral circa 6
Ringlet and Small Torts circa 5
Large Skipper circa 4
Comma 3
Red Admiral 2
Small Skipper 1
Dark Green Frit 1 ( unlike the Silver Washed showing signs of wear with slight edge damage )

To day at Park Wood, several Large Skippers, Small Tortoiseshell and two White Admirals flying high on trees. A third one came down flying around my legs but would not settle down. Cheers Sezar

Bradenham

Up 80 + Dark Green Fritillaries active, though often alighting to nectar. 20 + Marbled Whites and host of meadow Browns. Odd Common Blue. Did not check the Samll Blue area. Small Skippers - ID not checked as they would not settle.

The Purple Empire website mentions a Purple Emperor seen by the Ranger at Ryton Woods Country Park, Warwickshire today...dare I say things are slowly starting to happen, with PJ Underwoods Botany Bay sighting and now this one, the fervour begins in earnest...(and others ).

Bill

millerd wrote:

aeshna5 wrote: On Friday 2 White-letter Hairstreaks on Horsenden Hill, west London + another 2 yesterday at Runnymede.

Can I ask whereabouts at Runnymede you saw the WLH? I've often wondered about whether there were any here, and now you've confirmed it! It's only a matter of minutes from home for me.

Cheers,

Dave

Along the track off the A30 that passes cottage to Langham Pond.

An hour by the Gullet marshes, adjacent to the Ouse Washes, Sutton Gault, Cambs, yesterday afternoon produced encouraging numbers of fresh Small Tortoiseshells; in a half a mile of slow walking and stopping to take a few pictures, there were at least 40 individuals.

Also noted were Meadow Browns c15, Ringlet c 10, Large Skipper 10, Small White 3, Large White 2.

At the elms behind Mepal church the first White-letter of my year, along with a fresh-looking Red Admiral, and 5 more Meadow Browns,

Rob

Black Park, Bucks today 2+ WA, 1 SWF and 3 Commas

Chambers Farm Wood today - 2 Marbled Whites in the meadow plus lots of Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large and Small Skippers, Burnetts and a single Small Tortoiseshell.

Hugh

Prees Heath.

Well over 1,000 Silver Studded Blues seen at Prees Heath over the weekend including many copulating pairs and freshly emerged individuals , some with ants still in attendance.

Apparently purple emperors were seen at Theberton, in Suffolk, this weekend. An introduced population.

Nigel Kiteley wrote:Prees Heath.

Well over 1,000 Silver Studded Blues seen at Prees Heath over the weekend including many copulating pairs and freshly emerged individuals , some with ants still in attendance.

Beautiful pictures!

Enjoyed a great walk along part of Devils Dyke, Newmarket today with Mrs L. Butterflies everywhere !!
First appearance of the Chalkhill Blues (approx 15 seen). Also saw 3 Marbled White, but sadly no DGF.
Also celebrated finding my first chrysalis in the wild, a Six spot Burnet (photos attached). There were a good number of these to be found at the top of the dyke by the July racecourse.

Other species seen:
Ringlets (x 160)
Small Tortoiseshell X 30
Meadow Brown x 35
Large Skipper x 2
Small Skippers x 20 (might have been an Essex amongst them)
Speckled Wood x 3
Comma x 3
Small Heath x 5
Gatekeeper x 1
Large White x 5

Regards Kev Ling

Nice to hear CHB out at Newmarket; didn't see them yet on the Fleam Dyke, but did see around 5 DGF today. With the heat they were very active, but watching and then waiting near their selected nectaring and resting places did allow a few shots.... Also saw my first Gatekeepers of the year and lots of STs, which was nice to see.

Willrow wrote:The Purple Empire website mentions a Purple Emperor seen by the Ranger at Ryton Woods Country Park, Warwickshire today...dare I say things are slowly starting to happen, with PJ Underwoods Botany Bay sighting and now this one, the fervour begins in earnest...(and others ).

Bill

Hi Bill,

Purple Emperor also out at Oversley Wood, a number of sightings over the past few days

Neil F.

Small Skippers? at Langley Park today. Cheers Sezar