Lee Hurrell

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 11:05 pm

Thanks both!

Best wishes,

Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 11:46 pm

23rd May 2014 - Part 2

: Common Blue, male, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

: Common Blue, male, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

: Common Blue, male, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

: Common Blue, male, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

There was another beautifully marked female:

: Common Blue, female, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

One more fresh male.

: Common Blue, male, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

: Common Blue, male, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

: Small Blue, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

So today was all about the blues. I did see one Fritillary in the end, but it wasn't stopping for a photo. I did see these mating Buff Tips though.

: Buff Tips, mating pair, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

: Blue and Fritillary habitat, Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon, Surrey, 23rd May 2014

David M · Post by **David M** » Tue Dec 08, 2015 5:45 pm

Those Buff Tips sure play tricks on the eyes, Lee. For a couple of seconds I thought I was seeing a piece of gnarled wood.

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:02 am

They're great, aren't they, David?

Marvellous disguise.

Best wishes,

Lee

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Fri Dec 11, 2015 10:19 pm

So that's what the legendary Hutchinson's Bank looks like, I'll have to try and make a trip there this year as it's been several years since my last Glannies

Great shots form the most recent report especially those Buff-tips

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sun Jan 24, 2016 4:22 pm

Thanks Wurze.

I'd recommend going if you can, it is a fantastic site.

You might recognise the site in the next report...

Best wishes,

Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sun Jan 24, 2016 7:02 pm

25th May 2014 or, A Trip Out West Part 1

I'd only ever seen one Marsh Fritillary before today. This was at a UKB photo workshop in Hampshire, luckily enough in the company of Pete, who confirmed the ID. It had long been a species I wanted to spend more time with. With thanks to Wurzel, who gave me directions, I set off for the day to explore a new site.

Upon arrival, the first thing I saw was a male Orange Tip and several Green Hairstreaks, who were commanding the best perches along the path up to the site.

: Green Hairstreak, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

I was also befriended by a Dingy Skipper.

: Dingy Skipper, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

Then, the first of many Marsh Fritillaries

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

This is the path.

: Marsh Fritillary site, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

I was lucky, there were many about and more as I climbed up.

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

The other locals were just as friendly.

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

Just as you reached the top was probably the best place on the site, they were everywhere but the wind made things difficult.

: Marsh Fritillary site, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillaries, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

The variety in each individual was staggering. Some with black spots, some without, some with yellow spots, some without. Some with both black and yellow spots. I soon realised that no two individuals were alike.

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

Although the sun coming out made a big difference.

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

The view from the top.

: Marsh Fritillary site, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

Below the slope was a little meadow where more Green Hairstreaks and Marsh Fritillaries could be found along with some Adonis, Small and Common Blues, Brown Argus and my first Painted Lady of the year.

: Green Hairstreak, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Adonis Blue, male, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Dingy Skipper, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

: Marsh Fritillary, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

The Marsh Fritillary is a lovely butterfly and I thoroughly enjoyed my time on this fantastic site. My thanks to Wurzel.

I left as I begun, surrounded by Green Hairstreaks.

: Green Hairstreak, Wiltshire, 25th May 2014

bugboy · Post by **bugboy** » Sun Jan 24, 2016 8:59 pm

Enjoying your recent posts Lee, not least because it looks like we shared similar May's. I too enjoyed some lovely visits to Hutchinsons Bank for the Glanvilles and I was at Wurzels Wiltshire Wonderland 5 days after your visit, obviously having a very similar experience

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:12 pm

Thanks Bugboy, much appreciated!

I did have a wonderful May, butterfly wise, in 2014.

Best wishes,

Lee

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:56 pm

Glad to have been of assistance Lee, it looks like you filled your boots with butterflies, almost literally in the case of that Dingy

Cracking shots

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:11 pm

Thanks again, Wurzel

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:16 pm

Lovely shots of the Marsh Frit Lee, I've only seen them once before and didn't get many shots so it's a pleasure to see yours I think that's another site I must go to. Goldie

PS can you tell me the name of the site, I'm going South in June and maybe I'll get that way

bugboy · Post by **bugboy** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:34 pm

Lee Hurrell wrote:Thanks Bugboy, much appreciated!

I did have a wonderful May, butterfly wise, in 2014.

Best wishes,

Lee

haha, I didn't read your report properly, I was there in 2015 so I was at wurzels place 1 year and 5 days after you

trevor · Post by **trevor** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:39 pm

HI Lee,
I was at C.H. five days before you, but unlike you I had never seen even one Marsh Fritillary.
As soon as the tree lined footpath, from the road, opened out into downland my first Marshie was spotted.
I had no need to climb the hill as the clearing to the left of the path produced more Butterflies than I could
handle in one session.
Your excellent report has brought back memories of a very magical day, even if I did have to leave the site
early owing to a possible problem with the car.

Wishing you a good 2016 season,
Trevor.

David M · Post by **David M** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:10 pm

Really enjoying your spring/summer scenes, Lee, even though they're a fair few months old.

Keep 'em coming. We all need a bit of a lift when the weather outdoors is so austere.

Neil Freeman · Post by **Neil Freeman** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 8:58 pm

David M wrote:Really enjoying your spring/summer scenes, Lee, even though they're a fair few months old.

Keep 'em coming. We all need a bit of a lift when the weather outdoors is so austere.

I absolutely agree...great report and photos Lee

Cheers,

Neil

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:23 pm

Thank you all for your kind words. As ever, much appreciated

Best wishes,

Lee

Lee Hurrell · Post by **Lee Hurrell** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 12:18 am

25th May 2014 or, A Trip Out West Part 2

After enjoying a morning full of Marsh Fritillaries, my afternoon was spent enjoying two other Fritillaries; next stop was Bentley Wood.

Before today I had only seen Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries on one occasion, at Park Wood in East Sussex. In what was becoming a (pleasant) theme, I bumped into Millerd and two of his boys. I've bumped into Dave quite a lot before - at Aston Rowant, Botany Bay, Fairmile Common and now at Bentley Wood, each time unplanned. We spent a lovely couple of hours with the Fritillaries.

Both Pearl Bordered and Small Pearl Bordered were flying. Pearls were mostly past their best but the Small Pearls were fresh.