www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks both!

Best wishes,

Lee

23rd May 2014 - Part 2
There was another beautifully marked female:
One more fresh male.
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.

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.

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

Marvellous disguise.

Best wishes,

Lee

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

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

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.
I was also befriended by a Dingy Skipper.
Then, the first of many Marsh Fritillaries
This is the path.
I was lucky, there were many about and more as I climbed up.
The other locals were just as friendly.
Just as you reached the top was probably the best place on the site, they were everywhere but the wind made things difficult.
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.
Although the sun coming out made a big difference.
The view from the top.
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.
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.

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

Thanks Bugboy, much appreciated!

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

Best wishes,

Lee

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

Thanks again, Wurzel

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Best wishes,

Lee

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.
A couple of Grizzled Skippers were in the clearing.
A pair of Pearl Bordered Fritillaries were courting.
One of Dave's boys found this caterpillar and I can't remember what it is now...
Small Pearls really are beautiful.
There were also a few beautiful Argent & Sable moths.
I was really happy with this photo.
This one too, but I couldn't choose between these two!

I remember that day well, Lee. I recognise that somewhat crumpled Grizzled Skipper too. Great shots to bring the memories back...

Dave

Some lovely pictures ...