www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Cracking shots Lee - especially the stained glass ones - I wouldn't mind a few of those in my collection

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Love the shots Lee, I'm trying this year to get a shot of a Grizzled Skipper, not got any yet, don't suppose there's any in Kent is there? Goldie

Thanks Dave, Mike, Wurzel and Goldie!

Goldie, there are quite a few sites for Grizzled Skipper in Kent, are you visiting? I can recommend a few, if you wish. They are mainly along the north downs. I found a colony of my own when I lived in Kent a few years ago, which was lovely!

Best wishes,

Lee

Hi! Lee, I don't think I'll be in Kent until middle of August, if there's any around then I'd love to know where, I expect I'll be much too late then, but I'd love to see a LTB, also we plan to go to Sussex for a couple of days to look for BH's, while we're down there , It's going to be all go Goldie

Hi Goldie, you will be to late for Grizzled Skipper by then but you will see plenty of summer butterflies. Have a lovely time.

Best wishes,

Lee

31st May 2014 - Part 1

A slightly longer trip out today in hope of an early Heath Fritillary in Kent. I had never been to East Blean Woods before and I had never seen Heath Fritillary in England.

It's a lovely place and I had it all to myself.
I found some nice wildlife, but no Heath Fritillaries.
Finally, I did find just the one Heath Fritillary, just not in the form I had hoped for. Still, I'm counting it A very handsome cat it was too.

31st May 2014 - Part 2

I called into Hutchinson's Bank on the way home but the weather was not in my favour. Still, there was plenty to see.
This was a wonderfully marked male upperside, with quite a thick black border.
While this different male, had a vivid underside.

It is that time of year when I finally find some spare time. Onward with the catching up...

1st June 2014 - Part 1

In the hope of an early silver stud, I visited what is now a fairly local site, Fairmile Common. No silver or studs, but lots of green and hair on offer. I saw five in total.

Hi, Lee. It's been a while... The sort of catching up you have to do puts Wurzel to shame!

Spectacular wild roses on that site - I photographed them a year earlier in 2013 when looking for SSB.

Cheers,

Dave

I agree Dave Mind you Lee you are catching me up - I better get a wriggle on!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I'm relying on your backlog to keep me going through the winter, Lee!

Thanks Dave, Wurzel and David.

I will try to keep you going More to come over the weekend.

Best wishes,

Lee

1st June 2014 - Part 2

Another local site, which is thankfully within walking distance, is Howell Hill. It's a Local Nature Reserve and an important site for Small Blue. I walk through some lovely field edges to get there, which are abundant with flowers and extra habitat.

I can almost guarantee Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks along here.
Common Blues are also found here.
This male lacks the usual cell spot that distinguishes between Common and Chapman's Blue.
Inside Howell Hill, Small Blues are everywhere.
Common Blues are also frequent and usually include some stunningly blue females.
Howell Hill is also a haven for orchids and there are many varieties to be found here.

Cracking shots Lee. That female Blue is a beaut and lovely Small Blues Your male Common Blue is really interesting as not only does is lack the cell spot but also the orange lunules are very pale, almost non-existent...interesting ab
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel.

Icarus certainly is a variable species.

Best wishes,

Lee

1st June 2014 - last part

This beautiful White Ermine came to light in Epsom, during the evening.

6th June 2014 - Fairmile Common

A quick evening visit to Fairmile Common for Silver Studded Blues proved fruitless but I did find this lovely Common Heath.
7th / 8th June 2014 - Leicestershire

I was visiting family on the outskirts of Leicester, where the suburbs meet the countryside in a lovely location.
Here, I found my first Large Skippers of the year.
I also found a Cinnabar moth trying to hide.
A couple of new brood Small Tortoiseshells and a huge Peacock were also here.
On the way home, I popped into Fairmile Common once more. I bumped into Dave Miller, who is always a pleasure to meet and we met a lot in 2014!

Thankfully, the Silver Studded Blues were also there.

13th June 2014 - Howell Hill

An evening trip to Howell Hill, my favourite local spot.

Keep 'em coming, Lee! They may be more than a year out of date but already they're making me yearn for next spring.

Hi Lee - I remember that visit to Fairmile Common and have a few photos of that female too - in fact wasn't she the only one there that day? No males at all, which seemed odd at the time...

Dave