Re: Padfield
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:07 pm
Again, no emperors in my local woods today. It is a great shame - I just hope conditions return as quickly as possible to what they were. There were no white admirals there today, either, which is quite shocking for late July. Parts of the woods are still lovely to walk in, though:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/22july2012a.jpg)
Other species have been less affected by the removal of crucial trees. Silver-washed fritillaries are out in force. I watched a male chasing a female in vain up and down the track and noticed that he looped under her and back over her continuously as he flew, always facing forward. She followed as near as she could to a straight line while he was like one of those pesky, annoying third-formers that run around you pestering you with some pointless question.
When she tired and took a rest he persisted:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/paphia1203.jpg)
(female at top)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/paphia1204.jpg)
(female on right)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/paphia1207.jpg)
(female below)
After a few minutes of this he gave up and left her in peace.
Meanwhile, this female high brown fritillary was busy laying eggs near the base of violet plants:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/adippeovipositing1201.jpg)
This is the sunny bank where she was laying. It will be worth looking for caterpillars on the violets there next spring:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/adippeovipositingbank1201.jpg)
Elsewhere, the thistles were covered in insects, including several Arran browns:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/ligea1201.jpg)
Nearby was this female Scotch argus:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/aethiops1202.jpg)
A lone white-letter hairstreak was stuck to one flower head and this lovely hoverfly (I believe) to another:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/hornethoverfly1201.jpg)
Guy
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/22july2012a.jpg)
Other species have been less affected by the removal of crucial trees. Silver-washed fritillaries are out in force. I watched a male chasing a female in vain up and down the track and noticed that he looped under her and back over her continuously as he flew, always facing forward. She followed as near as she could to a straight line while he was like one of those pesky, annoying third-formers that run around you pestering you with some pointless question.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
When she tired and took a rest he persisted:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/paphia1203.jpg)
(female at top)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/paphia1204.jpg)
(female on right)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/paphia1207.jpg)
(female below)
After a few minutes of this he gave up and left her in peace.
Meanwhile, this female high brown fritillary was busy laying eggs near the base of violet plants:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/adippeovipositing1201.jpg)
This is the sunny bank where she was laying. It will be worth looking for caterpillars on the violets there next spring:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/adippeovipositingbank1201.jpg)
Elsewhere, the thistles were covered in insects, including several Arran browns:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/ligea1201.jpg)
Nearby was this female Scotch argus:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/aethiops1202.jpg)
A lone white-letter hairstreak was stuck to one flower head and this lovely hoverfly (I believe) to another:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/hornethoverfly1201.jpg)
Guy