www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Great pictures of those Heaths. I've got a trip planned next tuesday, weather permitting. Your pictures have got me chomping at the bit to see them now

Good luck Buggy: a fine day will reap rewards!

Dungeness was bathed in brilliant hot sunshine this morning. I straightaway saw Hummingbird Hawk Moths and Painted Ladies I found 9 of the latter during my visit Good numbers of Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Brown Argus, Large Whites, Common Blues and Small Heaths I was pleased to find my first Small Skipper I always hope to see a Small Copper or two when I visit Dungeness and although we're not yet into the second brood I thought I might be lucky and come across a lingering remnant of the first. So I had a delightful surprise when I found this fine fellowBrand spanking new and hot off the press and sporting a very pretty, delicate wing pattern He had set up his patch and was vigilantly seeing off all intruders I followed him on a number of his patrolsand enjoyed an acrobatic display After which he'd refuelbefore resuming his post And I was further surprised to see two more Coppers on my walk, both fresh So it looks like the second brood of this impetuous creature has begun!

What a super little butterfly!

I like your acrobatic Small Copper photo Hoggers, it appears to be doing the splits! No doubt all the other Coppers asked it why it was "walking funny" afterwards.

ATB

James

Here we go, Hoggers Small Coppers are out again Still got first brood ones around here and I wouldn't expect to see second brood locally for some weeks yet.

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks for your comments, chaps!

One Small Copper that I saw last sunday seemed to have a very fixed territory. I had the chance to go back today and I was most interested to see if he was still there.

He'd favoured the shingle patch to the left of my hat and jacket in this photo And he was there today! I decided to sit myself down and see what he got up to. Between 1013 and 1138 I kept as close an eye on him as I could.

The shingle patch was his preferred spot. I saw him launch himself on 26 missions from this patch. He never roosted except on the shingle, and mostly low down but sometimes picking a slightly raised vantage point These pebbles, heated in the sun, radiated a strong heat.

All of his missions were patrols and explorations. Although flies and bees would intrude upon his domain he let them pass unmolested. But from past experience I doubt he'd have been so understanding had another butterfly come through!

On three occasions he made longer flights going slightly further afield and each time he would take an interest in grass And Sorrel which he would appear to investigate by pattering his feet against the stalks very fast He would then always return to the shingle patch I didn't see him nectar once. But although he most certainly was active there were two rest periods when he simply sat quietly for 10 minutes on one occasion and for 15 minutes on the second.

I'm going to post this entry now because it's my second attempt after twice losing everything I'd written!

Fingers crossed!!

Today's report continued..( I hope!!! )

(I don't know the reason but now every time I try to post an entry I am sure to have it erased mysteriously and so have to do it all over again, so I rush to get it done before losing it!! Very Frustrating!!!)

After my time with this one Small Copper I managed to find two more although they were far apart from each other Small Skippers 7 Painted Ladies My first Meadow Brown ( it flew away before I could photograph it ! )

Common Blues, Small Heaths, Brown Argus and this gorgeous Small Tortoiseshell There may not be many Small Coppers out just yet but the few that are provide a great deal of pleasure

Your giving me the vague impression that you might just like Small Copper Hoggers...

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

I've only seen a handful of Small Coppers this year

Fantastic shots Of the coppers Hoggers, I can't wait to visit Dungeness which I hope to do in August hope I see some of your lovely Coppers then Goldie

Hi Buggy - The Doctor prescribes a visit to Dungeness for you!

Goldie, come down in August and you'll see plenty!

Bill : me interested in Small Coppers?!? ME??.....Just a bit!!

Best wishes

Hoggers

Hi Hoggers
I have not seen any Small Coppers at all so far this year So I thought I would visit your diary pages for a fix As I expected, a generous helping of Small Coppers were found therein
Interesting report on the behaviour as well, fantastic I feel almost satisfied now

Hi Jack I'm glad you enjoy the Small Coppers I put on here. I often worry that my preoccupation with them makes for a rather dull diary for others to read. I tend to overload it with Small Coppers! But I'm sorry to hear that you haven't seen a single one yet: are they usually so hard to come by in your neck of the woods?

As for down here, the second brood is now well under way Last tuesday I struggled to find three Today I easily counted 26 And as you can see, they're already looking ahead to a third brood! I found this pair already in cop so missed the courtship. I sat down and waited for the uncoupling and after 10 minutes they simply walked away from each other remained close by for 2 minutes and then went their separate ways.

I saw one individual act in exactly the same way as the butterfly I spent the afternoon with earlier this week, ie, it would launch itself, settle very briefly on Sorrel,patter against it with its feet then return to its perch I wonder if it is in some way "tasting" its food plant, or detecting whether a female has been present?

I will just post this now in case I lose it all somewhere in the InterWeb ether!

Fingers crossed!

Great shots once again Hogger's, roll on August Goldie

Today's entry continued! (I'm having "Internet Dis - connection Problems" ! )

Returning to Dungeness I was most interested to see whether the Small Copper I'd spent the morning with last tuesday would still be on his patch.

Alas, he was not. No sign of him. But two newcomers had taken his place! I felt sad that he wasn't there. Maybe he just moved on?

The two Small Coppers now using his patch were highly combative. I watched them engage in fast and furious dog fights, often soaring 12 -15 feet high locked in battle. Quite spectacular.

Later I found another pair of feuding neighbours and attempted to get some photographs Most exciting!

But how innocent they otherwise look All that I saw today were very fresh individuals and at times I had the impression that they were emerging around me In addition to the Small Coppers there were many Small Heaths as well, and Small Skippers, and Small Tortoiseshells: small but beautiful

Hoggers wrote:I'm glad you enjoy the Small Coppers I put on here. I often worry that my preoccupation with them makes for a rather dull diary for others to read

Dull diary never Hoggers, thoroughly enjoyed every time I catch up...and your acknowledged here on UKB's as an authority on Small Coppers

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Cheers Goldie - I'm looking forward to your photos!

Bill, during the Long-Tailed Blue invasion I was described ( tongue firmly in cheek, I might add! ) as the UK's Leading Authority on copulating LTBs ( I'd somehow managed to stumble on two mating pairs..) so to now have the further accolade of UKB's Authority on Small Coppers is an honour indeed!

If only my knowledge matched my enthusiasm!!

Best Wishes

Hoggers

This is the only Large Skipper I've seen this year Are they scarce this year or just running late?

Definately running late in my part of the world. Today was the first day I've seen them in any numbers at all. Just odd singletons up to today.

Fantastic Coppers as always Hoggers You're even sneaking in a few shots of other species

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I'm amazed how Small Coppers never seem to disappear from your neck of the woods, Hoggers.

Personally, I haven't seen one for nearly a month but yours seem to keep going regardless.