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We had a fair amount of dry, sunny weather yesterday in Surrey - albeit punctuated with a couple of very heavy showers - so I tried my luck at Bookham Common in the evening. Unfortunately, when I got there it was 90% rain to about 10% sun. Taking the camera was a waste of time. Taking wellies, however, turned out to be a very astute move.

In the brief dry spell I saw four butterflies, but the first was a male Purple Hairstreak - my first (in fact my first hairstreak of any species) this year. The others were a Ringlet, a Large Skipper and a male Silver-washed Fritillary (still haven't seen a female this year).

Here are a couple of shots that I took when I went for a walk to Prees Heath last night, only a handful of SSB could be found and I did not see any ringlets this visit. Plese correct me if I have got my ID incorrect.

Debbie

Debbie wrote:sdfdsfdasf

I couldn't agree more!

B) Yes, Meadow Brown

A) Looks like a Small Heath to me

Thanks for ID, this is what happens when you do things in your tea break at work (sdfdsfdasf) and the phone rings

I went to Warehorn to resume my White letter Hairstreak vigil and had the pleasure of bumping into Dave Brown and family who were likewise engaged. We managed to see one WLH and about five Purple Hairstreaks.I then went back to Orlestone to see the White Admirals. I saw about ten in all Including this one which you can see being approached by a strange, other-worldly looking object ( in fact, another White Admiral) the two of them then flying up into the trees. There were lots of Ringlets I watched as one was shadowed by a Southern Hawker which seemed to be waiting for an opportunity to strike but gave up,perhaps defeated by the Ringlets jinky flight.

Several Marbled Whites I thought I caught a glimpse of a Silver washed Fritillary but couldn't relocate it. I did however see Small and Essex Skippers,Red Admiral and even had a second sighting of Dave Brown!

Out this morning: My first sighting on the Fleam Dyke of a passing Marbled White. Lots of Ringlet, Small Heath and Meadow Brown, 5 Small White, 1 BA, Brimstone, RA, Peacock and ST. Also several Large, Small and a single Essex, Skipper. The breeze made the butterflies jumpy Also 3 or 4 male DGF patrolling the bank and descending into the ditch to re-fuel on thistles, where I waited to catch them. Sat on the boundary between 2 males and watched them briefly clash as they met; otherwise they ignored the Ringlets and MB that mobbed them and continued their search for a female; I didn't see any females yet myself...

Nick. Am I right in thinking DGFs are a new arrival at Fleam Dyke? They have been expected for a long time but I have never seen one there.

They'll be in your churchyard next.

Jack

Debbie wrote: ...only a handful of SSB could be found....

Hi Debbie,

When we went to Prees Heath last week in the afternoon we saw dozens ...but they were starting to roost up around 5.30pm.
We had been there earlier in the morning as well and found a couple of dozen roosting in the tall clumps of willowherb alongside the paths by the old runway.

Nice photos, especially the SSB.

Cheers,

Neil F.

Jack Harrison wrote:Nick. Am I right in thinking DGFs are a new arrival at Fleam Dyke? They have been expected for a long time but I have never seen one there.
Jack

They re-appeared after a long absence (1994) about 4 years ago; this is the fifth summer in a row that they have been seen. They also appeared on the nearby Roman Road at the same time.
I would like to think they may have come back naturally; after all, there must be pockets of habitat somewhere that may have supported small colonies where these have spread from...
The proximity of the A11 and available lay-bys, on the other hand, may point to other sources......
Either way, it is a pleasure to observe them patrolling the grasses (low-down in the sward), and to watch them nectaring on the thistles; I'm sure the butterflies do not care where they came from either....

Visited Arnside Knott and Warton Cragg on Morecambe Bay today. Literally dozens of fritillaries at Arnside although all the ones that settled appeared to be Dark Green Fritillaries. Also seen here were about 30 Graylings, one Northern Brown Argus, 20+ Meadow Browns, several Small Heath and Ringlet plus one each of Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood. No whites of any descriptions.

Many fewer butterflies at Warton Cragg. However both the fritillaries which settled long enough to take a photo of were High Browns, whilst also seen were a Nothern Brown Argus, a Small Tortoiseshell and several Meadow Browns. Did finally see a white butterfly on the motorway verge on the way home!

At last a decent day. Twitched the White rumped Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB then toured the Limewoods.
Highlights were two Marbled White and a single White Admiral. Silver Washed Fritillary reorted yesterday and today. These are very scarce in Lincolnshire - I was fortunate to see one last year.
Lots of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Skippers

Hugh

As todays forecast was fairly good I decided to venture out for a trip round Northants area, approx 140 miles round trip. Early to Fermyn, no PE seen in ride opp gliding club but reports on at least one seen high up in the other wood. 1 Red A & 1 White A plenty of Ringlets. took the gated road to call in Glapthorne, as expected no BH's. On to Bedford Purlieus, Several SWF's & lots Ringlets. Final call Barnack Hills & Holes. 6-8 Marbled white but very flighty, a few Ringlet but no blues seen at all. Eric

A trip to try and frind a PE failed at Broxbourne Woods but had 4 Silver-washed Fritillary including a mating pair. 2 White admiral and 1 Comma, 5 Large Skippers to make up for it. On my transect in the afternoon had my first site records of the year for Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and 11 Marbled Whites so all in all a very good day.

Cors Caron NNR, Near Tregaron, Mid-Wales. Morning showers greeted my arrival at this wonderful reserve, have to say that it's one of my favourites, it has such a diverse range of plants and critters, it's hard for any naturalist not to get excited. By late morning the rain had eased somewhat and I had walked half of the boardwalk circular, luckily the boardwalk is available because I've never seen the reserve so waterlogged, where you can normally safely venture off it in a normal summer, right now it's not really advisable however once I had 'radared' in to my first Large Heath of the day (which was my target species) all common sense went out the window...I was off the boards and the chase was on and off and then on again because anyone who has ever tried keeping up with Large Heath in a bog will know, take your eyes off your critter and it's lost, take your eyes off where your going and you could be lost, just as well they have trained Newfoundland Dogs on standby to save wretched and foolhardy Large Heath Chasers Well let me put you all out of your misery...SUCCESS...I did'nt get dragged down into the boggy depths of Cors Caron like that dastardly villian in Hound of the Baskervilles and I managed to get a reasonable few images of the critter in question... Is there really a more frustrating butterfly in the UK (no! NO!!! I don't want know ).

After my second circular I headed back to my car for another Kit Kat and coffee, someone approached asking if I was Willrow of UK Butterflies fame it was none other than Jenks another fellow UKB member, he too was up from South Wales for Large Heath so I decided to join him on another circular (I feel like I'm on standby for the Olympics!!!) sadly Gareth (Jenks) was not to see his butterfly on this occasion as the sun had decided to hide and a cold breeze did'nt help matters. We spent some time watching a pair of Hobby taking airborn insects, what masters of the air they are, I could watch them all day (and have!), we also saw a few scarce plants and one in particular Bog Rosemary was in fruit and looked fascinating, we also watched a fair size Adder, quite a bit in excess of 2 feet, Cors Caron is reknown for it's large Adders, their main diet is half submerged 'butterfliers' One other interesting critter appeared before our circular was finished a Rove Beetle that's new to me Staphylinus caersareus a near relative of Devil's Coach-horse, and on that rather Gothic note I shall finish, but not before saying to Gareth it was a pleasure sharing your company for a couple of hours and I'm certain you'll have success with Large Heath on your planned return visit, thank you for your fine company.

Bill

Are you sure about the bog rosemary- it looks like alpine strawberry or a potentilla? The leaves look wrong for rosemary.
See http://www.flickr.com/photos/22293205@N05/2990183507/
Actually it is Potentilla palustris - Marsh Cinquefoil - (Rosaceae).
Ian

Hi Willrow,isn't that Marsh Cinquefoil,rather than Bog Rosemary? Yes,it is a G.V.White. Cheers!

Fenn's Moss on a sunny morning - plenty of Large Heath. I attempted vainly to get a picture but eventually gave up trying to find one who would settle so decided just to enjoy then fluttering past. Black Darters were out now too.

Most plentiful were Ringlets and Large Skipper - both seemed to be doing very well despite the weather.

One thing annoyed me today: there is a large area of mostly knapweed next to the bog. This is an excellent place to see Brimstones and Peacocks feeding in August when the knapweed blooms. Not this year however. For some reason the whole area had been mowed. There may be a good conservation reason for this but I can't think of one. There is no grazing and it is part of the nature reserve which is usually very well managed. Really unnecessary as far as I can see.

Of course it's Marsh Cinquefoil, I've mixed my images up (again tut tut...) I've now sorted through my files and the image I took was of Bog Asphodel I know I saw Bog Rosemary, but in my search for the elusive Large Heath I've obviously missed out on a record photograph things happened very quickly, as their often apt to do, and once the butterfly was on the wing botany was forgotten, but thanks lads

Just for the record here's a photo of the Bog Asphodel sorry about the quality, no editing, I've done now't but resize it.

Bill

Encouraging signs today - loads of Meadow Browns and Ringlets, and a few Marbled Whites, in the meadows above Bath. The first two species were there in as good numbers as I can remember seeing them at this site - their season appears to be running a few weeks behind its usual schedule. Many of the Ringlets are freshly emerged whereas in a typical year they would be almost over by now.

Late posting from Thursday.

A sunny morning on the 12th of July had me switching my leave from Friday to Thursday and heading off to Alice Holt to try and snatch a glimpse of His Majesty. First port of call was my favourite Straits Inclosure. Lots of butterflies made it an interesting and entertaining visit, especially the Silver-washed Frits. with their courtship flights. Most were males constantly on the go with breaks for nectaring. Females on the other hand tended to bask on leaves in the middle of clumps of bramble. Occasionally a female would be displaced by another female, perhaps a pecking order was being displayed in which the top females select the best vantage points to attract males or look out for potential predators? No Emperors were spotted and any chance of getting a grounded one was squashed (scuse pun) when the owners (Forestry Commision) turned up and constantly drove up and down the track. Therefore I decided to move on to Goose Green.
Species seen in order of most numerous were: Meadow Brown; Ringlet; Silver-washed Fritillary; White Admiral; Large Skipper; Red Admiral; Speckled Wood; Small Skipper and Comma. Moving on to Goose Green, got more of the same species. However, also seen were a couple of Marbled Whites and Purple Hairstreaks up in the treetops. As I was leaving I took a quick last look upwards and there was a Purple Emperor with it's white bands showing through its wings and its characteristic flapping and gliding flight. Previous years in this spot you would see them in twos and threes but still I was elated to get this one , might not see another this season such is this crummy weather .

As time was getting on and the impending clouds were starting to dominate the sky, I moved on to Wrecclesham in the hope that there might be some Heath Fritillaries about. No such luck but there were plenty more Meadow Brown; Ringlet; Small and Large Skipper and lots of Marbled White. A Large White apeared on the scene too. Now that is a rarity this season