www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

A couple more Orange Tip photos from my local patch today. Regards Kev

26.5.15
After a frustrating week of rationed sunshine, it was nice to take advantage of brighter conditions.
Three more firsts for 2015 in the shape of Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Heath, together with good numbers of Brimstone and Orange Tip.

Brown Argus Female Common Blue Male Common Blue and finally a caterpillar, which I think may be a Mottled Umber Moth (please correct me if I'm wrong) Regards Kev

Frustration over Kev, you finally nailed some nice captures in the sunshine lets hope it lasts and you get lots more

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Strumpshaw Fen 6th June 2015

A cracking day spent looking for Swallowtails. We were lucky enough to see two. Also seen was a single Painted Lady, Brimstone and Common Blue (M/F). However the most numerous species for the day was Red Admiral, which seemed to be everywhere. Being vary sparse for me this year, they were nice to see in good numbers.
Other notable sightings were Black Tailed Skimmers,Four Spotted Chasers and the following Damselflies (Azure, Blue Tailed, Variable, Large Red)

For any visitors to Strumpshaw Fen, the best locations are the herbaceous garden by the entrance hide (where the below photos were taken). The other notable locations are Dr Georges Cottage which is located down a track approx 100 yards before the car park. There is a welcoming sign from him inviting people to walk up and down his border and photograph any Swallowtails that settle (as they frequently do when conditions are right). Opposite the cottage and across the railway line, is the best other part of the fen to observe Swallowtails, being richer in Milk Parsley.

Swallowtails at Strumpshaw Fen First Painted Lady of the year Regards Kev

Congratulations on seeing the Swallowtails, Kev : gorgeous photos!

I went last year and spent a memorable afternoon in the good doctor's garden

Best wishes

Hoggers

Well Kev, you maybe a bit jealous of my list of species this year but I can garantee I'm more jealous of your Swallowtail pictures !

HI Kev,
You've hit the jackpot , i've closely observed a reared Continental Swallowtail ,but you have seen
the real thing, and taken some cracking ( as Wurzel would say ) images. Must go myself one day.

All the best,
TREVOR.

You have really done those Swallowtails justice Kev. Beautiful shots of a beautiful butterfly which I would love to be able to see for myself one day

Opposite the cottage and across the railway line, is the best other part of the fen to observe Swallowtails, being richer in Milk Parsley.

You used to be able to cross the railway line at that point but the last time I was there (2012) the access via that particular level crossing was blocked.
Is the fen accessible again from there or does it involve the walk from the visitor centre within the boundary of the fen?

Jack

Hoggers/Bugboy/Trevor/Pauline Thank you all for your compliments. Appreciated as always. I've been reading your diaries and envious of the species being seen by you in the West, so it was nice to have a close encounter with such an exotic species.

Jack: The access to the fen from the cottage crossing is fully open once again with no access issues. That's where we saw a second example yesterday. It landed on the path in front of us. I managed a quick photo of it as it settled and took off (sorry quality not that great). Regards Kev

Congrats on the Swallowtails, Kev! It's a long way for many people - but always worth the trip

Cheers,

- Pete

It's a long way for many people

They were only 20 kilometres/12 miles away from where I grew up (or 12.4274238 miles as Google stupidly insists on converting 2 significant figures to 9 sig.figs).

But I didn't see my first Swallowtail until 1950 when I was 11 years old and Dad had got his first car.

Jack

Beautiful photos Kevling

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Pete/Wurzel. Thanks for your kind comments

Regards Kev

I'm envious Kev I've yet to make the long journey from South Wales to see Swallowtail - and those photos are pretty nifty too

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

HI Kev,
Good luck finding the Heath Fritillary. I don't know the Essex site, but there are plenty at East Blean.

Good luck,
TREVOR.

Hadleigh Country Park, Essex

A trip south of the Suffolk border today to this excellent site near Southend. My target species was White Letter Hairstreak, of which I saw three. Two in the canopies and one that landed right next to me and set off again before I could get my camera focused

Soon made up for this though with a small number of Marbled Whites. Surprisingly the most numerous species seen today (if you discount the Meadow Brown & Skippers) was the Holly Blue (30+). I had never seen this number in such a close proximity before.

A total of thirteen species seen in additional to some other insects. A selection of my other sightings follows;

Comma at rest Male Broad Bodied Chaser Female Ruddy Darter Mating Common Blue Damselfly Regards Kev

A new job has me based next to some great Heathland near Ipswich and occasional lunch time walks are being rewarded this week with a good number of Butterflies and Moths.
Armed only with my mobile, I've not been too successful with images, but I did see this nice cluster of Six Spot Burnets (10 on a single flower head). And a caterpillar / pupa duo of the same moth On the look out for Silver Studded Blues at this site, but none seen yet. But also present have been Painted Lady, Small Copper and as many skippers as you can shake a stick at. I think the skippers are a very underrated Butterfly and I just love seeing them in such numbers (a true arrival of summer). Regards Kev

I agree with you Kev, it's not a proper summer until you're accompanied on a walk by a multitude of minuscule ginger buzzing bullets

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A family camping trip this weekend to Tangham Forest, Suffolk and with beautiful weather, I saw my first White Admiral of the year. Meadow Browns and Skippers also present in the hundreds

Regards Kev