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I went out with the dogs this afternoon and came across the Ghost of a Painted Lady The Painted Ladies I've seen recently at Dungeness have all been fresh and in perfect condition but this one looks older and as if it's been in the wars Still able to fly but with far less strength.

Up until today my garden Buddlias have been very quiet with visits from only Large Whites but today I counted 8 fresh Peacocks, 3 fresh Red Admirals and a fine Comma. No Small Tortoiseshells as yet.

That is one hell of a battered butterfly Hoggers I'm surprised it could still fly Cheers for the info about the Small Coppers habitat, you're right they do seem to like slighty barren areas.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Looks like it's flown through a war zone Hoggers ...get back to the safety of Small Coppers

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Dungeness isn't so safe, Bill, as you will see!

When I got there today I began counting Small Coppers What I noticed was how many more of them were now in poor condition compared with last week And when I came upon this poor chap I admit to having a tear in my eye Still able to fly but only just.

It's the females that are in best condition. However, although I saw a few skirmishes between the males I did not today see any females egg-laying or brushing off unwanted males.

Most of the Small Skippers and Small Heaths have gone but there are now many Brown Argus and Common Blues I also saw 8-10 Painted Ladies today.

There were still Coppers in good condition to be found I counted 88 Including a couple of fine Blue Badge Holders So although I feel the second brood here is moving towards its end stages there's lots for the Copper-Head to enjoy

Out over the fields at 7 this morning I was delighted to find a Small Copper. I took a snap of him on my phone He's the first Copper I've seen here and I can only think he's one of those males that wanders about rather than sticking to a set territory.

A lovely way to start the day!

Later on I visited Dungeness and took my usual walk Numbers are down and many are in poor condition I counted 44 today The males are still up for a fight. I watched two battle it out but I'm not sure you'd call this one the Victor!(He managed to sort his wings out after a bit of shuffling about)

I did find one freshly minted Copper He had a lovely duskiness about him My most interesting find was this one with only minimal markings I wish I'd met him in his younger days! So with their numbers falling rapidly these look like the last stages of the second brood here at Dungeness, but still plenty to see and admire

Nice one Hoggers!
" Obliterata" ? ......... I found one about 25 years ago in Longrope ,I have a poor picture,but very similar,if not Obliterata,very close regards Allan.W.

Cheers Allan and thanks yet again for the ID - "obliterata" certainly sums it up ( and could even describe many of those other Small Coppers that look like they're falling apart!!)

Best wishes

Hoggers

I went back to Dungeness this morning and spent a few hours with the Small Coppers. Over the last few months I've been making an effort to watch Small Coppers as much as I can in the hope that I'd get to know them better. One aspect of Small Copper behaviour that I've noticed is how they will interrupt their normal pursuits ( perching on the look out for females and giving chase) to go for a wander. They will fly up to the top of a grass stalk or Sorrel plant and rather than just perch there, they descend head first whilst tapping with their feet. It's something I love to watch and today I saw two males behave in this way I came across one rather battered male He had set up a territory so I sat down (for what turned out to be nearly one and a half hours !) to watch him.

Base of operations was the little patch of pebbles in front of the bush He intercepted almost every butterfly that came past. With Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers the chase would be over within seconds. But I saw Small Coppers come through on two occasions and here the chase was prolonged and they would fly out of my view. One of these Coppers was flying about 5 feet over his head but he still raced up to it.

He too would break off to go Sorrel Stalk Walking Whilst away on such an expedition a Brown Argus moved in on his patch For the next 40 minutes I watched them duel it out. On occasions both were jointly occupying the patch, seeing off other butterflies. The two battled frequently. My Small Copper disappeared at one point and I thought the Argus had won. I should have had more faith. My Small Copper returnedAnd after a deal more dancing between them the Argus finally departed!

Nice to hear that the Copper won out in the end against Bad Attitude

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel, I had no idea that Brown Argus are territorial until I watched what happened yesterday. There's something new to be learned every day!

14 Peacocks on my Buddleia this afternoon ( one landed on my Basset Hound..!), 3 Commas and a Red Admiral.

Still no Small Tortoiseshells in my garden.

It's "Last Orders Please!" for the second generation of Small Coppers at Dungeness Not all are quite such phantoms of their former selves but overall their appearance is that of a defeated army This last pictured Copper is the one I spent a couple of hours watching on thursday Still vigilantly patrolling his patch but I could tell his condition had declined even in so short a time and he lacked the vim and verve that I saw then.

In fact I've noticed with some surprise just how quickly the curtain is ringing down on this brood: last Saturday I counted 88, on thursday it was 44 but today only 21 I was delighted to see a male doing the "feet patter dance" He isn't simply walking down the stem: as he goes along he very quickly pats his feet against the stalk as if testing it He does this on several grass stalks within a few feet of his main perch and then returns to his watching perch.

Tired though they may be there's a great deal to see and enjoy But that's when you can catch up with them! Plenty of Common Blues about But it's the Small Coppers that I admire the most.

Wonderful butterflies

Blue Moon.. Over the fields early this morning Best time of the day!

Most of my Buddleia is in full bloom now and when I walk up the garden it's a case of having to dodge the low flying Peacocks I counted 23 this afternoon.

One Red Admiral keeping cool in the shade Also two Commas The scent of Buddleia is so strong it almost makes you feel light-headed.

I also saw a Holly Blue today and yesterday a Painted Lady in the garden.

But no sign of any Small Tortoiseshells.

The number of Small Coppers at Dungeness has been in decline since 25th July when I counted 88. On 29th July I found 44 and on 1st August only 21. I expected to find only a handful of them today and that they'd all be bashed about. To my surprise however, I counted more than last time, 29 in all, and most in fact were very fresh indeed I did find some worn individuals But the majority were fiddle fit I followed a female as she ambled about and for the first time saw her adopt the "Turkey" posture whilst fluttering her hind wings even though the only male in the vicinity was me! I've never seen that before.

I watched another female act in this manner in order to dissuade a lusty male. Whilst displaying she made her way deep into a bramble bush The male gave up and departed. About 2 minutes later the female emerged from the bush and began to bask in the sunshine I watched her and to my great surprise she began fluttering her hind wings as if a male Copper was pressing his attentions on her. But I was the only male in the immediate area! Perhaps I need to change my deodorant..?

I also saw a male flying from one plant to another and perform the "foot tapping" dance So the Small Copper season is far from over Thank Goodness!

It's nice to be over the fields early at this time of the year. If I'm lucky I'll find butterflies just as they're waking up. First a Common Blue Too early for it to open its wings but just starting to warm in the sunshine.

Then I found one of the last of the Skippers I disturbed a Meadow Brown which was able to fly away before I could take a photo despite the early hour (about 6.30) but I then chanced upon a Brown Argus. It was roosting with wings tight shut but just as I knelt down to take a picture it suddenly snapped them open He looked very attractive from the other side too It was so quiet and peaceful there I keep a note of the butterflies that visit my garden. The Peacocks which were seen in numbers ( some days 20+) have now disappeared.

But rather worryingly, I still have yet to see a Small Tortoiseshell in my garden. This time in 2013 I was counting 9 of them on the Buddleia, and last year 22 ! But none at all this year.I truly hope that they start appearing soon!

In yesterday's entry I forgot to mention that while at Dungeness I saw 2 Painted Ladies, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth and a Clouded Yellow.

Hi Hoggers,

Second brood Small Coppers and summer Peacocks have only started showing up around my local patch this past week or so. We would normally be later than you are in the south-east but this year things are even later.

cheers,

Neil

The Small Coppers of Dungeness may be getting themselves a new landlord soon as the estate is up for sale for £1.5million.

I'd gladly accept the job but sadly this is about all I could afford They seem unperturbed On my walk this morning I came across a few lingerers from the second brood But of the 21 Coppers that I saw most were fresh I found one that sadly had distorted wings Although it was still able to fly I have not noticed as sharp a break as between the first and second broods this year so I'm not sure whether these newly minted Coppers are late second or early third Conditions for me today were warm but mostly dull so I suspect there were more of them about than I could see Here's hoping the new owner looks after his most important tenants

HI Hoggers,
Those new Coppers certainly look very bright. I'm hoping to take my two year old Grandson on the
RH&D Railway soon, so i'll take the camera. Small Coppers are not that plentiful around here.

Best wishes,
TREVOR.

Hi! Hogger's one place we didn't get to was Dungeness, sorry to say, I'd love to have seen the small Coppers, I couldn't persuade everyone to go, looks like I'll have to visit Southport on Tuesday it's suppose to be a nice day and hope they're there, lovely shots by the way Goldie

Hi Trevor, I love the RH&DR! What a marvellous day out and some Small Coppers waiting for you at journey's end!

Hi Goldie, maybe you'll visit Dungeness the next time you're on holiday in Kent but I hope you find some Coppers nearer to home.

I was walking the dogs this morning over the fields, 6.45, and look what I found Just opening his wings in the early sunshine He's only the 2nd Copper I've found on my patch this year What a way to start the day! Duly inspired I headed down to Dungeness Much sunnier than yesterday. I found a few blue badgers Of the 25 Small Coppers I saw today only 7 were tatty, so I think the 3rd brood has indeed begun I saw 1 Painted Lady, some Hummingbird Hawk moths and a Clouded Yellow I had a snack whilst watching a male Copper He went through the usual perch selection procedures And when I saw him land head downwards on a grass stalk I guessed correctly that he would go on to investigate a number of near-by plants whilst doing the "feet tapping" dance. I've now seen many of the males do this but I haven't a clue why they're doing it!

Plenty more to discover about this wonderful creature

At last! A Small Tortoiseshell on my Buddleia today!

But just the one.

I'm not sure whether they're just late or if it's a poor year for them.

On another subject, I've still got tadpoles in my pond! Most turned into froglets in June.