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Brill Cloudy shots Goldie - it looks like you had a cracking time on your hols The only bad bit is that they eventually come to an end...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Pauline, Buggy and Maximus, I think I've solved the Bird ID
I was in the Garden most of yesterday working, we sat down for a cuppa the weather was quite warm, when this bird landed on the suet balls again and would you believe it, it turned out to be a young Starling that was just getting it's adult feathers, the top half of him was cream and the rest speckled, strange thing was no other Starlings were with it , it was entirely on it's own both times.
Thanks Wurzel, I had a great time which you also seemed to have had

On Sunday we went to Mere Sands near Southport, we were going to Southport originally but the traffic was so heavy we turned back and headed there instead, it was a sunny day with a certain amount of cloud so ideal if we saw any thing.
We went for the meadow walk, which, to me, seems a bit strange when you can only go down a path at the side of the meadow because the gate to the meadow is locked Flying in how ever from the Meadow were lots of Peacock's one in particular caught my eye because in stead of the bright blue it should have had in the spots on it's lower wings it just had white tiny spots. Also this Dragon fly landed just in the right spot for a photo Darter I think! I also managed to get a shot of a Brimstone in the field quite a distance a way so not too bad a day

Yesterday has I said I was in the Garden, in between the the trimming etc, these two Small White's flew in and
landed in a spot where I could get a shot of them mating, nice surprise, then a Comma landed on the Budllia
and from that flew to some Astilbes that I'd just trimmed, it stayed there in the Sun for almost 30mins, I checked where it had been afterwards, no eggs! I also had a PeacockLarge Whites, even a Gate Keeper flew through and when I looked up into the sky this Sparrow Hawk (I think) was soaring round, another good day Goldie

Glad the bird got ID'd Goldie Nice view of the Sparrowhawk

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Nice shots Goldie glad the bird has been ID'd The Sparrowhawk looks really menacing.

Thanks for your postings Max and Wurzel, that hawk is menacing, there's a pair of them and they live near by in Hall-Lee-Brook , they've killed Collared Doves and lots of small birds a couple of which have been in my garden , even tried to scare one off not long since, nature will run it's course but it's still upsetting when it happens.
Raining today so no adventures sorry to say and yesterday was windy and much colder nothing was flying, hope fully things will pick up again Goldie

After the rain on Saturday morning the clouds lifted slightly and we got a bit of sun so we went to Hall-Lee-Brook, we found loads of Gate Keepers but these two took my interest because I think their ab's.
Also there was a Common Blue, Green Veined White and a Comma.

On Sunday we decided to take a chance and go to Arnside Knot the forecast was for rain later, Saturday night we'd had heavy rain and thunder so we didn't expect much but I thought may be it was the last chance to see a Scotch Argus if they were still about.
The day was warm but very windy and on the Knot things were blowing about quite a lot , I spotted some thing very dark on a flower and shot across to get a shot of it, I was delighted when it turned out to be a SA, we saw two or three but none opened their wings worse luck ( not surprising with the wind ) I was happy I'd seen them and with the clouds gathering again we set off for home.

This morning I was in the garden when I glanced up into my neighbours tree and saw these two Butterflies, I've recognised one as a Small White but the other one is so small I don't know what it is, I've put a pic in of both to show the difference between the two, also tried to get a side view of the Small one, believe me it wasn't easy standing on a step ladder balancing there with a camera If any one can tell me what it is I'll be pleased, Goldie

Lovely excess a and Scotch Argus Goldie I reckon your unknown white could be a very small Small White, a female from the 3rd generation which are often smaller than the first two broods

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Good to see you managed to spot a few Scotch Argus, Goldie.

I reckon they'll still be about in September this year!

Thank you Wurzel, I must say that Small butterfly made me scratch my head, I had it down for a Green Veined White but it didn't seem to have the veins but it did have the the dark spots going across like the GVW, I've never ever seen a White so small before, so there's a first for every thing, I'll put it down has a SW

Hi! David, the Scotch Argus may go into September, but I don't think they'll look so good, they seem to be fighting the weather up there and were not at their best, I was glad to get a few shots but disappointed at getting no open wing shots and more rain is now forecast as well as wind UGH! Goldie

I agree with Wurzel, Goldie, you have a male and female Small White there

Hi Goldie, glad you got to see the Scotch Argus .

You certainly seem to have had more than your fair share of bad weather up there this year.

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks Buggy, it's always good to get confirmation, you learn about some thing new every day on this web site

Thanks Neil, I'm glad has well, half the things I wanted to do and see I've either had to put on hold or do anther time.

I wanted to go back and see the Large Heaths again but the the weather was awful, hope fully another year for that.

I did get to see the Empress though so that was a bonus but try( has I did ,) I was unlucky with the Pearl B and the Small PB.

Also didn't get to see the Dark Green Frit, but was compensated by seeing the High Brown.

I also missed the Adonis and Silver SS, try for them next year , on the other hand I did see the Clouded Yellow so you win some you loose some

Looking back this year although the weather was awful, I did get three firsts and I saw the lovely Swallow Tails, we've still got September to go but no sign of the Small Tortoiseshells now in the garden or the Peacock, it'll be interesting to see what September brings. Goldie

Hi Goldie, Small Tortoiseshells are scarce in my garden this year ( so far ) even on the warm, sunny days.

I'm hoping there'll be an Indian Summer for them!

Hoggers

Hi! Hogger's, how've you gone on with the plants you bought last year, I remember you admiring the Yellow flowers in my photo's (forgotten what their Called ) and saying you'd bought some.

On Wednesday it was quite windy again but at least the sun shone for a while between the clouds, so I went once more to Hall-Lee-Brook, I think the Butterflies have hibernated early, a few Gate Keepers were about,
funnily enough they were the excessa, except for a couple, mind you I did go back to where I'd seen them before so they were probably the same I wanted a side view of one, I got one before but I was curious if they looked the same as the ordinary GK's.

There were lot's of Speckled Wood, one wasn't in good shape and was quite a distance a way on some Blackberries but I couldn't resist taking a shot because it looked so Autumnal, nearly into it now, maybe we'll get to see some more Peacocks, I'm surprised really that the Red Admirals are not about, last Year I was taking photos right through into October, fingers crossed it'll get better before the Autumn really sets in. Goldie

After scratching around to find Butterflies at HLB and giving up hope of finding many more, I've had a Tortoiseshell in my Garden, but my neighbour who's garden Backs onto mine had loads on her Butterfly bush including a Painted Lady and Peacock so if the weather picks up maybe more will arrive

Yesterday we decided to have a ride to Southport and visit the Dunes, the weather was very overcast so I thought if anything was flying, there was a chance for a shot or two, ( not really expecting much) when we arrived the weather was very dull, has we started out through the Dunes suddenly this Butterfly flew into the air I'd not seen it and nearly trod on it, to my surprise it was a Grayling which then proceeded to land on my Jacket My Husband took my Camera to take a photo but wasn't used to the setting so it was pretty Blurred, the BF didn't shoot off though but landed back in the sand so I managed to get a couple before it did finally get lost in the Dunes.

I've included some photo's I took of the Dunes which show the wide area I took the photos in.

After that we continued only to stop short when what I thought was another Grayling turned out to be a Wall, was I pleased
It was badly damaged so when another came along with just a bit off the top of his wing I was chuffed.

The day turned out to be a day of nice surprises when I took photos of lovely Common Blue's, Peacock's, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood"s and a large Caterpillar I'd not seen before (Pic of that not too Great) No Copper's though, I'm not too sure what's happened there I'll just have to hope they arrive and the weather stays warm Goldie

Hi,Goldie,
I,m not certain ,but I think your caterpillar could be a Fox moth,they feed on Heather,see them fairly regularly down at Dungeness. regards Allan W.

Nice selection of female Blues Goldie and a great Wall Brown

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Loving your reports and pictures recently,Goldie. Particularly your posts from down in Kent a few weeks ago. Sadly you were just too early this year for Silver-spotted Skippers at Lydden Temple Ewell,although last year they would have been out. Even here in the south,it has been cooler and cloudier than last year. But,just for you,here is a lovely Silver-spotted Skipper at Lydden,taken recently,to show what you are missing. If there is a choice,leave it a week or two later next time you are down.

Kind regards,Mark.

You did really well in the dunes there, Goldie, despite the lack of sun. You found a Wall - something I still haven't seen this year...

Dave

Sunshine and showers today, a house work day

Thanks Allan, I've had a look in UK moths for Fox Moth and I think your right ,so that's what I'll call it

Glad you liked the Blues Wurzel thank you, I've nothing else to show since than so I'll put a few more in.

What can I say Mark, the Skipper is lovely and thank you, glad you enjoyed my trip to Kent ,trouble is when I come to Kent it's by invite so I don't get to choose, last thing we want to do is land ourselves onto our family, this way when we go to Kent it's welcome I think next year though we'll try Sussex in May or June first, I'd like to see those Grizzled Skipper's and Wood White, I think I'm right in thinking their out about then. :

Hi! millard, sorry you've not seen a Wall this year, looks like they were late coming out up here and I got lucky, I've made a note to go to the Dunes again a bit earlier in August next year because seeing two in the space of just a few mins means there must be quite a few about in good condition a week or so sooner, ( weather permitting of course) I shot them in the same area in May, lucky again.

I just wish I'd been so lucky with the PBF and SPBF, but I know where to find them now at Warton Craig so maybe I'll do the double next year. Goldie