www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Nice set of yellows there. Looking like quite a good year for them this year

Very nice Clouded Yellows, Trevor. I shall be tempted down to Sussex soon unless they get a move on northwards soon! I've only seen the one hereabouts this year!

Dave

HI Dave and Paul,
Clouded Yellows are reasonably easy to photograph at Park Corner.
If directions are required please PM me.

Trevor.

On BBC Breakfast this morning it was reported that there has been a sharp decline
in the numbers of Small Coppers.
They thought that an image of a Small Tortoiseshell would do, to show what a Small Copper looked like.
Oh dear!! :

Trevor.

Hi! Trevor, it was okay on Sky New's, they showed a Small Tortoiseshell and said it was these that were scarce Goldie

Thats nothing, in the Daily Mail for the same story they have a picture of a Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus

After Friday's success with the Clouded Yellows, I thought a return visit could be worthwhile.
Indeed it was !, I arrived quite early, just as the cloud cover was clearing.
The Fleabane was already quite busy with Butterflies, many offering good photo opportunities.
It was the Clouded Yellows that I had come to see, but I could not ignore a fresh Green Veined White
or the Common Blues , Small Heaths etc.

Trevor.

Lovely Yellows, Trevor. They love that fleabane! I'm not quite so today as I found some up at Aston Rowant this afternoon!

Dave

Cracking Cloudies Trevor A really good looking specimen too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yesterday afternoon I visited Mill Hill, near Shoreham in West Sussex.
This site has a good population of Adonis Blues. We found them OK, but in the heat they were lively
and to make matters worse they were flying over a very steep hillside.
Lots of patience was required and a few images were obtained, the best of which shows two pristine
females basking close together. The best male , has unfortunately, a nick out of one wing.
Also seen, a basking Meadow Brown, some Common Blues, and a Small Tortoiseshell with very vibrant colours.

Trevor.

This morning I went to Steyning for the addictive Brown Hairstreak. The wait for one to show was painfully slow,
just one put in an appearance, and afforded me my favourite underside image to date.
Neil Hulme came along, and I showed him the image, and said " she looks like a 9 out of 10 ", he initially agreed;
then shock horror he demoted the Butterfly to an 8. I was deflated and demoralised at such a savage appraisal !,
so much so I asked him if his weekend went OK .
In fact the above was just a bit of jolly banter. .
On the way back to the car I found a beautiful female Brimstone.

Trevor.

Nice Small T !

Hi Trevor,

Some great Clouded Yellow photos there , I've not seen any up here yet.

Cheers,

Neil.

Trevor,

Very nice Brown Hairstreak. Mine are from Dorset and are either above head height with a long lens or just one butterfly at knee height but it had wing damage.

So I'd give your at least a nine.

Peter

Many thanks for your comments folks. It looks as though Clouded Yellows might be heading up the M40 Neil.

I returned to Rowland Wood this morning to see if any more Clouded Yellows had arrived.
Unfortunately the reverse was true, as I witnessed one take off from the ground and fly off into distance,
over the tall trees and not seen again.
However a very bright male Common Blue caught my eye, it's colour was the deepest, richest blue I have ever seen.
As is always the case, it hopped to another flower as I was preparing the camera, then nectared with wings closed.
I did manage a shot of wings partially open, which gives a glimpse of the rich blue.
The next treat was in the form of a very mobile Painted Lady. for many minutes this Butterfly would only settle in
the most inaccessible places, but patience won the day and some shots were obtained.
Finally as I was about to head home I noticed a Clouded Yellow on the Fleabane, looking at previous images this was
a new specimen , I had not previously seen.

Trevor, great shots of the Butterflies, I can't believe it when I see all the lovely Butterflies posted that we're not seeing any thing in the North, I hope they keep coming up the M40. Goldie

Great shots Trevor I can see why you rated the Brostreak so highly although I like the three quarter open shot slightly more Nice Painted Lady as well - you can see the blue spots inside the black spots on the hind wing, I still haven't seen on of those
Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's quite an array of species you've seen lately, Trevor. Things have become rather 'dead' in my part of the UK, but it's nice that some people are still seeing reasonably fresh Meadow Browns and, of course, Clouded Yellows.

I did not deliberately set out this morning to look for Meadow Browns, however a visit to Downland above Lewes
produced many hundreds. Amazingly all those present, without exception, were female. Where were the males ?.
Identification was easy as many were basking, or nectaring on the abundant Scabious, with open wings.
Many have said that this year has been poor for Meadow Browns, but today I stumbled upon a hotspot.

Trevor.

A few unexpected breaks in the cloud this morning was all the encouragement I needed for a Butterfly hunt.
Unfortunately , as I approached the coast, a dense sea mist had rolled in. The damp, muggy air did not stop
the ' Whites ' from flying, indeed the flying Whites did not stop !.
However I did find some very fresh Small Heaths and a very late Gatekeeper.

Trevor.