www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks, guys. I must try that UV-light more often. I don't think I gave it a proper chance. Of course it means going out on dull days more.

17th June, 10-11 am, Alice Holt Woods, 10% sun, 16 degrees

2 Red Ad, 1 Silver-Y, 1 C Blue (f), 1 Brim, 3 Sp Wd
10 M Brown. One male Meadow Brown was pursuing a female but she was playing hard to get. He seemed to want to get underneath her, open his wings, and vibrate them for a bit - I presume to maximise his scent for her. She let him do this but at one point they seemed to have a bit off a tiff and she flew off, he in hot pursuit.
Broxhead 3-4 pm, 40% sun, 18 degrees

SS Blues coming along nicely now. There were 8 today.
Two males had a short sparring match and then settled down together on the same heather clump for a snack.

Interesting courting behaviour Ernie - I've not seen that before though I reckon you're right about him waffing her with more pheromone Good to see a slightly better haul of SSBs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Nice to know the SSBs are picking up round your way, ernie. Good to also see a few open wing Meadow Browns so early in the season.

20th July 2019, 9.30 - 11.30 am, Ditchling Common Country Park, 70% sun, 18 degrees, increasing breeze and cloud eventually to 90%
OK. I could not resist it. So many great pics of Black Hairstreaks from lots of people on this forum and there I was, never having seen one in my life before. It's a two hour drive from where I live in Alton and because of circumstances beyond my control - that's quite a commitment for me. I only do such a journey once a year. Last year it was for the Large Blues at Daneway Banks (another 1st first for me), this year Ditchling Common for Blackstreaks.

Without guidance it took me some while to pinpoint their location but when I did it was obvious - so many people - so many cameras, and this was Thursday - not a weekend.

What can I say - It was great. All my shots are distant and taken on zoom with a bit of a breeze to make things difficult so they do not come up to the standard of many of the pics I have seen by other people but what the hell. It was my FIRST TIME for them. I saw three in flight at once - two males were sparring. I think I saw four in all in the two hours I was there.

Here are my efforts...
Also, my first Ringlet of the year.
Also 1 Red Ad, 3 Speckled Wd, 3 S Heath, 19 M Brown (one mating pair)
8 Large Skips
Two Caspian Turtles on the pond...
And a large patch of Dyers Greenweed, a plant I don't think I have seen before.
All things considered - not a bad morning's work.

You took the plunge then Ernie!. You were probably just in time before the
Black Hairstreaks start to fade, and you managed some shots too.

Hope you had a great day,
Trevor.

Glad you found some Butterflies ernie Goldie

ernie f wrote:...It's a two hour drive from where I live in Alton and because of circumstances beyond my control - that's quite a commitment for me...

I totally understand that Ernie, 2 hours is the absolute maximum I will do for a day trip and then only once or twice a year.

Well done on the Black Hairstreaks, a species I have only seen a couple of times as their short flight period tends to occur when I am otherwise engaged.

Cheers,

Neil.

That last Hairstreak with a chunk out of his hindwing looks very familar, I saw him on Monday, in slightly better shape

Hi Ernie,

Enjoying your diary and those Black Hairstreaks are very nice. Glad you have seen them I saw my first and only ones a couple of years ago and it was worth the effort, particularly as you have to time your visit just perfectly given their brief flight period. Loved the SSB too. They are now gathering pace on the Suffolk Heaths and are such a beautiful species, particularly when fresh.

Regards
Kev

Trevor - Yes you are right, of the four Blackstreaks I saw, two were already tatty. I got there just in time.
Goldie - I hope you get some luck - this latest blast of weather has been getting us all down I suspect.
Neil - Also, I have not had a holiday for over 5 years and not been abroad for 10. It's just as well I live where I do so there are plenty of butterflying opportunities closer to hand.
Bugboy - Wonderful. It's nice to be able to recognise an individual like that.
Kevin - Yes, at last the SSBs are on the increase. My local reserve for them is only a 15 minute drive from my home. A bit better than the 240 minute drive for the Black Hairstreaks!

21st June 2019, 11.00 – 11.30 am, Broxhead Common, 60% sun, 17 degrees

Last year I did a thorough survey of the Silver-studded Blues at Broxhead Common. I don’t intend to cover the whole reserve again in the same way this year as it’s too exhausting, but I will review what is going on at the lek site within the reserve from time to time as this is the key place where most of them reside.

It’s interesting to make a comparison between this year and last. Last year you remember we had a long, hot summer and for the entire time the SSB’s were in flight we did not have a bad day.

This year could not be more different. It’s far cooler (so far), with more overcast and rainy days. So how has this affected the colony?

Last year I saw my first SSBs in the lek on the 6th June, this year it was on the 14th June – 1 week later.

Last year on the 20th June there were 312 SSBs in the lek, this year on the 21st June it is only 18.

By this time last year I had seen 10 females but this year none at all so far.

Last year, in the first week of flight, the number of SSBs had climbed from 5 on day 1 to 51 by day 8, but this year they climbed from 1 to 18 in the first week of flight, a far slower rate of increase.

I am hoping the weather next week which by all accounts is going to be very good, will change this around and we shall see a major emergence erupting.

Fingers crossed.

22nd June 2019, 9.30-11 am, Noar Hill, 18 degrees, Full Sun

Musk Orchids now in bloom but far fewer than in recent years for some reason.

My first DG Frit of the year. This one was bombing around the reserve without stopping causing mayhem wherever it flew - putting up Common Blues, Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and even a Scarlet Tiger and a Cinnabar.

Also a Red Ad and four Small Blues. The Small Blues were showing signs of wear and tear by now though.

Great work with the Blackstreaks Ernie I too try to only do one 'big trip' a year which is probably why I've still to see Blackstreak - mind you if Ditchling continues in a similar vein I don't think I'll be leaving it for much longer

Have a goodun

Wurzel

ernie f wrote:...OK. I could not resist it. So many great pics of Black Hairstreaks from lots of people on this forum and there I was, never having seen one in my life before.

Can't say I blame you, ernie. Seems like you had plenty of like-minded company too.

Thanks guys - It's nice to have a bunch of other butterfly enthusiasts to talk with and those extra eyes can be a boon in spotting blackstreaks.

22nd June 2019, 4-5pm, Alice Holt Forest, 20 degrees, full sun

Nothing "purple" did I see there yet but did get my first local Ringlet of the year (saw one at Ditchling the other day but that's Sussex)
Also, I am not up on bugs but I saw this trundling up the forest path. I think it is the final instar of the Red-legged Shieldbug. If so, it's a first for me. If someone can confirm or otherwise I would be grateful.

23rd June 2019, 9.30-10am, Broxhead Heath, 18 degrees, fully overcast with light cloud

I noted on this forum that many people have been reporting the advance of the Painted Lady migration from Europe. I have been waiting and waiting but so far no luck in my area - until today. During my SS Blue survey one zoomed in and landed on the sandy ground but it was very twitchy and did not let me get close for a pic. One grabbed zoom shot from a distance is all I got.
Still they have arrived in NE Hants so that's good news. This one was a bit worn from its journey though. If I remember correctly this is the first time I have seen one on a heath and certainly the first at this heathland reserve.

On the SSB survey front, the numbers held static at 18 (most unusual), but it was rather a drab morning so many were roosting and some probably out of sight. The main feature was my first female SSB of the year. This is quite late for a first sighting of a female at this reserve.

23rd June 2019, 4-5pm, Windmill Hill, 19 degrees, overcast

I live in a house at the bottom of a hill called Windmill Hill. It’s actually in the town of Alton but if I walk up my road through a housing development, a path leads to open countryside near the top of the hill. For years it was a muddy, cow-patty pasture but recently the local council have started to manage it as a flower meadow. They have let the grasses grow long and seeded it with all manner of wild meadow flowers such as Poppy, Cornflower, Corncockle, Corn Marigold, Scented Mayweed and a host of others. It is an amazing sight now but it’s only just beginning. The butterflies are starting to find it. Every few paces we took, up flew a Meadow Brown and at one point while my wife and I walked one grassy path, a Dark Green Frit took off and zoomed off at full pelt. This is the closest to my house I have ever seen this species – only about ½ mile away. What might the future hold for this wonderful site? I can hardly wait!

That looks fantastic Ernie - just what the butterflies (and we humans) need Just goes to show - plant it and the butterflies will come

Have a goodun

Wurzel