www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Cheers Pauline They're my number one butterfly and you hardly ever see just one

Ffos-y-ffin 06-08

Slightly out of sync but I wanted to get to that Small Copper from Cei Bach posted. Before we went to the beach I took advantage of the girls playing happily in the back garden to get out and check the Lane a bit more. So with camera in one hand and Lovefilm Disc to post (my excuse) in the other I set off. I started back at the Buddleia in the neighbours garden and it was certainly drawing in the butterflies. At first only the Whites were noticeable but as I approached nearer and nearer with slow faltering steps so as not to spook them, more species came into view. I could clearly see three different whites as well as 2 or 3 Peacocks but I was after some closer encounters with the Red Admiral – a butterfly that I saw all of the time last autumn in great numbers but one which has been a bit thinner on the ground this year for some reason. From there I crossed back over the road and headed towards the Postbox at the other end of the Lane where it meets the back road to Aberaeron (Rhuh Goch?). Along this part the hedge reaches over 8 feet and I always seem to find Hedge Browns here with various numbers of spots but today they were all staying high up and out of reach so it was only I worked my way along the smaller hedge along the road that I started finding Hedgies. One stood out immediately a female with two large spots on the fore-wing and four “eyes” on each hind wing – excessa? There was also a male who only had the eyes on the forewings and so looked surprisingly plain. However I couldn’t enjoy this finds for too long as I got caught in the “Sheep Run of Aberaeron”, a bit like the bull run in Pamplona but much, much softer, you’re more likely to get gently nuzzled than gored to death . Though saying that, some of them did have maniacal grins . I was just recovering from all the excitement and getting back to the butterflies when they came back again – heading back the way they’d come. I wondered if this was some new marketing technique and these were to be sold as “ultra lean” Mutton? Still musing I got back to Hedgie watching and also stumbled across a Meadow Brown with two pupils in its eyes. As bemoaned by DavidM and myself earlier in the year, this one was more than happy to sit for some photographs yet it didn’t look particularly attractive, in fact it looked almost on it’s last legs – tattered and faded and well past it’s best. Realising that I’d been gone for almost half an hour I quickly posted the Disc and headed back to the house, with a quick check of the Buddleia on the way. I swear it should have a Painted Lady . Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great report Wurzel , love the description of the 'sheep run'

I must admit I often think that sheep have a strange look... a bit of a mix of evil and stupid

Cheers,

Neil F.

nfreem wrote:love the description of the 'sheep run'

Please tell me this didn't happen in Wales!

Cheers Neil I saw a New Zealand film a few years ago, I think it was called "Black Sheep" and I've never looked at them the same since

Sorry David it was indeed in Wales - but West Wales if that helps . I think they'd escaped from a field really and it was fun creating the fiction but I got a bit carried away

I spent a fantastic day with Philzoid today starting at Shipton Bellinger and then showing off my local patch Five Rivers. The highlights were too numerous to mention but here's a taster ... Tomorrow back to Wales as I'm still a week behind - I really should stay in a bit more, less writing to do then

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel

Love your open wing Brimstone
Did it pose like that or did you just catch it right

Great read as usual Wurzel but, that open winged shot of the Brimstone, just brilliant.

All the best, Nick.

Agreed, that Brimstone is a corker, well done

Looking forward to the rest,

Neil F.

That's a cracking photo of the Brimstone Wurzel. I managed to get one years ago but it certainly wasn't as good as that - really well done,

Cheers Jack It was like that for about 5 minutes, then the sun came out and it was off again. I thought that they always rest/roost with their wings tightly shut but it seems that no-one had told this chap
Cheers Nick, Neil and Pauline for your very kind comments Still trying to catch up, so many photos to sort through

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It's a classic photo.

I wonder if it was freshly emerged? One thing you can see (which is normally out of sight) is the huge size and robust look of the thorax - clearly designed for lasting nearly a year and with a great deal of flying in mind. Brimstones are astonishing in their durability.

Dave

That's a great Brimstone shot, Wurzel.

I've seen pics of them before when they've opened their wings in courting mode, but to get a male on film just simply basking is almost unique.

We ignore so many interesting things whilst we're out, but I guess when you're observing for so much longer than a normal person would, then you're bound to chance upon unusual behaviour such as this.

Next challenge is this: Small Heath with wings open!

Good luck.

Cheers Dave I know what you mean, it looks like it's spent far too long down the gym
Cheers David I'll try to take on your Mission (almost)Impossible"

Ffos-y-ffin 07-08-2013

After a few days off back to Wales and it’s now Wednesday of our trip to visit the Outlaws. As the weather was holding we took a trip to Aberystwyth and parked in the usual place to meet the Outlaws who’d come in by bus. We made our way to town by the river side path and there were plenty of whites, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers on the way as well as the occasional Small Tortoiseshell. Once in town we had a poke around the shops and I reminisced to myself whilst looking around my old Uni/band day haunts. I also made my annual visit to Duncan’s plaque at the Bay Hotel. We had a our lunch down on the sea wall sandwich and large Herring Gull dive bombed my older daughter, pecked her finger and made off with her lunch! Vicious blighters – you wouldn’t find a Purple Emperor doing that!

The girls then walked on to the local swimming pool so I had to make the walk back on my own to pick the car up and then drive to meet them there. There were still plenty of whites and browns about but now the Small torts, Peacocks and Red Admirals were much more noticeable – possibly as it was feeling a little warmer? I stopped very briefly by the Police Station where there was a hedge almost of large Buddleia and this proved to be a good move as it was covered in butterflies– including a Common Blue which saw me coming and popped off onto something more usual. Once back at Ffos-y-ffin I found that I had a free half hour so I popped out to check the Lane and then the field stopping at the Neighbours Buddleia first. Here there was a Red Admiral, 3 Peacocks and 2 Small Tort along with the ever numerous whites numerous whites. One of the Small Torts landed on the road and seemed to be checking it with its proboscis possibly taking minerals from it. I wandered over to the larger hedge and the road checking Gatekeepers all the while and finding a few of interest; a female in particular caught my eye which had a large comma like mark under the fore wing eyespot. Another Hedgie seemed to be using a Bramble bud as a bar stool while it sipped nectar from a flower that had just opened. Another large Buddleia on a different neighbours drive allowed me to get a four species shot! I then remembered about the field behind the house so headed back the way I’d come, up the Lane and then turned left smartish into the field without a gate. Grass moths seemed to be everywhere and each footfall would set two or three whizzing off in all directions. At first it was as I’d expected with mainly Browns and Whites fluttering around the grass tops and then ducking down in between the stems. But there were some largish patches of low growing yellow flowers and over these there were four obvious male Common Blues, when I approached a little closer I caught sight of a Smessex Skipper and female Common Blue on the periphery. I skirted round the flowers and found a well worn dusty path and on the taller yellow flowers I found two Small Coppers. They were right belligerent chasing everything and each other of “their” flowers! I spent five or so minutes watching their antics before hearing my wife from over the fence. She was calling the girls in to tea so I thought it prudent to make my way back too. However I couldn’t resist stopping off one last time by the Buddleia. The usual suspects were all present but there was something different hiding in amongst the purple flowers further back in the bush. The breeze caught the flowers heads a for tantalizing second I could see creams, and eyes leading to pink and black and white – my first Painted Lady of the year, at last. It moved slightly closer for a short while but was still deep within the bush. When it moved a second time it came out onto the edge of the bush, just further away than I’d hoped and so I got a few distant shots, including one for my stained glass collection. I got back in just in time for “bath and story” so remained in the good books which meant that I would be able to make a visit the following morning to see if it was still about...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Some great reports and shots Wurzel, particularly liked the shot of the open winged Brimstone, a shot I would love to get myself but always thought impossible - looks like you've achieved just that Lovely shots of the PLs on the Buddleia too!

Regards,

Mike

Cheers Mike for your kind comments! Just in the right place at the right time, for once

Fffos-y-ffin again finally

So on my final full day in Ffos-y-ffin again it dawned hazy but mild so I headed out and straight to the field to try and catch the butterflies roosting. There were a few whites around but I was after some more of the Small Coppers and Blues and it didn’t take long to reconnect with them. As I scanned across the grass tops I could make out the odd blue or orange glittering like jewels or little flags of butterflies with their wings shut. It’s times like these when I wish that I had a panoramic or landscape lens (is that a 35mm or “pancake”?) so that I could have recorded the glorious sight. I settled instead for trying to find the butterflies that best represented the scene before me in the hope that by piecing the individual shots together I could envisage the whole picture. So I found my closed wing Small Copper, female Common Blue, a worn male Common Blue and another resplendent male. I also managed to photograph a Small Copper with its wings open in a great pose. it would probably be my favourite Small Copper shot that I’ve taken if only it were fresher. Indeed the fresher looking Copper did show up on the path as I was leaving, almost begging me to take a photo and eying me reproachfully; “You missed me out!” it seemed to say . On the way back I briefly checked the Buddleia again and the Painted Lady was still in residence. In the cooler morning air it was much closer and much more approachable. However after a few poses it worried me as it took off, fluttered round the Buddleia top and then disappeared from view. Luckily I found it again but now on the deck taking salts (I presume) from the stones at the base of the bush. It soon came back up top and it grew accustomed to me, flitting closer and closer until at one point I couldn’t sensibly focus on it! My patience paid off and I was chuffed that what I’d thought should turn up eventually did . A quick trip back to the field in the afternoon with my older daughter saw me concentrating on the Small Coppers – this time trying to get up as close and personal as possible. I also tried this with some of the local Gatekeepers without much success as they all wanted to show me their open wings, typical . The only other sighting of note was another Common Blue on one of the collapsed cliffs at Newquay during a stolen 15 minutes peace from sand castles and paddling and more importantly in terms of my sanity - "The Beach Team" Don't ask about those sly pieces of work! And so ended our family trip to Wales, possibly my most productive one ever?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Another great report with some lovely photos Wurzel, especially the blues. I the last photo you have caught just perfectly and i thought my favourite, then i looked again and had to add MissTatty Blue, wonderful.

All the best, Nick.

Cheers Nick for your kind comments She was lovely, but tatty that one

Stockbridge Down

Having got back from both Dorset and Wales I was itching to get over to Stockbridge Down to try for Silver Spotted Skipper and see a few more Chalkhills. Reports were good but they’d been emerging for a few weeks so I reckoned they mightn’t be that fresh but at least I’d see them hopefully...

As usual I was racing the weather as the glorious sun from the morning was vanishing before my eyes under a holey blanket of cloud. Pulling up in the car park just east of Stockbridge I scanned the Buddleia quickly and amongst the vanessids and whites was a battered Silver Washed. Crossing over the road I set off across the diagonal path of short springy turf and the first butterfly was a Small Copper. This was quickly followed by a male Chalkhill. So I’d gotten one of my target species but I need to find those Silver Spots. Once over by the sheep pen I found my second target, so the “pressure” was off. I spent some time with her just watching her antics and getting used to the “jizz” after a year away. I was soon recognising the different flight of the female Chalkhills - larger and paler more fluttery and less jinky – all of which were keeping a low profile, understandably as once they attracted the attentions of the males it looked horrific at times. As well as finding a couple more Silver Spots I also bumped into Maurice, nice to meet you! I then took to just wandering aimlessly around, following the butterflies I was putting up from under my feet but not being too fussed about getting shots. This is sometimes the best way and you can find all sorts to keep you amused and catch your eye. I found my way to one of the hill tops where there was a profusion of taller, pale grass as well as good clumps of wildflowers. The slightly taller Brambles offered shelter from the wind and I spent a little while here just marvelling at what was present. I counted nine different species in this one clump but the most I could get in one shot was 4! While was concentrating on a male Chalkhill something shot past me carried on the wind. When the particular gust stopped it dropped down amongst the grasses. The thing that really sent my adrenaline skyward was how yellow it was which I gleaned from that quick glance. It wasn’t limey or lemony like a Brimstone but proper Canary Yellow like a Norwich supporter. I gently approached the area it had disappeared down in and there was my first Clouded Yellow of 2013. A few shots later and it moved slightly further away before bombing away down the hillside. Boy could it shift. One second I was following it by eye, the next it was gone, just like that!

I stumbled around a little bit dazed by this brief encounter and somehow found myself lower down the hill in amongst the Hawthorns and other scrub. As I rounded a corner there in front of me was a large Bramble bush, sheltered from the wind. Again there were butterflies a plenty – Silver Spots, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, a Peacock, Brimstone and a few Chalkhills. The odd white would drop in as did another/the same Clouded Yellow. It didn’t stop long enough anywhere and when it did settle long enough for me to make a footstep towards it it would be mobbed by something else and forced to move on. It reminded me of an Owl being mobbed by finches. I witnessed it being harassed by pretty well every species that was present at the Bramble bush. In the end I set the camera to Sport and tried a few grab shots before it bombed away down the hill. I followed it the best I could by eye and then set off on foot only to end up at dead end of impenetrable trees. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Loads of great shots of lots of different species Wurzel, you have been very busy. Glad you got to see and photograph the Clouded Yellow Also looks like you might be playing a new game, spot the Painted Lady

Mile

Hi Wurzel, just been catching up on your reports, great reads and photos

Glad to see you found a Painted Lady and a Clouded Yellow

Cheers,

Neil F.

Cheers Mike - I was going to slip that PL one in my "Where's the Grayling?" post during the winter months to see if anyone noticed!
Cheers Neil Not half as glad as I was

Stockbridge Down Part 2

...I started to work my way back to the Bramble bush that seemed to be acting as a butterfly magnet stopping on the way for the odd Chalkhill or Silver Spot including one which appeared to be ovi-positing and another which was sitting on a dried bit of cow dung (one for the poo book ). Once back at the bush I found a Brimstone that allowed a close approach, more Silver Spots looking in good nick and my enjoyment was greatly increased by the presence of a Clouded Yellow which soon became two. I now witnessed a strange game of cat and mouse almost between the pair as one would land only to be mobbed almost instantaneously by the other (even before anything else got to it). After about 3 minutes of watching this they both flew down the hill and were gone. I was so busy watching the spectacle I hadn’t even thought about raising my camera . I resumed watching the sheltered area and something different dropped in, almost a Tangerine cream colour, a Painted Lady. It started basking on the bare patches of soil poking through the turf and it was hard going as the cloud cover was much less intermittent now. As the temperature had dropped slightly as the sun had hidden behind the clouds everything was calmer, less frenetic and I could get up close to many more butterflies. However the Chalkhills would seem to disappear and then reappear with the sun. Before I knew it time had almost ticked away so I started the slow trudge back to the car. I poured myself a coffee and strolled along the path sipping from it. As is so often the way within a few sips/steps a butterfly buzzed by, landed almost in front of me and set about taking nectar for all it was worth. He was so intent on feeding I spent some time with him and he wasn’t at all bothered by my presence. Happy with the days haul and contentedly smiling I finally made my way home, that is after another Clouded Yellow shot by and disappeared from view almost as quickly as it had appeared. There seem to be so many of them about hopefully I’ll have another, and closer, encounter.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

What a splendid Silver-spotted selection, Wurzel! And that Painted Lady is a lovely deep shade, too. They do seem to vary from pale pink to almost brown - nothing to do with age, either. It's only when there are lots of something about that we notice the breadth of variation - looking at all the Clouded Yellows posted at the moment shows that up.

Dave