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Cracking Small Copper Trevor The Cloudies are looking a little more tired though so the end is in sight...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Nothing wrong with that return on a late October day, Trevor.

I spent the weekend in Yorkshire or I'd have been down there. Brilliant to see those Clouded Yellows persisting.

Dave

Anyone at Shoreham Harbour today could be forgiven for not realising that we are now in the midst of Autumn.
When I arrived, Dave Cook was already on site. He told me of the Helice seen earlier, and of the mating
pair of which the Helice was one partner, he observed and photographed yesterday.
Indeed the failure to relocate the Helice was to be my only disappointment of the day.
The real highlights today, given the time of year, were two really fine, female Common Blues,
one of which was the most beautifully marked ' blue ' females I have ever seen.
Unfortunately, when the next visitor, our very own Vince Massimo, arrived the two female Blues
could not be found again. However the Clouded Yellows kept us entertained, with about five seen.

On my way back to the car a Kestrel flew past me complete with prey, luckily it chose to devour
it's kill on a trawler, berthed on the far side of the water. Hence the long distance shot.

A very good day.
Trevor.

The primary reason for visiting Shoreham Harbour today was to meet Dave Cook, who very kindly
supplied a close-up lens and extension tube for my camera, as my camera has now been discontinued
these items are very difficult to obtain.
The new lens soon had to be removed from my camera, however, as we watched a female Clouded Yellow
resting on a distant clump of grass, near the top of a steep bank, she attracted the attention of a passing male.
Coupling and mating was instant, no courtship was apparent . To capture an image of the pairing required
all the zoom available. So whilst not perfect I did manage something that is just passable.

Butterfly numbers are definitely on the decline at Shoreham, but we did see two Red Admirals,
and some very worn Common Blues in addition to about six Clouded Yellows, some of which were
recognisable as the same one seen yesterday.

Trevor.

Who would have thought that on the last day of October, it would be possible to see fresh Butterflies.
This was the case at Tide Mills this morning.
I was expecting to see a few tatty Clouded Yellows at best, indeed it was some while before I found
my first one. To my surprise this specimen was unmarked, with all wing fringe hairs intact, a sure
sign that it was almost brand new.
Another CY was basking in the grass, and revealing an almost indecent amount of upper wing !.
As the morning wore on and the temperature reached 18c, the Butterflies became too active to
chase around, but having seen at least six mostly fresh CY's this late in the year, I went home
very happy,

Trevor.

Another splendid set of Cloudies, Trevor. I am very envious that you can get there so easily. Unfortunately I couldn't escape work early enough on what has been probably the last really good day of the year.

Dave

Yes Dave, a fine day indeed. I went out this afternoon and the car registered 19c !.
Even if the weather cools down a bit, the Cloudies should still fly if it's sunny.

Best wishes,
Trevor.

NOVEMBER BLUES

The weather this morning started off exactly the same as yesterday ie. thick fog, quickly lifting
to reveal a warm, sunny morning. But the BBC weather forecast was showing a cold front heading south,
which would start to reach the south-east by lunch time, with the possibility of our first over night frost.
Bearing the above in mind, I quickly headed off to Shoreham Harbour, for what might be my last visit this year.

On arrival, my first Butterfly was a Clouded Yellow nectaring on thistle, my attention was diverted, however
by a near pristine male Common Blue, the first of a possible three. On previous visits all male Common Blues
have been tatty and on their last legs, so it was a complete surprise to stumble upon some fresh ones.
Also seen , three Clouded Yellows and a Red Admiral.
As the promised cloud cover arrived, the air cooled rapidly bringing a premature end to the day.

Congrats Trev! That looks like the one I saw there on Sunday, a picture of it is in the October sightings thread. But a November blue is better than an October one!

Those Common Blues are even more exceptional than the Holly Blues I've been seeing. Amazing. The worry must be that there may be a whole series of pupae down there which will now be killed off by much cooler weather. Common Blues are supposed to hibernate as caterpillars, and won't survive as pupae. Maybe this is what reduced numbers so markedly this year, especially early on - last year's warm autumn took them a stage too far... Maybe this is happening to other species too.

Dave

Beautiful Common Blues Trevor But like Dave says hopefully there won't be many more and instead they'll stay in diapause and emerge next year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

The image below comes to you almost ' live ' !.
Taken at 08.55 when this Red Admiral chose to bask on one of my bedroom window frames.

A little later this morning I travelled over to Tide Mills.
On arrival the temperature was only 9c. I was particularly keen to see if the Clouded Yellows
would fly in such cool conditions. Just two were seen, one flying along the seaward side of the bank,
which caused another to take to the air.
On the way back to the car I found a Red Admiral basking on a fence, right by the foot crossing
over the railway. Close inspection revealed it as ab. bialbata, with the extra white spot in the
forewing red band. A most satisfying find on what was a very chilly day.

Today marks the anniversary of my last Butterflies of 2015. Will I see any more this year ?.

Trevor.

Good stuff Trevor, like me your wringing out the butterfly year as much as is humanly possible!

Exactly Paul, we are about to enter the season of enforced idleness.
I can still remember how the winter dragged last year .

All the best,
Trevor.

The thought that the Butterfly season could end at any time now, sent me scurrying off
to Shoreham Harbour again. The cool air, despite the sunshine, meant that nothing was flying.
The only chance of finding anything was to thoroughly search the tall grass and shrubbery.
My first find was an immaculate Clouded Yellow, possibly a November emergence.
Then came three male Common Blues, two of which were fresh. Only one of the fresh males
was found basking open wing.
The final Clouded Yellow was found by Dave Cook, and was photographed with a passing ship
as a backdrop.

A very satisfactory day considering the cool weather and time of year.
Trevor.

You're making every last day count Trevor

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Keep going Trevor it's nearly Christmas sadly the cold weather looks like things might well be over until the spring.

Best Wishes

James

Hi James and Wurzel,

I will keep going as long as possible, but even Shoreham is producing less and less.
I am in Wiltshire as I write this, no sightings here at all.

All the best,
Trevor.