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Hi

Shirley & I had a wonder around Magdalen Hill Down today, never seen so many Green Hairstreaks! We had a very enjoyable couple of hours watching them, they're just so interesting leaping into action every time an insect passed by and returning to their perch.

Then down to hillside to see the Common Blue & Brown Argus, loads about, but by now very active and only settling for a breif moment.

Also Orange-tip, Brimstone and white ones, again very active ...

Good to have bumped into Pete, Roger & Ian ...

I briefly visited Magdalen Hill Down Winchester last Monday but obviously didn’t find the hot spots and saw only one Green Hairstreak. I stayed in/near the top path. For future reference, where should I have gone?

I like your pics and am surprised how fresh the butterflies still are.

Jack

Hi Jack

From the car park up the main path to the reserve, turn right along the small path between the hedge & fence ... but I have been along there many times before and not seen any ...

Clive

That's exactly where I was. Maybe in view of the pristine condition of your specimens, I was too early in this rather mixed up season.

Jack

Out again today for a walk around Stockbridge Down ... this time it was the Brown Argus chasing the Common Blues away. Walking back down the hill we watched a Small Copper chase the Common Blues away ...

Other Butterflies seen ... Brimstones, Small Heaths, Grizzled Skipper, Orange-tips, Speckled Woods & Peacock ...

Clive

Hi

A very enjoyable day at Bentley Wood with the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillarys ... much better than the heat wave last weekend! ...

Orange-tips, Green-veined Whites & Brimstones also made an appearance ...

Clive

Lovely photos, Clive.

May I ask what camera/lens you use? And what aperture are the majority of these taken on? (You've achieved a great depth of field).

Cheers

Chris

Hi Chris

I used a Canon 40D & 300 F4 IS L lens, F7.1 for the first shot & F8 for the other two ... that lens has a MFD of 1.5m & I find if I ease back a little from that I get better shots ...

Clive

Hi

Lots of blue Butterflies today at Martin Down ... Adonis Blue, Common Blue & Small Blue ...

Also Brown Argus, Grizzled Skippers, Dingy Skippers, Brimstones, Green-veined White & Orange-tips ...

Clive

Clive wrote:Hi Chris

I used a Canon 40D & 300 F4 IS L lens, F7.1 for the first shot & F8 for the other two ... that lens has a MFD of 1.5m & I find if I ease back a little from that I get better shots ...

Clive

Thanks Clive. I'm always interested in good advice.

Cheers

Chris

Hi

Yesterday we found the Glanville Fritillary. followed by a walk along the ancient track way to look for the Wall, only a fleeting glimpse ... but returning along the sea wall we found about a dozen, far to active for any photo's ...

Clive

Hi

The Common Blue really was out in force today at Magdalen Hill Down ...

Clive

Hi

A visit to Stockbridge Down today and we saw our first Large Skippers this year ...

Also Common Blue, Brown Argus, Grizzled Skipper, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Small heath, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Orange-tip, Green-veined White ...

Clive

Hi

Another visit to Martin Down today and we saw our first Meadow Brown this year ... lots of Large Skippers, Small Heaths and Small Blues ... the other blues are looking very worn now ...

Clive

Hi

Our first visit today to Silchester Common and the Silver-studded Blues ... also quite a number of Small Heaths and one Grizzled Skipper looking a little worn ... nice to see a Red Kite too ...

Clive

Hi

A very enjoyable walk around Broughton Down yesterday, spotted our first Marbled White although he didn't settle anywhere ... We watched a Green Hairstreak guarding his patch from the lower leaves of a beech tree ... A large number of Small Heath where just about everywhere, along with the usual suspects ... We did see a couple of Brown Argus not looking to bad amongst the faded ones ...

Clive

A large number of Silver-washed Fritillary in Bentley Wood today along with a good number of Ringlets & Large Skippers ... also a few White Admirals and a glimpse of the White-letter Hairstreak high in the treetops ... a couple of Marbled Whites spotted on the way round too ...

Clive

The Ringlet was about in good numbers today at Pamber Forest and our first Small Skippers this year ... White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, Large Skipper, Speckled Wood, Marbled White and Meadow Brown where also about along with one Comma ...

Clive

Hi

The Marbled White put on a fantastic show today at Magdalen Hill Down, they where everywere even on the steep slopes ... a good number of Ringlet and Small Skippers along quite a few Meadow Brown and the odd Comma, Small Tortoiseshell , Red Admiral and Small White ...
Back at the car park Shirley spotted a Holly Blue ...

Clive

What a lovely Holly Blue photo.!

Jack