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I am hoping to get to Arnside Knott on Wednesday 28th July to finally try to get some decent photos of Scotch Argus. (Anyone looking at my gallery will see what I mean). I would be very grateful to know what sort of numbers are being seen at the moment. Any information at all would be appreciated.

Vince

Vince,
I saw a single Scotch Argus on Wednesday 21st July at Arnside Knott. Conditions were excellent that afternoon. So hot was the climb to the top that 2 Grayling settled on my T-shirt. Others seen:

Grayling 15, High Brown Fritillary 5, Dark Green Fritillary 5 (incl mating pair), DGF/HBF 25+, Northern Brown Argus 1 (lower slopes), Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Meadow Brown 50+, Gatekeeper 1, Small Skipper 1, Large Skipper 1, Green-veined White 10+, Large White 2.

Other Cumbria visitor info - Honister/Fleetwith (SD216133) - conditions not great but possibly saw the last of the Mountain Ringlets there. 2 on Tuesday 20th and 1 on Friday 23rd. None seen at Dale Head on 23rd.
Latterbarrow - 8 HBF seen on 21st in cool conditions. Meadow Brown 50+.
Meathop Moss - found the large oak tree fine, but completely goofed and only looked in the first CWT area - found out since I should have walked through the coniferous wood at the back and onto the larger bogland for the Large Heath - there's always Shropshire next summer.

Regards
Bertie

Thanks for the information Bertie and welcome to the site. Well, at least they are flying and all will be nice and fresh. All I need is one.................
I would still be grateful to anybody who can provide any further sightings before I leave early on Wednesday morning.

Vince

I visited Arnside Knott on Friday 23rd July 10:00 to 12:30 in sunny conditions and saw everything I expected, but in low numbers, including :

4 Dark Green Fritillary
5 High Brown Fritillary
8 Scotch Argus
10 Grayling
1 Northern Brown Argus

The numbers haven't picked up yet, but if the damp weather improves so will the count. I usually approach from the south entrance opposite Arnside Tower as this side is south facing.

Good Luck.

Phil

Another good report, thanks Phil, and welcome to the site to you as well. I also appreciate the tip about approaching from the south. This is something I have not tried before because I have usually managed to find my target species shortly after leaving the carpark and climbing the hill. I understand that in recent years Scotch Argus has colonised a larger portion of the site, but I know where the prime spots are and am very encouraged by the news that numbers are now starting to build.

Thanks again,
Vince

Right, I'm back.

Had a very successful trip, despite the fickle weather. Yesterday saw the first Scotch Argus within 3 minutes of starting to climb the hill and got some safety shots in the bag before the showers started. In total I saw about 25 that day, but these were only the ones I disturbed from the grass as I was wandering around. They are concentrated near the top of the hill at SD775455 in the long grass on a north-west facing slope. I saw about 50 there this morning when the sun briefly came out.
More photos and a detailed report will soon appear in the Sightings Forum.

Vince