Page 1 of 9
August 2012
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:23 am
by Jack Harrison
Large Skipper i/d guide
Female - no sex brand on forewing
Male - noticeable sex brand (line) on forewing
Female often appears slightly darker in flight but this could be an illusion. Females emerge later so by that time, males are tending to be a little faded.
Jack
Re: August 2012
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:47 am
by Debbie
Lovely pictures Jack and informative
Debbie
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: August 2012
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:34 pm
by NickB
Nice Skippers, Jack!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: August 2012 Warham camp Norfolk
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:42 pm
by EricY
As forecast seemed as good as it is going to be this week I decided today was the day for a trip down coast as far as Cley. Stopped at Wells for a photo as tide was in & flat calm no wind at all. Called at Warham camp around 8.30 but cool & damp so no bf's about. I have never seen it so lush, masses of growth & lots of wildflowers i/c the dreaded ragwort, should be a butterfly heaven. I assume it has not been grazed last winter.
Moving on to Cley, I found no butterflys by the beach where Essex skip were last year, a few whites, meadow browns etc at Walsey hills. Back to Warham camp & the wind had become quite strong (Wells sailors would be pleased!), now the Chalkhill blues were up & about but low down. I could get the camera very close but still difficult with the wind. Saw at least 50 all males & probably same number of meadow brown but nothing else except six spot Burnet. Ended with a quick look round Titchwell but only saw 1 Rad Ad & a couple of whites. The new west sea defense has 1000's of thistles in flower but hardly an insect an any description to be seen. Eric
![P1040968 six spot Burnet.jpg (168.78 KiB) Viewed 1604 times six spot Burnet](./files/thumb_10319_d9fff2634aa4df21bd9a9461841975ca)
- six spot Burnet
![P1040914 Chalkhill blue.jpg (166.72 KiB) Viewed 1604 times Chalkhill blue Warham camp](./files/thumb_10319_dd011f12887c5a3e8f3ff07c8228338e)
- Chalkhill blue Warham camp
![P1040972 CHB on scabious.jpg (175.28 KiB) Viewed 1604 times CHB on scabious](./files/thumb_10319_a7e910e908cc2026e6bc5806412461cf)
- CHB on scabious
Re: August 2012
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:15 pm
by Debbie
Is this a ringlet? It was taken on a very small compact camera. I cannot see the spots ?
Thanks Debbie
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: August 2012
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:11 pm
by MikeOxon
Yes. If you look at the selection of Ringlet photos on the species pages of this website
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species. ... hyperantus you'll see that the spots are often difficult to see on the upperside.
Mike
Re: August 2012
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:46 pm
by Debbie
Thank you Mike, Debbie
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: August 2012
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:25 pm
by Jack Harrison
Another key for distinguishing male Ringlets and male Meadow Browns is that the Ringlet has a distinct white border to the wings even when old (as per Debbie's example).
Meadow Browns can have a greyish border but this seems to disappear with age. Here is a very worn male Meadow Brown from the Isle of Mull (supposedly a different race in the Inner Hebrides) without a trace of a white fringe.
Jack
Re: August 2012
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:27 pm
by Jack Harrison
Thursday 2nd August - Holme NNR in north Norfolk.
Usual browns, skippers and whites. But of note, 2 Graylings and 2 very worn Dark Green Fritillaries.
Jack
Re: August 2012
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:51 pm
by NickB
Out to see some local Chalk-hills....before the rain.
The wind made photography difficult and meant that the males were down in the grass and the females just hunkered-down for most of the time....
Also lots of 6-spot Burnets and Dusky Sallow moths...
N
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:56 am
by A_T
Not seeing any Speckled Woods in my locality - hoping August brings some out.
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:56 am
by Neil Freeman
Some fresh Speckled Wood have appeared in my garden during the past week
Cheers,
Neil F.
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:29 am
by NickB
Yes - started to see some in the last few days - not many tho'
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:13 am
by Jack Harrison
Very fresh Specklies on Mull last week but of course the sequence/timing of broods there might be a little different from the south. Here is a male (subspecies
oblita presumably)
![Image](http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/Jack_Harrison/07-12-25-242-SpWood.jpg?t=1343988604)
Jack
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:54 am
by Neil Freeman
A Specklie from my garden yesterday evening.
![Coverdale 02.08.2012 005resize.jpg (479.19 KiB) Viewed 1373 times Speckled Wood male - Coverdale 02.08.2012](./files/thumb_10101_ad25aaba6909ea57e713afcd5339bc3c)
- Speckled Wood male - Coverdale 02.08.2012
And a Red Admiral from the same time.
![Coverdale 02.08.2012 001resize.jpg (349.04 KiB) Viewed 1373 times Red Admiral - Coverdale 02.08.2012](./files/thumb_10101_0fbf233fe0e72514006fe3f9a89073f9)
- Red Admiral - Coverdale 02.08.2012
Cheers,
Neil F.
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:43 pm
by Wurzel
My Garden seems to have come back into favour with butterflies with a Comma and whites 2 days ago, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and whites yesterday and today Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, male Holly Blue and three species of whites.
Garson Wood held Ringlet, Meadow Browns, Hedge Browns, Green Veined and Large Whites and a pair of Silver Washed Fritillaries.
God shill this evening had 3 Meadow Brown, a Small Heath, a Hedge Brown and a single Grayling.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:13 pm
by Philzoid
Re: August 2012
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:45 pm
by Wurzel
Cracking shots Philzoid
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: August 2012
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:45 am
by Philzoid
Thanks for you comments Wurzel. Morning seems a good time for photgraphing this species.
Wurzel wrote:today Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, male Holly Blue
You wouldn't be expected to say great sightings for these three species, but so far this year I've seen one fly-by Small tortoiseshel in March, 3 faded peacocks (none over our way) and a smattering of Holly Blue first generation, again none over our way
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
... so
Great Sightings
I shall keep my peepers peeled for any of those three at Denbies today (they've all been there in the past) as well as for the usual suspects.
Re: August 2012
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:06 am
by badgerbob
On the 2nd August Nigel Kemp and myself headed north to Arnside Knott in search of the Scotch Argus, a butterfly that was new to me. During the morning there was plenty of sun and good numbers showed well. Later on cloud cover came over and the butterflies slowed down allowing easier photography. Several fresh specimens seen as well as a single Northern Brown Argus and a couple of late High Brown Fritillaries. Grayling were also in reasonable numbers. It was also good to see Iain Leach again who was also having a good day. Well worth the 700 plus mile round trip!!