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This is my first personal diary entry, I hope you enjoy the adventures and observations I share with you ....

Back on the 27th May 2015 I found a Meadow Brown larva in the back garden -

Nice find Jamie and well done with the rescue. Look forward to seeing more of your postings.

Many thanks Pauline, it's fantastic to finally join this amazing community.

Nice start to your diary Jamie, I look forward to more postings. I didn't manage to get a better shot of the PH pupa.

Mike

Maximus wrote:Nice start to your diary Jamie, I look forward to more postings. I didn't manage to get a better shot of the PH pupa.Mike

Thanks Mike. How is the pupa, any change in colouration ?

Nice shots of the cat Jamie, keep em coming

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It's beginning to darken a bit now Jamie.

Mike

It's been a while, I finally have something of interest to share with you

On the 16th August 2015 I came across this female White-letter Hairstreak nectaring on Common Ragwort, Hollingbury, Brighton. - The following day (17th August 2015) It was seen again in the same location.

Dingy Skipper seen on the 15th August 2015 at Wild Park in Brighton - Great abundance of Chalk Hill Blues (70 male and 31 female = 101) again on the 15th August 2015 at Wild Park in Brighton - Additionally on the 15th August 2015 at Wild Park in Brighton I observed two female Silver-spotted Skippers egg laying, here is one of them - Here is a photo showing two Silver-spotted Skipper eggs, one freshly laid and another which was laid previously -

Silver-spotted Skipper eggs, shown in greater context within habitat -

Good to see you posting again Jamie, nice shots too. You were correct the PH was a female but I only took one shot of her in the breeding cage before releasing her. Will try to find the shot

Mike

I envy your WLH Jamie, they've alluded me up to now Goldie

Excellent stuff all round, Jamie. I'm a sucker for the immature stages, so well done on making the most of them

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Mike, I'm pleased to have something to show you. I'm surprised I got the sex of it right but it was an educated guess based on visual indicators seen on the adult butterfly, looking at the shape and form of the sexes thorax. That would be great to see, thanks for searching it out!

Hi Goldie, I was rather pleased to find this one so late in the season, I think they are generally coming to an end here in Brighton. They have had their best year here for quite some time, so pleasing to see. I'll post photos of a male and female taken at the 'famous' Hollinbury Park, that reminds me, I had a great observation of some interesting behaviour between to males.
It was sad however to find my first case of Dutch Elm Disease this year in an area at Hollingbury Park and I believe a few more had been cut down earlier in the year as the woodland edge seems to retreat! I hope you see some

Thank you Pete! The Silver-spotted Skippers caught me off guard, but really pleased to have been able to documented it. Did you receive my reply email concerning the removed Purple Hairstreak film ? I'd very much like to have a copy.

All the best,
Jamie

Male White-letter Hairstreak, Hollingbury Park, 9th July 2015 - Female White-letter Hairstreak, Hollingbury Park, 9th July 2015 - 9th July 2015, Hollingbury Park - At the low down hotspot during the course of my visit I had a total of 5 different male White-letter Hairstreaks, confirmed by closely analysing photos. Additionally I saw a single female, this being the first individual I saw down low, on Creeping Thistle. She was in an area well away from the lads, so to be left in peace, I don't blame her! As for the males, it was remarkable for the small area they would all continuously come back to, nectaring on brambles.The Main event however was when two of the males (included in the total males seen) started to dog fight at head height, right it front of us - (Douglas Neve and John was with me at the time). Suddenly one of the males broke off and landed on a bramble, the other male was hovering in flight, facing directly towards it and away from me. This meant for around 5 long seconds I could get a good look at it's deep, rich coloured upperside, stunning! The other male then took place on the same flower, they then walked over the flower head together, always walking in parallel, with one just behind. The whole event was over in a minute, however looking at the photos I took, there was some pushing going on. The male being behind was also pushing and curving it's abdomen around and towards the back of the individual in front, to me it looked like courtship and aggression! Looking at that photo (below), no wonder the females are elusive, it's a harpoon!
Both male, White-letter Hairstreaks close up!
Wider view, two males showing what appeared to be aggression and courtship!

Today I went to my local Brown Hairstreak site and saw two females.

Female Brown Hairstreak, laden with eggs - Here is one of the eggs (mother pictured above)
You get a great sense of scale when the egg is compared to the Springtail which also features in shot -

Lovely photos, Jamie

Following on with the Hairstreak egg theme, here are a few photos of a Purple Hairstreak egg I found at the beginning of the year, sadly it failed to hatch due to natural causes.

Purple Hairstreak egg, sense of scale - Returning with my Macro lens I captured the following -

Susie wrote:Lovely photos, Jamie

Thank you, much appreciated Do you think your make a repeat visit to Beeding cement works this year to look for Long-tailed Blue ?

Great Brostrak and Whitters Jamie I've not had much luck with Whitters - they always seem to stay up too high for me

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:Great Brostrak and Whitters Jamie I've not had much luck with Whitters - they always seem to stay up too high for me

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel! Sorry to hear, Hollingbury Park (Brighton) is a strange site in the sense that your almost guaranteed to see a White-letter Hairstreak low down, if it's sunny and there is a weak breeze you have a very strong chance. Preferable no wind at all!

All the best, Jamie