Kev Ling

[Wurzel]

Interesting to see Ringlets still going strong in your neck of the woods Great shot of the mating Hedge Browns too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[kevling]

Cheers Wurzel It's been a great year for the Gatekeeper considering the decline that has been reported in the last couple of years. Good to see them bounce back.

31st July - Devil's Dyke, Newmarket
With another summer month drawing to a close , my daughter and I visited Devil's Dyke to see Chalkhill Blue.
It had been several years since my last encounter, as we are normally on holiday during their peak.
We started nr Stetchworth and walked along the dyke for 1.5 km towards the July racecourse. The clear skies had given way to partial cloud and at 09.30 the breeze was quite cool. As a result the CHB were taking shelter down in the grass. However as we passed, good numbers took to the wing and our count along this stretch of the dyke rose to c160. I believe there were probably 2-3 times that number hidden down the banks out of the breeze.
The male to female ratio in this first part was 20:1.

After an early lunch we moved over to the stretch of Dyke that runs parallel to the July Racecourse. With the sun putting in a more sustained appearance and the temperature rising, what a difference!!.
There was an explosion of CHB. So many that I simply couldn't take an accurate count (but well in the hundreds). So I gave up trying and just enjoyed the spectacle. In one spot, you had to take great care where you were walking, for fear of treading on some unsuspecting CHB. There were far more females in his section too, with the ratio being more like 10:1 in favour of the males.
This was the sort of butterflying day that makes you glad to be alive.

Anyway on with some photos taking during the day. Hope you enjoy.

Regards Kev

[Wurzel]

Great set of shots Kev It's great when there are so many butterflies around that you just stop counting

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Thanks for posting those images, Kev. It's been a grim last week or so weatherwise here in south Wales and they have cheered me up no end.

I only wish I didn't have to travel so far to see them myself!

[kevling]

David/Wurzel, thank for your kind comments as always.

11/8/17
Having read everyone's posts regarding Brown Hairstreaks, I was getting a little envious. Not being able to make a long journey for them, I have been waiting patiently to catch sight of one in Ipswich where some small colonies now exist.
I set out to the banks of the River Orwell and began the search. It was a warm sunny morning and the first notable sightings were Common Blues, in larger numbers than I had seen all summer (c30). Including this female

Next notable sightings were three Clouded Yellows, but all too flighty for photographing I'm afraid. Nevertheless very nice to see.
After a couple of hours of scouring what seemed every flower head and branch in the reserve, I finally came across this female Brown Hairstreak.

A nice end to a very enjoyable morning and for the first time, I have seen all the British Hairstreak species in one year.

Regards Kev

[Pauline]

Those BH shots were worth waiting for Kev, especially the first one. Smashing!

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Kev especially the last shot, it's really contextually rich, love it I know what you mean about the envious sitting and waiting and watching reports of various species roll in, over my way we're often a fortnight behind in emergences

Havea goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Well done, Kev, with the Brown Hairstreaks. The Cloudies were merely an incidental bonus.

[trevor]

Good to read of a Brown Hairstreak colony so far from Sussex, Kev.
Finding them is always a magical experience. Nice shots too.

Trevor.

[kevling]

There's still plenty to see on Suffolk's Heaths at the moment and I have been milking every bit of late summer sun I can before Autumn sets in.
I've been a little late catching up with Grayling this year, but made up for it with several seen, including this duelling pair.

Looking through my albums, there's a distinct shortage of Small Heath photos. I just can't seem to get close to them. This one was very kind and allowed me a close up view.

There were still some nice looking Small Coppers too

Regards Kev

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Kev Small Heaths are right pains; not only do they spook other butterflies when you're trying for a shot but when you try and get a shot of them they're almost totally unapproachable

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Small Heaths are easier when they're feeding (which they don't seem to do too often). When they're on the ground they are very difficult to approach (almost as bad as Large Heaths).

[Goldie M]

I agree, the Small Heath's are very hard to get shots of but you seem to have done alright Goldie

[kevling]

7th May 2018:

Working with my colleagues at the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation today. Our first event of the season was at my local patch of Kiln Meadow in Ipswich. Our target species for our guided walk was the Green Hairstreak.
We were not disappointed and had continuous sightings all day on the Hawthorn planted rides and we were even treated to a female ovipositing on Bird's Foot Trefoil (something I had not witnessed before).
In all we saw ten species and a couple of Orange Tip eggs for good measure.

Kind Regards
Kev

[David M]

...we were even treated to a female ovipositing on Bird's Foot Trefoil (something I had not witnessed before).

Nor me, Kev. I've regularly seen them pottering around various vetches but never laying on them.

[trevor]

Lovely image, Kev. Not an easy Butterfly to photograph satisfactorily .
How that green varies with the lighting conditions.

Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Lovely Butterfly shots, it's surprising how their colour can change with the Sun Kev, Goldie

[kevling]

28th May 2018

One of the things I like most about chasing Butterflies, is the moment when something totally unexpected happens and you see a species you never thought you would.
This was certainly the case this week during my holiday to Snowdonia. I have climbed Snowdon on several occasions and have seen some of the more common species on it's lower slopes.
This week I was walking the Watkin Path from Nant Gywnant. As I descended, a flash of orange fluttered by and came to rest on some bluebells by the side of the path. With camera hastily retrieved from my rucksack, I approach to find a freshly emerged Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. This is the first SPBF I have seen in several years and just so you know, I am still smiling as I write this.

Kind Regards
Kev

[kevling]

31st May 2018

After a couple of days hiking in the mountains and my surprise encounter with a SPBF, the family headed to the west coast of Anglesey and it's stunning beaches. Our favourite spot is Porth Trecastell and the walk along the sand dunes to Rhosneigr. The target species for me was the Wall and as we took the cliff top path we counted a total of four. They were very active and settle very seldom, which posed difficulties with photographs. However they were fun to observe and I did manage one or two aerial shots as well as a couple on the rocks.

The walk to the sand dunes at Rhosneigr is about a mile and along this stretch of coastline there were large number of Small Heath (+100). For a species that is showing a sad decline nationally, it was a pleasure to see them in such large numbers and for me a rare chance to get close to one for a decent photo (this being a species that seems to have an allergy to my camera ).

The other abundant species on this walk was Common Blue, with over 50 seen (all male). The habitat around the sand dunes is heavily covered with Common Bird's Foot Trefoil, making it an ideal location for the Common Blue.
As we returned to the car, I had my first Painted Lady of the year. Always a pleasure.

Kind Regards
Kev Ling

[Wurzel]

What a cracking find Kev - Small Pearls are always great to see but an unexpected one is even better Great set of Walls to follow up as well - is one of them an aberrant (shot 3), the 'eye' looks odd shaped?

Have a goodun

Wurzel