Hoggers

[David M]

That first Copper is an absolute stunner, Hoggers. The second isn't far behind....and the rest are merely very attractive! Keep 'em coming. I love seeing the variation in this (in fact any) species.

[millerd]

Those fresh Coppers are a lovely sight, Hoggers. I think I read somewhere that the duskiness is temperature-related, and that in southern parts of Europe they can be very dark. That might explain why the second brood are darker than the first and might also mean we are in for a particularly dusky lot this time round.

Dave

[Hoggers]

Hi Dave, that's just what I suspected, and it certainly has been hot for the second brood!

It was 23C at Dungeness today and I was delighted to see the Small Coppers in tip top condition

My walk covers only a small part of the Reserve yet I counted 104

The only unhappy note being the state of the Sorrel : it is parched and I fear that unless we have sufficient rain to revive it (and there's little sign of it) the third brood will suffer.

But lets enjoy the second brood!

I saw courtship

And mating, but I've never seen this before!

The male swinging in the breeze!

I was so concerned he might be dead I put out my finger and was relieved to see all was well

I saw two males that were noticeably smaller than the norm, and others with more spots than usual

I came across this bumble-bee

It was huge! I've been unable to identify it :

help please!

My Copper of the Day was this one

I've only rarely come across a Copper like it

Very unusual

But it's just the sort of surprise that makes visiting Copperness such fun!

[Allan.W.]

Hi Hoggers ,
Some absolute beauties there ,particularly the Extensa ,nice find ! I have seen the swinging male , with Coppers and Wall (+ various Browns )
and I also found last week a very dark dusky individual ( Sightings ) .Your Bee could be (and I,m no expert !!) the very rare but recently introduced at Dungeness Short haired Bumbelbee ,may be worth a look .
I think an early trip to Dungie ,may be in order.
Regards Allan.W.

[Hoggers]

Hi Allan, I was stuck on Household Duty yesterday otherwise I'd probably have seen you at Dungeness.

I took advantage of being a member of Bumblebee Conservation and they've identified my bumblebee as a female Southern Cuckoo. I've got a guide book but still find bee ID very tough indeed.

It was already very warm indeed when I arrived at Dungeness early this morning

The Coppers were putting on a fine display

Nice blue on this one.

I'm never sure if it's a case of me watching Coppers or Coppers watching me

They certainly do not miss a trick

I bumped into a chap walking his dogs. He was very interested in butterflies and one of the first things he said was that there are lots of Small Coppers about

He also told me about how when he was abroad many years ago he found a nest of Camberwell Beauty caterpillars which he brought home to the UK, raised to adults then released about 20 of them in New Romney! What a sight that must have been.

But Coppers are enough for me

I counted 117 today

[ernie f]

Hoggars - amazing stuff. Especially...

1. The pair mating on your hand
2: The one that looks like it has spectacles on its wings
3: The pic you took of one from the front showing all four wings underneath.

I can't understand why I've seen no summer brood coppers around here yet. They had at least begun this time last year. Maybe the heat has got the better of them? Or their food plant perhaps - quite a lot of the Sheep's Sorrel round here seems shrivelled or scorched.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll see one soon.

[Hoggers]

Hi Ernie, thats for your comments, they are much appreciated.

The Copper aberration that you like

Reminded me very much of one I found last year

And of this one too (from 2015)

Wing ground colour and spot patterning are similar, the overall effect being greasy (rather like you can find greasy forms of Marsh Fritillary )

It's certainly an aberration I have only rarely come across.

I don't know if this is a recognised Copper aberration with a name to it or not

Hoggers

[Allan.W.]

I remember those ones Hoggers! Radiata at Dungie today ! (10/7) + 60+ on the wing,getting pretty battered now ! have you noticed theres very few blue spots about ? but there are some stunning Common Blues !
Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

More cracking Coppers, Hoggers. It'll be interesting to see whether the proportion of aberrants increases significantly given the prolonged hot weather.

[Hoggers]

Very nice Allan! David Walker spotted one amongst the first brood, you've found one in the second ..maybe I'll be lucky in the third!

( I wonder if we should start calling ourselves "The Three Copperteers"? Just a thought... Maybe have a badge made up, or matching T-Shirts?...)

I thought the same thing, David : my only worry is that because of the drought the Sorrel is more dead than alive and it's going to impact on the third brood.

When I visited last monday I walked out into "The Desert" between the Obs moat and the trapping area : I saw 6 female Coppers all looking for Sorrel to lay on. This "in-between" area is usually devoid of male Coppers, so the females go there unmolested. But the state of the Sorrel this year is parlous, all withered and dry. I got down on my hands and knees to get a closer look at it : some certainly appeared dead while in other patches I saw tiny green leaves poking through the brown parched stems. So some green shoots of hope!

Still (and rather oddly for a butterfly enthusiast) I am praying for rain!

"One for all and all for one"!

Hoggers

[David M]

I thought the same thing, David : my only worry is that because of the drought the Sorrel is more dead than alive and it's going to impact on the third brood.

Yes. This is a major concern.

Last year I saw upwards of 1,000 Scarce Coppers in the French Alps. It was a miraculous year for them. Sadly, the hot & dry weather persisted and thus far this year I've only seen three!! Like you say, let's hope for a dose of rain very soon.

[Wurzel]

A cracking range of abs recently Hoggers, somehow I keep missing you on here I wouldn't worry it'll rain soon enough, the school summer holidays begin in a fortnight

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Hoggers]

Hi David, we had an unusually large first brood this year and the general consensus is that this was due to the great success of the Sorrel which was well watered and so grew lush and healthy. Because of the large first brood I'd hoped for an even more prolific second brood but numbers are pretty average for a second brood at Dungeness.

It makes for an interesting comparison : David Walker counted over 200 Coppers one day during the first brood ( normally expect about 80 ) ; the most I've managed for this year's second brood is about 120. So in a topsy-turvey way, this year the second brood is smaller than the first! And I can only wonder if the reason for this is that the drought set in and began to affect the Sorrel at an early stage.

Today I saw again just how crisp and dry the Sorrel is, although if I delved down into some of the apparently withered clumps I managed to find a few small green leaves. Some hope then for the third brood. But as you say Wurzel, the schools break for summer soon so it's sure to rain!

Another peculiarity of this year's Coppers at Dungeness is that there are hardly any "Blue Badgers" amongst the second brood. I know you've asked me, Allan, if I have noticed this and I have! The only Copper I've found that I could properly call a "Blue Badger" is the one I posted earlier this week: here's a selection from my visit today which show the general situation for this year's second brood

The blue (such as it is) is dull and faint.

You know Allan, that we've always said that the best Blue Badgers appear in the later broods : well, not so for this year's second brood. Why do you think this is? The heat? The drought setting in and affecting the quality of the Sorrel?
Just when you think you've got a grip on how Small Coppers tick they turn the tables on you!

I had a wonderful morning down at Copperness today : the second brood is showing how living fast and furious takes a toll

But there's still some fresh Coppers about

And some unusual ones

This female really caught my eye : the pale dusting on her hind wings was very noticeable

As I hope this photo demonstrates

I had a great time with the Small Coppers today

[ernie f]

Hoggers - That silvery copper is an interesting form. I like your pic of the copper backlit and seen directly from the front. Also, I have seen only one or two 2nd brood coppers so far this year inland. I too put this down to the drought (and I think we can call it that now). Do you think "Copperness" has the benefit of sea-mist to keep things a little more moist down there?

[David M]

Yet again you have unearthed some major variations there, Hoggers. It just goes to show that when you specialise in a particular species, your 'eye' is so much more attuned than that of the general observer.

You're practically a species champion for phlaeas now in my opinion.

[Hoggers]

That's very kind of you to say, David! Thank you. If my enthusiasm for Small Coppers inspires anyone to take an interest in them then I'm most honoured!

Sadly, I haven't been able to get down to Copperness as often as I would have liked this year, but I managed it today and counted 85

They're battle scarred

And the brood is gradually fading away

But still plenty to see

You'll notice the dusky models

But Blue Badgers have been harder to come by this season

I liked the black spotting on this one's hind wings

And the markings on this female are lovely

I've previously voiced my worries for the third brood because of the drought :

well, I'm told we're in for some thunderstorms tonight!

I hope Copperness gets what rain it needs to replenish the Sorrel and that it hasn't come too late

[Hoggers]

A Small Copper in my back garden this afternoon ( central Ashford)...!

The fact that there’s a gale blowing probably has a lot to do with it. In this wind it’d take about 5 minutes from Dungeness!

Hoggers

[Old Wolf]

Hello Hoggers. That is a mighty load of Small Copper. It makes the five to ten or so I have seen (and that is the most I have ever seen) this year pale in comparison.

If I get to see more I will certainly look at their markings a little more closely after looking at your pictures.

[Hoggers]

Good luck with it Old Wolf - they're always worth a closer look!

My diary entry today is going to be very brief but concerning a most unusual sighting : when I got home from work today I found a fine Wall, in tip top condition, flying around my garden!

I've lived in Ashford all my life and never had a Wall visit the garden.

After last week's surprise Small Copper in the garden I'm beginning to wonder if the drought has anything to do with it, i.e., causing butterflies to wander further afield, or making it easier for them to do so?

Whatever the reason, for me at least it is a once in a lifetime garden record!

Hoggers

[trevor]

Great to read of your Wall discovery, always a pleasure to find one ''off piste '.
I found a small colony of Walls in a Wiltshire grave yard last year, will check up on them next week.

Good to see the Coppers still going strong !
Trevor.