August 2018

[David M]

Great observations, Pete. I wish I could report the same levels of activity here in south Wales but alas, things have gone alarmingly quiet of late and the season looks all but dead.

[peterc]

In my experience, this has been the best Small Heath year locally since 1995.

Today, I found a slightly unusual one (an extra black spot under the eye-spot) in my local park but I don't believe there is a named aberration for this. It is nice to see more of its forewings

ATB

Peter

[Testudo Man]

Beautiful images, Testudo Man. Sad that other species seem to be on the wane but Adonis should be okay for a week or two yet.

Cheers for that David, Ive put a bit of effort into trying to capture some pleasing butterfly images for this season.
Which for most part, meant changing my usual tactics! Rather than chase the very active butterflies through the hottest times of the day, i decided to go out late afternoon/early evening, to capture my chosen butterfly images.

6 days on from seeing that female Hummingbird Hawkmoth, lay several eggs in my front garden, i decided to check that egg
Looks like the little fellow has hatched out, an is scoffing his way through the plant!
I may not see him again now? lets hope he doesnt get predated.

Cheers Paul. Image is not cropped.

[Allan.W.]

I,m with you on that one Paul ,most of my butterfly photography is early morning or late afternoon ,and has been for the last couple of seasons ,I,d just spent about twenty minutes doing a post ,but for some reason it wouldn,t go through ,with very similar thoughts to your own .
What plant is your Hummer feeding on ,looks a bit like Knotgrass ,watched a female laying at Dungeness ,last weekend ,she was laying on Bedstraw, Some excellent images by the way Paul.!
For the last couple of evenings I,ve been up on the local downs,for the Adonis Blues ,still about in Good numbers ,although the males are getting pretty tatty now ,also very large numbers of both Brown Argus and Small Heath ……..both 2018 winners for me !

Aberrant female Adonis (and friend )

Male Adonis Ab; Like to have found this old boy a few days back !
Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

..Ive put a bit of effort into trying to capture some pleasing butterfly images for this season.
Which for most part, meant changing my usual tactics! Rather than chase the very active butterflies through the hottest times of the day, i decided to go out late afternoon/early evening, to capture my chosen butterfly images.

Your strategy is a good one, TM, and has clearly paid off.

It's rare that we in Britain have to resort to such subterfuge but the hot conditions have rendered much of the UK akin to the south of France during a good part of the summer, so when needs must....

[Medard]

Small Tortoiseshell. Aglais urticae enjoying sunny Somerset.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p56 ... #ha1bdc7c8

[Jack Harrison]

Here in north Scotland, Small Tortoiseshell is normally single brooded whereas in the south, it is invariably double brooded. But I suspected after the new individuals here in early July, there might well be a second generation this favourable year. I hadn't seen any for weeks and none have come indoors (as they do prior to hibernation) so my suspicions about two broods this year were reinforced.

And today, 25th August sparkling fresh individual in the garden which I presume to be second brood of the year.

Jack

[Allan.W.]

At Dungeness today ,a short visit produced 4 Small Coppers ,3 worn 2nd brood,all normal sized specimens and a fresh 3rd brood
male ,which was very small . Also found 5 Painted Ladies ,3 Hummingbird Hawkmoths a few Meadow Browns and Common Blues and Brown Args;
Later in Orlestone forest ,I found 3 fresh 3rd brood Small Coppers ,and several female Meadow Browns ,and was amazed to see a particularly large female ,taken by a Migrant Hawker (largish Dragonfly ),another surprise was a Violet (sp;) with 3 flowers and several flower buds on it.
Regards Allan.W.

[Glostopcat]

Lemon Pansy seen at All Saints Church allotments in Cheltenham late on Monday afternoon!

[David M]

Lemon Pansy seen at All Saints Church allotments in Cheltenham late on Monday afternoon!

Where did that escape from?

[David M]

A visit to the West Williamston reserve in Pembrokeshire on Saturday 25th returned the following (between 10.15am and 1.50pm):

Speckled Wood 40-60
Small White 25-35
Common Blue 20-30
Small Copper 7
Silver Washed Fritillary 6
Brown Hairstreak 6
Painted Lady 4
Hedge Brown 2
Large White 2
Comma 1
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Green Veined White 1

[Testudo Man]

I,m with you on that one Paul ,most of my butterfly photography is early morning or late afternoon ,and has been for the last couple of seasons ,I,d just spent about twenty minutes doing a post ,but for some reason it wouldn,t go through ,with very similar thoughts to your own .
What plant is your Hummer feeding on ,looks a bit like Knotgrass ,watched a female laying at Dungeness ,last weekend ,she was laying on Bedstraw, Some excellent images by the way Paul.!
For the last couple of evenings I,ve been up on the local downs,for the Adonis Blues ,still about in Good numbers ,although the males are getting pretty tatty now ,also very large numbers of both Brown Argus and Small Heath ……..both 2018 winners for me !
P1340773.JPG
Aberrant female Adonis (and friend )

P1340798.JPGP1340841.JPG
P1340859.JPG
Male Adonis Ab; Like to have found this old boy a few days back !
Regards Allan.W.

Cheers Allan, losing a long post can be frustrating!!! especially if your like me, an only type slow, with 2 fingers at best
I always use the preview button, an if its a long post, then highlight an copy as you go

Ive yet to try early morning butterfly photography, something for next season i guess.

The plant was self seeding, in with my lavender, its called Red valerian(i think!)...Hummingbird Hawkmoths like this plant(well, thats what is suggested) when i searched/googled for it!

Yes, your worn male Adonis ab. would have been nice to have seen him fresh.

I would agree with you, ive never seen so many Small Heaths before, so a good year for that species.
Cheers Paul.

[Testudo Man]

..Ive put a bit of effort into trying to capture some pleasing butterfly images for this season.
Which for most part, meant changing my usual tactics! Rather than chase the very active butterflies through the hottest times of the day, i decided to go out late afternoon/early evening, to capture my chosen butterfly images.

Your strategy is a good one, TM, and has clearly paid off.

It's rare that we in Britain have to resort to such subterfuge but the hot conditions have rendered much of the UK akin to the south of France during a good part of the summer, so when needs must....

Cheers David, although these last couple of weekends, the low sun does effect the images, as in golden tones seem to alter the overall colouration.

Saturday 25/8/18...location Queensdown Warren, Kent.
Apart from a 20 minute rain shower, a 7 hour session in this location was quite good.
Good numbers of both Brown Argus, Small Heath, Adonis Blue were observed.

Several images, cheers Paul. Images are not cropped.

Small Heath

Brown Argus in Cop.

Female Adonis Blue.

Adonis Blue Female? or Chalk Hill Blue Female?...Im not sure on this one??...Although she was smaller than normal in size. Opinions on this species are more than welcome.

[peterc]

Small Copper larva (final instar?) in the garden

ATB

Peter

[millerd]

Amongst the many dozens of Adonis Blues of both sexes at Denbies Hillside this afternoon was lovely new female ab. krodeli, with much reduced underside spotting.

The upperside appeared normal, certainly well within the variation seen today.

Dave

[Rivoldini]

At first glance this Meadow Brown at Watlington Hill looked odd with its plethora of orange scales. Research shows it is ab nuragiformis.

[David M]

Amongst the many dozens of Adonis Blues of both sexes at Denbies Hillside this afternoon was lovely new female ab. krodeli, with much reduced underside spotting.

That's an absolute stunner, Dave. One of the best I've seen.

[millerd]

How about this one then...

Second brood male Silver-studded Blue seen today at Fairmile Common in Surrey. I spotted three (all males) in total - clearly they have been out a few days. Possible sightings of females all turned out to be Brown Argus! The individual photographed was very pale - hardly blue at all.

Dave

[David M]

How about this one then...

Second brood male Silver-studded Blue seen today at Fairmile Common in Surrey.

Fabulous sighting. I've heard of them having second broods in the far south west but I don't recall any from Surrey before.

[peterc]

Found 5 Small Copper larvae (4 on base of the plants and 1 under a leaf) in the garden today. All about 1 cm long. The larva of which I took a photo on 27th was only about 7mm long so that probably rules out a final instar stage.

ATB

Peter