David M

[trevor]

I envy your male Brown Hairstreak, even if he is a battered old warrior.
As with your site, the males in Sussex remain elusive ( except last year ).
There is life left in this season, lets make the most of it.

Trevor.

[Maximus]

You've also been enjoying some lovely Small Coppers recently, David, that's a very nice radiata that you found. As you say Small Tortoiseshells are having a terrible year, I've not seen one since the spring in the UK, and we only saw one in france!

Mike

[ernie f]

David - I've been going back through your diary entries and discovered I missed the 2nd brood female Holly blue pic you took with the wide black edge but somehow beautifully faded overall. Lovely.

[David M]

Thanks for the comments, all.

Thursday 30th August 2018 - Painted Ladies....

I nipped down the road in the afternoon to Port Eynon on the Gower coast. It was one of those days where the thin cloud allowed just enough sunshine through to keep butterflies active, and whilst walking through the dunes I soon started disturbing Painted Ladies basking on the sand every few steps:

They were all over the valerian blooms too, and in just three quarters of an hour I counted an impressive 77.

I was also delighted to find 13 Small Tortoiseshells doing much the same thing as the Painted Ladies:

Small Whites were fairly numerous as well (around 50 seen) but there were no Green Veined, nor Large Whites, and not a single Red Admiral, which is unusual here.

Half a dozen tatty Common Blues were observed along with a similar number of Small Coppers. Two Meadow Browns and a faded Brown Argus were the other species seen.

[millerd]

77 Painted Ladies is an enviable count, David. I imagine they are locally grown - you must have had an influx of migrants in the hot weather at the start of August and they went on to produce lots of offspring. I've not heard of anything matching that elsewhere, but they could be popping out all over and feeding up prior to their southward migration. Good to see Small Tortoiseshells as well.

Dave

[Goldie M]

WoW David 77 Painted Ladies, I've seen two this year Your shots or lovely of the Small Tort and the PL Goldie

[Andrew555]

77 Painted Ladies.. Glad you saw some Small Torts as well David. Great report and shots from your Brostreak site.

[David M]

Thanks, all. Yes, 77 in 45 minutes is pretty good going, but I suspect I simply timed things right (unintentionally). I doubt there'll be anything like as many from here on in as I suspect many if not most will be heading south now.

Still, it was great to see such a presence and with any luck there'll be a few more migrants on display before the season is over.

[Maximus]

Wow, David, 77 Painted Ladies in 45 minutes is totally amazing anywhere, let alone in the UK, even in the 'Painted Lady years'.

Mike

[ernie f]

Let me add my comment of amazement re the 77 Painted Ladies. You just never know what you are going to find do you?

[bugboy]

I wonder how many females it took to produce that lot? Given the relative scarcity this year there could of been one very busy female last month!

[trevor]

Your Painted Lady can only be hours old, what a stunning Butterfly.
Swap you for some Clouded Yellows .

Trevor.

[Old Wolf]

Hello David, I am catching up on diaries and have been going over your latest trips.

Love the Holly Blue with open wings. This is something I am yet to see myself so I am glad you captured such a lovely picture for me to look at.

77 Ladies in 45 minutes that is an impressive count. Similarly I have only seen a few Small Torts this year!

[David M]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

Saturday 15th September 2018 - Autumn closes in....

Paid a visit to the National Botanic Gardens near Cross Hands today. The weather was cool and largely cloudy but there are many sheltered areas within this site and the organic walled garden hosted plenty of Small Whites, which are enjoying a very good late season this year.

After bemoaning the relative absence of Red Admirals lately, I'm pleased to report that I saw half a dozen or so:

Five very welcome Small Tortoiseshells were also seen, including this individual with a slightly deformed right forewing:

In the scrubby area behind the walled gardens, several Small Coppers were seen, whilst other species were Large & Green Veined Whites plus a solitary Speckled Wood.

In the butterfly house, there was a new and very impressive inhabitant - Atlas Moth:

They have also now got Owl Butterflies, although this seemed to be the only one actually on the wing:

As ever, Malachites proved irresistible:

...and then there was this one, which I have never seen before so if anyone knows what it is please let me know. The body had a danaidid look to it, especially the head, but it was much smaller than a Monarch (probably the same size as Plain Tiger):

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, I've seen one of those Atlas moths, their very impressive, also I found at first I couldn't make out what it was people were staring at Goldie

[ernie f]

David. Now you've done it. Now I want to go to a butterfly house too. I haven't been to one for years.

[David M]

Thanks, both. Yes, a local tropical butterfly house can provide solace between October and February for we butterfly starved people!

Saturday 15th September - continued...

Whilst this isn't butterfly related, I think it merits inclusion on this PD merely because of the enjoyment factor.

Unbeknown to me prior to my visit, the Botanic Gardens have now got a permanent Bird of Prey Centre. The first session was at 11.30am so me and my neighbour duly went along. We were glad we did.

First up was a Hobby. Sadly, this bird was constantly chasing a lure, and try as I might, I couldn't get a clear image - it was simply flying too fast.

Far easier were the Kestrels that followed:

Next up was a Buzzard:

The pièce de résistance however was a 28 year old female White Tailed Eagle called Atlantis. This majestic bird was in full control of her environment, flying adeptly within two metres of the assembled audience's heads:

I defy anyone not to be moved by birds such as these. It was a fabulous experience.

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, we get regular visits from Sparrow Hawk's and other birds of prey, I always rush for my camera I don't like to see them killing small birds but I suppose that's natural, nature at work for survival. Goldie

[Andrew555]

Lovely exotics David, I agree with Ernie!

The birds of prey look and sound very impressive.

[David M]

Thanks, Goldie/Andrew.

Yes, birds of prey are deadly and beautiful in equal measure, but there's something irresistible about them and it's good to know there's now a place I can go and see them whenever I need a fix...and only half an hour down the road!