Still flying
Dave, still flying
Maybe I'm missing a trick then
Wurzel, all the Cloudies in north London are blending in with the locals
I'm being very persistant with the Cloudies this year
Paul . Seems to be paying off!
Thanks
David, off course, 2018 being what it is, it ain't finished yet!
3rd November, Once more unto Sussex!
Another day out on the south coast for another ‘final’ butterfly trip of the season. A warm sunny day was promised but so was a strong southerly breeze. Both predictions came true so I decided to give Southwick a miss this time, figuring the wind would make a mockery of any photo attempts, and instead made my way to Lancing beach front and a search for
Vince's Large Whites. First I walked along the edge of the lagoon, hoping it's steep bank would provide a little shelter from the wind. It didn't really and there was no sign of butterfly life, so I crossed the road to look for caterpillars and pupa. 2 fully grown larvae were discovered looking for somewhere to Pupate but I couldn't recognize the wooden pillar where Vince found his pupae. As luck would have it I found my own though!
That's another species where I now have the full set of eggs, larvae, pupae and adult
Satisfied with that result it was off to Mill Hill see if any of Vince's findings from yesterday were still active. On the way a Red Admiral whizzed past me, late for something!
As is often the way at this time of year here, it was a Clouded Yellow who welcomed me to the site, flying low and hunting for what every male butterfly is always after. In the distance I could see a huddle of figures down in the bottom corner which gave me confidence it wasn't a wasted trip. It was Katrina with family and friends and a few Common Blues. Four or five Blues were active here, a couple of the males being freshly minted. I found a single female who did look rather weak, either exhausted from egg laying or nearing the end of her life, I suspect a combination of both.
Along with them at least two Cloudies were active, patrolling males, and a single fresh Meadow Brown. Neither Katrina or I could find any sign of Vince's Brown Argus. The place was alive with Common Darter Dragonflies though, perhaps they've succumbed to their hungry jaws?
A wander up to the top car park and the Agrimony proved fruitless, probably far to exposed and windy today, and upon returning to the bottom corner at around 2 I found that was too now empty, the low sun presumably sending everything to roost early. I did manage to catch up with a couple of Cloudies as I was leaving, soaking up the weakening rays and looking for roosting spots, I don't think it's coincidence they gravitate towards yellowing leaves. Looking at my pictures, neither of these two were the one who welcomed me so there were at least three here today.
- Spot the butterfly
Five species (If I include Large White) and only 8 weeks from the winter solstice
!
Fingers crossed for a good few months of cold weather to set 2019 of to a good start 
I'm amazed that that Red Admirals was able to hold it's wing in such a fashion - you'd think that with that much missing the trailing edge would be a bit floppy but it looks as rigid as always 
.
