July 2021

[Stevieb]

This morning I decided to head back to South Wales for better shots of High Brown Fritillary. I think it was mission accomplished.

Once again a big thankyou to David M for info on finding this site.

15th July

15th July

15th July

15th July

15th July

15th July

[David M]

Great to see, Steve. HBFs are easier as time goes by and the females become more commonplace. Looks like there were still a few fresh looking specimens on the wing.

[Jack Harrison]

16 July. Northern Brown Argus Grantown-on-Spey and Tomdhu, Nethy Bridge.
Mike came to visit from the heat of London only to find 25C/26C here in the Highlands.

Grantown on Spey

Tomdhu
This was a long shot for late Small Blues - no luck. But Mike soon found some elderly Northern Brown Argus.
I had not previously heard of them from Tomdhu.

The quarry face was beyond my physical abilities but I did find one or two on the flat lower ground. Very tatty. Record shot.

In 2020, NBA were fresh at Grantown on 9th July. Despite 2021 being a seemingly later season, they were past their best today.
My suggestion for planning is to aim for 5th to 10th July,

Incidentally, on his drive up here, Mike had found the non spotted Northern Brown Argus at Arnside on 13th July,

Send me a PM if you want location details.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Unknown to me, Mike had taken a picture of me. The bastard. (That's Mike, not me!)

Jack

[Butterflyboy]

never seen a northern brown, or I might have but it had no white on it, I think I've only seen common blues and brown argus though.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Few odds'n'ends from work (or the journey there and back) this week.

In increasing order of ID confidence:

The moths are Sycamore and The Rustic (I believe).

The bug is a Speckled Bush Cricket nymph (I'm fairly sure).

The dragonfly is a female Southern Hawker (pretty certain).

The bird is a red kite (for sure )

In terms of butterflies at work - There has been a mini explosion of Small White and Comma. I saw a fresh Peacock yesterday and there are two Small Coppers now duking it out in close proximity . Haven't seen the latter two species for a fair while.

[Neil Freeman]

Agree with Sycamore but I think the second moth is Lesser Yellow Underwing.

Cheers,

Neil.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Thanks Neil.

The Cosmos leaf bisecting it down the middle isn't ideal either !

Funnily enough, I did get a sense of a yellower insect in flight than when I looked at it on the plant.

I'll admit that my chosen method in my attempt to ID certainly isn't foolproof:

- Go to the Sussex Moth Group site
- Look at the fantastic What's Flying Tonight ? feature (where they list all species recorded on any given day in decreasing record number order).
- Hope that mine is similar to one in the Top 30 for that day (they show a photo for the Top 30).

The Rustic was very common on that day and its photo did look similar with the two kidney shaped (sort-of) markings on the wings, so that's the one I thought it must be.

But looking at Lesser Yellow Underwing images, I can see that that looks even more like mine !

So more than happy to be corrected. In fact I really appreciate it.

Cheers.

[bugboy]

The Bookham Emperors are still playing hard to find, just the one fleeting sighting at the master trees. Having said that I heard from 3 separate other enthusiasts that they had seen them on the ground today but not a single picture was obtained. I suspect mis-idenifications since I disturbed several Red & White Admirals doing passable Emperor impressions (Comma's were also trying their best as well). I did manage a little purple princess though . Also seen were a freshly minted Painted Lady.

Late in the afternoon I stopped off at Box Hill, initially to see if the Chalkhills were out there since I saw my first at nearby Denbies last week. I did also hear whisperings that the first Silver-spotted Skippers had been seen somewhere. I found a single one and managed a few record shots before it zoomed off up the slope

[Charles Nicol]

my car is now back on the road after major engine surgery... i went back to the Bedfordshire Chilterns today.

several Chalkhill Blues on Moleskin Hill.

a fine Painted Lady in the disused chalk pit at Sundon Hills Country Park

a Fritillary near Sharpenhoe.

could someone identify the Frit please ?

[Greenie]

It is a male Silver-washed Fritillary .

Greenie

[Charles Nicol]

It is a male Silver-washed Fritillary .

Greenie

thanks for your assistance Greenie

Charles

[Stevieb]

Back to Dorset for a week and first stop this morning is checking for Silver-studded Blue at Turnerspuddle Heath.

With attending ants 17th July

[adrian riley]

Thanks Neil.

The Cosmos leaf bisecting it down the middle isn't ideal either !

Funnily enough, I did get a sense of a yellower insect in flight than when I looked at it on the plant.

I'll admit that my chosen method in my attempt to ID certainly isn't foolproof:

- Go to the Sussex Moth Group site
- Look at the fantastic What's Flying Tonight ? feature (where they list all species recorded on any given day in decreasing record number order).
- Hope that mine is similar to one in the Top 30 for that day (they show a photo for the Top 30).

The Rustic was very common on that day and its photo did look similar with the two kidney shaped (sort-of) markings on the wings, so that's the one I thought it must be.

But looking at Lesser Yellow Underwing images, I can see that that looks even more like mine !

So more than happy to be corrected. In fact I really appreciate it.

Cheers.

Hi, there
I think your underwing moth is Lesser Broad-bordered N. janthe. The dragonfly is a Southern Hawker.
Cheers, Adrian Riley

[Neil Freeman]

Hi, there
I think your underwing moth is Lesser Broad-bordered N. janthe...
Cheers, Adrian Riley

It doesn't look like Lesser Broad-bordered to me, I still reckon it is Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes). I get both of these in my garden moth trap in some numbers and Lesser Yellow Underwing can be quite variable.

https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/noctua-comes

https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/noctua-janthe/

Cheers,

Neil.

[Allan.W.]

Lesser Yellow Underwing for me ! Regards Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

Been off work for a week taxi-ing Lynne back and forth between Ashford and Canterbury ,while she did jury service .Being fairly close to Temple Ewell /Lydden downs ,i felt a visit was in order ,mainly to see how the Chalkhills were doing ,and the answer to that is .....fine ,with high numbers flying ,very few females to be seen ,but many males ,amongst them this one ,a minor AB; which i have seen before ,with a few red spots
along the bottom of the wings.

I also came across a couple of plant oddities ,which i,ve not seen before ,the orchid is a twin headed Pyramidal Orchid the only one i,ve ever seen (and i,ve looked at thousands !) ,the other is a pure White Common Centaury ,one of 4 growing close together ,amongst hundreds of their bright Pink brethren .

A fine, fresh single Peacock was along the top hedge line ,and a mating pair of Marbled Whites were found amongst the hundreds on the wing.

While i was on site ,i thought i,d give my Yellow legged / Orange tailed Clearwing lure a try ,while i sat and had a drink and a bite to eat ,last season
at the same spot ,i had 1 to the lure ,but this time i had 7 around the lure in less than 2 minutes !

Regards Allan.W.

[Charles Nicol]

back to the Chilterns today. I parked at Sharpenhoe Clappers & headed out across the Moleskin & Markham hills. then i went further west & began to explore the Sundon Chalk pits. they cover a huge area & i just saw a few acres today. this pic gives an idea of what it looks like:

the most numerous butterfly this week has been Marbled White... they are everywhere.

todays pics are similar to yesterday, but i think it is a different fritillary

suggestions for the fritillary are most welcome

[millerd]

Hi Charles - that's a female Dark Green Fritillary. They are often darker than the bright orange males (like yours is) and can be distinct enough to look like an entirely different species.

Cheers,

Dave

[adrian riley]

Lesser Yellow Underwing for me ! Regards Allan.W.

Yep: One-nil to you!
Adrian