EARLY Silver studs

[wiccaman9]

Very surprised to find Silver studded blues ssp.masseyi at Prees Heath, nearly 2 weeks earlier than last year.

Walked a 200yard line, saw 8 males and 1 femal, a pair copulating also...Unusual to see the female so early. Occasional common blue and many small heaths also...

Are the Silver studded subspecies coming out elsewhere just now??

Need to think about trip to the caernensis colonies...

Cheers, Aron Bowers

This is an unusual male. Freshly emerged, as with the female, but unusually anerythristic, almost muted colours to hind wings, not a classified abberation, as far as I'm aware, but none the less interesting.

[Trev Sawyer]

Hi Aron,
Did you get any shots of the Silver Studded Blues - the ones you've posted are Common Blues aren't they

Trev

[wiccaman9]

Hey Trev,

Thanks for that! Actually realised that, after I'd posted the pics! I'd got silver studs on the brain I'm afraid

Sorry about that, got mixed up with my species for a while there. However I DID see males with mild black borders to forewings ie defiite s.s.blues....It wont be long with this warm weather before the numbers are out in force!

Give me a week or so, and I'll be taking more shots like this....

Cheers, Aron

[Trev Sawyer]

That's more like it
I really want to get some decent shots of SSB's this season in Norfolk - never managed to get anything other than record shots so far.... Something like yours would do very nicely

Trev

[jellyang]

I am hoping to get to Buxton Heath in Norfolk any day now to get my annual fix of ss Blues. It is a little early but you never can tell when they will pop out to greet you !
I will let you know whats about, last year was an excellant year but you have to know where to look

Angie

[jellyang]

Spurred on by my own post this afternoon I went to Buxton Heath here in Norfolk to see what was about.

Yes The ss blues have just started to emerge I only went a short way as I am recovering from an op but I spotted about 10, so within the next few days , weather permitting there should be a few more .


Angie

[NickB]

Nice to know; I have checked out other hot-spots in Suffolk - but never found any despite 3 trips They are very localised, it seems!
So if the weather is good next weekend - Buxton Heath, here I come, thanks. Norfolk to the rescue
N

[jellyang]

Nick,
Let me know later in the week if you are coming to Buxton Heath . If I am doing nothing I could meet you or give you some rough directions where to look.
It took me 3 or 4 trips to find them when I first went.


Angie

[Trev Sawyer]

Enjoy Nick...
Following on from Angie's sightings yesterday, my wife and I went to Buxton Heath today (thanks Ang ). The studs seem to be about in slightly larger numbers than yesterday. Didn't get there very early and, as I suspected, the butterflies were very active in the sun. Fortunately, amongst loads of blurred images, I did get one or two "keepers"...







Trev