june 2011

[admiral halsey]

Just had a lovely picnic in Willow Park, Langdon hills. Loads of Moths disturbed as we walked through the meadow. Saw a Brimstone, 5 Speckled Wood, and the one below. Having trouble with ID, best guess Gatekeeper.

Rich

[Padfield]

That's a meadow brown. Gatekeepers will come a little later.

Guy

[Rogerdodge]

That is a Meadow Brown.
Early - like everything else this year.

I am also off for a picnic this evening, hoping for Marsh and Small Pearl Bordereds.

[EricY]

Very warm in Hockley wood today, sweating by 10am see post on seperate "Essex Heath Frits" thread. At least 2 doz very nice Heath Frits i/c a copulating pr. Eric

[admiral halsey]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Rich

[Hugh Middleton]

Have heard reports of Large Heath about. This seems early but in many respects it has been an 'early' year.
Has anyone else seen them before I take out a loan to fill the car with petrol

Hugh

[Wurzel]

Visted a private meadow in Bishopstone nr Salisbury...could the second wave be starting as I saw very fresh looking Male Common Blue and very fresh looking Brown Argus, also a Brimstone and my first Meadow Brown of the year - photos to follow on personal diary

Cheers

Wurzel

[millerd]

Another visit to Harmondsworth Moor this evening to see how the Meadow Browns are coming along. Saw six or seven today, including a couple of females. It is a pleasant change to see them looking new, as almost all my existing photos are of ragged individuals from mid or late season. Very attractive velvetty brown.

There were a couple of Small Heaths out today and some Common Blues - plus a rather fetching yellow moth which no doubt someone can put a name too...

Dave

[NickMorgan]

Visted a private meadow in Bishopstone nr Salisbury...could the second wave be starting as I saw very fresh looking Male Common Blue and very fresh looking Brown Argus, also a Brimstone and my first Meadow Brown of the year - photos to follow on personal diary

Cheers

Wurzel

Second wave ... we haven't even seen any of the first wave of common blues up here yet!!

[Gibster]

Hi Dave,

your moth is a Yellow Shell, frequently disturbed by day and pretty darn eye-catching too.

Cheers mate,

Gibster.

[NickB]

Nice pics, millerd. Nice to see a Meadow Brown - yet to see one myself yet....
but since I spent a couple of mornings on the edge of a blackthorn thicket, waiting for Black Hairstreak to descend, perhaps not surprising.
I did try spraying (with sugar solution), but they preferred this vine for most of the time.....

Males only so far....

N

[millerd]

Out close to home (near J14 of the M25) this afternoon on a true summer day. The warm sun had brought the Small Heath colony out in numbers - a steady count along 250 metres of path totalled between 50 and 60 individuals. They were flying up in groups of five and six, and almost every step raised one or two. There is a view of the area below (the motorway is about 250 metres behind the camera).

The same area produced three Common Blues, three Large Skippers and two Meadow Browns. Returning to more wooded parts, I encountered two brand new summer Commas (f. Hutchinsoni), the first this year. However, pictures were not easy, because apart from their own rivalry, a Large Skipper was intent on chasing one or both out of sight. Not a placid combination of species! There were several Small Whites out again, and in a riverside clearing a Red Admiral had set up shop - following his predecessors of every season I've been watching them. A guaranteed location.

Dave

[nick patel]

Hod hill bottom: Lots of Brown argus and Common blues, a good number of Dingy skipper, 1 Grizzled skipper,

Portland bill: Lots of Small and Common blues, Dingy skippers, Painted lady and a Hummingbird hawk moth.

Lankham bottom: a few Adonis blues, Lots of Common blues.

Priddy mineries: 3/4 Small pearl-bordered fritillaries, Common blues, 2/3 Green hairstreak, c5 Small copper.

Strawberry bank wood: Good numbers of Marsh fritillary in flight on the sunny bank (although many faded and tatty, however a few were still in good shape), 10+ Small blue, Common blues.

Loads (literally loads) of Small heath at all of the above.

cheers, Nick.

(images - Small blue, Marsh frit, Marsh frit, Green hairstreak taking a liking to my jacket)

[Neil Freeman]

With the weather improving, I took a drive over to Wyre Forest this morning. I planned on looking for Pearl Bordered and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries, if any of the former were still around that is.
I followed the route given in West Midlands BC booklet '30 Butterfly Walks in the West Midlands' and found numerous SPBFs in various meadows around the forest.

I also spotted a couple PBFs but these had seen much better days. I might have missed them if they hadn't looked so pale and tatty compared to the fresh looking SPBFs.

Also seen were good numbers of Large Skippers, loads of Chimney Sweeper Moths and Burnet Companions and a female Brimstone.

On my way home I called in at one of my local spots and saw my first Meadow Browns of the year.

A good day, especially after the past couple of weeks here which have been gloomy damp and windy.

Neil.

[David M]

1 Grizzled skipper,

I'm surprised you're still seeing these.

[nick patel]

1 Grizzled skipper,

I'm surprised you're still seeing these.

why's that? i thought they went into june in their flight period.

anyways, here's a record shot for proof

[millerd]

... found numerous SPBFs in various meadows around the forest....

Neil.

That SPBF is interesting - some of the black spots run together on the forewing. Quite a striking individual.

Dave

[David M]

1 Grizzled skipper,

I'm surprised you're still seeing these.

why's that? i thought they went into june in their flight period.

Because they emerged so early this year due to the wonderful conditions we had in early/mid April.

I thought they'd have blown themselves out by now.

[nick patel]

Because they emerged so early this year due to the wonderful conditions we had in early/mid April.

I thought they'd have blown themselves out by now.

Ah right i see, well luckily this one was still trooping around and in not too bad a condition, plus this was my first one so i was glad.

[Piers]

There are still a few fresh-ish females on the South Wilts Downs as well...