June 2012

[Rosalyn]

High Brown Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary

Heddon Valley.

Phil and I spent the last few hours of nice weather Looking for Dark Green and High Brown Fritillaries. We found several of each along with some weathered Small Pearl-bordered

[Hoggers]

I saw five Swallowtails at Strumpshaw Fen today

And at Westleton Common, three Silver studded Blues

[millerd]

Lovely fresh Silver-studded Blues out today at Both Thursley Common and Fairmile Common in Surrey, including females at the latter location. Marbled Whites are now around at Denbies.

Dave

PS. Wood Whites are still flying at Botany Bay...

[EricY]

Hoggers was very lucky to see 5 swallowtails today & even get a picture on the doctors sweet williams! I & many others only saw 3 & all fly by's, 2 over the garden & one over the meadow trail so no pics. Did see a m+f Lge skipper with male chasing her around the plant but she did not want to know. Also 2/3 very lively Brimstones & nothing else in butterfly scene. Plenty of Norfolk Hawkers, 4spots, & Damsels. Eric

Lge skipper m+f wings open

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker back view

[Neil Freeman]

Salcey Forest by Northampton today.

I went hoping that there would still be some Wood Whites about, not having had the chance so far this year to see any. I have read that the ones in the midlands fly later than those further south and although the peak was apparently a couple of weeks ago I thought I would try my luck.

I was pleased to see at least half a dozen still looking nice , maybe more, I'm always wary of counting the same ones more than once.

Other butterflies seen,

3 Red Admirals - my first this year
6 Speckled Wood
4 Large Skippers - all fresh looking males, also my first this year
1 Large White
1 Brimstone
1 female Orange Tip - very faded, quite surprised she was still around.
1 Peacock - faded, again quite surprised, looked like a late survivior from earlier in the year.

Photos will go on my diary once I have had time to go through them.

Neil F.

[David M]

Phil and I spent the last few hours of nice weather Looking for Dark Green and High Brown Fritillaries. We found several of each along with some weathered Small Pearl-bordered

That first High Brown is quite unusual, being very heavily marked.

Nice shot.

[Padfield]

Phil and I spent the last few hours of nice weather Looking for Dark Green and High Brown Fritillaries. We found several of each along with some weathered Small Pearl-bordered

That first High Brown is quite unusual, being very heavily marked.

Nice shot.

Absolutely! I would call that outside the 'normal' range of variation. The Cockayne site illustrates a rather similar female, which it calls ab. fasciata, Blachier. I don't know if the name applies to males too but this would seem to be some such form.

Last year was the year of blue abs. This year it seems to be the frits!

Guy

[Matsukaze]

Small Blues are still on the wing at the Odd Down Park & Ride site at the edge of Bath. Unfortunately not much else is - I've yet to see Large Skipper, Marbled White or Ringlet, all of which I would have expected to be out in numbers by now.

[Paul Harfield]

On Monday I also saw my first Red Admirals of the year, three in total along my local footpath in Hedge End

Today in Botley Wood, Hampshire
Grizzled Skipper 1
Holly Blue 1
Brimstone (female) 1 - very ragged
Meadow Brown 7
Small Heath 6
Large Skipper 14
Speckled Wood 2

Large Skipper Botley Wood 20.6.2012

I also managed to aquire some unwelcome passengers, about a dozen ticks - YUK The perils of wearing shorts whilst roaming through long grass. Hopefully I have found them all

[Jack Harrison]

In reply to this:

After the Olympic crowds at Box Hill at the end of July goodness knows what will be left at this SSSI !

I added my own cynical comment a couple of days ago:

Has anyone met someone who is actually enthusiastic about the Olympics? I haven't.

Deafening silence since speaks volumes

Jack

[Rosalyn]

David M wrote:

Rosalyn wrote: Phil and I spent the last few hours of nice weather Looking for Dark Green and High Brown Fritillaries. We found several of each along with some weathered Small Pearl-bordered



That first High Brown is quite unusual, being very heavily marked.

Nice shot.



Absolutely! I would call that outside the 'normal' range of variation. The Cockayne site illustrates a rather similar female, which it calls ab. fasciata, Blachier. I don't know if the name applies to males too but this would seem to be some such form.

Last year was the year of blue abs. This year it seems to be the frits!

Guy

Thank you David and Guy. I wasn't sure if it was within the 'normal range' but it was a very obliging butterfly, for a change. We both got clear pictures.

[Debbie]

The first picture is one I took last year on my first butterfly trip out and my thoughts are that it is a small skipper. Last night I took a the top picture. Is this a large skipper ?

I appreicate your help.

Debbie

[Jack Harrison]

Yes, male Large Skipper.

Jack

[Debbie]

Thanks Jack

Debbie

[NickB]

Thanks Pete, et al - re: Black Hairstreak.
I knew they had been seen in Brampton - hence Jack and I assumed that Monk's Wood would be showing too; alas, despite good weather and extensive hanging around and moving around to other known spots, we saw none....and I haven't had a chance to go since, or check-out Brampton....

[badgerbob]

I spent 7 hours in Brampton Wood on tuesday looking for the Black Hairstreak. In all that time all I saw was one flying high. A sighting of about 1 second!!! Very little else about as well.

[Debbie]

Yesterday I went up to my local village church and visited the pond as the sun was shining (today it has rained all day )

I saw a common blue and a large skipper and a collection of damsel flies -I can feel a book being ordered.

I am still waiting to see a female brown common blue butterfly.

Today i brought myself a tripod

Debbie

[Trev Sawyer]

As Pete Eeles said on his blog yesterday, Yvonne and I were at Collard Hill on Wednesday (and Tuesday ) ...

Only managed one upper wing shot on the first day:

... but after briefly popping off for an evening meal, we returned to find some "roosters"

Day two and we went back and did get a few more open winged snaps (including a couple I recognise from Pete's thread ) and also took this record shot of a tiny Large Blue which was only about the same size as a Common Blue.

Very tatty and faded, but definitely a large blue. This made up for following a small very dark blue butterfly on Tuesday for ages to discover it was a Common Blue - one of the darkest female Common Blues I have ever seen.


Trev

[Pete Eeles]

Great to see you again Trev, and meet Yvonne. Your "rooster" is absolutely superb!

Cheers,

- Pete

[adrian riley]

Adrian Riley:

June 17. North Norfolk. 2 Marsh Fritillary

I presume that refers to site X near the town of Y where Marsh Frits are allegedly routinely released.

I know "nuffin" about X although have a good idea as to the identity of town Y

Jack

Hi, Jack
Town Y is a yellow and black furry six-footer's fantastic innings.
This appearrs now to be Norfolk's best worst-kept secret; replacing the old breeding site for Montagu's Harrier!
Cheers, Adrian