Mark Colvin

[David M]

Must say, I prefer the second image, since it demonstrates just how effectively a Brimstone is camouflaged. In fact, if you blurred the image slightly, you could be forgiven for thinking that the leaf was the wings of the insect and the stem the antennae.

Nature is wonderful.

[Neil Freeman]

...You can't beat Blu-Tack and a good blob of Super Glue

Must admit, I have been wondering how some of you guys get them to sit on the end of sticks

How do you get them to sit still while you dab their feet with super glue

(Sorry )

Neil F.

[Mark Colvin]

Thanks for your kind comments.

Must admit, I have been wondering how some of you guys get them to sit on the end of sticks. How do you get them to sit still while you dab their feet with super glue?

It is of course old Sussex magic past down through the generations from father to son - consequently I am not at liberty to spill the beans!

Good hunting.

Kindest regards. Mark

[Mark Colvin]

Dental Entomology

It's amazing what you find at the dentist.

Front cover AND six pages of images and text by Sussex's very own Michael Blencowe, Neil Hulme and Leigh Prevost.

Nice work ...

[Mark Colvin]

Ashpark Wood, 6 May 2013

Brimstone (revisited) ...

With good numbers of Brimstone currently around, I decided to pay them another visit today.

It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that I finally got out, and stayed until around 6.30pm. During this time I watched numerous males and several females going about their daily business. I decided to concentrate my efforts solely on photographing the females; and was more than pleased with one which finally settled for a brief time on its larval food plant, Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus). A second, found much later in the day, kept going to rest and would then move on; undoubtedly having not found a suitable roost site.

Species seen:

Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma
Holly Blue
Large White
Brimstone
Orange Tip
Green-veined White

[Nick Broomer]

Great photos Mark, well done.

All the best, Nick.

[Mark Colvin]

Thanks Nick.

I'm glad you like them ...

[Mark Colvin]

Plaistow, West Sussex, 7 May 2013

An early start ...

Almost a year ago, I discovered a small colony of Grizzled Skipper within a short walking distance from my house. What I didn't realise until yesterday evening, was that the area where they occur also contains a reasonable quantity of Lady’s Smock (Cardamine pratensis). Having seen several Orange Tip yesterday, I returned early this morning in the hope of finding one at roost.

A great start to the day ...

[Pawpawsaurus]

An early start ...

Yikes! It certainly was.

I've never been on-site before 7am, nor taken an Orange-tip photo approaching the quality of yours. There may well be a connection.

Wonderful stuff.

Paul

[Mark Colvin]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your message; I’m glad you like the picture.

Early morning and evenings are a great time for photographing butterflies of many species. Catching them at roost in the early morning and, as they go down to roost late in the afternoon, often allows an approach and opportunities you just wouldn't get throughout the heat of the day. Sitting on a perfumed chalk downland with a meadow full of roosting Chalkhill Blues prior to sunrise, is an event, in my opinion, not to be missed by any butterfly or nature loving enthusiast. As the first rays of sun begin to warm the ground, the butterflies are slowly induced into activity and warm their wings prior to flight. You'd be hard pushed to get a better opportunity for some great shots.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

[Mark Colvin]

Heyshott Escarpment, 7-8 May 2013

The Duke emerges ...

The first Duke of Burgundy observed in Sussex during 2013, was recorded on Monday, 6th May at Heyshott Escarpment. After my early start yesterday morning, followed by a run down to Blandford Forum in Dorset for an 11am meeting, I headed back to West Sussex and more specifically Heyshott Escarpment. I didn't have a great deal of time on my hands but managed to record seven Dukes along with my first Dingy and Grizzled Skippers of the year. A problem with my camera frustratingly resulted in shots I wasn't happy with ...

Problem rectified, I popped back today.

Fingers crossed for a really great season ...

[Mark Colvin]

Norfolk Estate, Arundel, 9 May 2013

The Duke’s Duke ...

To be fair, conditions today were really not very good for getting out and searching for butterflies; but I had the opportunity to do so and decided to head out nevertheless …

I arrived on the Norfolk Estate at around 9.45am. Despite the strong wind continually gusting through the trees and the small clearing that was to be my destination, there were a few, more sheltered (though still windy) locations that provided some respite. Moving slowly through these areas I spotted a single female Speckled Wood; a pristine specimen and a bonus as I wasn’t expecting to find much. As I slowly followed her, I suddenly noticed a small brown insect fly up from the undergrowth and immediately land several feet away. My concentration rapidly diverted from the Speckled Wood, as I immediately realized that it was a male Duke of Burgundy sheltering from the rather inclement conditions.

I knew that Neil was in nearby woodland as an earlier phone call from him announced that he had at last seen a Pearl-bordered Fritillary – the first appearing in Sussex on 16th April in 2012. After a quick phone call in return, Neil arrived. As he mentions in his diary, “it wasn’t keen on flying in the strong, cool breeze” which gave Neil ample time to drive over and photograph the Duke for himself.

I’m glad I went out …

[Susie]

Your photos lately have been simply superb, Mark!

[Pete Eeles]

Your photos lately have been simply superb, Mark!

Seconded

Cheers,

- Pete

[Mark Colvin]

Dear Susie and Pete.

Thank you.

That's really kind of you to say.

I genuinely appreciate your comments

[Mark Colvin]

Chantry Hill and Chiddingfold Forest, 10-11 May 2013

Streaking ...

Despite conditions being far from perfect, I arrived at Chantry Hill at 11am on Friday and was joined shortly after by good friend Colin Knight. Our target today was the widespread, though local, Green Hairstreak; a butterfly which occurs in many environments including amongst the scrub encrusted slopes and valley bottom at this location. It didn't take too long for the first of around a dozen Hairstreaks to take to the wing; the windy conditions making it all but impossible to follow them as they were quickly blown out of sight. Determined not to be beaten, I headed to an isolated area within Chiddingfold Forest yesterday morning. It was a bit of a long shot, as although Green Hairstreaks occur there - I’ve seen two in the past two years - they only occur in low numbers. I decided to check out the area where I saw a tattered male late last season and couldn’t believe my luck when a single male appeared.

He wasn’t wearing his best suit but I was pleased …

[Mark Colvin]

West Sussex, 16 May 2013 - Part 1

The Dukes of Heyshott ...

I was pleased to be joined by good friend Nick Broomer today as I headed for Heyshott Escarpment in advance of the open day this coming Saturday. I was keen to take note of the Duke's progress and wasn't disappointed by what I found. A conservative estimate produced twenty Dukes and a single Duchess, and these were counted on only a small part of the eastern reserve. Hopefully numbers will continue to grow and we will see the Duke expanding his range into recently managed areas. In addition to His Grace, small numbers of Dingy and Grizzled Skipper were also seen, along with several of the day flying Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica). I just hope the weather holds for our joint Sussex Butterfly Conservation / Murray Downland Trust event this coming Saturday.

Mission accomplished we then headed for private woodland in West Sussex.

More to follow ...

[Neil Freeman]

Nice Photos Mark, I particularly like the second Duke that looks like he is about to launch himself off his perch.

Cheers,

NeilF.

[Mark Colvin]

West Sussex, 16 May 2013 - Part 2

Pearls ...

Leaving Heyshott at around 1pm we headed for private woodland in West Sussex. The site we were heading for holds a small, managed population of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Several visits so far this season have proven unproductive; though today seemed somewhat different and I felt confident that luck would be on our side. The area where the Fritillary occurs is comprised of three small areas of mixed age sweet chestnut coppice, with a classic underlay of violets and bugle. An initial slow walk through produced nothing. Further attempts still proved unproductive; but we weren't beaten - well not quite. As Nick walked along the edge of the clearing whilst I concentrated on the coppice, a single, freshly emerged male appeared in the grass at Nick's feet; this was followed shortly after by a second individual in slow flight amongst the coppice. It is my opinion that we had hit the site at exactly the time of the first emergence this season.

These were the only two Pearl-bordered Fritillaries we saw and it proved a fitting end to what has to be one of my most memorable days out looking for butterflies - perfect weather, perfect company and two of the rarest butterflies in Sussex.

Species seen:

Green-veined White
Small White
Brimstone
Orange-tip
Peacock
Dingy Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
Duke of Burgundy
Pearl-bordered Fritillary

[Nick Broomer]

Hi Mark,

great photos, and must rate as one of our best days out. Those P.B.F. were just brilliant, emerging half an hour after we arrived, what timing.

All the best, Nick.