Neil Hulme

[David M]

Thanks, Neil.

Info duly transferred to memory bank.

[Neil Hulme]

Dragons And Loopers

This morning (5th June) I started off at the northern end of Rewell Wood. Butterfly interest was limited, but I was delighted to see a Club-tailed Dragonfly munching flies.

I then met up with BC SE Regional Officer Dr Dan Hoare to look at a site where a South Downs National Park ranger believes he saw a Duke of Burgundy a few weeks back. Having looked at the habitat, I suspect he did. It's late in the season for Dukes now, so it came as no surprise when we failed to find any, but I'll be back to look again in early May next year.

We later headed to Heyshott Escarpment, where we counted 15 Dukes on the way to the summit. However, it was the wooded dip slope of Charlton Forest that we had really come to look at. We didn't find any of the undiscovered colonies of Pearl-bordered Fritillary or Duke of Burgundy we had hoped for, but we did chalk up an amazing tally of 31 Drab Looper moths, and as all Drab Looper fanatics know, that's a lot!

[Neil Hulme]

Farewell To The Duke

Yesterday (8th June) I performed my final 2013 count of Sussex Duke of Burgundy. For the ninth season in succession I have spent a great many hours surveying, monitoring and studying this species and, as in previous years, I would like to think that I have learned a little more about it. With 417 sightings logged, I'm pleased to report that on all Sussex sites His Grace survived the worst that the British weather could throw at him in 2012. Perhaps the best news of all is that the sun has shone brightly for more than two weeks, allowing the females an almost uninterrupted opportunity to lay eggs. 2014 could be a good year for the Duke.

[essexbuzzard]

I so hope so,i sadly failed to catch up with the Duke this year,but good weather at the end of the season,when females are laying,will hopefully benefit this species.
Cheers!

[Neil Hulme]

Evening Argus

I've been mightily impressed to see the way in which the Green Hairstreak has made such a spectacular comeback this season, following a pitiful showing in 2012. It seems that the Brown Argus and Common Blue are set to do the same, at least in Sussex. This evening I set off for Chantry Hill near Storrington, in the hope of finding some photogenic Brown Argus. It seems like a long time ago, far too long, that I last found large communal roosts of blues. As the sun finally dropped below the crest of the Downs I scrambled down a steep sided coombe to find both Brown Argus and Common Blue in abundance, alongside a few Small Copper, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, all peacefully at roost. On such a beautiful, warm evening, without anyone else around or any man-made noise, I was soon as relaxed as they were. Even after putting the camera away I lingered for another hour.

[Maximus]

Hi Neil, stunning Brown Argus, I know what you mean about the peace away from any man made noise, we had just that in Scotland recently, good for the soul.
Regards, Mike

[Jack Harrison]

Peace and quiet! We went up a local hill in Scotland last night for the sunset at 2215 hours..



(Sorry Neil to use your diary but there is a little theme here of remoteness and peace)

Jack

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks Mike (Maximus). For a 'Little Brown Job' the Brown Argus is really rather spectacular, particularly if you catch it in the right light. No wonder it's Patrick Barkham's favourite.

Jack: No problem with you posting images like that in my diary - a beautiful, atmospheric shot.

BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

Roadside Blues

While on the way to our Park Corner Heath & Rowland Wood Reserves on Sunday afternoon (9th June), I took the opportunity to visit the very convenient colony of Adonis Blue situated on a steep cutting beside the A27, a mile or so west of Lewes. This site was discovered a few years back by Michael Blencowe and Crispin Holloway and it's the most accessible Adonis population I know of! Only a few metres from the spacious layby, just to the west of the Jet garage, the butterflies can be viewed from the comfort of the pavement. Hardly a tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but certainly worth a visit for anyone with mobility issues who finds it difficult getting out into the countryside.

[Pauline]

Neil, your Brown Argus is lovely, another species I have yet to see. I have been awaiting reports from the Sussex group on the state of Glanvilles on IOW. Did the trip go ahead and were many seen - or have I got the wrong date My favourite tho is the Common Blues in 'Guy's style' as the background really adds that little bit extra.

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks Pauline. Yes, I was thinking of Guy when I took the Padfieldesque 'butterflies in a landscape' shot!

Although I didn't go, the BC Sussex trip to IOW was apparently a great success. Half a dozen at Wheelers Bay and a couple of dozen at Compton Bay. Like everything else this year, they're slow off the mark.

BWs, Neil

[Padfield]

Yes, I was thinking of Guy when I took the Padfieldesque 'butterflies in a landscape' shot!

I appreciate the little nod in my direction, Kipper! That particular picture gave me a 'wish I were there' feeling ...

Guy

[Pauline]

Thanks for that update Neil. Half a dozen at Wheelers Bay sounds good to me . Might have to have a trip over there

[David M]

They're now out at Sand Point in Somerset, Pauline. First was seen on 6th June.

[Matsukaze]

Brown Argus and Common Blue seem to be making a comeback in Somerset, as well. I've already seen more than I did in 2012. Small Copper hasn't recovered in the same way - I've yet to see any.

[Neil Hulme]

Moths And Mysteries

Today (10th June) I visited the Graffham Down Reserve with Michael Blencowe of BC Sussex and Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT), to give habitat management advice to the Graffham Down Trust. The local volunteers do a marvellous job of looking after this beautiful stretch of downland, but once in a while it's a good idea to review the way things are done. During our tour Michael spotted this pristine male Privet Hawkmoth resting against a fence post. It's a real treat to see one of these leviathans in a more natural setting than a moth-trap!

After our meeting we headed to Graffham Common, recently acquired as a reserve by SWT. Michael was 'on a roll' and quickly spotted this batch of Emperor Moth larvae, caught in the act of hatching from an egg cluster.

However, the reason for our visit was to examine an intriguing crime scene. On Saturday (8th June) SWT ecologist Graeme Lyons made an outrageous discovery here, while performing a botanical survey. 2.5 miles from Heyshott Escarpment, where I recently spotted a couple of Pearl-bordered Fritillary, and a much greater distance from any known PBF colony, in a recently cleared conifer plantation with no violets, he discovered a female PBF being consumed by a Round-leaved Sundew!!! More detail and images can be found on Graeme's excellent blog at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsus ... pot.co.uk/ . So now we know for sure - Pearl-bordered Fritillary is definitely wandering long distances through the Sussex landscape, many miles from established/known colonies. It is probably time to reassess our ideas on dispersal distance in this species. Perhaps it should come as no surprise, as we know for certain that male Chalkhill Blues can cover up to 18 miles in a matter of days. This is going to upset the conspiracy theorists!

[Paul Harfield]

Roadside Blues

While on the way to our Park Corner Heath & Rowland Wood Reserves on Sunday afternoon (9th June), I took the opportunity to visit the very convenient colony of Adonis Blue situated on a steep cutting beside the A27, a mile or so west of Lewes. This site was discovered a few years back by Michael Blencowe and Crispin Holloway and it's the most accessible Adonis population I know of! Only a few metres from the spacious layby, just to the west of the Jet garage, the butterflies can be viewed from the comfort of the pavement. Hardly a tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but certainly worth a visit for anyone with mobility issues who finds it difficult getting out into the countryside.

UKB Adonis female 1 A27 Lewes 9.6.13.jpg

Hi Neil
I regularly pass this spot, I also have yet to see Adonis Blues Next time I am passing (hopefully soon) I shall certainly stop for a prolonged driving break

[Neil Hulme]

Old Soldier

Later this afternoon (10th June) I stopped off at Springhead Hill, primarily to see how the Small Blue is faring. Numbers are much better than last year and females are still emerging, with two mating pairs seen.

What did surprise me, particularly so late in the day, was this geriatric male Duke, still taking on anything that crossed its airspace. The same individual was photographed a week ago, already looking bleached and well past its sell-by date. I'm pretty sure this is the same male I first saw eleven days prior to that, making it at least 2.5 weeks old. Good effort!

[NickB]

Yes - it is nice to have some idea of their life-span, especially with territorial males that you recognise in your local patch.
I once noted a large and brutish male CB that bullied anything that came near him for nearly 3 weeks; I called him Arnie
It brings things onto a much more personal level - he's your friend!
(I remain hopeful to see you around the end of June - in a Northamptonshire wood, perhaps?)
Love the posts

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks Nick. I suspect that Graeme's PBF in a Sundew will be the most bizarre butterfly record of the year! It's also important in that it tells us a very interesting story.
See you in the secret wood.
BWs, Neil