Hoggers

[Maximus]

That's a nice ab.extensa in your last shot, Hoggers

[Hoggers]

Hi Maximus, I'm lucky enough to see varying degrees of extensa Coppers quite often at Dungeness, they are very eye catching.

Hi David, being of a hopeful disposition and what with the outstanding weather we've been having of late, I'd have put money on there being a fourth brood this year. Unfortunately I didn't see any sign of one today.

Although it was windy at Dungeness this morning it was very warm indeed (my car dashboard read 21C) and with long clear spells too we had very strong sunshine. I saw two fresh male Common Blues and a Meadow Brown, but of Coppers I found only third brood individuals

This one has taken a bashing!

I watched this worn male perform the "stalk dance"

Given how tired he looked (he must be getting towards the end of his life) and how sources of nectar are greatly diminished, it's remarkable how nevertheless doing the "stalk dance" is still an important duty for him to carry out.

So tired are some of the Coppers that, I regret to say, young Pip was seen to chase one then leap up and catch it..!
Clearly he still has a long way to go in his training..

We walked to the lake so he could cool off

Later, his transgression was forgiven when he found this handsome male for me, holding a territory near the Observatory

The second pale fore-winged Copper I've seen recently (the first, a female, Pip didn't eat but he managed to knock flying..! )

So it was nice to spend some time with this one without it being terrorised by a hyperactive Springer pup. Of all the Coppers I saw today this one was in the best condition

We saw 14 Coppers today. Fingers crossed the weather stays fair for a time yet and gives us a chance of seeing a healthy fourth brood before the season is over.

[David M]

We saw 14 Coppers today. Fingers crossed the weather stays fair for a time yet and gives us a chance of seeing a healthy fourth brood before the season is over.

There doesn’t look to be anything threatening on the horizon, Hoggers, so hopefully there WILL indeed be an additional brood of Coppers before the cold weather sets in!

[Hoggers]

Hi David, they've made a better job forecasting the weather than I have of predicting a fourth brood of Coppers!

We/ve had generally fine sunny days of late with today being the absolute best of them : It was gorgeous at Dungeness this morning, bright sunshine, about 16C and not a puff of wind.

Unfortunately I could find only 3 Small Coppers

all were third brood

and included the chap I found last Saturday, still in exactly the same place in the moat by the Obs Valerian

His pale fore-wing makes him instantly recognisable. As anyone who visits the moat will know, this part is favoured by Coppers as it's a sun trap with plenty of flowers. So he has picked a good spot for his territory.

No sign then of a fourth brood and I can't help thinking the Coppers are nearly over for this year.

Still, Dungeness is a marvellous place to visit and I know someone who'll want to keep going back, Coppers or no Coppers!

All the best,

Hoggers

[Allan.W.]

Hello Hoggers ,
Had lunch at the Brittannia early afternoon ,couldn,t resist a quick look along the power station fence ,and just up from the first bungalow on the right (the one with the sheep !) I saw one fresh 4th brood Copper ,but very little else ,although a Speckled Wood along the front (sea ) wall was unusual and a single Clouded Yellow ,I was at Dungeness ,late afternoon yesterday as well ,some worn Common Blues ,3 Red Admirals ,another Speckled Wood and a Peacock ……… but no Coppers !
PS; Forgot ,a single Painted Lady Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

Hi David, they've made a better job forecasting the weather than I have of predicting a fourth brood of Coppers!

Well, Hoggers, they've a week to live up to your expectations because by next Saturday we'll have northerly winds and 9c temperatures....and I'm sure new broods of Small Copper won't want to be emerging in that!!

[Hoggers]

Hi Allan and David, I looked at the Dungeness Observatory website this morning and most tantalisingly the report for yesterday was "very fresh Small Coppers were seen " !

So maybe my prediction wasn't as bad as I thought!

But as you say David, the Coppers better get on with business because it's turning chillier!

Hoggers

[David M]

I hope reports of fresh specimens are true, Hoggers, as I fear things are closing in and there will be an abrupt end to this feast within the next few days!

[Hoggers]

Hello again !

My 2019 Small Copper season began today with three at Dungeness.

I hadn't expected to see any because it was rather cold and dull when I set out this morning, so I didn't take my camera, but by the time I'd got there it was sunny enough to get the Coppers going despite a chilly breeze.

I managed to take a quick snap of one using my mobile phone

I bumped into one of the reserve wardens a fortnight ago and he said the odd one or two Coppers had been seen mid-March.

Great to see them again and a good start to the season!

Best wishes

Hoggers

[Allan.W.]

Well done Hoggers (and welcome back !) we were at Dungeness as well ,late morning ,but must admit ,didn,t even attempt to look for any Coppers ……...too blooming cold !!
there for the plants this time . I spoke to Dave Walker ,and he never mentioned any Coppers yet . see you there sometime . !
Regards Allan.W.

[Wurzel]

Welcome back Hoggers A great start to the season that I don't think I've seen one that is so orange looking

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

Glad to see the Copper season has begun at Dungeness, as is fitting of course...

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

Good to see you back, Hoggers, along with the first of what I'm sure will be many Small Coppers at Dungeness.

[Hoggers]

The first brood of Small Coppers is well and truly out at Dungeness

I had the distinct feeling they were emerging around me

Certainly, they were getting straight down to business

(And I was lucky enough to later find a second mating pair out on the shingle.)

It is so good to see them again

And good to see AllanW down there too after the long Winter hibernation

I counted 42 Coppers

My Odd Copper of the Day was this chap

I've never seen one like him before

Gorgeous weather, butterflying in T-shirt and Sun Hat and fresh Small Coppers everywhere -

It doesn't get any better!

Best wishes

Hoggers

[Allan.W.]

Hello again Hoggers ,
Good to catch up again at Dungeness, I have done a short report ,but somehow managed to put it on David M's Diary ! trying to get it moved.
As I said we managed 43 Small Coppers ,some absolute beauties including one blue spot . Must say I,ve not seen a Copper marked quite like that one either ..……...nice find !
Later on the RSPB Reserve ,we found 8 which included a stunning female "Radiata" ,was hoping it was going to be a male (with a chance
that it may have a territory ) but no such luck ! and we lost it ,and no pics !! Regards Allan.W.

[Hoggers]

AllanW wrote

I have done a short report but somehow managed to put it on DavidM's diary!

Allan, you didn't stop off at "The Pilot" to celebrate your radiata by any chance, did you?

Hoggers

[ernie f]

Hoggers

I have only see one Small Copper so far this year and considered myself lucky when I did! And there you are with 43, a mating pair and a Radiata. Wow!

But of course thats a typical Coppering day for you I suppose.

[Wurzel]

Like Ernie I've only had one Small Copper so 42 Your odd one for the day is really odd diagonally asymmetric isn't something that I've seen before - I've seen butterflies with a smaller or larger fore wing but generally only one wing is affected but that is really unusual

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

43 Small Coppers! What a joy. I can't imagine seeing that many. I dread to think how high numbers will get by midweek with this balmy weather.

Could you hit three figures before April is out, Hoggers?

[Hoggers]

There was a real mix of weather at Dungeness today : One minute it was dull and chilly, then the next it was very warm and sunny.

I had left Pip, my irrepressible Springer Spaniel, at home with his mum and so I could concentrate on Small Coppers rather than trying to keep track of him!

And Coppers there were a-plenty

I counted 211 in all

I also saw my first Brown Argus

And came across a handsome beetle that I think maybe another Hister quadrimaculata

It's great to see such a healthy and thriving first brood of Coppers