Katrina

[Katrina]

Thanks for the ID confirmation Bugboy
Thanks Trevor, I nearly did go that day but had too much catching up to do.
Thanks Wurzel, it is good to branch out every now and again

[Katrina]

Bonus large skipper from Sunday

[Wurzel]

Cracking Large Skipper shot Katrina I love it when they have that pose, it makes the fore wings seem smaller than they are

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Thanks Wurzel. It was in the typical ready for take off pose. For some reason the colours remind me of cake

[Katrina]

I spent 90 mins at Ditchling Common this afternoon.
Light rain when I arrived but soon sunny spells.
2 Hairstreaks quickly seen, followed by another round the corner,
Difficult photography conditions as the hairstreaks were doing the lean at 45 degrees and there was a breeze.
Cute young long-tailed tits seen who may be innocent
Dragonfly definitely trying to catch the hairstreaks chasing them causing a lull in photography . I think it is a Southern Hawker but would be grateful if anyone could confirm or correct.
Also seen with a fresh Cinnabar moth and a few Small Tortoiseshells.

[essexbuzzard]

That looks good for a Southern Hawker to me, Katrina. I haven’t seen any yet, some well done. I think!

[trevor]

I share your frustration with the leaning Hairstreaks.
I was told of Small Torts near the car park, if I had seen one that would
have been the third one this year!

[Katrina]

Thank Essex for the ID help

There were 2 or 3 STs behind the car park but they disappeared pronto when the sun went in.

[Wurzel]

"the colours remind me of cake" I see what you mean, they look ready for icing Having missed out on Blackstreaks this year Id have been more than happy with that shot

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Thanks Wurzel. It was not the best pose but at least looked fresh

[Katrina]

This morning I went to Iping Common for the SSBs.
Lots of photos so will do 2 posts before and after bumping into Gary Norman
It was rather misty when I arrived and I was wondering what happened to the golden hour but interesting was reading about the blue hour when I came back and I think the 2 photos of deer I took show blue hour and golden hour.
I didn't see any butterflies for a couple of hours just deer and cows but then as it warmed up I found 6 male SSBs

[Katrina]

I was started to wander back to Stedham when I bumped into Gary Normal who kindly let me tag on with him.
He quickly found a female and we (mainly Gary) found many more butterflies. Thank you Gary!
In total I think 6 females and approx 14 maybe more males. We had a mating pair and interloper.
He also found a Bee Hawkmoth - is it broad -bordered?
I went home happy without the need to go to Stedham

[trevor]

Excellent shots of the SSB's Katrina, especially the open wing male.
Your deer shots suggest you were at Iping very early, worth the effort though!

[Maximus]

Great to see the SSB's are out, Katrina, nice shots of both the males and a lovely female

[Wurzel]

A cracking collection of Silver-studs Katrina I didn't know about the 'blue' hour before I tried to have a look at whether your 'murrf' was narrow or broad and I would veer towards Broad as it's the commoner of the two Still great to see

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Thanks Trevor as it turns out the early start didn't pay off me this time. In previous years as have found roosting SSBs covered in dew but this year didn't see any roosters and only found them when they woke up ) . As you have encouraged me with your kind comment i will bombard you with another open wing shot
Thanks Maximus, nice to see both out - it is a long way to go and saves me a trip back.
Thanks for the ID leaning on the bee hawkmoth I would like it it be broad as I have seen narrow but not broad. Again all Garys doing I would have been round Stedham Common and home and missed it.

[bugboy]

Lovely Silver-studs Katrina but I do highly recommend visiting Great Orme to see that particular subspecies, the females are quite stunning. You'll see many examples in my PD soon...ish. I would say that's a Broad Bordered Hawkmoth, for once the common name's is quite accurate and does actually help. On fresh individuals the pattern of the abdominal hairs is also diagnostic between the two but this one seems to have lost most of them.

[trevor]

Yes, that's worth another .

[Katrina]

Thanks Paul. I await your post with interest. Thanks for the ID too.
Thanks Trevor!

[Neil Freeman]

Some lovely Silver-studded Blues there Katrina

I would agree with the Bee Hawk-moth ID as Broad-bordered too. It may be the commoner of the two species but still a nice find, I have yet to see either

Cheers,

Neil.