David M

[David M]

Thanks, Pauline. Yes, their cute appearance rather belies their pugnacious personality.

[Goldie M]

Lovely shot of the Weasel David, I use to see them regularly when I took my Dog for a walk years ago, they look so cute but can be nasty. Goldie

[David M]

Wednesday 21st June – Elm plantation…

Holyland Wood is a nature reserve on the way into Pembroke and has a high concentration of elm trees.

After leaving St Govan’s Head I thought I’d take a look as White Letter Hairstreaks have been recorded at this location.

In the clearing at the entrance where the car park is, there is a large elm with smaller trees adjacent to it:

Sure enough, within just a couple of minutes I could see White Letter Hairstreaks flying around the canopy. Typically, their activity was confined to the upper branches of this tall tree, meaning that I had to rely on ‘shoot and hope’ with my camera. I was only able to capture them in flight:

This Ringlet was rather easier to approach:

I also saw only my second UK Large White of the year in the scrubby area near the information sign.

[David M]

Wednesday 12th July – Good timing…

The dreary morning gave way to sunny conditions in the afternoon, and although there was a fair wind blowing, I headed down to Nicholaston Burrows with Hedge Browns & Silver Washed Fritillaries in mind.

The Hedge Browns didn’t take long; there were plenty of them along the sheltered path which leads down to the dunes:

I only saw a handful of females though:

This female Large White was the first of this gender I’ve seen in the UK all year:

Always nice to bump into a Small Copper:

I got distracted in my pursuit of Silver Washed Fritillaries when I passed by this area:

There were a number of Purple Hairstreaks flying around an area where an ash tree bordered some oaks:

This female was sitting with wings open, but sadly it was above head height:

This one offered a part-open wing view but the angle was all wrong:

I spent a fair while watching them go about their business meaning that I didn’t get to see any Silver Washed Fritillaries in the wooded area a hundred yards or so further along.

However, there were plenty of other species flying, including Meadow Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Skipper, Holly Blue, Small White, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Marbled White and a Dark Green Fritillary.

[David M]

Lovely shot of the Weasel David, I use to see them regularly when I took my Dog for a walk years ago, they look so cute but can be nasty.

Yes, Goldie - small, cute...but deadly!

Monday 17th July – Purple Hairstreaks nectaring…

Having spent 3 days in Oakham due to the Birdfair event, it would have been silly not to drive to nearby Fermyn Wood on the morning of my departure.

I checked out of my rented property and arrived at around 8.15am, with not a soul about and the morning sun shining pleasantly.

One thing I became aware of almost immediately was that there were many Purple Hairstreaks at low level in amongst the myriad of Ringlets, Hedge Browns, Commas, et al. I have seen this behaviour once before at Savernake Forest a couple of years ago, but on that occasion it was a baking hot day and by 9am the Hairstreaks had all risen back up into the trees.

Not this time. The cooler and sometimes part cloudy weather led them to remain extremely visible and approachable until I left the site just prior to midday.

They were also nectaring on the bramble flowers, something which I’ve never seen this species do before. I can only assume that the intense rain of the previous three days (some of the marquees at Birdfair ended up part-waterlogged) had cleansed the leaves of the honeydew they usually favour, forcing a change in behaviour.

Whatever the reason, it was a unique delight to get so close to this species:

Another curious feature was that the epicentre of activity was on what looks to be a field maple tree. There were at least two dozen flying around and settling on this tree:

I also witnessed two individuals encountering one another on the same leaf. Rather than one (or both) flying off, a rather bizarre pushing contest developed, until one of the butterflies simply walked onto an adjacent leaf:

It was fascinating watching this behaviour, and it meant I stayed far longer than I was intending, only finally getting back home at around 4.30pm.

[trevor]

I think anyone who has made the effort to find Purple Hairstreaks this season
would have had success, especially those that came down low, or within camera range.
Some that I saw could be described as ' supermodels ', very obliging!
Great you captured both male and female.

[Padfield]

Purple hairstreaks have a surprisingly sweet tooth! Often we don’t notice, because they sup at honeydew on leaves - and maples supply lots of honeydew - but they are also partial to bramble blossom. I have noticed before that when butterflies are at a favourite source they can become very stubborn and sometimes fearless. Woodland browns will fly at the distant whir of an autofocus - unless they’re at a sap run!

Guy

[millerd]

They regularly come down low at Bookham, David, and as well as indulging in brambles more frequently they are on the grass drinking dew (or rain) from the leaves, or on various shrubs a couple of feet off the ground. They seem unbothered by human company and will settle right next to you, or fly past your nose in a silvery blur.

Cheers,

Dave

[Goldie M]

Fantastic Purple Hair Streaks David I looked for them at East Bean but no luck so far , it's great to see yours Goldie

[David M]

I think anyone who has made the effort to find Purple Hairstreaks this season would have had success, especially those that came down low, or within camera range. Some that I saw could be described as ' supermodels ', very obliging! Great you captured both male and female.

Thanks, Trevor. Good to know others have had the same experience this summer.

Purple hairstreaks have a surprisingly sweet tooth! Often we don’t notice, because they sup at honeydew on leaves - and maples supply lots of honeydew - but they are also partial to bramble blossom. I have noticed before that when butterflies are at a favourite source they can become very stubborn and sometimes fearless. Woodland browns will fly at the distant whir of an autofocus - unless they’re at a sap run!

Thanks, Guy. I’ve seen them dabbing at immature hawthorn berries before but this was the first time I’ve actually witnessed them nectaring….and lots of them were doing it, leading me to wonder if the previous three days’ heavy rain had influenced this.
They were all very docile too, just like White Letter and Brown Hairstreaks are. It was a real treat.

[Pauline]

You did a lot better than me with those lovely PH images David. I do however see them nectaring on bramble quite often at a site near Alton, usually early morning.

[David M]

Monday 17th July – Fermyn…

After three write-off days due to appalling wet weather, butterflies were clearly keen to get going again this morning, with serious numbers of Ringlets, Hedge Browns & Large Skippers on the bridle path within the first 50 yards.

Silver Washed Fritillaries were present in relatively low numbers. I saw around two dozen of these, with males only just outnumbering females:

Hedge Browns numbered into the hundreds, especially along this grassy ride:

Large Skippers were plentiful and I saw my first females of the year:

Ringlets were easily the commonest species (500+), with roughly a half century of Commas:

It was also nice to see quite a few Large Whites:

Green Veined Whites were around in the dozens, although Small Whites were no more than 10.

I had hoped there might be a few White Admirals. There were, but I only recorded 6, all of them being a little worn:

Red Admirals and Speckled Woods numbered between 20-30 each:

For once, Meadow Browns had to take a back seat, although many of them were posing with open wings:

5 Peacocks and 2 Brimstones were also seen:

I kept examining any golden skippers that settled but couldn’t magic any into an Essex unfortunately.

A solitary Holly Blue was the other species seen.

[David M]

Wednesday 19th July – Finally – Painted Lady…

A random chat with my neighbour saw her mention that she’d had a Painted Lady on her buddleia earlier in the day.

I duly popped round in the afternoon and there it was:

I’ve never gone until late July in the UK without seeing one of these, although spending so much time abroad obviously diminishes my opportunities.

It was nice as well to see a Small Tortoiseshell on the same buddleia:

[David M]

They regularly come down low at Bookham, David, and as well as indulging in brambles more frequently they are on the grass drinking dew (or rain) from the leaves, or on various shrubs a couple of feet off the ground. They seem unbothered by human company and will settle right next to you, or fly past your nose in a silvery blur.

Perhaps it's the same as with White Letter and Brown Hairstreaks, Dave, which seem to descend far more regularly in your part of the country than they do in mine. As you say, these Hairstreaks are relatively unperturbed by close human interaction, which is an additional bonus once they have come down to head level or below.

Friday 21st July – Two at once…

Nice surprise today. Having seen precious few Large Whites in the UK this year, I had the pleasure of watching two fresh females on the verbena in my garden:

All of a sudden at this late stage in July, general butterfly numbers are starting to rise significantly. The buddleias on the estate are attracting plenty right now and with any luck, these verbenas will do likewise.

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, I've planted Verbenas in the Garden but the Butterflies are still going for the Buddleias Lovely shots of them on your Verbenas Goldie

[David M]

You did a lot better than me with those lovely PH images David. I do however see them nectaring on bramble quite often at a site near Alton, usually early morning.

Thanks, Pauline. Seems most people have seen them on bramble flowers. I'm pleased to be able now to add myself to that group.

Fantastic Purple Hair Streaks David I looked for them at East Bean but no luck so far , it's great to see yours

Thanks, Goldie. I usually have 'no luck' with this species too.

[David M]

Sunday 23rd July – Into Gloucestershire…

With the weather starting to become a little unpredictable, I decided to take advantage of the forecast sunny conditions for the Stroud area and head over to Swellshill Bank to look for Chalkhill Blues.

I had no trouble finding them, although in amongst the several dozen males there was only one female:

In spite of plenty of recent wet weather, the site had that yellowish, late summer look to it:

There were still a few Marbled Whites hanging on. I saw six in total:

Both Meadow and Hedge Browns were plentiful, as were Small Blues and Brown Argus:

I took images of several golden skippers, but only this one turned out to be Essex:

Other species seen were Large & Small White, Dark Green Fritillary, Comma, Red Admiral and Peacock.

[David M]

Hi! David, I've planted Verbenas in the Garden but the Butterflies are still going for the Buddleias Lovely shots of them on your Verbenas

Thanks, Goldie. Butterflies tend to favour buddleia but the verbena will be in flower until November and will be popular with late Red Admirals (and others).

Tuesday 25th July – Wall Brown…

Wall Browns have frustrated me in springtime in other years, but never before have I had to await the appearance of the summer brood to notch up my first UK sighting.

Having read reports of them being on the wing in various places further east, I fancied I might get lucky and find a handful at Rhossili Head on the SW Gower coast.

There were more than a handful – roughly 30 were seen, mainly in the wild flower meadows which have been created here this year:

It’s always a pleasure to see their playful, skipping flight which clearly stands out amongst all the other butterflies.

[Pauline]

Very envious of your Wall Brown images David - a species I find particularly attractive but rarely see

[David M]

Thanks, Pauline. They seem to be getting harder to find round my way, especially in spring.