Andy Brown

Post by **Vince Massimo** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:45 pm

Thanks John, I am now starting to doubt myself. Looking at the image again, I think I was misled by the shape (which is broad at one end) and thus mistook it for a newly emerged pupa. Having said that, it's not the normal shape for a larva either, so I have to assume that this is the form a larva takes when it stops feeding and prepares to hibernate.

Vince

FISHiEE · Post by **FISHiEE** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 3:13 pm

I did wonder

I had to take a second look myself the first time I saw that one!

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 2:00 pm

Happy new year everyone and lets hope the weather helps the insects this year.

Just updated my moth blog with the summary of 2016 catch for those interested in moths and the first moth for 2017 info can be found at:

https://hortonheathmoths.wordpress.com/

BW

Andy

FISHiEE · Post by **FISHiEE** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 2:19 pm

Happy new year to you too Andy! Hope your eye is recovering. The owls have been on form lately. Kestrels too!!

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 12:23 pm

I went out on Sunday with Pauline to find some Purple Hairstreak Ovum, whilst it took longer than we thought we did find 4 or 5 individuals. I have loaded image un-cropped then cropped so those of you not accustomed to this side of butterfly images can get an idea of the size.

Cheers

Andy

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:09 pm

Your shots came out good A despite all your grumbling about the wind

Think we should make it clear that these shots of the eggs were taken whilst they were on the tree thanks to the stunted nature of the Oaks at Browndown. Reckon I'll get round to posting mine about July

David M · Post by **David M** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:18 pm

Stunning images, Andy, and I truly admire your patience in looking for these ova. They're far harder to find than those of the Brown Hairstreak.

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:56 am

Thanks for your comments Pauline and David,

Here are a few snaps from my travels over the last couple of weeks,

Green Tiger Beetle and Adder

: Large Red Damselfly - Pyrrhosoma nymphula

: Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines - Fresh Ovum 1

: Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines - Fresh Ovum 1 cropped

: Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines - Ovum

: Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines

: Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas

: Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas

: Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria

Cheers

Andy

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:09 am

Great set of shots Andy especially the second Adder one

I almost trod on one last weekend

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:06 am

Hi! Andy great shot of the Adder, I've never seen one , hope I don't trip over one this Summer

Goldie

David M · Post by **David M** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:41 am

Whilst my main reason for being a UKB member is butterflies, what I also like is to see images of other wildlife and those adder shots are extremely welcome, Andy. I happen upon these creatures several times every year and I become more fascinated every time I see them.

Many thanks for sharing.

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Tue May 02, 2017 1:59 pm

Thanks, Wurzel, Goldie & David,

As most of you who know my work I have not been on here as much and am more into the Moths and their recording but always take an interest in general nature I will always be just as keen with the butterflies so here is the first post a series of general stuff including the moths and butterflies, just conscious now of the space/server issues as well that Pete is so kindly trying to address.

So for the mothers fist here is a recent selection

72.022 [BF 2063] Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)

16.024 [BF 0445] Ocnerostoma friesei

15.063 [BF 0341] Phyllonorycter maestingella

28.019 [BF 0649] Esperia sulphurella

Parornix species, this would need dissecting to establish the exact species which I am only just getting into

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Wed May 03, 2017 7:08 am

Morning all,

And here is the best of the rest!
Mandarin Ducks, Sand Lizards with a few Pearls for good measure

Male Sand Lizard with common lizard

Male & Female sand lizard

And the rather aggressive courtship behaviour of the male

and last but not least the pearls

sonomoha · Post by **sonomoha** » Wed May 03, 2017 8:33 am

wonderful shot for the Pearl.
whereabouts do you see these ?

cheers.

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Thu May 04, 2017 9:11 am

Thanks for the comment sonomoha, unfortunately the site for the pearls is a bit sensitive at the moment, its not near Bristol though.

Regards

Andy

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Thu May 04, 2017 9:02 pm

Great set of shots from the Lizards through to Mandarin all topped off with some cracking Pearls Andy

Have a goodun

Wurzel

David M · Post by **David M** » Fri May 05, 2017 11:30 am

I can't quite decide which is more beautiful - the lizard or the Pearl Bordered Fritillary.

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Fri May 05, 2017 11:31 am

I love the Pearls Andy, Goldie

andy brown · Post by **andy brown** » Tue May 09, 2017 1:43 pm

Thanks you all for your comments on the recent batch of photos.

Decided on Magdalene Hill this morning as I had not been there for a year of 2, silly really as its only 20 minutes away. Anyway I Walked a full circuit of the site from about 8:30 so very Cool wind and variable amount of sun I found a couple of larvae early on with the odd day flying moth & Butterfly, it wasn’t until I go around to the large patch of Hedge Mustard that I noticed any qty of Butterflies. Below are a few snaps in rough order of finding them from the trip, sorry for quality of some as it was breezy.

Butterfly Count from around the site:
Small Blue - 4
Common Blue - 1
Dingy Skipper - 2
Grizzled Skipper - 6+
Orange Tip - 3 (Male)
Large White - 1
Small White - 1
Green Hairstreak - 10+
Brown Argus - 6+
Peacock - 1
Red Admiral - 1
Small Heath - 1

72.012 [BF 2029] Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)