Zonda

[Zonda]

Had a great morning at Collard hill. Both the wardens were brilliant, and Sarah the warden who does the blog, even held steady a piece of thyme with an egg on it for a photographer with a macro lens. 80% cloud cover was much better for photographers than on my previous trip there on Tuesday, as the butterflies were not as active. Some females were laying eggs and showing their upper wings for a few seconds.

[Vince Massimo]

Zonda,

I was there all morning as well, so we must have passed like ships in the night. Thinking back, I did see a chap with a white shirt who may have you. I was the bloke showing people the mating pair at around 11.30. It really was a cracking day out and I also had a good chat with Sarah, the warden, and thanked her for her blog.

Cheers,
Vince

[Zonda]

That wasn't me,,,,, look for a fat bloke in American dungarees. I had a good day Vince,,,, it was magic.

[Piers]

That wasn't me,,,,, look for a fat bloke in American dungarees. I had a good day Vince,,,, it was magic.

[Zonda]

What's he doing in my dungarees??? They do tend to make you look like a Jesse.

[Zonda]

Another LB from Collard hill on Thursday.



At Durlston this morning
Fresh Marbled Whites
Loads of Meadow browns
Small heath (a few)
Adonis are fewer now, although some are still in good knick.
Green Fritillary spotted in the gully recently, i didn't see it tho.

[Zonda]

Two from my Marbled White shoot at Abbotsbury beach road on Friday.

[Zonda]

At Kingcombe today there were hundreds of Meadow Browns, a few fresh Marbled Whites, and this GRD.

[Zonda]

Saw several SWFs at Kingcombe today. First two Gatekeepers of the season at Abbotbury.

[Zonda]

A really poor week spent largely indoors, with all the fine spells being taken up with other commitments. On certain days, strong winds, and grey skies stopped play. On the up-side, numbers of Small Tortoiseshells in the garden are rising, as the Marjoram comes into flower.

[Zonda]

Me, and my better half Sue had a walk around Kingcombe Meadows Dorset this morning. We saw SW Fritillary (4 or 5), Meadow brown (hundreds), a few Marbled whites, fresh Peacock and Red Admiral, Skippers (probably large), Gatekeepers, Common Darter DF, Beautiful Demoiselle (male and fem), and Golden-ringed DF, some damsel species??? Loads of large oak trees here, but no Purple Hairstreaks that i could see. I may have to specialise to get a sighting of any Hairstreak.

[Lee Hurrell]

That's a gorgeous Small Tort picture Zonda

Cheers

Lee

[Zonda]

Cheers Lee...

[Zonda]

Three different Hairstreaks at Alners Gorse this afternoon. Purple, White letter, and two early Browns. Still a lot of Silver WFs there, along with all the usual suspects. Made a note to try and get there early morning next time.

[Zonda]

Went back to Alners Gorse this very morning and shot pics of my first ever Brown Hairstreak, with a Purple HS thrown in. Great morning.



Unfortunately i couldn't procure a picture of the elusive White-letter HS. Along with the Green HS, these i fear are among my misses of the season. Well,,,, maybe next season eh? Love to get some upper wing shots of these species.

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Zonda,
Congratulations on your first Brown Hairstreak shot - I imagine you're enjoying a warm and fuzzy moment. With a BH image like that I think you can afford to wait for a good W-l H .
Neil

[Susie]

Beautiful bh photo Zonda! Love it

[Zonda]

Thankyou both,,, i was very pleased because this was the only one i saw on the day. Loads of PHs at Alners now, and i should imagine in about a fortnight it'll be crawling with BHs. Yes Neil i've got that warm fuzzy feeling still.

[thommo]

We live close to Alners Gorse. I saw your photo of the brown hairstreak and went to have a look in the evening. I didn't see one but saw 4 white letter hairstreaks and 4 purple hairstreaks. The white letters are always in the same stretch of hedge when I see them.Where was the brown hairstreak?

[Zonda]

Hya Thommo, the BH was in the approach lane, very close to where someone has stuck an electric fence spike. When i snapped its picture it was around four feet from the ground. I didn't see a WLH maybe the evening is the best time for those. Which stretch of hedge did you see them on?