essex buzzard

[millerd]

That's an absolute cracker of an Adonis Blue, Mark. Just perfect

Lydden is always worth a visit (until fairly recently I had a friend in Dover so could drop in), but for me Aston Rowant is much closer. I'd agree with your comments about AR - like other bits of downland it has been unusually overgrown this year so the bare ground where the SSS like to bask has been all but non-existent. The few I found this year were almost exclusively where the grass was shorter and their favourite scabious flowers had forced their way through. Chalkhill numbers were very low this year, but Adonis Blues seemed less so.

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

Great mating SSS shot, but your Adonis shot is something else!
I completely failed to find a second brood Adonis this year.

[Allan.W.]

That is a brilliant Silver-spot pic (in-cop) ! Essex ........been trying to find a pair for years ......but no joy ! my bogey picture....... and the male Adonis is none to shabby either !.............Good stuff !! my best moment at Lydden this year ,a superb male Wartbiter Cricket. Regards Allan.W.

[essexbuzzard]

I reckon it had emerged that day, Dave. I’ve seen thousands of AB over the years, and that one must be among the very best! I didn’t see Adonis Blues at AR this year, my visit was too early. But it’s good that you found some.

I’m surprised, Trevor, that you didn’t see any AB in August of early September, given the Sussex and Wiltshire sites on your radar. But I see you’ve had your fill with Walls, as well as a certain Castle- I guess you can’t do everything.

Hi Allan, I’ve never found a wartbiter, so you’re one up on me!

[Wurzel]

I'm with all the others Essex - that is a mighty fine Adonis, the mightiest of finest, it almost pings out of the screen

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Some great images there, Mark.

Nice memories of the later stages of the season.

[essexbuzzard]

September arrived, and with it came autumn. It was a very wet, dull month in England and Wales-by far the best of the weather was in Scotland and Ireland!

In between the deluges, the Commas emerged, though numbers were modest.

Speckled Woods reach peak numbers in late summer and early autumn. This delightful species is very common, of course, but it wasn’t always the case. In fact, it wasn’t really until the 1990’s that that it became widespread and common in this area.

[Wurzel]

That is a lovely looking Specklie Essex They do seem to be more prevalent in late Summer than in the spring

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

The Essex stronghold of the Wall is the Thames estuary, and there are a string of colonies from Canvey Island all the way to Tilbury. All these sites have a couple of things in common. They are all south facing, and all produce a reliable third generation of adults in September and early October. Inland sites have long since lost their Wall populations, but at these warm locations, the Walls continue to prosper.

[David M]

Good to know there are places in that part of the country where this species is still thriving, Mark.

Looks like they have broken through the 'development trap' if they're successfully having a third brood and the resulting early stages are able to overwinter normally.

[essexbuzzard]

Thank you David, they are doing very nicely! Indeed, the number of adults in the autumn generation is actually higher than anything I see during the summer. Long may it continue, for this is a lovely species.

[essexbuzzard]

Following Trevor’s excellent reporting from Herstmonceaux Castle in Sussex , I decided it was time to get piece of the action. So I headed down there last Friday. For once, the weather played ball, and even the traffic on the M25 was clear! It’s fair to say, I wasn’t disappointed...

As well as several Peacocks, there was plenty of other stuff down there! More of that to come...

[trevor]

Well done Mark ! Glad the trip was worthwhile and the weather and butterflies played ball.
If you visit again anytime pay particular attention to the wall either side of the steps up to
the sundial, it's south facing and there's plenty of verbena, a real butterfly magnet.

A for that lovely female Wall in your earlier post.

[Wurzel]

A cracking set of Walls Essex The female has got some lovely markings on the forewings; the triangles beneath the eyes The Peacock shots are none too shabby either

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Nice Peacocks, Mark. They've usually gone to sleep by September so finding them in October is a bonus.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Trevor. It’s because of your splendid reporting that I decided to go down there, so give yourself a pat on the back!

Thanks Wurzel. Although I saw decent numbers that afternoon, she was probably the best one.

Thanks David. Peacocks have long since tucked themselves in round my way, so I was surprised to see Trevor’s pictures, which can only be from a second generation.

As Trevor mentioned, near the wall there is plenty of verbena, and this is where I found this Painted Lady.

This Comma preferred the Michalmas daisies.

A Red Admiral also put in an appearance.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Painted Lady Essex - another butterfly that was in short supply this season although I saw plenty in the south of France in August Wonder why they didn't make it further in such numbers>

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

Hi Wurzel, I guess the poor weather in spring and summer, and the lack of southerly winds didn’t help. The weather improved in August, but perhaps it was too late by then.

Several Walls were at Hurstmonceaux. Not surprisingly for October, they were in varying stages of wear. Here are a couple of fairly good ones.

Two Small Coppers and a Common Blue were seen.

Two tattered Large Whites and a Small White were in the gardens. Here is the Small White.

And, lastly, the signs of autumn were beginning to appear.

[David M]

Lovely colour contrasts between butterflies and flowers, Mark. The Common Blue in particular is wonderful.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Wall shots Essex particularly the female
"The weather improved in August, but perhaps it was too late by then..." I think some might have flown in under the radar as I saw one last Thursday i it must have been hiding in the veg patch

Have a goodun

Wurzel