Katrina

[Katrina]

Thank you Neil, there were quite a lot round the Pavilion Gardens when I was looking for the Monarch.

[Katrina]

Today I went to Windover Hill in the middle of the day. I saw plenty of Chalkhill Blues on the walk up. There was a blustery wind and active butterflies which didn't make good conditions for photography. It was very good to meet Dave Potter for the first time who told me he had seen a Silver-spotted Skipper. I stayed and located another one. I then went onto the slope and found two forester moths and four or five Graylings including a mating pair. The last one I found seemed to have a heavy infestation of mites? Also seen were plenty of Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Dark Green Fritillaries, one of which brushed my shoulder on its flight past, skippers, a few Small Coppers and a single Marbled White and a single Red Admiral.

[Maximus]

Nice Grayling shots Katrina and great that you found the mating pair That last Grayling does have quite a few Trombidium breei mites attached, but I understand that they don't appear to cause any discernible problems to their host

[Katrina]

Thank you Maximus. I am relieved to know they don't cause harm as I felt a bit sorry for the last Grayling.

[Wurzel]

Lovely Graylings and Forresters Katrina, especially teh mating pair, something I've yet to see

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Willrow]

NiGood shots Katrina...and yeah! those mites look worse than they actually are...nice colour red though

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Katrina]

Yesterday I went for a shortish trip to Steyning Rifle Range. I intended to look for Brown Hairstreaks but was unconvnced they would be out yet and spent most of my time distracted by Wall Browns. I didn't see any Brownies but saw about 10 Wall Browns, 2 Commas, 3 Holly Blues and a lot of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.
This morning I did an early trip to Chantry Hill. There I found a lot of roosing Skippers, some Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and Ringets and a few Chalkhill Blues and Common Blues. There was some mist and sun. I think most of the butterflies I saw had some mites on them.
I then went to Pulborough Brooks. It is a while since I walked all the way round and I was pleased to see the increase in meadow type areas. I saw a large number of active Gatekeepers, some Meadow Browns, a Speckled Wood, a couple of Common Blues, one very fresh looking Painted Lady , many Cinnabar Caterpillars and when I was leaving 5 Peacocks on a Buddleia.

[Mark Colvin]

Hi Katrina,

Its not often that I post comments but your early morning view from Chantry Hill is just beautiful.

Good hunting.

Kindest regards. Mark

[Neil Hulme]

"Its not often that I post comments but your early morning view from Chantry Hill is just beautiful."

I couldn't agree more. An exceptional image of an exceptionally beautiful location - one of my favourite in the UK!

BWs, Neil

[Wurzel]

Stunning Skipper shot Katrina

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Katrina]

Thank you Mark, Neil and Wurzel. It is one of my favourite places too. Shame about the mite on the skipper.
This morning I went back to Chantry Hill but not early enough! I saw plenty of Chalk Hill Blues >100, 5 Silver-spotted Skippers, 5 Brown Argus, 3 old Dark Green Fritillaries, one Red Admiral, and lots of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns. The butterflies were too lively for good photographs but I did get a bad photo of an aberrant Chalk Hill Blue trying interrupt a pair.

[Pauline]

Some great shots recently Katrina especially the early morning ones and the Skippers. The Chalkhill ab. isn't bad either

[Katrina]

I went back to see if I could find the Aberrant Chalk Hil Blue again. I didn't find the same one but found another one

[David M]

Katrina, those look like two different individuals as far as the markings go?

[Goldie M]

Love your photos Katrina, Goldie

[Katrina]

Thank you Goldie.
Yes David different markings so a different butterfly from the morning (previous post) and afternoon. Also one normal one just because I liked it the photo

[Katrina]

On Friday 16th there were 6 Red Admirals at Greenbank Garden in Glasgow.

[Katrina]

Does the first one count as an ab bialbata? Read the description and it seemed to say in some places normal in females but not in England, photo taken in Scotland and I don't know what sex it is.

[MrSp0ck]

It looks like a form ab bialbata to me, but im sure others on here will know.

All things finished here in Croydon, only a male Brimstone today at Hutchinsons Bank.

[David M]

It looks like a form ab bialbata to me, but im sure others on here will know.

Bialbata it is, although the white spot seems much smaller than usual.

Hard to come to a decision regarding gender as the abdomen looks abnormally truncated.