Bugboys mission

[bugboy]

Thanks for all the comments, it wasn't the first time this year I'd left Worthing with a big, satisfied smile on my face, nor the last !


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October 2022

Monday 10th. Days were growing shorter but there had yet to have been a prolonged break in the weather, and since that little patch of shingle in Worthing had been so good to me, it was hard to resist another trip down there. Once again Clouded Yellows became the main target, and once again a helice became the main target amongst them. I also bumped into Claire, the lady whose house backs onto this strip of Worthing seafront and who’s interest in butterflies seems to have been reignited by all the recent activity on her doorstep. All the activity hadn’t gone unnoticed by other residents either, unsurprisingly since at the peak of LTB activity there could be as many as a dozen or more people with varying sized cameras clustered in this short patch of innocuous looking shingle. In the early days we were regularly asked what we were looking for, now the most common question asked by passers-by was along the lines of “have you found that rare Blue?”

Claire and I set about trying for some more helice uppersides, more difficult this time as she wasn’t discovered by a male whilst at rest, so it came down to more pot luck. I’m not sure if Claire managed anything but my one and only bit of luck came when she’d popped in for a cup of tea and left me to get this shot of the helice.

Looking through the list of abs. there seems to actually be many named ones within the helice form, of which the ones I’ve photographed fit most closely with ab. alba. According to that, true standard form helice is a pale cream, the alba variant within the form is pure white. As always, the further you dip your toe into the aberration malarky, the more of a minefield of speculation and subjective opinion it becomes. For example, helice Cloudies are classed as a form whereas Small Coppers with blue spots are an abberation... I'm fairly sure the ratio of caeruleopunctata amongst SC is higher than helice amongst Cloudies?

It was actually near perfect Cloudie hunting weather and time of day. With the low October sun both keeping a lid on the temperature and encouraging them to bed early, they were very easy to get close to.

So, with that one last hurrah my end of season extravaganza ended. They weren’t my last butterflies seen but from now it becomes the more usual hangers on that we see at this time of year, not that I'm complaining, I've had a superb season (55 species) and butterflies into October were never a thing when I was a kid.

Ps. Claire, I know you read some of the diaries on here so I think you should start your own next year so you can keep us all posted on the activity going on on your doorstep. We'd all be very interested to know when the first Cloudies and LTB's show up !

[millerd]

Brilliant, Paul. That helice female looks very new - apart from the fact that it's a terrific upperside view in the first place...

As you know, I am also very sceptical on the subject of aberration vs form vs variation. Common Blue females, for example...

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

A for the ' open wing ' helice, a sight we seldom get to see.
I saw three helice on my visits to Worthing, two white, and the cream variant you mention.

Great stuff!
Trevor.

[Neil Freeman]

Some great stuff in your recent reports bugboy although I must admit I am more than a little jealous of all those LtB and QoS shots, not forgetting all those Clouded Yellow and helice open wing shots.
Some fascintaing stuff going on down in the south-east this year.

Cheers,

Neil.

[bugboy]

Thanks Dave, another lucky shot .
Thanks Trevor, by my count I saw around half a dozen helice during my visits and I’m quite sure there would have been more on the days I wasn’t there. God knows how long they’d been stopping off there before the site was ‘discovered’!
Thanks Neil, it’s been a very interesting autumn down here. It really does make you wonder what’s next!

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October 2022

Tuesday 11th. Now the festivities down Worthing way had finally peaked it was time to come back down to earth for more normal October fair. This was to be found at Newhaven. A walk through the Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve gave me just a couple of Small White. Moving onto Tidemills it started off equally as quiet, but I did have the surprise appearance of a Small Heath and a little later a couple of Common Blue.

As is often the way at Tidemills, certainly at times when other species aren’t around, White butterflies dominated and as always, I took great care to investigate as many as I could. Most were very much typical rapae but one male did catch my eye as he fluttered past. Even in flight the black wingtips looked rather extensive and as luck would have it he decided to have a god feed right in front of me giving me plenty of time to get as many angles as I could. Long story short, turns out he was just a heavily marked rapae but one day I’m sure I’ll get a mannii.

In the same area a couple of male Walls were in near constant combat, I managed just the one shot as one took a short pit stop before continuing the lifelong feud.

My next stop was the fort who’s southwest facing brick walls have attracted many a late season Red Admiral and Comma in past years. Not this year, just a few Speckled Wood were enjoying the afternoon sun.

Once again there were several Whites, none of whom came close, but I did manage to chase down a Cloudie who stopped to catch a few rays, although the shots obtained aren’t anything to write home about after my previous experiences with the species. Six species in October though, and not a single adult over winterer amongst them!

A few birds caught my eye over the course of the day. A solitary Curlew was doing a few flypasts over Tidemills, a Little Egret was hanging out in the estuary hoping lunch might leap into his mouth, and a Redstart was loitering around the fort, presumably just plucking up the courage to make the leap to cross the channel. It could well be a youngster, I’m not sure if it’s the same with these, but Swallows and Martins leave the youngsters to make their own way to Africa, leaving a month or two before.

[Wurzel]

Great reports Bugboy Absolutely cracking Helice shot Bugboy - the stand out shot for sure and worthy of its own set of

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I can see why you pursued that Small White, Paul. Those apical markings are remarkably strong.

[bugboy]

Thanks Wurzel, I think its fair to say I’ve had a good season with that particular species!
Thanks David, I must admit, my heart rate did increase a tad when I was taking the pictures.


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October 2022

Saturday 15th. Two Tree Island near leigh-on-sea is often a good place to go for end of season butterflies, the Ivy here helpfully flowering particularly late, so late I was actually a little early, most of it was still just in bud today. I’d also noticed that the usual build-up of Red Admirals didn’t seem to be happening this year, probably the summer heat wave did for a lot of them, the nettles certainly took a beating!

The distinct lack of butterflies was offset by plenty of birdlife, the first of the wintering waders had arrived, Wigeon, Dunlin, Knot and Black-tailed Godwit were all around in notable numbers:

Wigeon

Mostly Dunlin, some Knot and a rogue Black-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit

mixing it in with some of our residents, Avocet, Redshank, Little Egret, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing and various Gulls.

Little Egret

Avocet

Common Gull

Black-headed Gull

Curlew

Oysetrcatcher

Dunlin & Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Lapwing

It was looking like it was going to be my first butterflyless outing since March, but a solitary Speckled Wood flyby saved the day followed by a splendid Red Admiral, fresh as a daisy.

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of birding shots Bugboy And it was very decent of that Red Admiral to put in an appearance

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Impressive bird images again, Paul, especially the curlew in flight and the avocets.

Nice bialbata to round things off as well.

[bugboy]

Thanks guys, it's that time of year when you’re happy with just one butterfly again, the seasons really do just fly by!

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October 2022

Sunday 16th. Somewhere new again today, Cissbury Ring. Another place I’d seen mentioned numerous times but never got round to exploring. Being October I wasn’t expecting huge amounts but as long as the sun showed up, I hoped something would be around. It’s a bit of a trek up but much of it is along footpaths next to and between hedgerows. Unfortunately, the clouds were rather stubborn and for the first hour all I managed was a Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood which was spooked by some dog walkers before I got close.

Finally making it up to the hillfort I was somewhat surprised to find a female Wall flitting weakly around in the gloomy conditions. Even so, in typical Wall fashion, she was completely unapproachable and still managed to give me the slip. A Cloudie also appeared and disappeared without so much as a by-your-leave.

Whilst waiting for some proper sun a small flock of juvenile House Martins and Swallows entertained me. Their parents have long since departed and are probably the other side of the Sahara now, leaving their children to rely on instinct to know what to do!

House Martins

Swallow top, House Martin bottom, Linnet lurking in the background

Sometime later a few chinks of blue sky finally brought out another butterfly, this time I managed to pin him down.

However, that was the last I saw of the sun and as the afternoon progressed the cloud slowly thickened, and I spent most my remaining time on the hillfort birding. Nothing unusual but a nice charm of Goldfinch provided a few action shots.

Yellowhammer & Meadow Pipit

The walk back down did provide a few more butterflies, all Red Admirals who didn’t seem to be so put off by the gloom, although I’m quite sure many more would have been about had it been sunny.

An exploratory detour down a sidepath nabbed me my first Redwing of the winter, more heard than seen, and a few Goldcrest were flitting around nearby.

If the weather improved it might be worth another visit before the season finally ends.

[bugboy]

October 2022

Tuesday 18th. I returned to Cissbury ring sooner than expected, two days later in fact and with significantly more sun, I wracked up a good few species. As I expected, the paths up to the hillfort were now peppered with Speckled Wood.

A female Small White was flitting around the paths under the hill and close to where I’d seen the male Wall two days ago, another, somewhat more worn specimen was busy feeding. It was rather breezy up here though and little else was seen beside a brimstone and a Silver Y.

With the aim of looking for a bit of shelter from the wind I moved to the cow field to the south with a steep south facing slope. Here a tatty Clouded Yellow was doing the rounds, a trio of Small Copper were feeding and looking to lay eggs and a Brown Argus was picking fights with any flying insect that came near.

The walk back into Worthing took a lot longer than last time for two reasons: I went exploring along some side paths and there were now lots of Red Admirals joining the Speckled Wood, many of whom were pristine.

Eight species in one day in October, non-too shabby.

[millerd]

A very good return for a mid-October day, Paul, including several I haven't seen at all since before the month started! Looking back, I love the Goldcrest on the Yew: it reminds me of a piece of embroidery my mother did when I was just a small boy, which featured the same subject. Are Goldcrests particularly fond of yew berries?

Cheers,

Dave

[bugboy]

Thanks Dave. The Goldcrest doesn’t eat berries being almost exclusively insectivorous, but they do have a strong affinity with evergreen trees, particularly in the breeding season. In a mixed woodland you can almost guarantee you’ll find a pair in or around any available Yew tree.

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October 2022

Wednesday 19th. A half day from work and a bit of sun tempted me out onto my local patch. I Fully prepared myself not to see a single butterfly, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a bit of activity. A handful of Small White were active and readily approachable as they did their best to soak up the weak October Sun, all looking rather fresh.

One of the Whites turned out to be species number two, a female GVW. She looked rather fresh too

A single Speckled Wood that made it a hattrick of species also qualifies as an ab. postico-excessa on account of the extra ocellus at the anal angle of the upperside hindwing.

[millerd]

Thanks for the Goldcrest info, Paul. I should have worked out that they'd never fit a yew berry into those tiny beaks of theirs!

That GVW is a good sighting - I haven't seen one since the first week of September here - and that is a striking Specklie. As well as the extra spot, the others on the hindwing are very large.

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Great set sequence of reports recently Bugboy That shot of the Goldcrest is a cracker and I love the stained glass Specklies They've hung on better than most this year and my last fresh one was on the 23rd, it was just out of the box

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[bugboy]

Thanks Dave. She was indeed quite a striking looking lady, even if she was a little frayed around the edges.
Thanks Wurzel, I thought you might like those . They do sem to have hung on for a fair old time this year don’t they! It might be a late spring for them next year though, most of the ones that would have hibernated as pupae might have already emerged now.

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October 2022

Saturday 29th. My last outing for October also marks my first report of the year since March with no butterfly pictures, although I did see two Red Admirals, so I was yet to have a butterflyless day! I was back in Kent for the day, meeting up with a friend who’s recently started working at Wildwoods. She picked me up at Canterbury and she drove us to nearby Stodmarsh NNR. It was whilst wandering around here that the two RA were seen but neither settled. One of the first birds seen at the first hide we stopped off at was a lifer for me, Cattle Egret. The first ones were a distance away, not much more than white dots and only just recognisable but after a while we noticed a couple lurking in some long grass closer to the hide, they were all living up to their name and hanging around some Belted Galloways.

There weren’t masses of birds seen, we were still awaiting the main influx of winter migrants but there was enough to keep us entertained. Other than the Cattle Egret, the best sighting was probably a couple of Marsh Harrier and a few fleeting glimpses of Kingfisher.

Kestrel

Swan

Gadwall

Lapwing

Marsh Harrier

For the afternoon we drove east to the coast at Pegwell Bay Country Park, arriving in time for high tide. Here lots of Wigeon and Lapwing were flying along the coast and in the saltmarsh, Curlew were lurking. Most of the wader’s high tide roosting spots here though were too far away or just out of sight, we certainly heard a lot more than we saw. Best of all (for me anyway, my friend loves Curlew) we managed to sneak up of a Kingfisher.

Top: Wigeon. Middle & bottom: Lapwing

Wigeon

Gulls and Cormorant in the background, mostly Oystercatcher in the foreground

Curlew

Kingfisher

Lounging around on the river Stour estuary were some Seal, looked like Grey Seal from where we were standing.

Seal

[David M]

Some excellent wildlife at that NNR, Paul, by the looks of it.That seems to be a thriving seal colony! Peculiar to see them basking on long grass; I've only ever seen them on rocks.

[bugboy]

Thanks David. I’m sure it fills up a fair bit in the breeding season and when all the winter migrants arrive.


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November 2022

Wednesday 9th. I’d used up my final few days of leave this week. It was extended somewhat by coming down with a nasty bug the weekend before, but thankfully that only lasted a few days and vanished nearly as fast as it came on. Unfortunately, this week was plagued by train strikes and some nasty weather so getting out proved problematic. A spell of relative calmness and a bit of sun did tempt me out for a few hours on Walthamstow Marshes this afternoon allowing me to find my first November butterfly of the year, a male Brimstone.

There was precious little else to point my camera at though. Here a fishing Dabchick looks like it caught an unfortunate Stickleback for lunch.

That Brimstone was far from my last November butterfly though, I had another seven species waiting for me!

[trevor]

' I had another seven species waiting for me '. Yea know about that!