August 2024

[David M]

Mon 12th Aug, Swellshill Bank/Rodborough Common, Glos:

Chalkhill Blue 60-80
Meadow Brown 40-50
Hedge Brown 7
Brown Argus 5
Small Heath 3
Small Skipper 1

Just 6 species again!! No vanessids and no Whites!

[millerd]

Back to Box Hill and Denbies again in much more comfortable weather this morning (13th).

Silver-spotted Skippers were the highlight at Box Hill, including a contender for the cutest-butterfly-of-the-summer award.

At Denbies the stars were two butterflies that have been hard to find...

...and one that I usually look for on other sites.

Also seen at both locations were Chalkhill Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Small Skipper and Dark Green Fritillary. The Marbled Whites have finally disappeared.

Fuller accounts of the walks at both sites to follow in my PD.

Dave

[birdingprof]

I’ve not seen mention of this QoSF on here. It has been reported for 2-3 weeks by RBA.

Have there been that many individuals recently, such that it’s of little interest? Or is it thought to be an introduction?
Also, has anyone been to see it?

[Essex Bertie]

Scarce Swallowtail photographed in Essex -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/essexfi ... up_comment

Does anyone know whether these are a popular captive-bred species?

[bugboy]

Bookham and Box hill for me today. 5 hours at Bookham only gave me one Hairstreak (well two, a Purple one decided to fly past and sit in the Blackthorn. Not sure if it was feeling sorry for me or mocking me!) Was good to see some Small Coppers and Common Blues though. At Box Hill I found half a dozen Silver-spotted Skippers on Burford Spur but non in the meadows that are usually buzzing with them now. More Common Blues and lots of fresh Meadow Browns, saw two pairs in cop.

Most notable find though was a White Admiral larvae at Bookham that has decided to forgo hibernation and make a bid for a second brood.

[millerd]

Scarce Swallowtail photographed in Essex -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/essexfi ... up_comment

Does anyone know whether these are a popular captive-bred species?

I believe the species has been recorded in the UK before, but very rarely and with uncertain provenance. Looking at the photos, it is noticeable that the tails on the butterfly appear to be whole - a sign of a relatively new insect? That might indicate it was captive-bred, or alternatively I suppose it could have been wafted over from the continent to Essex on the hot winds of recent days. I imagine they are relatively easy to breed, given that blackthorn is the LHP.

Dave

[Testudo Man]

...A superb fresh 2nd brood blue female Common Blue.,,

That's a good one!

Thanks David, yes, she is a beauty.

So last Sunday was spent chasing those Silver Spotted Skippers again, but this time the females were actively out an about!
7 hours out in the field, at just the one Kent location. Not many other species on the wing to speak of, just low numbers all around really. I did see a fresh 2nd brood male Adonis Blue, but no more than one!! Luckily there were a fair few SSS buzzing around, so all was not lost. I would think up to 15 in total, but could have been more? A couple were fresh, then the others showing various signs of wear...no mating pairs seen, but females were laying eggs.
Some highlight pics, no images are cropped. Cheers Paul.

Egg laying females (S.O.O.C).

A super fresh male nectaing.

A chunky looking female nectaring.

A lovely fresh Chalk hill Blue female (but only 3 females seen, an maybe just 10 males!!).

[Trev Sawyer]

Queen of Spain?... Scarce Swallowtail?.. Very likely to be releases, but what next I wonder? - How about a genuine UK Ghost Orchid?
Yes, apparently, the first UK Ghost Orchid seen for 30 years has been found. Now THAT really IS news

[David M]

...How about a genuine UK Ghost Orchid?

Yes, apparently, the first UK Ghost Orchid seen for 30 years has been found. Now THAT really IS news

Correct. Seen and photographed today.

Was growing in a relatively public place too.

Amazing no-one had noticed it.

[essexbuzzard]

Plenty of butterflies at Aston Rowant this afternoon. Mostly Meadow Browns, but a sprinkle of Common Blues, Chalkhill Blues, Brown Argus, Small Skippers and Silver Spotted Skippers. Not a single white! With a couple of weeks of warm sunshine, most Peacocks and Brimstones are probably fully fed, and have gone into hibernation.

Good numbers of Chiltern gentians, the best for several years,and easy to find on the lower path in the southern section.

[David M]

14 Aug - Nice, warm, sunny afternoon here.

After such a dearth of butterflies lately, I was pleasantly surprised to see 6 Red Admirals, 3 Small Whites, a Large White, a Comma and a Peacock on my neighbour's buddleias:

[millerd]

Warm, humid and almost sunless round my way today (14th) after a bit of overnight rain. A few butterflies responded to any brightness, notably Common Blues...

...but one or two others as well.

73 butterflies from 9 species - on the same day last year (which was also warmish and mostly dull) the tally was 173 from 13 species. Full details to come in my PD as usual.

Dave

[David Lazarus]

I am not so despondent about the numbers of Common Blue now within the Essex sites I have been visiting. They seem just to have been on the wing later than previous years and/or I missed them with impatience. 30+ today, including at least 5 females, within the significant field margins running along the southern and western woodland edges of Hockley Woods.

Common Blue male x 2
Hockley Woods 15/08/2024

There were also sightings of a couple of Brown Argus, a solitary Small Copper - which was good to see - 7 Small Heath and a very tatty male Wall Brown:

Small Heath
Hockley Woods 15/08/2024

Wall Brown
HHockley Woods 15/08/2024

I think the significance of this find is great and leads me to believe they have a sustainable community within the woodland edges of Hockley Woods as I also saw Wall Brown here earlier in the year. This is an inland location in South Essex.

Why I am a little happier is because I was at One Tree Hill, near Basildon in South Essex, a couple of days ago where I also saw 30+ Common Blue within the 3 meadows of Johnson's Meadow West, Hawksbury Bush & Martinhole Wood.

Common Blue female
One Tree Hill - Johynson's Meadow West 13/08/2024

along with a female Brown Argus

Brown Argus female
One Tree Hill - Johnson's Meadow West 13/08/2024

and just like today, a very tatty male Wall Brown:

Wall Brown male
One Tree Hill 13/08/2024

Significantly, just like at Hockley Woods today, this was one of 5+ with the same amount seen earlier this year but quite a distance apart. So for me, the local distribution is expanding and there is also a sustainable inland community here at One Tree Hill, Basildon.

Actually, it was a pretty good day on Tuesday as numbers were good and there was a fair bit of activity:

Meadow Brown 200+
Gatekeeper 75+
Small Heath 50+
Marbled White 3 making it into the second week of August
Speckled Wood 12
Common Blue 30+
Brown Argus 4
Holly Blue 1
Brimstone 2
Small White 1
Large White 1
Green-veined white 15
A Small Skipper that could have been accepted as an Essex Skipper
A female Purple Hairstreak with open wings but escaped my iPhone disappointingly
A couple of Red Admiral & a Comma
17 species and a total of 417 over the course of a 6 hour survey.

Today's 17 mile 9 hour day at all of the South Essex Woods for the last time this year turned up 14 species with a total of 170 butterfly sightings.

At One Tree Hill, there was also a Jersey Tiger, a Six-spot Burnet both of which have rarely been recorded in the area, and numerous Gypsy Moth - all 3 venturing further east and inland. I wonder how the change in Lepidoptera profile will affect the ecosystems.

I finish on a sad note - ever hopeful - I took a look round to see if by chance a second brood of Grizzled Skipper had emerged - no such luck - which means the 5 seen earlier the year remain the only 5 Grizzled Skipper seen within the County of Essex in 2024

[Wolfson]

Hard to believe it is August in west Cornwall given the unusual phenology of some of species seen yesterday.

[David M]

An August Green Hairstreak! What next? Orange Tips?

[millerd]

No Green Hairstreaks (that's an extraordinary sighting, Wolfson!), but a few Adonis Blues were flying at Aston Rowant (North) today.

Also seen: Chalkhill Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper and Silver-spotted Skipper.

More to come in my PD.

Dave

[Neil Freeman]

Hard to believe it is August in west Cornwall given the unusual phenology of some of species seen yesterday.

Perfectly normal for SPBF to have a second brood in West Cornwall, I spent a few days on the Lizard last week with these as my main target.
More here viewtopic.php?t=5424&start=4380#p187059

Green Hairstreak in August however is a surprise

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wolfson]

Indeed, SPbF has two broods at coastal sites in w Cornwall. As for GH, the season is much later and protracted here. I am informed that there are records for September and even from October!
What factors cause this is intriguing

[David M]

...a few Adonis Blues were flying at Aston Rowant (North) today...

That's good to know, Dave. I plan to go see a few at some point next week.

[bugboy]

Some American Painted Ladies photographed on a Pembrokeshire coastal Path yesterday. Look very fresh.