Maximus

[Maximus]

Thanks Pauline, glad you like the Hare, it was really curious and actually walked towards us


Thanks Neil, those steps are steep, but, as you say, the Skippers break the trek. Interesting you saw more lower down


Cheers Wurzel, I'm sure there will be plenty around when you go camping, given their long flight season.



Denbies


We recently made a trip to Denbies hillside to try to find some Chalkhill Blues. Once through the gate, however, it was all Skippers, both Small and Essex.

Small Skipper

Small Skipper

Essex Skipper

Essex Skipper

Golden Skippers

Essex Skipper

As we walked further down the hillside we began to encounter Chalkhill Blues both male and female.

Well marked females

Roosting males

Conditions were very hot which kept the butterflies very lively apart from occasions when cloud obscured the sun.

[Wurzel]

Cracking sequence of shots Mike I'm always amazed at the range of variation in Chalk Hills and also at the understatement of the females

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Cheers Wurzel, the range of variation in Chalkhill Blues means that you never know what you may find female Chalkhills are stunners and I agree, understated


Mike



Aston Rowant


On Tuesday last week we spent an afternoon on the hillside to the north of the M40 at Aston Rowant in 30 degrees heat. When we visited last year the hillside was covered with butterflies of various species, with lots of Chalkhill Blues, Brown Argus, Common Blues and Small Coppers among them. This year it is not quite the same, and although Chalkhill Blue numbers are reasonable, other species seem to be down in numbers. We saw very few Brown Argus and Common Blues and no Small Coppers at all! Fortunately the Silver-spotted Skipper numbers are very good, which is what we had primarily gone to see. The temperature combined with a strong breeze made photography challenging. Also the SSS were difficult to get close to, taking flight in a zig-zag course at break-neck speed across the hillside whenever we tried to approach them. However we noticed that some were stopping briefly to nectar on the abundant Scabious growing on the hillside, so it was a case of sit and wait for them to come to you. The other problem was that the breeze was blowing the Scabious all over the place, meaning that once a SSS had landed you had to wait for the split second when both flower and butterfly were stationary between gusts, before pressing the shutter button. There were a lot of 'chuckers' but we did manage a few reasonable shots along with a touch of sunstroke

We saw several females ovipositing..

..and unlike last year, managed to find the egg..

Silver-spotted Skipper ovum

..and some shots of other species seen

Chalkhill Blue

Brown Argus

Large White

Common Blues

[Wurzel]

Brill stuff Mike I know what you mean about the wind, I experienced the same thing at Stockbridge. They'd be feeding and it would be rocking forward and backward like one of those play park rides. Butterflies eh, they don't make it easy for us do they

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Nice photos from Aston Rowant Mike

I have a few days off work next week and hoping to make a trip down there myself.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

Totally empathise with you, Mike. I visited yesterday and the heat meant the insects were hyperactive! Although the wind wasn't too bad, it still interfered in the same way it did for you on Tuesday.

I agree about general numbers (particularly Small Copper, which was totally absent), but I think last year was a 'one-off'. Perhaps we need a cold winter every year?

[Pauline]

Some really nice shots there Mike especially that Essex Skipper and the lovely Chalk Hills. Well done too, on finding that egg as it's not easy, is it!

[Maximus]

Cheers Wurzel, it's not always easy to photograph butterflies and many things conspire against us

I'm well behind but now, but have now seen the report of your trip to Aston Rowant Neil, great stuff

Hi David, Small Copper numbers appear to be well down compared to last year, and I agree that last year was probably a 'one off'. A cold winter this year may help leps, but will always have a negative affect on other wildlife.

Thanks Pauline, and you're right, finding the eggs is not always that easy!



Noar Hill 27th July


Today on a visit to Noar hill we clocked up a total of 20 species. Although there were plenty of butterflies, it didn't compare to last years spectacular numbers. Peacocks were well reasonably well represented but there were fewer Red Admirals and Commas, although good numbers of Common Blues were very much in evidence, particuarly the blue females.

Female Common Blue with Trombidium Breei mite

Female Common Blue

Male Common Blue

Female Common Blue ab

Female Common Blue ab

Small Skipper ovipositing, with Trombidium Breei mites

Female Brimstone

Male Brimstone

Large Skipper in good condition

Male Gatekeeper

A great result, but 2013 saw much better Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma numbers than this year, certainly at Noar Hill! Also quite a large percentage appeared to carry the Trombidium mite!

[Maximus]

27th July

A short evening trip to Dawneys which was bathed in glorious golden sunlight, produced these two male Grayling, looking gorgeous among the Bell Heather.

There appears to have been some work carried out here and it now looks a bit bleak, I hope it doesn't affect Grayling numbers.

[Maximus]

A second trip to Denbies, once again in very hot sun, produced lots of Chalkhill Blues, including some fresh individuals..

Female Chalkhill Blue

Brown Argus

Male Chalkhill Blue

Also this was one of the few Small Coppers we have seen this year..

A slight hint of blue on the hind-wing!

We also found these freshly emerged, Silver-spotted Skippers, which were not present during our first visit, a week or so ago ..

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Mike, just catching up again, some great photos in your last few posts

That female Common blue ab. looks similar to a first brood one I found at one of my local spots.

Cheers,

Neil

[Wurzel]

Brill shots Mike especially the Silver Spotted male - the sex brands look almost metallic

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Cheers Neil female Common Blues seem to vary quite a bit, and it's interesting that you saw a similar one.

Cheers Wurzel, now I look at that shot of the male SSS, I agree that the sex brands do look very metallic



8TH August 2014


I am a bit behind with the postings in my PD. However, I intend to post today's sighting now, while it is still current, and because this is the first time that I have seen this in the UK.

Second brood Duke of Burgundy male

He was host to a couple of Trombidium Breei mites, which I guess the first brood would be too early for? This did not stop him seeing off male Common Blues though. It's really great to see a Duke again, has really made our year

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots Mike Have second brood Dukes been recorded elsewhere or is it only Noar Hill?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks Wurzel not sure about this year, but I'm aware that in some recent years, a second brood of Dukes have been recorded at Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire. However, I wonder how many people check their local Duke sites at this time of year? If they did, perhaps this would reveal more second brood Duke of Burgundy!

Mike



Magdalen Hill Down - First visit, 1st August 2014


We decided to pay a visit to MHD as we had not been there since 2013, when we had witnessed the fantastic numbers of Chalkhill Blues that had emerged there in that exceptional year for this species. Conditions were ideal, sunny with cloudy periods and a light breeze. The reserve is magnificent and is a credit to its management, and is carpeted with masses of beautiful wild flowers which provide rich nectar sources for the resident (and migrant) butterflies to be found here. The first butterflies we encountered were Chalkhill Blues, and they were in stunning condition.

Common Blues were also very fresh..

He's not taking the hint

It was also nice to find some 2nd brood Small Blues, including a mating pair..

We found plenty of Brown Argus and saw some stunning Brimstones..

We saw a total of 16 species, Chalkhill Blues in very good numbers, Common Blues in good numbers, a few Small Blues, Small Heath, Brimstone - lots, Small White, Large White, Brown Argus, several Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell - loads, a couple of Red Admirals and Peacocks, worn Small Skippers, quite a few worn Marbled Whites and a couple of worn Small Coppers. As we were leaving a butterfly landed on the path in front of us. It took flight on our approach, but not before we had identified it as a Painted Lady. We decided then that we would make a return visit, to try to find the lady

[Maximus]

Can 2nd brood Duke of Burgundy successfully reproduce, (given that both male and female are present). If so can the females find the Cowslip/Primrose leaves to oviposit on? Cowslip leaves at least appear to be plentiful and not too dried up at this time. Has anybody got any ideas regarding this matter?

2nd brood, Duke of Burgundy, male

[Wurzel]

More fantastic shots Mike especially the Small Blues Cheers for answering my Duke question, and asking the next one that was on my mind too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Cheers Wurzel, I believe it is said that great minds think alike


Shipton Bellinger - 4th August 2014


Today we were out early to pay a visit to Shipton Bellinger, where one is almost certain to see Brown Hairstreaks during their flight period. We have a site much nearer to us where we should be able to see this species, but it is a very fortunate person who sees just one at this location At Shipton Bellinger however, we saw 6 males and 2 females during our visit! The males were fully engrosed in nectaring on the remaining bramble, so were easy to photograph, they were also a little bit worn. The females were on egg laying missions, resting up in between and were difficult to get good shots of. I did miss a sitting duck of a female with her wings open in an accessible place about three feet from the ground. As I pressed the shutter release she took flight and all I got was a shot of a leaf, as she disappeared into the tree canopy.

Male Brown Hairstreak

Best shot I could manage of a female

Apart from the BH there were plenty of other species, including..

Small Copper

This Peacocks eye spot seems to have done its job!

Speckled Wood

Meadow Brown

The final jewel in the crown at Shipton Bellinger were its beautiful Common Blues..

[Pauline]

Very nice shots of BH Mike - it's always exciting to see them - but you have excelled with the Common Blue shots . They look like paintings and just go to show what a good background and composition can do for a picture. I am currently struggling with a sequence of shots with a garish green/yellow background and despite fiddling with [photoshop I can't seem to tone it down

[Wurzel]

Fantastic shots Mike - cracking Blues Shipton is a great site for Brostreaks, it always delivers something

Have a goodun

Wurzel