www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

That's a lovely home grown Painted Lady, there's a good few turning up now. I think the Thistles have coped better than other plants during this dry summer and clearly the Painted Ladies aren't bothered by the heat

Neil Freeman wrote:
Hi Janet,

I think that one is Acrobasis advenella, a micro.

The first one of the next trio is a Yellow-barred Brindle. These are more green when fresh but fade to a yellowish colour.

Cheers,

Neil

Thank you for those, Neil. I tried to lighten the photo of the Yellow Barred Brindle and got this result -

Beautiful Painted Lady images, Janet. In spite of the abnormally hot summer, I've still seen fewer than 20 this year in the UK.

Hi! Janet, lovely Painted Lady, You mentioned in one post , to seeing a Brown Argus in your Garden but it flew a way, I think you live in Wigan If I'm right and you did, it would I think have been a Northern BA. Goldie

Goldie M wrote:Hi! Janet, lovely Painted Lady, You mentioned in one post , to seeing a Brown Argus in your Garden but it flew a way, I think you live in Wigan If I'm right and you did, it would I think have been a Northern BA. Goldie

I do wish I'd managed a photo, Goldie! It was definitely a Brown Argus and may well have been a NBA because although we live in Sale, South Manchester, it's still NW of the line between Dorset and East Yorks. It settled on a flower and closed its wings so I could see the underwing, but it didn't open up for me.

Thank you Bugboy - the thistles do seem to have fared well, and they're attracting the goldfinches.

I paid another visit to Rixton Clay Pits yesterday and there has been some rain since the previous visit. There was no sign of the Painted Lady this time and I thought the Blues were looking more tired. There were several Speckled Woods, some looking fresher than others, and a Comma fluttered among the fleabane. I did manage to get my first photos this year of Meadow Browns of both sexes basking with their wings open - until now it has been so hot they have kept them tightly closed. The most striking subjects yesterday were the dragonflies, which I think were Common Darters, and a tiny toadlet.

Janet - Your tiny toadlet is really cute!

The Toadlet looks like it's on a mission, possibly to find a Motorcar "Poop Poop!" Meadow Browns seem to love keeping their wings closed when fresh and then when they're starting to look a little past their best all of a sudden they start opening up Your female though is still looking good

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you Ernie - he was really tiny!

Wurzel - I'm glad someone else remembers The Wind in the Willows!

Things looking a bit tired now, Janet, but that's to be expected in mid-August.

Thanks for the toad image. I bet he/she was glad to see some rain!

Your continental butterflies are lovely Janet. Very nice moths as well.

Interested to see how the pond reprofiling had been successful, I paid a visit to Rixton (free pass each way over the Ship Canal - nobody on duty today!)
The dried-out boggy places were still relatively dry and thick with summer wildflower growth. I found a lone Holly Blue going round the Hemp Agrimony and a very tired-looking Common Blue on the fleabane. Common Darters were very obliging as they sat sunning themselves and then I met a dragonfly enthusiast showed me all the best places to find Southern Hawkers and Migrants.
The ranger I met last time I was there said something that made me think he was expecting to see Brown Hairstreaks, but although I have looked out for them I haven't seen any.

On our way back home after a trip to Durham we decided to call at Hartlepool, a place never previously visited. Not knowing where to head for we found ourselves on the beach at Blackhall Rocks. On the path from the car park my friend spotted two blue butterflies - both male Common Blues and one of them still pumping up his wings. Of course I didn't have the right camera but with him being so fresh and docile I managed two good shots with my phone.

Hi Janet, i've just caught up on your diary, you've been really busy I missed your continental posts during July as we were away too. Lovely shots of the Map, Scarce Coppers and the Queen of Spain Fritillary, plus all your UK stuff

Great images of the fresh out of the box Common Blue Janet I've not seen them pumping up their wings before

Have a goodun

Wurzel

What a contrast between those ragged specimens in your first post and that pristine Common Blue in your second.

I'm still hopeful we'll get additional broods this year, especially as the weather forecast for the next week or so looks to be on a warmer trend.

I took a trip up to Gait Barrows in the hope of seeing one of the last Brown Hairstreaks. It was a ittle overcast when I arrived and Keith, another butterfly hunter, was standing in the hot-spot waiting for the sun to appear. I wandeed off, got onto a ttrail that took me on the limestone walk, ended up walking 5.6 miles and chasing dragonflies and eventually arrived back at the car park at the same time as Keith - who had managed good shots of two Brostreaks. He took me back to where he had seen them but they were long gone. I hung about but to no avail. Lesson learnt - wait for the sun.
I did get an Impressionist shot of two Speckled Woods scrapping for air space, and a lovely fresh Red Admiral who kept asking me to take her photo. Migrant Hawker

Lovely Common Blue there Janet, and a very nice RA.

Great stuff Janet - really like the 'dance of the Specklies' There's nothing worse than trying out somewhere while someone else waits and gets the butterfly

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's the freshest Red Admiral I've seen for ages.
There should more around soon, as the Ivy blossom opens.

Best wishes Trevor.