Bugboys mission

[Wurzel]

Cheers for the info Bugboy Cracking wall to wall Walls -they do seem to be a bit better behaved; a little calmer at the end of the year. Mind you most butterflies are like that - right fidgets when fresh and pristine and then when they're looking well past their best they sit still, perfectly psoed for hours it seems

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[bugboy]

Thanks Wurzel. I imagine it’s a simple case of cooler days and the sun being lower in the sky that makes them more approachable during their third brood. More wall to wall Walls below too


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September 2024

Saturday 28th. A change of scenery after two outings into Essex took me down to Newhaven, a tried and tested site for late season butterflies (and I was still after those elusive Cloudies!) The first thing of note was that the bumper third brood Walls found in Essex wasn’t an isolated occurrence. Walking through the Ouse Estuary reserve males and females were popping up all over the place.

Common Blues and Speckled Wood provided some variety.

As is customary, I wandered over to buckle bypass where I found some Common Blues doing their best LTB impressions, quite effective from a distance!

other were being better behaved!

Over on Tidemills a few Whites and Common Blues were active, the latter once again being annoying by fussing over the BLEP but there was also another fresh female Wall, Painted Lady and Red Admiral.

the heavy suffusion at the base of her forewings might be enough to make her ab. atomaria.

A second wander back through the Ouse reserve gave me more Walls and a trio of Peacocks.

Well that was the first half of what was fast becoming a rather busy and enjoyable day.

[bugboy]

September 2024

Saturday 28th. Cont.

But it was a moth that ended up stealing the show. Vapourer moths (well the males anyway) are very obvious and numerous in late summer and autumn, I’d already seen several frantically searching for the fat, flightless females but then I noticed one buzzing around low down, seemingly homing in of its target. He finally vanished amongst some low Blackthorn sucker growth and I discovered him already paired with his conquest.

You have to feel sorry for the females though, this being the highlight of her short life. Once the male leaves she’ll lay her eggs on her old cocoon, and that’s it, job done for her species .

I finished the day over at the fort where a couple of tatty Meadow Brown were added to the days species count. More Speckled Wood, Whites and Red Admiral were present here too as well as a couple of female Small Copper. They were in egg laying mode and I was able to watch one as the found the tiniest sprig of Sorrel on which to deposit an egg.

There was still plenty of sun so I took a wander down to the pebble beach under the fort. Of avian interest was a Kestrel utilising the updraft caused by the cliff face

And low down I found a female Large White fussing over some Sea Cabbage and laying her eggs.

Ended up being quite a busy day. Lots of interesting behaviour and walking back to the station I got another shot I’ve been wanting for years, a real Cormorant posing next to the huge fake one on the Ouse estuary (the actual estuary as opposed the reserve)

:-)

[Allan.W.]

That last shots a cracker Paul !......... and the Small Copper eggs none to shabby either! ........Nice one !! Allan.W.

[Wurzel]

" I imagine it’s a simple case of cooler days and the sun being lower in the sky that makes them more approachable during their third brood. More wall to wall Walls below too "...or a case of sheer bloody mindedness
Cracking set of shots by that Vapourer set is a right cracker, not something I've seen myself Also good to put some images to the name/annoying and distracting presence when looking for Brostreaks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You've captured that Large White really well, Paul. Not often one gets to see the black mark at the top of the hindwing upperside.

[David Lazarus]

Most definitely worth the trip, thanks Mr. Lazurus !

You’re welcome

Great set of shots, Paul. I’m glad you found the site visit worthwhile, despite the weather.

[bugboy]

Thanks Allan, shame the background is nicer on that last image but that can’t be helped.
Thanks Wurzel. I was very pleased to get those Vapourer moth shots after years of just seeing them buzzing erratically around whilst, as you say, looking for Hairstreaks.
Thanks David, she wasn’t hard to get shots of, she wasn’t going anywhere fast!
Thanks other David, it’s a new site on my list of places to visit regularly now.



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October 2024

Thursday 3rd.. I went for a wander round the hills behind Amberley today. The weather wasn’t brilliant, but with the promise of some sunny spells later on so worth a punt to see what was going on. The cool start meant things took a while to get going, single females of Meadow Brown and a very late Chalk Hill Blue were all I had to show for myself before lunch making me think I had misjudged the weather.

However, the brighter weather arrived after noon and I was rewarded with activity to make the outing worthwhile. Half a dozen Small Copper kept my attention for a while

And some Small Heath came out too, one slightly worn individual having what looked like two ocelli fused together, possibly ab. bipupilata.

There had been a few Red Admiral floating aimlessly around but only the one decided to settle anywhere close enough to photograph.

The afternoon sunny spells had also woken up a Peacock and a very attractive female Common Blue.

On the same slope I also found a Brown Argus and a faded Lysandra female which after lots of zooming in and looking at individual blue scales I determined was Adonis.

Adonis, honest guv!

No Large White today but the other two were represented.

In the lightly wooded spot where the GVW were found I was unsurprised to come across a few Speckled Wood.

The last species to be found were Comma. I found two enjoying overripe Blackberries and spent quite a bit of time craning my neck with the big lens to reach them on quite a steep slope

Only to find one sat basking at the edge of the path when I wandered off!

Thirteen species in October is a non to shabby result, even if none reached double figures and several were just singletons.

[bugboy]

October 2024

Thursday 4th... The following day I went to that other late season hotspot in Sussex, Lancing Ring. Before that though I stopped off at Southwick to see if there was anything interesting along that little grassy bank, Cloudies? No such luck, a female Speckled Wood followed me the length of the site.

And there was Small & Large White, Common Blue and Red Admiral, nothing I wouldn't expect to find here at this time of year.

At Lancing Ring the Buddleja was proving to be one of the main attractions with both Peacock and Red Admiral in the old Chalk pits.

A bit further along a patch of Ivy was also pulling in the butterflies, here Comma and more Red Admirals.

At the crest of the site where Walls are usually to be found in season… I found Walls! Like elsewhere, the third brood showing well here too.

Also flying with them were Large White and Speckled Wood.

Returning to the Chalk pits the Comma and Red Admirals were still on the Ivy

but Peacocks had been replaced by a couple of Brimstone on the Buddleja. Taking a break from feeding this male was either looking for a roosting spot or a female having been fooled into thinking it was the new year?

Still on my 'Clouded Yellow like' relentless search for a Clouded Yellow I spent the last portion of sunny weather walking along the Shoreham seafront, hoping the Red Valerian would attract some Cloudie attention. Nothing, but I did find some of the local population of Wall Lizards that were introduced in 1975 & '76 by a local resident.

Sixteen October species in two days!

[bugboy]

October 2024

Sunday 13th... After the first few days of the month, I wasn’t having much luck coordinating days off with sunny days. A few hours spare today gave me the chance to explore locally where I found very little, just a couple of Small White who were struggling in the borderline conditions.

A few trips further afield later in the month kept my season going though.

[Allan.W.]

Hello Paul ,
With nothing of note on the "Box" been reading through your excellent pages(often read through different pages when the weathers naff !) Noticed your Grizzle from late May..........Very nice find ! (the lightly marked one !) sure you,re not bothered, but surely a named AB; Very nice ! Also from early May .......you never mentioned the small Black and White Shieldbug beside your male Green Hair, pretty sure its a Ramburs Pied Shieldbug ,a fairly recent arrival ,still scarce (but spreading).Keep up the excellent work....................its better than the "box" Allan.W.

[bugboy]

Thanks Allan, I’m glad I’m helping you pass the time in this gloomy leadup to the festive season. I think the Grizzlie you mention made it into the Abs. page on this site.



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October 2024

On Thursday 17th. I returned for a third visit to Tilbury. Once again the weather wasn’t particularly good and I killed time waiting for some butterfly friendly weather watching some Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet dallying with the incoming tide.

Reed Buntings were numerous, this one had just enjoyed a light shower

But the biggest surprise was a Fulvous Whistling Duck wandering around. Obviously an escapee, being native to South America, Africa and India. They really do Whistle as well.

Anyway when the cloud thinned I found the Walls were still going strong along the sea wall, many still looking remarkably fresh considering it was over halfway through October.

A few Whites were here and there and some Common Blue

Speckled Wood could still be found in the shadier spots.

Still plenty of life in the season!
I also discovered the Whistling Duck wasn’t on it’s lonesome, there were actually four of them (couldn't get all four in one pic).

I finished the day with the Walls soaking up the dying rays along the sea wall.

[bugboy]

October 2024

Friday 18th. For once the weather gods looked kindly upon me today. The forecast showed a thin slither of cloudless skies would straddle the coasts either side of the narrowest part of the Channel. I took a punt and was relieved to find they’d got it right and whilst much of my other usual haunts were bathed in cloud and occasional drizzle, I did indeed have a clear blue sky along the coast of Kent for most of the day. Of course, being October, it did still take a while for things to get going but once they did it turned into a very pleasant day. The swarms of Whites from my previous visit here were now a distant memory with just sporadic sightings of Small Whites and a GVW.

A splash of colour at the foot of the cliff face signalled what would become a recurring theme for the day. A second Peacock was found feeding on some Scabious a few steps away.

Red Admirals were rather scarce, totalling only five and there was a long gap between this one, the first and the next one I managed to photograph, the last I saw.

Birdlife along the coastal path here is always very bold. A well-used path by hikers and other nature lovers, they’ve clearly learned there’s not much to fear from these humans. This Kestrel ignored my approach as he sat around hoping the wind would pick up so he could do some hovering.

Once away from the relative shelter of the Cliffs overlooking Dover port, the walk up to the South Foreland Lighthouse can be a bit ‘windswept’ and featureless and nothing was seen until I got to the lighthouse when I put up a Painted Lady. It didn’t go far since some thin high cloud had taken the edge of the sun.

I continued the walk but was stopped regularly as Peacocks seemed to be on every clump of flowering Ivy I walked past.

At St’ Margaret’s Bay I added Speckled Wood and Brimstone to the days tally.

And coming out the other side Wall and Common Blue (Peacocks still regularly popping up)

I made it all the way to Kingsdown, but again the stretch of footpath generally offers little in the way of shelter, so nothing was added.

The return was much the same and even accounting for the ones I’d already seen, I’m fairly sure more Peacocks were added to the day, probably in excess of twenty overall.

Back near the port what could have been the same Kestrel once again seemed completely oblivious to my presence

A passing Large White made it ten species made up of at least forty five individuals, non to shabby for the second half of October.

[Wurzel]

Great couple of reports recently Bugboy Those Whislting Ducks are funny looking things - kind of the rubber chicken of the duck world in their shape I wonder if they'll be another species that 'colonises' like the Mandarin and Wood Ducks?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[bugboy]

Thanks Wurzel. Not sure these tropical Ducks would do well in our climate, the Aix sp. you mention are somewhat more tolerant of cold weather than these guys.



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October 2024

On Tuesday 22nd.. The universe does like to balance things out and as if to prove this, to compensate for me finding the sunniest part of the south east on my last outing, I managed to find the rainiest bit of the south east today. I headed for Lancing Ring and things started off ok, I was finding Red Admirals and Speckled Wood but just when things were on the verge of getting going properly the cloud rolled in and that was that.
The walk across the River Adur was pleasant, the tide was out and a few birds were enjoying the morning sun

Redshank

Lapwing

By the time I got to The Ring though I could already see the cloud rolling in from the west, and I only managed to get half an hour butterflying in before it was rudely cut short.

The forecast had said a few squally showers would fly by on the stiff breeze but what actually happened was they all ganged up together to create a mostly wet afternoon. Before the rain arrived I wandered along the path that eventually leads to Cissbury Ring, finding flocks of Corn Bunting

But the first of the rain clouds sent me back looking for shelter. From there on in it was brief interludes of birding between long downpours.

Lapwing

Reed Bunting

Song Thrush

Things only improved at around four, far to late to return to butterflies. The season was most definitely waning.

[bugboy]

October 2024

On Sunday 27th.. Nearly November but a sunny day wandering the Amberley hills meant there was still a good chance of something being active (my money was on a few Red Admirals, a safe bet). It didn’t take long, a flyby was soon followed up by one basking in the late morning sun.

It was a little while before the next one showed but the birdlife was up and about.

Kite, Sparrowhawk, Pheasant

The next Red Admiral was an egg laying female

A male Brimstone was also active, very active, and from the behaviour I suspect he was thinking spring had already arrived, he looked like he was searching for a female.

Wandering a hillside, under a watchful gaze, I came across a third species. Wasn’t really expecting to find a Brown Argus.

An hour later I made it to a southeast facing hedgerow that had seen a lot of Red Admiral action late last year. It would seem it is a regular thing. There was about a dozen active here today with several more egg laying females amongst them.

More Red Admirals were active along the lanes back to the station on the way home

Migrant Hawker

Nearing it’s end but still a bit of life in the season if you know where to look.

[David M]

...Wandering a hillside, under a watchful gaze, I came across a third species. Wasn’t really expecting to find a Brown Argus...

Hell of a find given the date, Paul. Wonder if that one made it into November?

[bugboy]

It may have been alive into November David, but I’m not sure it was ever active again given the weather .


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October 2024

On Thursday 31st.. The day was set to be a bit drab and grey so not much hope of finding any butterflies. I stayed local and did a spot of birding. It would be my first attempt this winter of finding one of the local Kingfishers, but the primary target was actually locating some wintering Black-necked Grebes which had turned up and had been seen for about a week. Although numerous reports and photos had been posted on the local facebook group, an exact location wasn’t forthcoming, so it was going to be a slow wander around the various reservoirs (there’s 10 of them!)

At the start of my wandering, I spied one of the local Peregrines on one of their favourite vantage points.

I also got my first Kingfisher sighting, a long distance one.

After some light drizzle I found a Goldcrest tidying himself up

There were plenty of Grebes about, just not the right type, this is a family of Great-crested.

Before heading further north I had a second long distance Kingfisher sighting and a Magpie looking to stash a prize.

It was further north when I finally came across one of the four Black-necked Grebes swimming along close to the edge of one of the reservoirs, and many pictures were taken! It’s a shame this is their winter garb, their breeding plumage is really rather eye catching, but it’s still a lifer for me.

On the way back I was given a show as two Cetti’s Warbler broke cover to conduct a noisy turf war.

And the day ended with, despite their being little sun or actual warmth, a butterfly! This freshly emerged Red Admiral somehow mustered enough energy to fly off before I could get a proper picture.

[bugboy]

October 2024 addendum.


I usually end my work transects at the end of September but this year I carried on for an extra month since the Speckled Woods on the most productive route like to carry on to the bitter end, as they do in many places in the south of the country. I managed to record 6 over the three extra walks, plus singletons of Small white and Red Admiral. A selection.

[Wurzel]

Brilliant set of reports Bugboy - great to see the Cetti's and the Goldcreast but what was that Brown Argus doing hanging around that late into the season?

Have a goodun

Wurzel