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Thanks Katrina. No females today, just lively males.

A few of the regulars from today, plus a close up of an open wing GVW.

That's an interesting Green Veined White, Trevor, with the upper forewing spot connected to the wing edge and the lower one 'waisted'. Never seen that before.

Thanks David. I found that GVW striking, and unusually marked.
And for a change managed a close-up shot of one basking open wing.

That is a crackingly marked GVW Trevor I reckon it's the added 'veins' on the hind wing fringes that add to the striking-ness

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. I don't think I've ever had a GVW allow such close approach before.

After last nights deluge and more this morning today looked like a write off.
But by lunchtime the sun appeared and hard surfaces were drying off.
Over at Herstmonceux butterflies were a little scarce, except for ' Whites '.
I was eventually able to find three male Wall Browns, two fresh Peacocks,
a single Small Copper, plus a shot of one of the Large Whites.

Good work on getting a nectaring Wall Brown. I didn’t go out butterflying but oddly found a small copper on the ground in the city. No idea where it came from

Thanks Katrina. I met John Williams this afternoon when the Walls were too lively.
Unfortunately he had to leave early to get some food, as the cafe was closed today.
After he left the Walls calmed down!

This Painted Lady shot appeared on my facebook memories today.
I remember the day well, but can't believe it was as long ago 2021.

Cracking Walls again Trevor I still can't drive but at least the weather is horrible over this way so I'm not getting any FOMO

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great shots of the Walls Trevor That's a good shot of the Large White as well, I've yet to see one with open wings this year Goldie

Great Walls there, Trevor. They’re a great end of season species, aren’t they? With weaker sunshine, they’re a bit easier to photograph at this time of year, too. Well, sometimes!

Many thanks Wurzel, Goldie & Mark. It's always an enjoyable challenge photographing
Walls, a now you see me, now you don't species. They keep me on my toes!

Today was so good at Herstmonceux I'll have to break the day into three parts.

This morning I was in the middle of an intricate job in the garden which required
some precision, but the improving weather was too good to waste.
So I downed tools and left the job where I could easily pick it up again and headed
to Herstmonceux. On arrival I headed to the Wall Brown headquarters just outside
of the main gardens and quickly found a fairly worn female Wall ( the first of three
easily identifiable females today ). For once it was not difficult to find both sexes
around the gardens.

A common species, which is rarely seen at Herstmonceux , is the Speckled Wood.
So I was very pleased to find a female Specklie, then seconds later a male on the path.
Then confusion set in after the male took off and apparently landed again, but this
turned out to be a second and much fresher male! It was a pleasant change to photograph
Specklies in isolation on the stone slabs rather than the usual foliage.

The best of the rest today. A day when Peacocks outnumbered Whites.

A pretty good day for October 1st.

Wow - a big difference in weather between sunny Sussex and soggy Surrey, Trevor - not a second of sun here, plus grey gloom and pouring rain to follow. An enviable selection of butterflies as well...

Cheers,

Dave

Cheers Dave. The weather wasn't brilliant here, but no rain until this evening.
With only a few sunny spells, today was amazing, almost needed to pinch myself
to confirm the date! .

Some fresh looking butterflies there = good to know Herstmonceaux is still producing fresh butterflies

Cracking shots Trevor I'venot seen a Peacock for an age now, I'm surprised that they're still out they normally toddle off to Bedfordshire very early in the autumn? Over here it's been one of those weird days when it seemed to change every few minutes...still as I'm stuck in work 'nae bovver'

Have a goodun

Wurzel