Trevor

[trevor]

Thanks Katrina. Considering the date and weather that threatened to become doubtful,
today was brilliant for quality, and to some extent quantity of butterflies.
The gardens are open until 31st October.

[David M]

,,,A pretty good day for October 1st.

I'll say.

I don't see that many Peacocks in August, let alone October!

[essexbuzzard]

That’s clearly a marvellous site for late butterflies you’ve got there, Trevor. Looks like you’re making the most of it, too!

If I lived a bit nearer, I’d be heading down there, that’s for sure.

[trevor]

Thanks Wurzel. There was a surprising number of Peacocks around yesterday,
the odd one popping up where ever I went. However the three Specklies
were the real surprise.

Thanks David. Those late Peacocks performed well.

Hi Mark. It might be an idea to put Herstmonceux in your diary for sometime
in September next year. This year all the expected species are/were there
but in lower numbers than usual. Clouded Yellows being the exception, none seen.

[trevor]

A few more from Herstmonceux.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Painted Lady Trevor
"However the three Specklies
were the real surprise."...they seem to have had a slight resurgence in the Autumn Trevor - on one of my visits I saw 7-8 in only two sections of my local patch but back in the spring the same spots only had one or two between them

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. I was not only surprised to find those three Specklies in the gardens,
but also how fresh two of them were. Better still, the opportunity to photograph two
of them with the neutral background of the stone path.

[trevor]

I spent a very rewarding afternoon at Herstmonceux. All the normal species were present.
The take away memory from this visit was the sight of a Peregrine Falcon flying overhead,
which then dived at high speed with wings swept back. This was a first for me, observing
the classic Peregrine dive.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Trevor. I decided I couldn’t wait until next September...

Another cracking set of images from today, by the way! Glad you made the most of the glorious weather.

[David M]

Nice selection from Herstmonceux, Trevor. That seems to be an excellent autumn site for a range of butterflies.

[Katrina]

Glad the butterflies are still going strong there

[Wurzel]

I'm glad someones still knee deep in the butterflies Trevor I think we had a mini deluge over this way today, it sounds like the rain was going to smash through the roof Those Painted Lady shots are mighty fine and cracking Commas too

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Many thanks Mark, David, Katrina & Wurzel.
Trying to eek out as much as I can this month, as we know it ain't gonna last!

Today the sun was shining through a layer of high cloud which just took the chill off.
Knowing two things could happen, the cloud could clear or it could cloud over,
so I risked a trip over to Herstmonceux, and it clouded over! and the temp was 10c.
Unsurprisingly the only butterfly I saw was two visits from a single male Wall Brown.
Fortunately the chip and pin machine was down at the ticket office, so I had free entry.
So the single butterfly I saw didn't cost me £7.00. Fortunately the cafe could take plastic.

[Wurzel]

Sounds like a win, win, win trip Trevor Lovely looking for Wall and in good nick for this time of year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...Trying to eek out as much as I can this month, as we know it ain't gonna last...

Think you've got a few days of rather warm weather forecast over in the east, Trevor, so there's life in the season yet.

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. It was win win today. Epic for mid October !

Thanks David. We had the weather you mention today, 18c on the way there and 21c on the way home.

Herstmonceux can throw up a few surprises now and again, and did so today.
Among several male Wall Browns flying in their normal manic manner, was an immaculate, fresh
female, found basking in a part of the garden reserved for medicinal plants. Although fresh she
had a slightly deformed left forewing.
Another surprise, a first for me ( but it wouldn't have been for Katrina ) was the discovery of a
juvenile snake, not in the loo !, but on the steps up to the sundial. ID required as it was black
with a diamond pattern along the sides. So Adder or Grass Snake ?.
A further surprise was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth darting around a salvia. This was one of very
few I've seen this year.
It was also pleasing to find two fresh Peacocks and a Red Admiral, the only vanessids seen today.


Of the ones that escaped without a shot today were a fresh Red Admiral and an old Small Copper.

[bugboy]

The yellow collar makes that a Grass Snake Trevor

[trevor]

Cheers Paul. One of the gardeners told me he often finds Grass Snakes basking
when he opens up the gardens early in the morning. He never mentioned Adders,
so a Grass Snake was most likely. One of the very few I've ever seen !

Many thanks for the ID.

[millerd]

Those Walls seem to be going on forever, Trevor! If the weather continues in reasonable vein, they'll still be around at Christmas... When do the gardens close for the winter (or don't they)?

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

Cheers Dave. There were plenty of Wall sightings today, including three squabbles.
The gardens close at the end of this month. If it's fine might be worth a visit tomorrow M25 permitting ?.