Hoggers

[David M]

Nice selection again, Hoggers.

Given the numbers of Coppers that are appearing in areas where they are normally scarce (such as my neck of the woods!) I anticipate a surge over the next couple of weeks round your way.

[Hoggers]

It was very warm and bright when I got home from work today. I went straight back out, this time with Pip in tow, and headed to my newly discovered local Small Copper site. Sure enough I found Small Coppers in exactly the same place as before

Today I counted 5

One at least I'd seen there a week ago

This isolated little colony interests me greatly and I hope to keep an eye on it in the future

[Goldie M]

Hi! Hogger's. I went to Southport yesterday and saw more Coppers and yet another Blue Badge Goldie

[David M]

Things are looking up, Hoggers. Good luck keeping tabs on your new site.

[Hoggers]

Hi Goldie and David, I get the impression that more people are spotting Small Coppers this September than at any time for many years and I can only think the long hot summer has done it.

Today started off dull and rather cool with thick grey cloud cover. I had little hope of doing any Coppering at Dungeness but decided to give it a try nevertheless, if only to let young Pip stretch his legs.

But good luck was on our side because it wasn't long after arriving that the sky cleared and it became bright and warm

Pip was soon at work

sniffing out the Coppers

This third brood although modest in size is producing a high number of Blue Badgers

Near absent in the second brood they've made a strong come back in the third

I wonder why?

It was becoming so warm that Pip went in search of, and found, some shade

And quickly made himself at home

But the Copper Hunt soon resumed and we saw this beautifully marked female

The oddest Copper was this one : I couldn't get near it so forgive the poor quality photo, but the marks are unusual

In all we saw 29 Small Coppers

And needless to say, had a great time!

[David M]

Loving the shots of Pip (as well as the Coppers), Hoggers. We've now got two butterfly-hunting dogs (Guy Padfield's Minnie being the other) to follow on the forum.

[Hoggers]

Thanks David, he's certainly very keen although I'm not sure yet whether it's Coppers he's after or bird watchers : he introduced himself to quite a few of the latter who I got the impression would rather have met him another time and not when they were looking for an elusive Wryneck!

He's a friendly little chap

We had a glorious time there this morning, plenty of Coppers about

It got quite hot and while Pip took a break

I had the chance to watch some jousting Coppers

They're so fast they make me giddy

Observing Copper behaviour is my favourite past time

(next to walking Pip of course!)

Pip's Copper Count today was 49

Still many in tip top nick, lots of Blue Badgers and I was pleased to see just how well the Sorrel has recovered from the drought, so all in all things look good for the Coppers of Dungeness

[David M]

Things are looking up, Hoggers!

I love those in-flight shots. The butterflies are extremely fast so you must end up with quite a few air shots?

[Goldie M]

Hi! Hogger's , love the shots of your dog the Butterflies look good too I was amazed when you said " it was too Hot" , we've had to put the heating on a few times here so it's good to see some Butterflies again I thought they'd all gone!!
Goldie

[ernie f]

Great Copper Shots, Hoggers (and great Pip shots too!)

I was fascinated by your head-on shot of a jousting Copper.

It is good news the Copper numbers have picked-up more or less everywhere.

[Hoggers]

Last Saturday was cold and dull so Pip and I saw only one Small Copper when we visited Dungeness. Today was much better

Warm and sunny and Coppers on display

Pip's Copper Hunting skills are still at the basic stage : I see things go flying up out of the grass as he capers about and I'm sometimes quick enough to snap a picture of a startled Copper

But most of the time he seems to be seeing how much ground he can cover in the shortest time rather than sniffing out butterflies

But it's early days in his training

and after cooling off

we were seeing Coppers again

We counted 15 Coppers

Great fun!

[ernie f]

Hoggers - One of those Coppers you pictured recently certainly looks as though its drinking from a berry. Is that the way you see it?

Love the Pip sequence as he runs toward you. I was fully expecting the last shot to be one of the sky as you fell over when he collided with you.

[Hoggers]

Hi Ernie, at the moment I'd say young Pip is less of an asset to Copper Hunting and more of a hindrance but I've so quickly got used to him being with me that I can't imagine going to Copperness without him!

Hopefully he'll calm down somewhat as time goes by ( i.e., in the next 12 years!! )

As for that Copper, I've certainly seen them supping juice from ripe Blackberries but not from the red unripe berries- but I've seen them drink dew from plant surfaces so maybe that's what it was doing.

All the best

Hoggers

[Wurzel]

"Love the Pip sequence as he runs toward you. I was fully expecting the last shot to be one of the sky as you fell over when he collided with you. " Me too Hoggers I hope his further training goes well

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I'm enjoying the vicarious pleasure of you and your dog having a great time amongst several dozen Small Coppers in a truly wild location, Hoggers.

Do you reckon the season will stretch into November this year?

[Hoggers]

Yesterday was absolutely glorious down here in Kent and every minute of it I was stuck at work wishing I was at Dungeness. Today when I did get down there it was dull and damp, so not promising for butterflies.

I've trained Pip to point out Ornithologists

We occupied ourselves with that for awhile but when a small flock of them passed by and Pip showed no interest in them

I guessed he had other sport on his mind and he was soon on the scent of a Small Copper

Although innocent looking

Don't be fooled : he may be just one puppy but he conducts himself like ten!

We had a bit of luck when the cloud thinned and for a few minutes it warmed up

Our first Copper of the day!

Then another

Despite the poor conditions we eventually counted 7 Small Coppers

Pip had a great time : he met the Warden and his wife, saw some Coppers and then as we were leaving Pip watched his first steam train up close as it came into Dungeness station.

Pip clearly loves it down at Dungeness and as a Copper Sniffer he's coming along just fine

The weather forecast for next week is very good indeed, so I think the Coppers of Dungeness have an excellent chance of getting into November.

[Allan.W.]

Hello Hoggers ,
I was at Dungeness yesterday ,in near perfect conditions ,took a slightly different ( and longer ) route than usual ,taking in some usually very productive "Copper" areas ,but I didn,t come across a Copper ,until I finally hit the moat ,where I managed 12 ,and along the power station fence
I found another 2 (plus a singleton at Dengemarsh ,a bit later on ) I reckon the third brood is now on the way down , it will be interesting to see if any manage to emerge for a fourth . Regards Allan.W.

[Hoggers]

Hello Allan, the weather was just amazing yesterday, so warm, sunny and calm - being stuck inside all day was torture!

But not so good today, alas. Fortunately we did get some sunshine and it brought out the butterflies.

At the moment my visits to Dungeness are more dog walk than Copper Hunt so I did well to see 7 today! Since Pip joined the team I've rather had to be satisfied with brief glimpses of butterflies as they fly away from him! Hopefully that will improve...!

Yes, I'm hoping to see a fourth brood,a last Hurrah for 2018. That'd be great. Fingers crossed.

Best wishes

Hoggers

[Hoggers]

Warm sunshine and just a gentle breeze this afternoon,much better than yesterday, so I headed down to Dungeness for a Copper Hunt.

Not many left of the third brood

But still a few attractive ones

My total for today was 12

While wandering along I saw a dazzling female Copper with a white forewing. I squatted down and managed to take this photo

Whereupon my four legged friend came charging in and knocked her flying!

I also saw what looked like a fresh female Copper but my efforts to photograph her were again impeded by the newest recruit to Team Copper

Somewhat abashed

but keen.

He made up for it by helping me find this beautifully marked female

A lovely Autumnal Copper.

What with the fine weather forecast I think we'll be seeing ( and if Pip doesn't scare them off) photographing fourth brood Coppers very soon.

[David M]

LOL! That dog is a handful, Hoggers, for sure!

I’m sure Pip will learn patience and stealth in due course, but meantime, I shall look forward to seeing your promised NEXT brood of phlaeas very soon….maybe this week, given the temperatures that are forecast.