www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I'm pleased you liked my ' Chalkhill duo ' Katrina.
I also posted it on UK butterflies facebook page. It has so far received 2.5K likes.
As for Cows, my mother was brought up on a farm and was told by my grandfather
never to go near cows with calves, they can be very protective. I too would have been wary.

Lovely Chalkhills, Katrina.

You were wise not to risk getting too close to the cows. Given they weigh close to 100 stone, there's only going to be one winner in a head-to-head!

Thanks Trevor and David, makes me feel less of a wimp.

I always steer well clear of Cows Katrina because they're massive, easily spooked and also very inquisitive - which can be a recipe for disaster . Unfortunately my local Grayling site is in the New Forest so I have to keep a look-out all around me because they like to graze in the breaks in the heather, the very same spots often favoured by the Graylings

Have a goodun

Wurzel

My sister came to visit and we saw long tailed blues at Brighton yesterday late afternoon and BHs today at Steyning

Sounds like the perfect Bank Holiday Katrina Lovely shots of the BH and well done with the LTB. You are making it look so easy!

Thank you Pauline. We did draw a blank at Bookham Common yesterday morning. It tipped down before we reached the recommended area so we headed back to the area next to the car.

That was great going ! Two desirable species in one weekend.
For the LTB I'm going to wait for the fresh UK specimens later on.
Herstmonceux is still quiet.

Fantastic shots Katrina, of all the Butterflies I really like the Small Copper one best though Goldie

Cracking sightings and shots Katrina

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Goldie and Wurzel
Good plan Trevor. I was wondering about Herstmonceaux.

Katrina wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:37 pmMy sister came to visit and we saw long tailed blues at Brighton yesterday late afternoon and BHs today at Steyning

Hope you cracked open the bubbly!

That's one hell of a pair of sightings.

I went to Goring to see a friend and look for LTBs.
I was looking for an hour or so and didn't find any but did find Common Blues, Small Coppers, Small Whites, several HBHMs and a Painted Lady

I arranged to meet Trevor today at Herstmonceaux.
It was quite hot but we had some well needed rehydration at the cafe.
We saw Small Coppers, Small Whites, Large Whites, Red Admiral, a Common Blue , a Speckled Wood, a Meadow Brown , a Peacock (or three if you count the bird variety) but the star of today (apart from the company) was a large HBHM.
I was trying different settings to see if I could freeze frame the wings - sadly not but I did manage to freeze frame something else (not the shot I was aiming for! but haven't seen it before so thought I would post.)

Cracking Hummingbird Hawk Moth shot Katrina Is that 'frass' being ejected in the last shot?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Looks like some kind of fluid to me.

Looks like you captured it going in one end and coming out the other in one shot there!

That's an amazing last shot, Katrina. You have definitely frozen the action there, and it appears that the fluid was expelled with some force!

Cheers,

Dave

Yep sorry I thought frass was a general term for waste but its only for larva. Thinking about it now I do recall reading somewhere that when feeding the fluid can pass through ridiculusly quickly, a bit like its overfilled so the fluid just leaves the body

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Your final image is amazing! The ejection certainly has force behind it,
better seen if the image is clicked on. Possibly a unique capture.

Thanks for an enjoyable day ( and the drink ).
Trevor.