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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 21, 2018 17:27:31 GMT
Gatekeepers were probably the most numerous butterfly today but the highlight were 4 Graylings that frequently settled on the sandy paths. Still one fairly fresh Silver-studded Blue seen.
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Post by ianr on Jul 30, 2018 10:42:11 GMT
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 30, 2018 16:34:39 GMT
Nice photo, Ian. Nort been a bumper year for them. I've only seen about 3 so far, though some coastal locations have had more.
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 4, 2018 18:25:57 GMT
Good numbers of butterflies on the North Downs near Dorking today. No migrants though + 2 Commas the only vanessids seen.
Most numerous were Chalkhill Blue with over 200 seen. Next most common was Meadow Brown with about 100.
Blues were everywhere with also reasonable numbers of fresh second generation Adonis Blues + Common Blues with a few Brown Argus. Holly Blue was found away from the downland with a couple on Hemp Agrimony by the pool.
BOTD though was Silver-spotted Skipper with c18 recorded.
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Post by NellyDee on Aug 9, 2018 13:13:59 GMT
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 9, 2018 17:08:50 GMT
Nice photos but not a Small White. This species never shows the extent of black down the edge of the wing shown here but restricted to the apex. You have a female Large White. Down here it's been an excellent year for whites.
Today has actually been very wet down here- really unusual as we've been in a severe drought so much needed, but a no butterfly day for me!
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Post by NellyDee on Aug 10, 2018 8:02:53 GMT
Thank you aeshna. They do seem to be the only ones doing well here albeit just a few. Normally there are lots of orange-tipped and there were a few in our short spell of sunshine, but now they have disappeared. I was delighted when a huge swathe of cuckoo flower came into bloom, but it promptly drooped and died, as did a number of plants here.
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 11, 2018 17:53:16 GMT
This morning after an early walk spent time in the garden putting in a second small pond, Plenty of white activity with quite a few Small + Large Whites which favour the mass of Verbena bonariensis in the back garden.
Also a Painted Lady briefly on a Buddleja, a Comma on both the plants mentioned, a Speckled Wood, a blue which I didn't get a good view of (Holly is regular but got a Common vibe bout it but didn't see it well enough) + BOTD- a Brown Argus which spent some time on the Verbena. I saw what was probably one briefly last Sunday at the front but disappeared before I could scrutinise it properly. Size was right but there've been some tiny Common Blues about. Confirmed new garden species for me so pretty exciting!
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 25, 2018 14:26:59 GMT
A mating pair of Green-veined Whites in the garden this afternoon, but were buzzed by a Small White a couple of times, though they remained unfazed!
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 2, 2018 16:27:58 GMT
Still good numbers of butterflies around with the glorious summery weather this weekend. However the only vanessid I've seen despite being out most of the time was a single tatty + faded Painted Lady.
Today most numerous butterfly was 24 Small Heaths with 4 Common Blues, 2 small Coppers +a few Small Whites.
Didn't see any Meadow Browns locally today but a few yesterday in Richmond Park +a couple of Speckled Woods.
In the garden this afternoon plenty of visits by both Small + Large Whites that love the Verbena bonariensis + a single Speckled Wood.
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 15, 2018 15:36:30 GMT
Butterfly numbers dwindling now- just a single Small White on the Verbena in the garden + a male Common Blue in the adjacent park nectaring in a mixed annual bed.
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Post by duncan74 on Sept 15, 2018 16:11:04 GMT
Mine is this lovely female Common blue trying to warm up on a leaf Duncan DSC05705 by Duncan Mclean, on Flickr
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 16, 2018 18:23:15 GMT
When we arrived at Wallasea about 9.30 this morning it was feeling chill in the overcast blustery conditions + didn't expect too many insects. My midday the sun appeared + despite the wind it warmed up considerably. First sighting was an unidentified distant small white- the only one we saw.
Then we saw a couple of Common Blues which in the end we saw almost 20, the most abundant species. Also a fresh Red Admiral on the Sea Aster, 3 Small Heath, 2 small Copper + joint BOTD- a single fresh male Wall Brown + 5 or 6 Clouded Yellows. Both of the species were my first UK sighting this year but had seen them overseas.
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Post by duncan74 on Sept 16, 2018 18:30:46 GMT
nice to see so many, I have not seen any clouded yellows down here in SE Kent yet, I'll have to check the Butterfly recording sheet when I'm down next, put the moth trap out tonight, uncan
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 23, 2018 18:04:30 GMT
After much rain yesterday afternoon + heavy this morning it was nice to see a Green-veined White in some sunshine this afternoon.
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