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Post by shirl100 on Aug 28, 2015 18:43:52 GMT
My BOTD was a Brown Argos, first ever sighting for me and it was on the butterfly transect I was surveying so even better! Also female Common Blues and Holly Blues, only seen males so far so that was also good. Better not forget the Wall Brown too - more than one BOTD!
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 29, 2015 16:15:08 GMT
The bank holiday forecast didn't look great + we left in cool, cloudy conditions but the forecast showed some patchy sun until late morning so we decided to take a chance + go to Bookham Common for my final target species of the year; a rather elusive species too.
The weather improved as we were on the train. When we arrived there were some decent spells of sunshine + soon saw a handful of Meadow Browns. Several Small Coppers were seen, a single Small Heath, but no sign of my target (it was so easy the last time we tried 2 years ago). I was surprised to see a Clouded Yellow nectaring on Marsh Thistles next to a recently cleared patch.
At this point we saw 2 guys who also looked as though they were butterflying. Mentioned our Clouded Yellow which had now disappeared but said we hadn't found a Brown Hairstreak yet.I knew a Butterfly Conservation trip yesterday had yielded 3 females, so was hopeful provided the sun remained + the guys said they had been watching a settled female for a long time. Very kindly they took us to where they had seen her. As we walked along the track what was almost definitely one flew in front of us but kept going. Fortunately the one they had seen was still present in the middle of a bramble bush supping the juices from an over-ripe fruit. A real beauty. I would never have spotted this one on my own!
Later near the Isle of Wight Pond my partner spotted a Silver-washed Fritillary, a slightly worn male, which eventually settled on some Hemp Agrimony while nearby I found a fresh male Brimstone.
In total we saw 13 butterfly species, but surprisingly no vanessids.
BOTD the lovely female Brown Hairstreak.
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Post by shirl100 on Aug 29, 2015 16:52:33 GMT
Sounds like a fabulous day aeshna especially the Brown Hairstreak, I have just had a wander round our meadow and spotted 4 Small Coppers (all on Ragwort), 3 of them were the blue spot aberration so in the absence of any Brown Argus today, my BOTD are the Small Coppers.
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Post by petecollins on Sept 1, 2015 13:04:00 GMT
A Painted Lady for me today, here on the Business Park in Huntingdon where I work. BTW has anyone else noticed that aeshna5 has been 'deified' - he's now a God!
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 1, 2015 16:41:54 GMT
A Painted Lady for me today, here on the Business Park in Huntingdon where I work. BTW has anyone else noticed that aeshna5 has been 'deified' - he's now a God! Yes- a little embarassing!
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 5, 2015 17:02:38 GMT
Lovely pristine male Brimstone today and quite a few male and female Common Blues - one perched on a harebell. Shirl CommonBlue_DQ by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
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Post by petecollins on Sept 6, 2015 10:02:04 GMT
A Speckled Wood in the garden today, not a very common visitor.
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 6, 2015 17:44:43 GMT
At last a lovely sunny day though with a very chilly start. For me only Speckled Woods, Small + Large Whites the main species with a Comma in my front garden sipping at the Verbena, my BOTD. My partner did see Holly Blue + Red Admiral in the local park around the corner.
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 6, 2015 18:08:03 GMT
It was a good butterfly day, Speckled Woods appearing now (4 today), still plenty of Small Coppers, Common Blues, Small Tortoiseshells although the Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers are declining fast now. My BOTD was a pair of pristine Small Whites on Field Scabious
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 7, 2015 15:36:37 GMT
The Speckled Wood are arriving, 3 in the garden this afternoon and 2 Wall Brown seen whilst walking the dog on Middleton Moor, Derbyshire
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 9, 2015 16:43:23 GMT
Female Brimstone this afternoon, not much else around though with all this cloud
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 12, 2015 18:28:23 GMT
Tie between Small Heath + Small Copper today in Richmond Park. A cool breeze but warming up nicely in the afternoon.
In total we had:
Small White 1 Speckled Wood 4 Meadow Brown 3 Small Heath 14 Small Copper 3
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Post by petecollins on Sept 13, 2015 8:41:54 GMT
Yesterday I saw a Red Admiral, as I took a short walk round the footpaths here in Kensworth.
I also saw a Small Heath, a Meadow Brown and 3 or 4 Speckled Woods.
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 13, 2015 8:59:04 GMT
Not much on the afternoon walk yesterday except a small Buddleia with 6 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Peacock with a pristine Red Admiral a short distance away
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Post by aeshna5 on Sept 13, 2015 14:47:01 GMT
No butterflies while out doing my WeBS counts this morning but briefly in a sunny spell in the garden had 2 Small White, female Large White + my BOTD a very fresh Speckled Wood.
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