Walls

As I have no doubt said before, the hunt for Brown Hairstreaks symbolises, for me,  the end of the butterfly season. Last year, here in Sussex, we had an extension with Long-tailed Blues emerging at the end of October and even into November. The season is slowly winding down and soon it will be time to start looking for some elusive birds.

Over the last week I have visited some of my local sites and found that butterfly numbers have, at long last, increased. Good numbers of Red Admirals and Silver-Washed Fritillaries in particular, the odd Painted Lady and an emergence of some fresh Brimstones. Generally the condition of some of the specimens can be described as "well worn". It never ceases to amaze me that SwF males continue to make advances to females when most of their wings have disappeared and they can barely fly - driven solely by the urge to procreate. Later, I sat for an hour exactly between two territories of Walls, anything that flew through was vigorously intercepted and engaged, even the Dandelion seed heads that drifted past were attacked. Occasionally the two Walls would meet at the junction of their properties and mayhem ensued, no wonder I struggled to find one suitable for recording as they are constantly engaged in combat.

Last Thursday found me at Houghton, I live in hope of finding the SwF forma valesina on my patch, plenty of SwF about and I searched in vain. A single, very worn, White Admiral was nectaring on the Hemp Agrimony, a once stunning butterfly now full of holes. Back at Whiteways I was entertained by some freshly emerged Common Blues which I recorded.



Only a few scratches on this one

 

Monday I ventured to Anchor Bottom, again in search of some 2nd brood butterflies, this time - Adonis Blues - alas very little to be seen in the extensive wild flowers that cover the south facing slope. I also failed to find any sign of the Silver-spotted Skipper colony that used to be below the rabbit warren. It was all a bit depressing until a fly by of a Small Tortoiseshell had me puffing up the slope. I finally caught up with it as it came to rest on a sun baked cow pat - amazing how such beautiful creatures are attracted to so much poo! Not long before these slopes are covered in countless Autumn Lady's Tresses, another sign of the end of the butterflying year.

 

Tuesday, Martin picked me up and we set off for Tillets Lane Fields near Warnham, ostensibly for some late season Purple Hairstreaks and a slim chance of a Brown Hairstreak. With clear skies we were scouring the tops of some magnificent oaks, wondering if we were too late, when down fluttered a silver object that crash landed right in front of us - another worn specimen of what we had come for. And to top it all, on the way back to the car I found a male Brown Hairstreak, unfortunately I managed only two out of focus shots before it disappeared for good.

Proof - but no prize for the photo.

Next up was Madgelands Wood, again a search for possible late Purple Emperor and perhaps a White Admiral - no such luck. A fleeting glance of a large butterfly in the top of an oak was probably a purply, but there again no positive ID. So none of our targets were achieved but we were rewarded by some obliging Southern Hawkers, posing in the sunshine that penetrates the rides.

We finished the day touring the rides of Houghton Forest, lots of SwFs, Red Admirals and Brimstones but for me the blue female Common Blue was the best of the bunch.

Brown Hairstreak

When we were looking for Purple Hairstreaks at Tillets Lane Fields I noticed several instances of tall Ash trees above Blackthorn and had a hunch that there were possibilities for Brown Hairstreaks. They have been recorded here twice, according to the Warnham website. So, today I paid a visit, more as a recce with low expectations, than a butterflying day. As I arrived the site was awash with Gatekeepers, literally hundreds of them nectaring on every variety of plant and a full supporting cast of Meadow Browns and Small Skippers. As I completed my first circuit of the perimeter a butterfly caught my eye, just darker on the inner wing and brighter than a Gatekeeper. I nearly ignored it but decided to give it a closer look - my 48th species of the year -  a beautiful male Brown Hairstreak. Panic set in but I managed some record shots, after all I have to have evidence for my butterflying buddy. I followed  it for some distance but it never settled in a position where I could get a clear shot. Finally I committed the cardinal sin, I took my eye off it to check my pictures and when I looked up it had disappeared amongst several Gatekeepers and I failed to relocate it.

 

Encouraged by this success I did another three circuits of the field but not another specimen to be found. Although my diligent searching turned up a partial aberration of a Gatekeeper, possibly ab. partimtransformis.  UK Butterflies haughtily states; "a pathological form which does not deserve a name". One day I will find a bilateral gynandromorph. A nice Green-veined White and a very friendly Common Green Grasshopper were obliging enough to be captured.

No wonder Small Skippers are doing so well, everywhere I go they are at it. This pair finally ended up on my leg as I sat and recorded their antics.
 
 

Purple Emperors (II)

More butterflying and, yet again, with a purple accent. Yesterday we visited a new venue, Tilletts Lane fields in Warnham. Martin had discovered details of this place on the web and we finally got to make a visit. Not with any particular species in mind, more of a recce just to acquaint ourselves with the lie of the land. This hasn't been a butterfly reserve for long but it shows just what can be done to provide proper habitats.   As soon as we arrived we spotted several Purple Hairstreaks up in the canopy of an oak tree, with such a find spirits were up immediately. PHs are the most frustrating of targets, lots going on up high but, of course, none venturing to lower levels.

After a while we took a walk round the perimeter of the two fields, masses of Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Skippers, all highly mobile in the sunshine. Whilst trying to get to grips with a Silver-washed Fritillary nectaring in some brambles, I was aware of a pale butterfly going past, I gave it a cursory glance and dismissed it as a worn Meadow Brown. Thankfully Martin was more switched on and after following the specimen for some distance, managed to get some shots of it.  At Martins recommendation " Hey Dave I think you should photograph this" I did indeed take a few shots. The upshot is that is probably a fairly rare aberrant form of the Meadow Brown, possibly cinerea. Anyway Martin posted a photo on BC Sussex, judge for yourself.

Postscript: Considered opinion of the experts is that is an albino form - which diminishes the excitement somewhat - but I find it just as interesting.

 

Forest Bug



Soldier Beetles doing what Soldier Beetles constantly engage in!

After searching endlessly through a myriad of Skippers we finally came up with one that satisfied the criteria for an Essex Skipper and we added another tick to the year list - two in one day - we were on a roll. Cloud cover increased and the chances of getting a PH coming down were slim so we cut our losses and dived down to Mill Hill hoping for a Chalkhill Blue. On the coast the sun was out and in very warm conditions the only specimens flying at Mill Hill were Marbled Whites.

Today we decided to visit Botany Bay first, for another go at Purple Emperors before revisiting Tilletts. As we approached "The Triangle" it was obvious that other photographers had found  a specimen, this became the centre of attention for an increasing group so we moved away hoping to find our own subject. Back at the triangle we met Colin Baker ( take a look at his website Lepi - photos, stunning quality photographs) who graciously shared a Purplie with us, first up in the foliage and then on the ground for some time - Thanks Colin. 

With the sun playing hide and seek we left for the car park, on the way we found two obliging Ringlets engaged in what all butterflies spend most of their time attempting to do and managed to record the event for posterity.

At Tilletts it was a continuation of yesterday, Purple Hairstreaks up in the canopy, this time they had moved to an adjacent Ash Tree and refused to come down yet again. The sun had galvanised even more of the common butterflies into action but nothing remarkable turned up.