Butterflies on Hemp agrimony

The rides of the local forest are wall to wall Hemp agrimony, Eupatorium cannabinum, which, at this time of year, is a major nectar source for many butterflies. I snapped these over a couple of hours in two afternoon sessions.

Hemp agrimony as far as the eye can see.

 

 

Of course other insects like it too....

Volucella inanis --- I think

.....and others have different preferences.

Southern Hawker

I was sat by the garden pond in the afternoon sun when I heard that distinctive "click" made by larger dragonfly wings. Sure enough, a Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea  doing what he should, hawking over the pond. I collected the camera, which is never far away and set about relocating him. For half an hour I followed him round the undergrowth, it always wanted to be in the shade or amongst vegetation - never a clear shot, but nice to have such a visitor - hope he brings a mate next time.

 

Postscript -  5 days after this a female turned up and did the business, as did a pair of common darters - so a potential two species of larva in the pond this year.

 

Houghton Forest

Another visit to Houghton Forest, mainly to try another ride, this time The Denture. Nothing to do with teeth, the name derives from "Devonshire" a method of farming where the ground is enriched by burning, or so I am led to believe from articles on the web. There is also The Dencher, the same derivation, over near Wilmington in East Sussex - there - you learn something new every day! It just might not be right though!!!

The weather was heavily overcast and there was precious little light and no depth of field but the butterflies were sitting out. First up were several Green Veined Whites followed by the ubiquitous Ringlets.  On the way back to the car park I spotted a single Chalkhill Blue with hints of orange spots on the hind wings. But the stars remain the Silver Washed Fritillaries, plenty of them about, some looking rather worn but displaying well on the heads of Hemp Agrimony.

Common Darter

Overdue garden pond maintenance was the chore for the day, the Hornwort, which we feared wouldn't grow has virtually covered the surface area. Whilst carefully extracting fronds of plant that possibly contained damselfly eggs I noticed a visitor taking up station next to the bird bath.

Silver Washed Fritillary

 

I dropped into Houghton Forest late afternoon to try and improve my SWF shots. It was fairly quiet on the rides, lots of Large Skippers and Ringlets with a plethora of Whites. Just a glimpse of an Emperor up in the canopy, several fresh Commas and a single Red Admiral. Disappointingly just a single moth eaten specimen of a SWF which I photographed. By now the sun was dipping behind the trees and only patches were sunlit so I meandered back to the car park. Sod's Law prevailed, right next to my car were three specimens avidly feeding on the Hogweed, mission accomplished - by a streak of good luck.

Very tatty!!

A pair of Large Skippers???

Before Houghton Forest I visited Lord's Piece again to try for some Emperor Dragonfly shots, I was particularly keen to get a male but this female was very obliging. The males remained aloof, I also noted a Common Darter.