Ampfield Wood. A visit to Ampfield Wood this morning turned up some nice butterflies, including Silver-washed Fritillary (7), White Admiral (2) and Purple Hairstreak (4). As might be expected, most of the Purple Hairstreaks were flitting around high in the oak canopy, allowing only distant photos. I was lucky, however, that one came down and settled just a metre from me. I could only get a fairly oblique image as a ditch and bramble separated me from the butterfly and any movement of the vegetation would certainly make the butterfly fly off. The White Admiral was decidedly tatty for so early in the season, but allowed me a close photo as it nectared on bramble. All in all a very enjoyable stroll around Ampfield Wood in warm sunshine. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Silver-washed Fritillary (underside) Photo © Andy Barker | White Admiral Photo © Andy Barker | Purple Hairstreak basking Photo © Andy Barker |
White-letter Hairstreak concerns. Only two White-letter Hairstreaks, both male, seen during three hours' observation at the Great Fontley elm plantation this afternoon. Both were found nectaring on bramble; no activity seen about the elm tops. Is this possibly owing to the recent heavy rains (4" / 100mm already this month) having purged the honeydew from the elm leaves, or is the WLH season already over, having possibly peaked during the heatwave when nobody was looking for the insect?
Meadow Browns aplenty, with just a fresh male Brimstone and Comma by way of variety. Interesting to note how catholic the appetite of the Meadow Brown is, sampling almost every flower in the GF garden, whereas the recent Painted Lady swarm nectared exclusively on Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve', forsaking Verbena bon., Phuopsis, Sweet Rocket and Red Valerian.
Peacock larvae have now disappeared from the nettle patch, hopefully to pupate. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Purple Hairstreak in Church Crookham. This fantastic male Purple Hairstreak somehow found his way into our house, and was found resting on the inside of the back door. He obligingly hopped onto my wife's finger allowing a rare photographic opportunity at close quarters to capture his wonderfully rich colouration. Our property is surrounded by tall mature oaks, and although we have not seen this species close to our home before, it is occasionally seen along the Basingstoke Canal, though usually as fleeting glimpses high in the trees. Having been carefully set on a Wisteria leaf after photography, he soon flew off, and was probably just as surprised by his unexpectedly close encounter with humankind as we were delighted by it! [Posted by Michael Jameson]
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| Purple Hairstreak (M) at Church Crookham Photo © Michael Jameson |
Great Fontley sightings. First White-letter Hairstreak (female) seen immediately on arrival, nectaring on bramble until dislodged by bee. Also nectaring on the same bramble clump were Small Heath (1) and Meadow Brown (12). Nearby, a self-sown Verbena bonariensis attracted a Large Skipper. Butterfly emergences oddly out of synch. with vegetation; broad-leafed lime flowers still a week(?) from budburst. Orange-tip larvae, final instar, found feeding on Sweet Rocket / Dame's Violet seed pods for the first time. No whites, no vanessids, Painted Ladies long gone. whither? [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
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| Female White-letter Hairstreak on Fontley bramble Photo © Andrew Brookes | Same female, different posture Photo © Andrew Brookes | Large Skipper enjoying Verbena bonariensis Photo © Andrew Brookes |
White Admirals at Yarmouth.. A count of up to 10 White Admiral today at Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth. Good numbers of Meadow Brown with 3 Large Skipper,a handsome male Common Blue together with a female and 3 Painted Lady. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Browndown (North) Gosport. In search of White Admiral today and two seen both on the wing on sites well apart. From 1130-1415 (19-20 deg C, mostly cloudy and breezy) a total of eight species were noted. Not a solitary Painted Lady so it maybe that the recent huge wave has now moved northwards? Apart from recording my first White Admiral of the year the last butterfly seen was a very pleasing Small Tortoiseshell; almost a rarity now in southern Hampshire. Total: Speckled Wood (M2)(F)(1); Meadow Brown (7); Holly Blue (3); Common Blue (M)(1); Small Heath (4); White Admiral (2); Large Skipper (1); Small Tortoiseshell (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small Heath Photo © Francis Plowman | Male Common Blue Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Tortoiseshell Photo © Francis Plowman |