Browndown (South) Gosport. My first search for butterflies in September realised sightings of seven species from 1310-1500 when the forecast rain eventually brought proceedings to a premature conclusion. Initially with the temperature around 19 degrees but with low and threatening grey skies some late Summer species were noted. Two x Painted Lady were seen one of which was very sedentary as was a male Viper which was blocking a grassy path from which I made a prompt 180! No sign of the recently reported Long-tailed Blue and very little Sweet Pea was in flower to encourage it. Perhaps with some sunshine numbers may have been greater and the forecast for the next few days is pretty grim. So I had to be content with seven. Total: Large White (M)(2)(F)(1); Small White (M)(3); Small Heath (3); Painted Lady (2); Red Admiral (1); Brown Argus (1); Meadow Brown (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Large White male Photo © Francis Plowman | Painted Lady Photo © Francis Plowman | Small White male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Moth trap in my garden at Leigh Park. I had my moth trap on overnight in my garden at Leigh Park from 1st Sept into the following morning. I caught 38 species, some of the highlights were L-album Wainscot 30, Silver Y 9, Vine's Rustic 35, Pale Mottled Willow 12, White Point 18, Setaceous Hebrew Character 7, Barred Sallow, Small Rivulet, Swallow Prominent, Bordered Pug, Oncocera semirubella, Burnished Brass, female Orange Swift, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix, Rusty-dot Pearl, Garden Pebble 2 etc. [Posted by Barry Collins]
Portsdown Hairstreak. On my regular dog walks on Portsdown hill I have been keeping an eye open for Brown Hairstreaks. Whilst I have only seen one adult to date I know they are active because I have found a dozen or so eggs on the blackthorn stands. Today after a 90 minute excursion I had just about given up and was making my way home along an unlikely narrow path when a female landed on some clematis right in front of me. She proceeded to walk all over the foliage, carefully checking with her feet to locate the blackthorn. She stopped a couple of times to soak up some warmth spreading her wings wide in the sunshine. When she eventually located a small sprig of food plant she made her way down to a suitable fork and proceeded to lay a single egg. Quickly she flew off a short distance and repeated the exercise. I watched her for fifteen minutes or so before she flew up and away over the hedge. Given her condition she looked to be a few days old, so all being well has deposited a good number of eggs along the footpaths and hedgerows. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
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| Testing the leaves Photo © Mark Tutton | Resting in the sun Photo © Mark Tutton | Fruits of her labour Photo © Mark Tutton |