Well , the wind was back again this morning , plus a temperature of 25C at 0900 . I decided to head up onto the Downs , generally for butterflies , but more specifically to see if the Chalkhill Blues had emerged yet . The reserve managed mainly for this species failed to produce any , but it
did produce a mating pair of Ringlets ( 96 recorded in total ) . Further along the Downs , my first female Marbled White of the year . The female differs from the male with light brown/white 
markings on the under side of the hindwing , as opposed to the male's black/white markings ( 15 in total recorded ) . The Small Blues were found in exactly the same place as last time , but they
are no longer pristine . This and another male fought constantly ( 3 in total recorded ) . My search was not in vain for the Chalkhill Blue , when in a sheltered corner I disturbed a male that had only just emerged , my first of the year , and the only one recorded . A flash of orange had me chasing in the heat , but I did manage this shot of the Dark-green Fritillary , the only one
recorded , before it headed off again . Other species recorded , Large White (8) , Small Skipper (25) , Meadow Brown (90) , Common Blue (2) , Small Heath (8) , Small White (3) , and Comma (1) , a total of 13 species .
did produce a mating pair of Ringlets ( 96 recorded in total ) . Further along the Downs , my first female Marbled White of the year . The female differs from the male with light brown/white markings on the under side of the hindwing , as opposed to the male's black/white markings ( 15 in total recorded ) . The Small Blues were found in exactly the same place as last time , but they are no longer pristine . This and another male fought constantly ( 3 in total recorded ) . My search was not in vain for the Chalkhill Blue , when in a sheltered corner I disturbed a male that had only just emerged , my first of the year , and the only one recorded . A flash of orange had me chasing in the heat , but I did manage this shot of the Dark-green Fritillary , the only one recorded , before it headed off again . Other species recorded , Large White (8) , Small Skipper (25) , Meadow Brown (90) , Common Blue (2) , Small Heath (8) , Small White (3) , and Comma (1) , a total of 13 species . A few reptiles were also found , mainly Slow Worms , but 2 Adders , surprising given the conditions were also seen . The first , a female beat the camera , but the second , a male stayed 
just long enough for a couple of shots . Still not a great deal of colour on the chalk grassland , but these few are doing their best ,
Wild Basil/Clinopodium vulgare , a member of the Labiate family .
just long enough for a couple of shots . Still not a great deal of colour on the chalk grassland , but these few are doing their best ,Wild Basil/Clinopodium vulgare , a member of the Labiate family .
one of my favourites , the tiny Squinancywort/Asperula cynanchica , a member of the Bedstraw family ,
Wild Thyme/Thymus serpyllum , another Labiate ,
Dwarf Thistle/Cirsium acaule , a member of the Daisy family ,
Common Rock-rose/ Hellianthemum nummalarium ,
and finally Common Centaury/Centaurium erythraea , a member of the Gentian family . Back 
near the car , this Field Grasshopper was feeling lucky playing on the road .And finally , a couple for the man . The first I should know as I was told it last year , but my 
memory doesn't last that long , and the second , a silvery version , that looks like it could be 
related .
memory doesn't last that long , and the second , a silvery version , that looks like it could be related .
6 comments:
Hi, Greenie. The first one is definitely Oncocera semirubella and the second one could well be Crambus perlella.
Lovely photo of the Marbled White Greenie and the Dark-green Fritillary really is very attractive, that's another one I have never seen.
A nice selection of wild flowers too.
Incidentally, you mentioned the other day somewhere that you have the Fitter, Fitter and Blamey book. I have an ancient copy of their Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe paperback among my books and out of curiosity I looked on Amazon to see if there has been a reprint. There hasn't but they are selling the secondhand paperback of their Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland for between £59 and £115!!! So if you have that one it is worth money, sadly mine isn't :(
Still to find a Marbled White Greenie :-)
Dont you go over-doing it in this heat, chasing around for flutters at your age indeed :-) :-)
Greenie, You must have been close in for the Squinancywort - that's tiny.
My technique for finding Dwarf Thistle is to picnic on the downs - I invariably sit on one if not half a dozen!
Some great shots there mate, Ive yet to see Small blue, Marbled white, or Green Fritillary.
Something you may be interested in, for approx a week now, ive spotted 2 male Adders. It seems the males are moving back into the area, because I havent seen a male for a couple of months now, just females. Also I went on an early evening trek Sunday night, and i came across both Grass snake and female Adder, which were still out and about after 7.00pm. Must be the warm weather?
Some really good Butterflies there Greenie, a couple I've not seen yet, with some nice photos to go with it. I had my first Semirubella last year, nice micro :-)
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