Thursday 18 July 2013

IT AIN`T `ALF HOT INNIT

The first small skippers at Temple Ewell on Saturday morning and chalk hill blue finally appeared at Langdon on sunday morning.Monday went on safari to Northamptonshire and Norfolk to see two of our most special butterflies.Essex skippers were out at Samphire Hoe on Tuesday and a gatekeeper came into the garden yesterday afternoon.
 SMALL SKIPPER
 MARBLED WHITE

SMALL SKIPPER

 RINGLET
 SMALL SKIPPER

SMALL SKIPPER.Note the orange antennae tips.

 CHALKHILL BLUE at LANGDON CLIFFS
 CHALKHILL BLUE freshly emerged.
SMALL BLUE -Although it doesn`t look it this small blue was really small,about half the size of the norm.

Now for Mondays epic trip,armed with the requisite map references etc set off for Fermyn woods near Corby before 5am,arriving at 0745 and photographing a purple emperor an hour later,I saw at least 7 of these superb creatures in the two hours there.Thanks to Kevin J for the info.


PURPLE EMPEROR



PURPLE EMPEROR male

 PURPLE EMPEROR female
There were also white admirals and silver washed fritillary here.
Moving east into Norfolk to Strumpshaw Fen,I soon found this wonderful SWALLOWTAIL in the doctors garden,feasting on sweet williams.




I only saw this single specimen as it is getting a bit late for them but there should be a second brood in august.




















 There were hundreds of small tortoishell at Strumpshaw which is good and lots of comma too.



 COMMA
 ESSEX SKIPPER AT SAMPHIRE HOE-Note black antennae tips.
SMALL TORTOISHELL SAMPHIRE HOE.

 GATEKEEPER in my garden
There has been a big new silver bird in the sky this week BAs new A380,has been coming and going at Manston doing training etc.

BAs A380 Double Decker.
 UP
 UP
 AND
 
 AWAY.







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4 comments:

  1. Kingsdowner18 July 2013 at 13:22

    Great stuff Phil.
    Are you following Matthew Oates' tweets and blog:
    http://apaturairis.blogspot.co.uk/

    Most envious of the sightings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Phil Smith18 July 2013 at 15:35

    Hi Steve don`t be envious you have been to parc asterix.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mike H19 July 2013 at 00:14

    Cracking shots from your trips Phil, whats your camera set up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kingsdowner23 July 2013 at 16:31

    Saw no purple emperors at Parc Asterix (although did see a black kite there)and have now failed to find the blasted things in Hertfordshire woods.

    I think I'll concentrate on not seeing white-letter hairstreaks, which I can look for closer to home.

    ReplyDelete

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