Friday 2nd August 2019

Butterfly species: Small White (4) Holly Blue (1) Silver-washed Fritillary (9) Gatekeeper (3) Green-veined White (4) Meadow Brown (5) Small Skipper (1) Large White (3) Red Admiral (4) Common Blue (1) Small Copper (1) Painted Lady (1)

Small Copper - Tucking Mill 02-08-2019
A much later start for my trip along the path this week. For various reasons I ended up beginning my survey at 4.14pm on a humid and slightly cloudy August afternoon (23c). This had some benefits. The butterflies were not as numerous, but were much more approachable.

Common Blue (Female) Tucking Mill 02-08-2019
It was nice to see two, fresh summer brood butterflies, a Small Copper and a Female Common Blue at my usual stopping off point at Tucking Mill. They were lazily fluttering around on the embankment there, and easily approachable with the camera.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Var. Valezina) Midford (August 2018)
The highlight species of this trip was less obliging for the camera. I managed to count nine Silver-washed Fritillaries between the end of the Combe Down Tunnel and the start of the permissive path the other side of the Midford Viaduct. Using binoculars, I watched one gliding between the trees and shrubs about 15 metres off the path. This turned out to be the ‘Valezina’ form of the species. I photographed this female variant last year about 100 metres or so away on the Midford Viaduct.

Painted Lady - Midford 02-08-2019
On my return across the Viaduct I stopped at one several Buddleia bushes to watch and photograph a Panted Lady butterfly and a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly.

Painted Lady - Midford 02-08-2019

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly - Midford 02-08-2019



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