Tuesday, 28 August 2012

A Painted Lady, mating Adonis and a Brown Hairstreak

Painted Lady, Cynthia cardui
This morning I did my Mill Hill transect and was delighted to see a Painted Lady and a mating pair of Adonis Blues. Other transect results:  Adonis Blue 201, female Brimstone 1, Meadow Brown 265, Peacock 1, Red Admiral 3, Small Heath 12, Small Tortoiseshell  1, Small White 1, Speckled Wood 1. I  then visited Steyning Downland and joined 8 other enthusiasts at the reserve where I found a Brown Hairstreak in reasonable condition.
Later note: Neil Hulme, Sussex butterfly expert, has pointed out that I have photographed two different Brown Hairstreaks below as shown by the orange flashes.
Mill Hill:
male Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
male Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
female Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
female Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
Adonis Blues mating, Lysandra bellargus


Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
male Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina
Hay making
Painted Lady, Cynthia cardui





periodically the Painted Lady landed on the ground, probably taking salts.



Peacock, Inachis io
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Small White, Pieris rapae

Steyning Downland:
female Brown Hairstreak, Thecla betulae
There is a wide gap at the bottom of the orange bands in the individual below showing it is different from the one above.


the image below has been photoshopped to remove her wrinkles - she is a star after all!

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