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| Small Copper, Lycaena phlaeas ab. caeruleopunctata |
I drove north last Thursday to attend a metal detecting dig north of Andover, nothing exciting was found by me. I then stayed at an Airbnb home at Highworth before heading north to the Detectival metal detecting rally near Burford, Oxon.
On the way I called at two nature reserves: Whelford Pools and Greystones Farm where I had lunch. A restoration field at Greystones Farm had many Small Coppers, all exclusively nectaring on dandelions in preference to other flowers. The Small coppers were all ab. caeruleopunctata, which have a row of blue spots preceding the copper marginal band (see ukbutterflies)
While there I had a look round Bourton on the Water which had coachloads of tourists, I guess attracted by the river flowing through the town. I'd rather be in the countryside!
The next two nights I spent in a cottage that Dmitry and Sue had rented near the Detectival site. Had a good time at the festival with Dmitry, again didn't find anything remotely interesting but did see a couple of lovely silver denarii and a barberous radiate. Plenty of good finds were reported, including gold and a hoard but most people we talked to had nothing much, which is normal for these rallies we find. The evenings were great, with Sue's lovely meals and plenty of red wine! Their dogs were very nice too, also foxhounds and llamas on site in a picturesque, huge and well maintained garden. Arrived home Sunday evening tired but satisfied.
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| Littlehampton dusk September 12 |
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| Littlehampton sunset September 12 |
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| Whelford Pools |
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| Common Pond Skater, Gerris lacustris |
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| Whirligig Beetle, Gyrinus substriatus |
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| Dark Strawberry Tortrix, Celypha lacunana |
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| Green Dock Beetle, Gastrophysa viridula |
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| Green Dock Beetles |
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| Small Copper, Lycaena phlaeas ab. caeruleopunctata |
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| Small Copper (with ring flash) |
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| Small Copper (with ambient light) |
I played around with the image above in Photoshop, including the one at the top!
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| Small Copper |
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| Small Copper |
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| Small Copper |
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| Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale |
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| Silverweed, Potentilla anserina |
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| Bourton on the Water |
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| Bourton on the Water |
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| Bourton on the Water |
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| Oak Bush-cricket, Meconema thalassinum at Littlehampton |
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| buttons from Detectival |
