Gatekeeper

My wife just found a Gatekeeper butterfly on the farm, my first one this year! 

High Brown Fritillary

At the start of the butterfly season I set myself a few goals of seeing & photographing butterflies that were either new to me or I'd not pictured before and I'm pleased to say that with the addition of High Brown Fritillary today I achieved them. I'll pat myself on the back here!!

Along the way I've had plenty of luck, mainly good but some bad too, that's to be expected, but the most heartening thing for me is how open 99% (there's always one.. ;-)) of people have been with info, directions & encouragement. I won't embarrass you here by naming you all but I am very grateful for the help, especially as I work for myself and have a young family so my "off time" is precious & somewhat limited! Nice one, folks!

So today I drove to Aish Tor in Devon a 3 1/2 run from home in Sussex specifically for High Brown Fritillary with also  a good chance of Dark Green Fritillary (having checked the pics it looks like I didn't get a DGF, good job I don't need that one!!!!) Mine was the only car in the car park on arrival and I only saw a couple of dog walkers all morning which I found surprising; I expected coachloads of enthusiasts! Walking down the main track and then along the path by the trees I soon started to pick up a few Fritillaries but they were in no mood to stop especially as there was a strong wind giving them some momentum. I'd been advised to stake out areas of bramble and wait for the butterflies to settle and after about half an hour or so I was, after a few nervous "Is it, Isn't it moments," picturing my first High Brown Fritillary.


High Brown Fritillary, note the row of oceli on the underwing and the indented third spot on the upper wing:

A male HBF showing the sex brands, much larger than in DGF:

Dartmoor, HBF habitat:

Right I'm off birding, maybe....

Norfolk

The pictures from a few days in Norfolk, I decided not go for the Great Knot but did hear the Savi's Warbler at Strumpshaw.

Black-tailed Skimmer:

Valerian:

Swallowtails, nicer on wild plants than Sweet Rocket but to be fair I would have taken that too!:

Marsh Thistle:

Common Darter??:

Blue-tailed Damselfly:

Meadow Brown:

Yarrow & Cleavers:

Cuckoo:

Ringlet:

White Comfrey, probably Symphytum orientale & not symphytum officinale var. alba:

Small Tortoiseshell:

Swallowtails = 3

A much better day today after yesterday's dip. At least three Swallowtails, and possibly up to five, over the reeds near the boat launch site at Hickling Broad. There is a semi-circular walkway with a small bench on it and I viewed them from here. Sunshine is required! Pictures when I'm back on Monday.

Swallowtails = 0

No Swallowtails for me in Norfolk today: not surprising really with it being end of the first brood, assuming there will be a second, windy and little sunshine; perhaps tomorrow may be better but I'm not holding my breath on this one. 

Strumpshaw was very quiet and Hickling Broad whilst livelier did not produce either.

There were plenty of Meadow Browns, a few pristine Ringlets and a solitary Small Tortoiseshell about at HB along with a Bearded Tit, Marsh Harriers & the usual Warblers. Only Marsh Harriers of note at Strumpshaw.

Small Torts

Two Small Tortoiseshells & a few Silver Y moths on the farm in Oving today.

Small Tortoiseshells;

Silver Y moth:

Painted Lady

On the farm today a damp Painted Lady.