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Might just be Brown Hairstreak ranging out to find new territory
An unexpected finale to the year with a total of three eggs discovered on our Blackthorn this week. The pot grown plants, raised from stones sown three years ago, have spent this year in semi-shade under a canopy of Broom cultivar and Bladder Senna branches. The tallest is just 70 cm. Could it be too much to hope that these are Brown Hairstreak? The positioning is typical for the species and would be a garden first for us. Some interim predator protection with black thread wound around the plants will be provided to help them through the winter. (Brian Birch, Felpham )
CANCELLATION OF CONSERVATION WORK PARTY SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER: Sadly, I'm going to have to cancel the work party tomorrow, for the same reasons as last time. Aside from other risks associated with travel and working beneath trees, the bonfires which are essential to progress (apart from brushcutting) will be too dangerous in such high winds. More dates will be added in late February and early March. BWs, Neil (Neil Hulme, Rowland Wood)
Syrphus ribesii? On Dandelion.
It was great to see a Red Admiral in my garden this afternoon, having already looked around North Lancing until 13.00 when the sun went in. It was 9°C and very sunny beforehand. Only two weeks to the shortest day! (Lindsay Morris , North Lancing )
Black-and-yellow banded hoverflies are very difficult to separate but if asked to name this one I would say either Syrphus ribesii or Syrphus vitripennis. Both are multi-brooded and have very long flight seasons. Both may be seen into November, but December seems very late to me. This individual is a female and the females for these two species can be separated on the colour of their hind femur (all yellow for ribesii and dark for vitripennis). I favour vitripennis as our British stock is supplemented in some years by migrants from mainland Europe and it is also thought to over-winter. If this hoverfly has crossed The Channel (with the same favourable winds that has brought over the Painted Ladies) then S. vitripennis is the most likely. Martin K
Red Admiral
As I was near the footbridge west of West Worthing station and the sun was shining, I walked on to check the ivy there. Almost hidden was a Red Admiral, which did pose briefly, rather high up, so it's not brilliantly in focus. I' m looking forward to Lindsay's posting which I guess will be at least 6 butterflies of 3 different species! (John Heys, West Worthing)
Painted Lady
A lovely sunny morning here in Bexhill today. A Painted Lady spotted on our beach walk and a Red Admiral also seen in flight. (Maria Dixon , Cooden Beach)
I am gradually working my way through the years, collecting data on last sightings, and between 2019 -2023, there were no December records for Painted Lady. It is not a common event to see this species in December. Martin K
Angle Shades caterpillar?
Disturbed while I was pruning buddleia (which is still very much in leaf) a bright green caterpillar which Google lens suggests is an Angle Shades moth. (John Heys, West Worthing) - TQ131025
On a warm sunny day back at the end of October I was watching Red Admirals laying eggs along a hedge in the Amberley/Burpham Hills. Today I was back in the area so I thought I'd see if anything could be found. One 1st instar. (Given the number of eggs being laid there was likely more tucked away though). (Paul Atkin, Amberley Burpham hills)
No doubt Vince Massimo will be interested in the outcome of this "winter-breeding" endeavour. Vince has been studying winter-breeding Red Admirals in the Crawley area for around 10 years. Martin K
S scripta feeding on Devilsbit Scabious
S scripta feeding on Greater Knapweed
S scripta feeding on Betony
S scripta feeding on Corn Marigold
Bob Foreman replied to my enquiry (confirming the ID) and tells me there are almost 1200 records for Sphaerophoria scripta on the Sussex data base, with the previous latest record 22/10/2016 at Pulborough Brooks. We have missed out November and gone straight to December (this is a Bob Beamon moment when he missed out 27 feet altogether, and established a new World Record 28 feet+ for the long jump). I believe my guess that this is a migrant is most probably correct and since some crazy things are happening (courtesy of Climate Change) we might as well log them. If you see any hoverflies (this one is very small) do please photograph it and post in the usual way or if you prefer, directly to me at martinkalaher@hotmail.com Some more pics from my garden collection. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
The next Surrey Zoom presentation is on 11th December featuring the Big City Butterflies project which ends early next year so the project leaders Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-city-butterflies-project-achievements-tickets-1069198263789 Big City Butterflies, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a project run by Butterfly Conservation that is inspiring Londoners to discover butterflies and moths, and connect them with nature and their local green spaces. For the last three and a half years, activities focusing on the project’s three themes: improving habitats, recording species and inspiring people, have been delivered across 17 inner-London boroughs. Project officers Emma and Steve will take you through the project’s achievements and plans for legacy as they move into the final few months of the project. See https://butterfly-conservation.org/BCB Please note: You will receive a reminder for the event 2 days before it starts, and a link to the Zoom session 2 hours before the start. Please look out for these, and check your Spam folder if you don't see them. When you access the Zoom, you may be held in a Waiting Room for a few minutes. Please be patient - we will admit you to the Zoom just before the scheduled start. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
All Sussex BC members welcome to join this Zoom talk. Martin K
Painted Lady
Painted Lady
This Painted Lady was enjoying the morning sun on my Violas and then settled on the slate for a couple of minutes. (Graham Hicks, Bognor Regis) - SU937001
Very impressive competition photos. Val and I were walking in a lot of local sunshine, although the wind was cold, this morning. No butterflies, just a large bumble-bee as we arrived home. We've also had a couple of dozy wasps in the house and found a big nest in the loft. In a summer of few bees and hover flies, I did think that wasps had done a little better in our garden and now I know why. (John Heys, West Worthing)
I guess it's a sign of the times that it is now quite a regular occurrence to see a UK butterfly in all 12 months of the year. Last year was the only year in the past 4 that I missed one in December. Not this year though, as I had a rather tatty Red Admiral fly past me as I headed up to High and Over, which completes my seeing one every month this year. I'm now hoping for one of those late Painted Lady's. (Bob Eade, High and Over)
Sphaerophoria scripta on Autumn Hawkbit
Sphaerophoria scripta on Ox-eye Daisy
Lindsay's hoverfly appears to be a Sphaerophoria species and probably S scripta. In my garden the latest I have seen this species is the third week of September. I believe a December record is very unusual (I will check with Bob Foreman to find out how unusual). Sphaerophoria scripta is a partial migrant and it may have crossed The Channel on the same favourable winds as the Painted Ladies that have been recorded recently? I will show a couple of pics from my garden. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
Painted Lady Lancing Manor
Hoverfly on one of several Dandelion in flower.
It got up to about 10°C in North Lancing, but sunny interludes of any length were hard to come by. At 11.00, one such interlude pursuaded a Painted Lady to spring to life. It basked in a couple of places before setting off west in a determined fashion. (Lindsay Morris , North Lancing )
Well done Lindsay! A record of a Painted Lady in December is not a common event. You haven't asked for an ID for the hoverfly, Lindsay, but I believe it is a Sphaerophoria species (and probably scripta). This is a partial migrant and may well have come across with the Painted Ladies we have seen recently. Martin K
Male Brown Hairstreak nectaring on Hemp Agrimony
Same as pic 1 but cropped differently
My congratulations to the winners of this year's photograph competition and also those who were "commended" for their excellent images. My sympathies to the members who sent in wonderful photos but didn't receive an accolade in 2024. The good news is that we intend to run this as an annual event and the even better news is that you will have months to plan which photos to send in. It may be presumptuous of me to mention a few things that (for me) makes a good photo, but there you go, I have never been short of an opinion. There is no one more critical of my own photos than me, and so I will show one of my photos and say what I think. In the height of the season I probably take 1000 photos every month, keep 20 for my library and have just one that might be "competition standard" (which is not the same as winning a comp). The photo I have chosen is a male Brown Hairstreak nectaring on Hemp Agrimony and I will analyse it for various things. 1) Technical merit. Is the butterfly in focus? Has the photo been cropped in a skilful way? Is there a good balance to the photo? Has the brightness been adjusted (auto settings tend to let in extra light). 2) Is it aesthetically appealing? Are there other things going on? What is the background telling us about this species? Is the background (leaf or flower head) also more-or-less in focus? Does the background enhance the overall effect? 3) Does it have a "wow factor", an "X factor". Is the butterfly in very good condition? Is it an uncommon species? Is it one that is difficult to find? Is it one that is difficult to approach? Is it the sort of image that most of us would spend many years before we achieved the same (if we ever did!). This is not an an exhaustive list but it does demonstrate my thinking when looking at one of my own photos. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
For most of Sussex, Brown Hairstreak is not an easy butterfly to find. Once found it can sometimes be easy to photograph, as it is generally obliging. It favours the nectar of Hemp Agrimony and providing the plant isn't to too tall it should present a good opportunity for photography. The head and legs of this butterfly are in focus and the wings are clear enough. I like the balance of the image. It is a fresh specimen which adds to the aesthetics. We can clearly see the proboscis as it feeds on the flower head. The Hemp Agrimony is in focus and it enhances the overall image. For me, the "X factor" for this photograph is that it shows all the ID points. We can see both the undersides and the uppersides. The wing-tail is clearly seen, as are the one-and-a-half parallel hairstreaks. The small patch of yellow/gold on the forewings tells us is it a male. I could spend the next 10 years trying to photograph Brown Hairstreaks in my garden and not improve on this one. That doesn't mean I will not try to do so!
Glasses found at Cyprus Hall, the venue for Members' Day. If they are your glasses, please contact Roy Broad at events@sussex-butterflies.org.uk (Martin Kalaher, Burgess Hill)
Silver-washed Fritillary Valezina female - photo by Simon Linington
Male Purple Hairstreak - photo by Paul Day
pair of Pearls - photo by Jennie Fellows
In the 2024 photo competition, first place was a Silver-washed Fritillary Valezina female - photo by Simon Linington. In second place was a male Purple Hairstreak - photo by Paul Day. In third place was a Pair of Pearls - photo by Jennie Fellows. (Martin Kalaher, Photo competition)
Pearl-bordered Fritillary on Bluebell - photo by Gary Faulkner
Red Admiral - photo by John Williams
In the 2024 photo competition, in 5th place was a photo of a Pearl-bordered Fritillary by Gary Faulkner and in fourth place was a Red Admiral by John Williams. (Martin Kalaher, Photo competition)
Grayling - photo by Dave Browne
Wood White on Bramble blossom - photo by Graham Hubbard
Marbled White on Field Scabious - photo by Jennie Fellows
Wood White - photo by John Williams
PHOTO COMPETITION 2024: THERE WERE 28 PARTICIPANTS AND 52 IMAGES, AND THE THREE JUDGES WERE NEIL HULME, DAVE BROWN AND MARTIN KALAHER. THERE WERE MANY OUTSTANDING ENTRIES OF WHICH THE FOLLOWING FOUR IMAGES WERE "COMMENDED". IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER; Grayling - PHOTO BY DAVE BROWNE. Wood White ON BRAMBLE BLOSSOM - PHOTO BY GRAHAM HUBBARD. Marbled White ON FIELD SCABIOUS - PHOTO BY JENNIE FELLOWS. Wood White - PHOTO BY JOHN WILLIAMS. (Martin Kalaher, Photo competition)
