Gallery

Small Eggar web. Photo: Ann Barlow

Burnet Companion. Photo: Ann Barlow.

Ann visited Badbury Rings on 24/05/23 and came across this Small Eggar web and also a colourful Burnet Companion. The latter is a day time flying moth, which likes sunshine.

Small Eggar Web and Burnet Companion, Badbury Rings
Posted on: 28 May, 2023

Poplar Hawkmoth. Photo: Mark Pike

Tachystola acroxantha. Photo: Mark Pike

Mark ran his first trap of 2023 on what was another very cool night in Motcombe, 25/05/23. The results were rather disappointing he says but he did have this impressive Poplar Hawkmoth as well as a new species for his garden, a micro moth, Tachystola acroxantha.

Poplar Hawkmoth and Tachystola acroxantha, Motcombe
Posted on: 28 May, 2023

Brown and blue butterflies with black, white and orange markings on a green leaf

Adonis Blues. Photo: Matt Cooper

A brown butterfly with some yellow spots and white fringe to the wings

Probable Brown Argus. Photo: Matt Cooper

Matt took these photos at Compton Down on 24/05/2023 and sent them in to us with a degree of uncertainty about the ID of the Brown Argus. The photo was referred to one of our “verifiers” for confirmation of the ID and he has made the following comments:

This was a super tough challenge as Brown Argus and female Common Blue can be very hard to tell apart – underwing photo is always the best way to tell them apart. Anyway, I’m fairly certain that this is a very worn male Brown Argus mainly based on body shape, the now yellow spots rather than orange more like Brown Argus and very restricted amount of blue. I’d put this out as very probable male Brown Argus and see if anyone else has any other thoughts.

Please send us any thoughts or comments you may have about this ID in the “Leave a Reply” box at the end of this posting.

Adonis Blue and probable Brown Argus, Compton Down
Posted on: 28 May, 2023

A silvery blue butterfly with some black spots on a green leaf

Small Blue. Photo: Brian Arnold

A dark brown butterfly with white markings on green vegetation

Grizzled Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold

Two photos from Brian sent in telling us:

Yesterday 25/05/2023 my wife and I met up with friends at Badbury Rings to look for butterflies hoping to see Grizzled Skippers. We saw several, and also recorded Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Small Blue, Common Blue, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral. It was a beautiful sunny day, ideal for a picnic with some butterfly spotting.

Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper, Badbury Rings
Posted on: 27 May, 2023

A blue and greyish brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings on green vegeatation

Common Blue. Photo: Kate Chant

A blue butterfly with white fringe to the wings resting on a green leaf

Common Blue. Photo: Kate Chant

Kate sent in these two photos telling us:

First day of seeing the Common Blues at Corfe Mullen Meadows today, 24/05/2023. I spent a good amount of time watching three dancing away – they also posed beautifully when they landed.

Common Blue, Corfe Mullen
Posted on: 25 May, 2023

An orange, yellow, black and white butterfly on green vegetation

Marsh Fritillary. Photo: Sam Ellis

Sam sent in this photo telling us:

Just sharing this photo of one of eleven Marsh Fritillaries I saw today, 24/05/2023 at Lankham Bottom in a 15-min Count. I actually saw several more after I finished the count! So good numbers considering the season. All seemed fairly fresh. They were all recorded on the north-west facing slope in the gully at the southern end of the site. I didn’t see any on the south-facing slope at the northern end where you also usually see them.

Marsh Fritillary, Lankham Bottom
Posted on: 25 May, 2023

Green Hairstreak. Photo: Matt Cooper

An orange and white butterfly with black markings perching on a flowerhead

Glanville Fritillary. Photo: Matt Cooper

Two photos from Matt sent in telling us:

After reading of the Glanville Fritillary at Compton Down I decided to pay a visit yesterday, 24/05/2023 as did several others. I wasn’t disappointed, seeing the Glanvilles for the first time, a large number of Adonis Blues and my first Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak and Comma of the year.

Green Hairstreak and Glanville Fritillary, Compton Down
Posted on: 25 May, 2023

A brown and orange butterfly with black and white markings on a green leaf

Duke of Burgundy. Photo: Kevin Denham

Kevin sent in this photo telling us:

An excellent Dorset Butterfly Conservation guided walk led by Nigel Spring at Telegraph Hill last Sunday, 21/05/2023 recorded 10 species of butterfly with the highlight being 21 Duke of Burgundy. In addition dragonflies, damselflies, moths, bees, hornets, and a rather confident roebuck were also seen. Towards the end of the walk we were fortunate to observe a female Two-coloured Mason Bee Osmia bicolor carrying dried grass stems to camouflage her snail shell nest.

Duke of Burgundy, Telegraph Hill
Posted on: 24 May, 2023

A blue butterfly with black, white and orange markings on green leaf and white flower

Common Blue (female). Photo: Paul Wilkins

Paul saw this female Common Blue when he visited Fontmell Down on 23/05/2023 – the females of this species are usually brown with a touch of deep violet-blue near the wing-base which sometimes spreads over most of the upperwing.