Green-veined White. Photo: Ann Barlow

Green-veined White. Photo: Ann Barlow

A couple of photos of a Green-veined White sent to us by Ann that she took on 12/09/2021 in sunshine on the trailway at Stourpaine.

Green-veined White, Stourpaine
Posted on: 14 September, 2021

Comma ab. unknown. Photo: Jennifer Long

Comma ab.unknown. Photo: Jennifer Long

These are just two of the photos Jennifer sent to us of a very unusual Comma she saw in her back garden near Lodmoor Hill, Weymouth on 11/09/2021 – it is unusual in that it has rather fewer spots than are normally found on a Comma.

Editor’s Note:  as I was unable to find a name for this specific aberration, I sent copies of these photos to Mark Pike, who has a considerable knowledge of butterfly aberrations, for his advice and he replied saying:

That is an excellent ab, in fact it looks like an unnamed one. The closest I can find is sagitta-album which it could be a variation of, but best to put it down as “unknown”.  Wish I had found it myself!

My thanks to Mark for his guidance on this one.

Comma ab. unknown, Weymouth
Posted on: 14 September, 2021

Comma. Photo: Dave Law

Dave sent in this photo telling us:

With the buddleia now going over in my Shaftesbury garden, it is mainly Whites feeding on the remaining blooms.  However, this fresh Comma put in an appearance today, 11/09/2021 grabbing as much nectar it could before going into hibernation.

Comma, Shaftesbury
Posted on: 13 September, 2021

Sub-adult Adder. Photo: Warren Port

Common Lizard. Photo: Warren Port

These two images are not ones you would expect to find in our Photo Gallery but they are part of the often unseen and hidden natural world of our BC Reserve at Alners Gorse.

Both photos were taken on 05/09/2021 by Warren Port, one of the regular herpetologists involved at Alners Gorse who told us that this sub-adult Adder was a new one for them here.

It’s great to know a little bit more of the diversity of this fantastic butterfly reserve.

Sub-adult Adder and Common Lizard, Alners Gorse
Posted on: 9 September, 2021

Green-veined White. Photo: Ann Barlow

Ann sent in this photo of a Green-veined White she saw at The Walled Garden, Moreton yesterday, 08/09/2021 – rather nice to have this one for the Gallery as it is not a species we receive many photos of.

Green-veined White, Moreton
Posted on: 9 September, 2021

Brown Argus. Photo: Brian Arnold

Small Copper. Photo: Brian Arnold

Two photos from Brian taken in his Harman’s Cross garden sent in to us with the following comments:

Butterfly numbers are now quite low in our garden at Harman’s Cross. I am getting occasional sightings of Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Copper, plus the usual suspects for this time of year – Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Small White and Red Admiral. This Small Copper appeared on 06/09/2021 looking very fresh, but I could not find it in the garden today (8th September). The Brown Argus appeared on 07/09/2021, only to be absent today.  The highlight of the day today however was a male Common Darter dragonfly – not much use for the butterfly website of course, but a joy to see.

Brown Argus and Small Copper, Harman’s Cross
Posted on: 8 September, 2021

Small Copper. Photo: Gary Holderness

Small Copper. Photo: Gary Holderness

Two photos of a male Small Copper taken today, 08/09/2021 and sent in by Gary telling us:

This Small Copper has set up his territory in my modest Ferndown front garden. For the last 4 days he’s been out there like clockwork, constantly chasing off the Small and Large Whites, the only other butterflies that I’m regularly seeing in the garden now we’re well into September.  I hope he gets lucky and finds the mate he deserves before the weather breaks.

Small Copper, Ferndown
Posted on: 8 September, 2021

Brimstone butterfly with fly. Photo: Donald Simcock

Donald was in contemplative mode yesterday, 06/09/2021 as he enjoyed the wonderful weather we are having at the moment and he sent in this photo with the following comments:

Yesterday was an easy day in our Bournemouth garden reading and watching. I was struck by how many times a fly or bee would bump off one of the 5 whites whilst they were feeding. I wonder if this is when nectar sources are becoming more scarce and competition for them increases.

I also noticed this male Brimstone with a fly on its wing. The fly came and went a number of times as the Brimstone steadfastly didn’t move for about 15 minutes. Isn’t nature wonderful and I see new behaviour nearly every time I just sit and watch.

Editor’s Note:  Donald’s experience really illustrates how pleasurable the simple joys of nature can be when we just take time out to look at what is going on around us.

Brimstone, Bournemouth
Posted on: 7 September, 2021

Chalkhill Blue. Photo: Sonia Hudson

Speckled Wood. Photo: Sonia Hudson

These are just two of the photos Sonia sent in for the Gallery – both were taken on Portland on the South West Coast Path yesterday, 05/09/2021. The Chalkhill Blue is a little bit tatty and the colours are fading but it is good to know that they can still be found there.

Chalkhill Blue and Speckled Wood, Portland
Posted on: 6 September, 2021

Buff-tip moth caterpillars.Photo: Mark Wright

Mark was pleased to learn that these caterpillars he found in his Poole garden are of the Buff-tip moth.

That’s the one that looks exactly like a broken birch twig, or some even suggest a cigarette butt. Larvae are found between July – early October and as Mark found, they initially feed in groups at night on a variety of broadleaved trees and shrubs.

This much loved little moth has one generation,late May-July.

Buff-tip moth caterpillars, Poole
Posted on: 6 September, 2021