Comma. Photo: James Gould
James took this photo of a vibrant Comma in his garden at Dorchester on 12/09/17.
This one is looking very smart, with no wing damage, which suggests a recent emergence. The Comma has a longer season than most, late May-October in three broods and can be found on sunny days in a variety of habitat.
Posted on: 18 September, 2017
Small Whites Mating. Photo: James Gould
James took this mating pair of Small Whites in his garden at Dorchester on 12/09/17
What a place to choose for getting together, some butterflies have no shame!
As vegetable growers will know to their cost, this butterfly is on the wing from early March to November in several broods.
Posted on: 17 September, 2017
A Medley of Butterflies. Photo: James Gould
James took this photo in his garden at Dorchester on 12/09/17
He tells us:
A good butterfly day in the garden today with the ubiquitous Whites being joined by Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshell, a Painted Lady and a Comma. At one point, the Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Comma were all nectaring from the same plant.
The plant they are nectaring on is Erysimum, Bowles Mauve. A short-lived perennial, which flowers throughout a lot of the year in in the South, making it a valuable butterfly plant to grow in any garden soil.
Posted on: 16 September, 2017
Red Admiral. Photo: George McCabe
Red Admiral. Photo: George McCabe
George photographed these Red Admirals at our Perryfield Quarry Butterfly Reserve on Portland on 07/09/17.
He was surprised to see around 25 of these butterflies enjoying the blackberries, as it was an overcast day. High numbers of Red Admirals have been reported recently, and when coinciding with the short spell of good weather a week or so ago, this suggests they may be migrants.
Hopefully lots of these butterflies will hibernate throughout the winter, appearing again when warm temperatures return in 2018.
Posted on: 15 September, 2017
Clifden Nonpareil Moth. Photo: Paul Harris
Paul caught this beauty in his moth trap at Broadwey, Weymouth on 04/09/2017.
As the photo clearly shows, this is a very large moth, whose status is mostly immigrant but also a transistory resident . It has one generation Mid-August to Mid-October, but usually found in September.
This is a moth which causes great envy among moth enthusiasts, always hoping they might either trap one themselves or perhaps happen across one resting by day on a tree trunk. #youshouldbesolucky
Thank you to Paul for responding to our plea to submit this fabulous photograph so it can be appreciated by visitors to our Gallery.
Posted on: 15 September, 2017
Large White Caterpillars. Photo: Lyn Pullen
Cuckoo and Large White Caterpillar. Photo: Lyn Pullen
Lyn tells us:
I counted the Large White caterpillars on my nasturtiums the other day, and found 72! This morning, however, a (presumably young) Cuckoo arrived and spent some time in the garden. He managed to get some food in the form of the caterpillars.
Taken in garden in Winfrith Newburgh on 14/09/2017. This was very late for a young cuckoo to still be in the UK. According to research by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology), at least half leave as early as June to begin the trip back to Africa. We do hope he makes it!
Posted on: 14 September, 2017
Argyresthia Goedartella Micro Moth. photo: Katie Horrocks
Katie photographed this Micro Moth on Brownsea Island on 28/08/2017
This is a stunning micro moth, fore-wing length just 5-6mm, on the wing between June and September. It flies in afternoon sunshine and can be tapped from branches of Alder and Birch trees, the source of its main foodplant. It also comes to light traps.
Katie will not mind me saying she is just seventeen years old and already a brilliant photographer of nature in general so we can look forward to more of her butterfly and moth photographs in the future as she often visits Dorset.
Posted on: 6 September, 2017
Small Heath. Photo: Katie Horrocks
Katie photographed this Small Heath at the Higher Hyde Dorset Wildlife Trust Reserve, near Wareham, on 23/07/2017
This little butterfly enjoys a wide variety of grassy habitats, various grasses being the caterpillar foodplant. This is one of few butterflies found on the wing in dull as well as sunny weather. It has variable markings with small white spots on lower under hind-wing sometimes absent. Katie’s photo shows just a hint of a row of these spots.
Posted on: 6 September, 2017
Silver-spotted Skipper. Photo: Katie Horrocks
This photograph was taken at Fontmell Down around the 28/08/2017.
Fontmell Down is the only known site in Dorset where this diminutive butterfly can be found. It is on the wing between late July-mid September, though it is unusual to find any here until August. It requires sun and when conditions are right many butterfly enthusiasts can be seen scouring the steep hillside at Fontmell Down hoping to find this delightful little insect.
Posted on: 5 September, 2017
Meadow Brown (left) and Red Admiral . Photo: Harold Gillen
This striking photograph was taken at Sandford, Wareham on 02/09/2017.
Harold tells us that he had nine Red Admirals in his garden that day, and wondered if they were migrants or homegrown as he put it. Either is possible, so it is difficult to be sure which, but if the early Autumn weather is warm and sunny we can often see higher numbers feeding on Buddleia, Ivy flowers, and garden flowers such as Verbena .
Meadow Brown numbers are reducing now but can still be found in a variety of habitats on sunny days.
Posted on: 5 September, 2017
Grayling. Photo: Katie Horrocks
Taken by Katie at Higher Hyde on 16/08/2017, this is a very unusual place for this Grayling butterfly to alight.They are normally masters of disguise, settling on gravel paths, pine needles, sandy or rocky slopes, hoping not to be noticed by predators.
Katie has captured so well the beautiful subtle colours of the under-wings of what could at first glance appear to be a drab butterfly.
In the UK there are no similar species, but in Europe there are many other species of Grayling making quick identification more difficult.
Posted on: 4 September, 2017
Dusky Thorn Moth. Photo: Mark Pike
A fabulous head-on view of a Dusky Thorn moth captured in Mark’s Motcombe moth trap on 28/08/2017.
The male of this species has beautiful feathered antennae, as clearly shown in this photograph. Dusky Thorns have one generation, late July- early October, coming to light often in numbers but otherwise seldom seen.
We thought a good caption for this photo would be: “Are you looking at me?” but would welcome your thoughts – send them to photos@dorsetbutterflies.com.
Posted on: 4 September, 2017
Adonis Blue. Photo: George McCabe
George found this Adonis Blue on 25/08/2017 whilst walking up the cutting on the Weymouth Relief Road.
It is so good to know that butterflies, especially this declining species, have inhabited this area after the extensive roadworks which took place a few years ago.
This Adonis would be from the second brood late July-mid September and is already losing the distinctive black chequered fringe around its wings which is a reliable identification feature for this species.
Posted on: 3 September, 2017
Lulworth Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold
Lulworth Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold
Brian came across these Lulworth Skippers on 27/08/2017 at Durlston East whilst doing his transect walk.
As he says they are very faded and he didn’t expect to find any this late in their season, though they are not very predictable these days: see our “Unpredictable Lulworth Skipper” article) He tells us that the top photograph is of a Male and the one above is a female. The yellow paw print markings on the upper fore-wings are usually more prominent on the females of this species.
Despite its name, Lulworth Skipper, this butterfly is found throughout most of Europe, but is restricted to the Dorset coast in the UK.
Posted on: 3 September, 2017
Marbled Beauty Moth. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark found this Marbled Beauty in his moth trap at Motcombe on 28/08/2017.
This moth has one generation July-August and comes to light traps, but also to sugar and flowers. It can be found resting by day on walls in urban or countryside locations.
Posted on: 3 September, 2017
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