2018 BUTTERFLY & MOTHS IMAGES

Here we don't seem to have anything, even bird numbers are way down only got 2 swallows, we normally have hundreds, sometings a miss somewhere

 

Marbled White dozens about on the cliff meadows above Swanage but none were settling in the wind and none opened their wings!

 

I didn't get a photo, but I spotted a holly blue butterfly in the garden today for the very first time.
Im looking forward to the buddleia flowering as that usually brings in plenty of butterfly visitors

 

Lulworth Skipper, only found around the Dorset cliffs between Portland and Swanage.


Six spot Burnet Moths everywhere.


Mating, I believe the females on emerging from their over wintering cocoons mate immediately as in the pic.

 

2

 

Work on our local 'green' walking/cycling route to the nearest town has started and they've excavated through the middle of the only large patch of wild flowers around the village that attracted all sorts of butterflies, and spread the spoil over all the remaining flowers.

P.S. I'm getting fed up with this sort of behaviour, earlier this year at a grant funded 'environmental' woodland planting we managed to stop those responsible for 'management' of it from mowing out hundreds of Skylark nests every year.

Maybe next we can get something done about the death trap (unlined) 'wildlife habitat' ponds that have been created, that attract hundreds of Dragonflies, Damselflies, etc., but haven't been lined, dry out and all their larvae die.

 

Plume moth

 

Zigs we have them here mate

 

Female Emperor Dragonfly egg laying.


Male was not settling and almost impossible to capture at such a speed until I master the different modes on the new camera (Canon sx60).


Common Blue Damsel.

 

Disturbed this while watering the garden.