Heath Fritillaries in Essex

A new species for me yesterday - the Heath Fritillary. It is restricted to a few key habitats:  coppiced woodland or sheltered heathland. It is confined to a small number of sites in Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Kent, and has also at reintroduction into sites in Essex. Although very local in its distribution, this butterfly can be seen in large numbers in good years and certainly there were probably 50 plus individuals in three different areas of the wood. The main foodplants are Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), and occasionally other speedwells (Veronica spp.). Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is reported to be a secondary foodplant and my mating pair were taken on foxgloves. The best lighting conditions were just before a short rain spell.

Bradfield Wood - Fritillaries and White Admirals

Bradfield Woods, Suffolk, has a very abundant population of Silver-washed Fritillaries along with White Admirals and Purple Emperors. We were not lucky enough to find the Emperors but the SWFritillaries were wonderful in the hot bright sunshine whether alone or interacting with other butterflies or insects. I was intrigued by the silhouettes that they cast through the leaves. 

The White admirals have very ornate underwings and simple upper wings. Image 7 shows that the scales that give the white colour are translucent letting the light through in the shadows.

Brimstone and Silver-Washed Fritillary Butterflies

Annual attempt to catch some sharp and attractive flight shots.

Unexpected Silver-Washed Fritillary on our Buddleia

As far as we know our nearest Silver Washed Fritillary colony is around 9 miles from our house so we were very surprised to see one on our Buddleia bush on Monday along with lots of Peacocks, Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells. Other garden inhabitants shown include first instar Green Shieldbugs (yes they are red!), mating Soldier Beetles, Adelphocoris leaf bug, Grasshopper, Firebug, Pied Hoverfly, Anthomyia Fly and German Wasps on our plums.

No Problem Keeping Social Distances

During our walk from Toft across to Caldecote, we only met one couple and with a beautiful sky, the larks singing and the oil seed rape coming into flower, it felt a long way from the corona virus crisis. The wild garden leading to the Church has some very fine cowslips, Snake's Head Fritillary and Snowflakes. We feel truly fortunate.