| I've just been checking the UTB website and noticed the question about
the "end of season for Black Hairstreak?" Mick and I went to Whitecross Wood on 15th July and spotted a Black Hairstreak near the pond - it was trying to escape our notice by impersonating a Purple Hairstreak, ie sitting in an Oak Tree! We were lucky enough that it was down very low in the branches and I even managed to photograph it (film not developed yet) - my first photo of the Black Hairstreak! We also saw one Wood White at the same location. Unfortunately we chose to visit Whitecross Wood on the day they had just mown all the rides, so I think the butterfly numbers were somewhat reduced. Wendy & Mick Campbell. |
We've had the photos back from the printers at last.
It's a bit burnt out as I had to point the camera skyward to get a photo, but see
what you think. We've checked our books again and still think it's a female Black
Hairstreak - we saw the upper side of the wings and the forewings had an orange blush on
them (rather like the Brown Hairstreak). My books don't have any photos of the upper
side of a White Letter's wings but they all describe them as plain in both sexes. |
