Despite this Butterfly being named after its appearance the Marbled White is more closely related to the subfamily known as the “browns” rather than “whites”. It is unmistakable, its black and white markings distinguishing it from other species found in the UK. It favours unimproved grassland where the grass may grow up to 0.5m tall. It is often found in large colonies. There are large numbers in our local fields which have been uncultivated for many years.
#Wordless Wednesday.
I had posted some distant pictures of Mediterranean gulls taken at Titchfield Haven earlier in the year. Today on the beach at Calshot I spotted 3 of these good looking gulls within a flock of Black-headed gulls. These birds were quite happy to come fairly close so I took the opportunity to grab some pictures. The Mediterranean gull is slightly larger than a black-headed gull, with an all-black head in the breeding season. Their beaks and legs are orange.
A very rare UK bird until the 1950s, Its numbers have increased and today recorded numbers published by the RSPB are UK breeding:600-630 pairs UK wintering:1,800 birds compare this to the Black-headed gull numbers UK breeding:140,000 pairs UK wintering:2.2 million birds.
Comparison shot of Mediterranean gull and Black headed gull.
A day at the seaside.
Butterflies I spotted in the South of Hampshire during June. Suddenly we are in Butterfly season the sun has come out and so have the Butterflies.
Ringlet. A Butterfly that is often seen at the edge of fields and along woodland rides.
Marbled White. This is a handsome butterfly which we see in fairly large numbers in selective fields where it has been uncultivated for many years and the grasses have gone to flower and seed.
Below – A Marbled White pair mating (female on right.)
Comma. These dark orange-brown butterflies we spot only in small numbers but they are always worth a closer look.
Small Skipper. Often confused for a moth this is a common butterfly in our local fields.
Meadow Brown. Is a bit of a non-descriptive butterfly which can easily be overlooked.
Peacock. The large eye markings are unmistakable on this large Butterfly.
Speckled wood. Another butterfly that enjoys sunny spots in our local fields especially on brambles at the field edges.
Small Blue. (I believe). A small blue butterfly this one is on a Bramble flower.
Hastings fishing fleet – old school small beach launched fleet.
The Canada Geese goslings have grown up so much over the last few weeks. Three families despite the odds have raised all their little ones into “teenagers”.
I placed my small action camera {Olympus Tough} on a stool and let it capture the geese coming over for a feed. Video and stills from the film. Some of these portraits have got to make you smile.
A few hours bird watching on Meon Shore.
Groups of Turnstones – feeding – washing – and chilling at the edge of the sea.
#wordless Wednesday.
By 1780, the development of the Georgian development of Brighton was underway with the development of grand Georgian terraces – the fashionable resort was regularly frequented by the Prince Regent later King George IV. Spending much of his leisure time here he constructed the Royal Pavilion. with the coming of the Railways and only 47miles from London Brighton continued to develop and became a popular Victorian holiday resort.
Brighton had 2 piers the West Pier was constructed during a boom in pleasure pier building in the 1860s, it was designed to attract tourists to the town. The West Pier was developed further in 1893, and a concert hall was added in 1916. It complimented the first pier the Royal Suspension Chain Pier which was built in 1823. It was replaced by the Palace Pier in 1889.
Today only the Palace Pier remains the West Pier was closed to the public in 1975 and fell into disrepair and gradually collapsed. After a number of fires, the pier is now just a frame.
The seafront has all the trimmings of a British seaside destination.
Just a tree!
English Elm trees dominated the British landscape, especially in Southern England, but were ravaged by Dutch elm disease in the1960s. Today it is only found occasionally in hedgerows or woodland. This rare tree has a small number of mature trees in Brighton. They are carefully managed by the council. I can not recall seeing an Elm Tree so one off the bucket list on our visit to Brighton.
Continued Reflections from my World. 