May 2020

[Ian Pratt]

I saw a possible dingy skipper aberration this afternoon on the Isle of Wight. Much larger light patch on forewings. Photos attached. Any thoughts?

[David M]

Friday 15th - managed to visit a site near Abergavenny following an emergency dental appointment. Several Pearl Bordered Fritillaries seen, most of which were quite worn, but one female was still worthy of the camera lens:

[Allan.W.]

Amongst the Adonis Blues and Small Blues today ,good numbers of both on the wing ,and was lucky enough to find both species in-cop (2 Adonis pairs ) ,but at my reliable Adonis site which is also an excellent for Common Blues ………….not sure whats going on with the Commons ,I thought I,d hit a duck ,but did find one female in my images ,I have only seen six ,so far this season.
The Small Blues ,and Brown Argus ,will be in another post . Regards Allan.W.

[Medard]

Hi, it's an ab. of one of the 5-spot Burnet moths, probably Zygaena trifolii based on time of year. This one with the merged spots is known as form/ab minoides
Many thanks bugboy .

[Allan.W.]

A few more ,pics from yesterday ,high numbers of Small Blues on the wing at Western Heights ,Dover ,and was lucky enough to witness a pairing ,and although common place at some sites ,only the third that I,ve witnessed .
Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

15th May - Wood White seen in Haugh Wood, Herefordshire, despite heavily overcast conditions:

[Vince Massimo]

This is a plant sighting rather than of butterflies.

On Tuesday 19th May I was walking along the raised footpath that separates the River Adur and Shoreham Airport and noticed that the western side of the embankment (TQ 2069 0541) is covered in Kidney Vetch. I don't remember ever seeing any there before.

Adur embankment looking north

I looked for Small Blues, but it was a bit too windy and difficult, so will be keeping an eye on it.

Vince

[David M]

Keep looking, Vince. This species is present along my stretch of coastline just about anywhere that has kidney vetch growing in profusion.

[PhiliB]

I spotted my first black hairstreak of the season today. Monks Wood, Cambs.

[David M]

Way hey!! Nice find and monstrously early for this species. I recall in 2013 they were only emerging around midsummer's day!!

[PhiliB]

Way hey!! Nice find and monstrously early for this species. I recall in 2013 they were only emerging around midsummer's day!!

Yes very early and a personal 'best' for me, my previous earliest sighting was in 2011 on May 25th.

[Stevieb]

Not bad couple of hours despite the breezy conditions. First Meadow Brown of the year for me

Meadow Brown 22nd May

Meadow Brown 22nd May

Small Copper 22nd May

Small Copper 22nd May

♂ Common Blue 22nd May

♂ Common Blue 22nd May

Brown Argus 22nd May

Brown Argus 22nd May

Small Heath 22nd May

[millerd]

The first new brood Small Tortoiseshells seen today on my local patch near Heathrow. This is one of them - they were very flighty, made worse by the strong wind, so there have been better photos...

The last definite sighting of a hibernated individual was back on 7th May, and before that one, on 26th April.

Dave

[David M]

The first new brood Small Tortoiseshells seen today on my local patch near Heathrow.

Nice to know, Dave, even if it DOES seem a bit early.

I saw my first Tortie for a fortnight yesterday. Sadly, I couldn't get close enough to see whether it was an aged adult-hibernator or the first of a new brood.

[Testudo Man]

Wednesday late afternoon/evening, was spent looking for Adonis an Small Blues. Good numbers were on the wing, probably more Small Blues than ive seen before. Location - Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent. Whilst most butterflies had gone to roost, the Small Blues were still active/basking beyond 7.45pm!...well, Wednesday was quite hot, an wall to wall sunshine!
Some highlights of that late session. None of these images have been cropped. Cheers Paul.

Small Blues.

This Small Blue was still active/basking, time of photo was shot at 7.45pm!

Adonis Blues.

This last male Adonis, shows no spots/markings to lower part of hind/underwings.

[David M]

Great images, TM. There seem to be quite a few Adonis aberrations so far this month. I wonder whether this is due to the wild temperature fluctuations we had in early May?

[Allan.W.]

Up early this morning ,to catch the Adonis Blues waking up ,bit of a slow start at first ,but as the wind dropped more and more
Adonis took to the wing ,I was surprised to see how worn ,most of the males were ,some very striking females on the wing , and just the one Common
Blue (a female ) ,just don,t know whats happened to them locally this season ,was also pleased to find a scarce (ish) plant these days in Kent,
Yellow Vetchling (lathyrus aphaca ) ,used to see it all the time ,but rarely these days .
Missed seeing the Early Spider Orchids as well at the closed Samphire Ho this year ,the little Downland site I visited this morning used to
have a small colony (and Duke of Burgandys as well ) I looked again this morning ,as I do most years ,more in hope than anything else …………...but no
think they,re all gone ………………..Sadly !
Regards Allan.W.

[Ian Pratt]

I saw a possible dingy skipper aberration this afternoon on the Isle of Wight. Much larger light patch on forewings. Photos attached. Any thoughts?

Does anyone think this was an aberration or just a freshly emerged dingy skipper?

[David M]

Hi Ian, doesn't see to be anything out of the ordinary to me. When Dingies are fresh, they often sport that wide, silvery patch such as this one I photographed in Swansea on 26 April:

[adrian riley]

I saw a possible dingy skipper aberration this afternoon on the Isle of Wight. Much larger light patch on forewings. Photos attached. Any thoughts?

Hi, Ian
This is a form (not an aberration) that resembles closely the subspecies beynesi of the limestone Burren in Co. Clare. I find quite a few of these on the chalk of Ivinghoe Beacon.
Cheers, Adrian.