June 2021
Re: June 2021
Back up the hill for me today. Dare I say it was almost too hot!!
Good numbers of Adonis Blue, Marsh Frits, Dingy Skippers and Small Heath. Also saw my first Large Skipper of the year. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire
And always nice to see these guys fly over having had a close association with 'Fat Alberts' for nearly 30 years.

Good numbers of Adonis Blue, Marsh Frits, Dingy Skippers and Small Heath. Also saw my first Large Skipper of the year. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire
And always nice to see these guys fly over having had a close association with 'Fat Alberts' for nearly 30 years.
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4709
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: June 2021
Ah, I used to fly those. (Hercules)
Northern Scotland 1st June
Ardersier common at NW end.10 (approx) Small Blues, 8 Dingy Skippers (count by another observer - I saw just two).
Elsewhere in the common, many Orange Tips and three Small Whites.
Fort George (Army) is nearby and soldiers were on the rifle range. I guess it's budgetary constraints but the 'bangs' were so feeble that I wouldn't be surprised if they were using pop guns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toy_popgun.jpg
Jack
Northern Scotland 1st June
Ardersier common at NW end.10 (approx) Small Blues, 8 Dingy Skippers (count by another observer - I saw just two).
Elsewhere in the common, many Orange Tips and three Small Whites.
Fort George (Army) is nearby and soldiers were on the rifle range. I guess it's budgetary constraints but the 'bangs' were so feeble that I wouldn't be surprised if they were using pop guns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toy_popgun.jpg
Jack
Re: June 2021
A Marsh Fritillary gazes out over the Buckinghamshire countryside today and wonders how it came to be there...
Dave

- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1656
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: June 2021
More from Pegsdon in the Bedfordshire Chilterns
is this a Common Blue ?
not sure what this plant is... any suggestions ?
the weather looks perfect for another expedition tomorrow

is this a Common Blue ?
not sure what this plant is... any suggestions ?
the weather looks perfect for another expedition tomorrow

Re: June 2021
Yes that is a male Common Blue and the plant is Comfrey.Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:59 pm More from Pegsdon in the Bedfordshire Chilterns![]()
is this a Common Blue ?
51218175457_8de9f00490_b.jpg
not sure what this plant is... any suggestions ?
51219652449_8333de195d_b.jpg
the weather looks perfect for another expedition tomorrow![]()
Some addictions are good for the soul!
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4709
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: June 2021
My Small Blue (near Inverness) date here, 1st June, is two weeks earlier than last year (but in 2020 I probably missed the first emergencies). Old literature suggests Small Blues fly in July. Certainly the flight season is now very much earlier. I will be checking to see if Small Blue up here is becoming double-brooded as is now routinely the case in south England.
Jack
Jack
Re: June 2021
I decided, on the back of Bugboys comments, to check out Cotley Hill, Wiltshire. I'm delighted to say that there are indeed a good representation of butterfly species and assorted moths on the hill.
In two hours I recorded the following:
Dingy Skipper 8
Grizzled Skipper 5
Large White 1
Orange-tip 2
Green Hairstreak 2
Small Copper 1
Small Blue 8
Brown Argus 5
Adonis Blue 7
Marsh Fritillary 13
Small Heath 28
In two hours I recorded the following:
Dingy Skipper 8
Grizzled Skipper 5
Large White 1
Orange-tip 2
Green Hairstreak 2
Small Copper 1
Small Blue 8
Brown Argus 5
Adonis Blue 7
Marsh Fritillary 13
Small Heath 28
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4709
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: June 2021
North Scotland again - Kinloss Moray 2nd June
Very fresh Tortoiseshell (just a small nick out of one wing). Could this be new brood and not a hibernator? Torties now do seem regularly to be double brooded here now but this seems a little early.
But a define ex-hibernator. Jack
Very fresh Tortoiseshell (just a small nick out of one wing). Could this be new brood and not a hibernator? Torties now do seem regularly to be double brooded here now but this seems a little early.
But a define ex-hibernator. Jack
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1656
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: June 2021
thanks again for your expert help bugboy !bugboy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 5:15 amYes that is a male Common Blue and the plant is Comfrey.Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:59 pm More from Pegsdon in the Bedfordshire Chilterns![]()
is this a Common Blue ?
51218175457_8de9f00490_b.jpg
not sure what this plant is... any suggestions ?
51219652449_8333de195d_b.jpg
the weather looks perfect for another expedition tomorrow![]()
i went out there again today... there was lurve in the air ( or on the ground )
are they Common Blues ?
plenty of skippers too...
Re: June 2021
Charles ,
Your plant is Houndstongue. Regards Allan.W.
Your plant is Houndstongue. Regards Allan.W.
Re: June 2021
Hi Charles - they look like Common Blues to me. Though the outer fringes are a bit worn, there is no chequering to indicate Adonis (which is the possible alternative).
Nice Dingy by the way!
Cheers,
Dave
Nice Dingy by the way!
Cheers,
Dave
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1656
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1656
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: June 2021
thanks for your help millerd ! this Dingy was quite cooperative, unlike most of the others

Re: June 2021
Would be quite a record, Jack, given your location.Jack Harrison wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 4:26 pmVery fresh Tortoiseshell (just a small nick out of one wing)....could this be new brood and not a hibernator? Torties now do seem regularly to be double brooded here now but this seems a little early.
I haven't seen any of the summer brood yet round my way, but I've noted that others on here have been posting recent sightings of this species, with some seemingly being in very good condition.
Re: June 2021
The plant isn't Comfrey but in the same family- Common Houndstongue.bugboy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 5:15 amYes that is a male Common Blue and the plant is Comfrey.Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:59 pm More from Pegsdon in the Bedfordshire Chilterns![]()
is this a Common Blue ?
51218175457_8de9f00490_b.jpg
not sure what this plant is... any suggestions ?
51219652449_8333de195d_b.jpg
the weather looks perfect for another expedition tomorrow![]()
Re: June 2021
That'll teach me to try and id stuff on my phone without zooming in on the imageaeshna5 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 5:29 amThe plant isn't Comfrey but in the same family- Common Houndstongue.bugboy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 5:15 amYes that is a male Common Blue and the plant is Comfrey.Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:59 pm More from Pegsdon in the Bedfordshire Chilterns![]()
is this a Common Blue ?
51218175457_8de9f00490_b.jpg
not sure what this plant is... any suggestions ?
51219652449_8333de195d_b.jpg
the weather looks perfect for another expedition tomorrow![]()

Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: June 2021
Monday was very warm and it brought out the Painted Ladies, a female Swallowtail egg-laying on my fennel, a Map, a Red Admiral, a particularly beautiful Small Tortoiseshell and several Small Heaths - as well as the Orange Tips, Brimstones, Whites, Holly Blues, an Speckled Woods. That’s not a bad list!