May 2022

[millerd]

I counted five Painted Ladies on my local patch near Heathrow today - the first this year.

As I have it on good authority that they have appeared in reasonable numbers down on the Sussex coast today, it may be fair to assume that there is an immigration of the species underway.

Has any one else seen any today or recently?

Dave

[Ian Pratt]

Glanville fritillaries seen today on the Isle of Wight.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Nice clear damselfly shot Zig-zag ...............and i,m not being picky ...................but i think they,re Azure Damsels.
Regards Allan.W.

Hi
Yep, I agree with Azure Damselfly.
Cheers, Ade

Thanks Ade, and Allan (again),

Yes, I just took a close look on the excellent British Dragonflies site and the spur on the side of the male's thorax is clear. I should have spotted this meself ! It's interesting to read that the Azure is possibly more common than the Common Blue.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Very warm today. I saw my first Cinnabar moth of the year, a Dingy Skipper, a Brown Argus, a pair of Small Whites, my second and third Red Admirals, a Red Twin-spot Carpet and a Common Tubic.....and the rear end of a grass snake.

Following on from Allan's comment on the Common Carpet, there is nothing common-looking about the Common Tubic.

No Painted Ladies for me yet Dave.

[Chris L]

Glanville fritillaries seen today on the Isle of Wight.

Those are a wonderful set of photos Ian. They look so pristine.

[Allan.W.]

A "Geoff" Zig-Zag Cracking looking moth !....................Nice find ! Allan.W.

[David M]

Those are a wonderful set of photos Ian. They look so pristine.

Yup. Absolutely heartwarming to see these. Nothing artificial about this colony!

[Ian Pratt]

Glanville fritillaries seen today on the Isle of Wight.

Those are a wonderful set of photos Ian. They look so pristine.

Thanks so much. They are very fresh at the moment but not as many as in previous years.

[Ian Pratt]

I was fortunate to find this butterfly feeding on valerian and showing its underside too.

[Ian Pratt]

This is the vegetation where the butterflies are found.

[David M]

I counted five Painted Ladies on my local patch near Heathrow today - the first this year....Has any one else seen any today or recently?

Yes, Dave. Saw two on Fairwood Common close to where I live.

Looks like we may be having a sudden influx.

[Lawts]

Glanville fritillaries seen today on the Isle of Wight.

Lovely clear shots. Was this Ventnor?

[Wolfson]

Painted Lady and Red Admiral popping up in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

[Bertl]

First PBF sightings of the season out at Cambus o may on deeside. Also spotted a dragonfly......haven’t identified it yet.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Dave's query had the magic effect. My first Painted Lady of 2022 at work today. It was in House #4 enjoying the dahlias. It was so warm we had the doors open so it would have had no trouble escaping.

We see robins in House #2 all the time, often with a beak full of wriggling caterpillars. They have built a nest inside one of the potting machines. The constant noise when in use doesn't seem to phase them and it certainly protects against predators. The machine needed fixing today so I took a quick snap.

At lunch I saw my first Mother Shipton and Yellow Shell moths of the year. Also my first work Common Blue. It was duking it out with the Brown Argus who stays in pretty much the same place every day. The last moth shown I can't call - it looks like a bell or conch type.

PS Looks like maybe a Four-spotted Chaser, Bertl. I saw my first dragonfly of the year today, a Broad-bodied Chaser.

[adrian riley]

First PBF sightings of the season out at Cambus o may on deeside. Also spotted a dragonfly......haven’t identified it yet.

Hi, Berti
Your dragonfly is Four-spotted Chaser.
Cheers, Ade

[David M]

Saturday 14th, Haugh Wood, Herefordshire - 4 Wood Whites seen, along with Orange Tip, Green Veined White, Speckled Wood and two elderly Peacocks!

[OwenE]

Might try Haugh woods at the weekend, wood white definitely my number one target right now

Just back from Aberbargoed Grasslands. I'd been told that it was very fire damaged this year and while that may well turn out to have had a massive impact on flora and fauna it wasn't quite as bad to the eye as I expected. Very overcast with wet ground but managed Common Blue, Small Heath and my first UK painted lady and Small Copper of the year. Once it warmed up a bit I had small numbers of Marsh Fritillary but I'm sure a better day would deliver more. Also my first Broad Bodied Chaser of the year.

[Chris L]

Painted Lady reach South Derbyshire ! A very faded specimen seen today, but it seemed happy enough.

[Bertl]

Thanks to the wanderer and Adrian on the dragonfly ID.