April 2023

[millerd]

On a gloriously sunny day (today 20th), I visited Noar Hill in Hampshire (and it turned into quite a sociable occasion!). I managed to see my first Duke of Burgundy of the year as well; another was spotted too, but they must only just be emerging even though this is an early site for them in most years. There were plenty of Brimstones and Peacocks around, and quite a few Holly Blues, but only a handful of Commas and just one Orange Tip and one Small Tortoiseshell. No Whites, and no Green Hairstreaks or Dingy Skippers yet. I was surprised at how far behind my local patch the leafing of the trees was down here in the Hampshire countryside.

Full report in my PD idc.

Dave

[Charles Nicol]

First Orange Tip and Holly Blue of the season !

both near the lagoons at Grafham Water.

no Green Hairstreaks there yet.

[David M]

On a gloriously sunny day (today 20th), I visited Noar Hill in Hampshire (and it turned into quite a sociable occasion!). I managed to see my first Duke of Burgundy of the year as well...

Good decision, Dave. Nice to see Dukes on these pages once more.

[Bertl]

My first orange tips of the season. All photos taken today in clackmannanshire. Around a dozen on the wing at a small site near the old harbour at Alloa.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Love that upside down male, BertI. I haven't seen a female yet so that's one up to yourself and Clackmannanshire.

Saw my first OT of 2023 on Monday and a minimum of 4 patrolling males doing large circuits around me on Thursday lunchtime. I like the way the males engage when they meet. They don't appear to have the aggression of a Peacock, say, but rather prefer to "see off" a rival by changing direction and following it from a safe distance for a few yards before turning round and carrying on zig-zagging along the hedgerows.

I am seeing Peacock, Brimstone and Comma too, plus the odd Small Tort and Small White. No Red Admirals yet this year that I can recall though.

The sheep snap was taken earlier this month (7th), the rest last week.The Angle Shades on the geraniums looked like it was happy to stay in that spot until nightfall. I think the longhorn moth must be Adela reaumurella (Green Long-horn).

[millerd]

Somewhat unexpectedly, the sun appeared at around three o'clock today and warmed things up for an hour or so. My local butterflies responded, and included a new species for the year: a male Large White, as usual flying around nearly at treetop height, but basking for just long enough for my shaky zoom to snap it. This was species no.12 for my local patch this year.

I also saw nine Orange Tips, the highest total this year. One stopped to take on fuel, which it turned out it would need as I am pretty sure it is the male half of the pairing I spotted later (there is a telltale split in one forewing).

Also seen: Holly Blues, Speckled Woods, Small Whites and a Peacock. Full report in my PD soonish...

Dave

[millerd]

Today's cool and mostly cloudy conditions (with heavy rain to follow) gave way to about an hour of brighter and warmer weather just after one o'clock. I thought I'd see if the Orange Tip pair from yesterday were still around, and they were - though they had now separated and were sitting apart.

As I watched, a bit of sunshine came through and woke the butterflies up. The male opened up first, then the female, but before she had fully extended her wings he took to the air.

After a bit of solitary basking, she was not long to follow.

Quite a piece of luck really to catch them at this particular moment.

The sun hung around a little longer, and I was given another treat in the form of a wide-open male Holly Blue...

...and I also found another female Orange Tip on one of the few Garlic Mustard plants in bloom.

There was also a flyby Small White, but that turned out to be all for the day. A couple of real bonuses on a day when I had not expected to see anything at all.

Dave

[badgerbob]

My annual frustrations at searching for Wall Brown pupa continued over the weekend. I thought I had found one, amazingly in the first tussock I checked, but after thinking at the time that it looked a little different, on looking at the 'Life Cycles' book when I got home it turned into my first ever Speckled Wood pupa. The following day a much longer search resulted in seeing both the same Speckled Wood pupa and my first wild Wall Brown pupa since 2019. I did rear one through at home in 2020. All the Wall Brown pupa I have found in the wild have been parasitized so I'm hoping this one will buck the trend and make it through to adulthood. When it was found there was a moth caterpillar being eaten by a spider and the following morning lots of ants finishing the meal just 6 cm away from the pupa. Both spiders and ants enjoy a vulnerable pupa, but these get them during the time that the larva is hanging on the grass stem before that final moult and hardening of the pupa.

[millerd]

Only two degrees round my way at seven o'clock this morning, but the sunshine made me hopeful that something would be flying later on. Not much was, but several Holly Blues seemed immune to the chill, including this pair of males (keeping close together for warmth? ).

Dave

[David M]

Female Wall Brown seen on 19th April.

Very nice, Mike. It'll be mid-May before they appear here if conditions don't improve!

[Stevieb]

First garden Holly Blue of the year this afternoon. Nearly a month later than last year! Melksham, Wiltshire

28th April

[bugboy]

Quite an extensive search of all the nooks around Ivinghoe Beacon turned up just 5 Dukes, all looking very fresh and yet to get all territorial so very much early days for them there. Brimstones and Peacocks were numerous but there was precious little else. Word was there were sightings of both spring Skippers but I saw neither and it sounded like just singletons of both anyway. Perhaps in 10 days it might be worth another visit.

[millerd]

A visit to Denbies today didn't turn up any Skippers either, but a few Green Hairstreaks popped up in all of their usual haunts.

There were numerous Brimstones, including many females on a mission: the buckthorn buds are only just opening.

Not many other butterflies - a handful of Holly Blues and Peacocks, but just one Orange Tip. However, I was treated to a close view of a kestrel which hovered directly above me for several seconds before realising I was there.

A full account of the morning to follow in my PD.

Dave

[Testudo Man]

A great session was had yesterday (Saturday) visiting 3 Kent locations in 6+ hours. Good sunshine, light winds, warm temps, even caught a bit of sun on my arms/face/neck! 11 Species seen, but hard going trying to find any Grizzlies!! Just 2 Grizzled Skippers sighted, an 3 Green Hairstreaks, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Large White, Small Whites, GVW's, Orange Tips, Peacocks 15+, Commas 8+, 1 Small Tort, Brimstones 6+...1 adult male Adder, 3 Slow Worms.
I think another week of good weather is needed to show much better numbers of Grizzlies, an maybe a Dingy or two might turn up?!

Some highlight pics from the day, no images cropped, cheers Paul.

Green Hairstreaks, 2 were found on Gorse.

One of the Grizzled Skippers. (S.O.O.C.).

Mating pair of GVW's.

A male Brimstone.

Some sort of Carpet Moth? (S.O.O.C.).

[Neil Freeman]

Some sort of Carpet Moth? (S.O.O.C.).

A Green Carpet Moth https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/colostygia-pectinataria/

Cheers,

Neil.

[Testudo Man]

Some sort of Carpet Moth? (S.O.O.C.).

A Green Carpet Moth https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/colostygia-pectinataria/

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks very much for that Neil
Cheers Paul.

[millerd]

Another year first for me down on the other area local to me - Staines Moor. Until recently, it has been almost impossible to access this from my direction without wellies, but a mud-free narrow path has now emerged from the mire. In hazy sunshine a Small Copper appeared in the same spot as the first one has turned up in the last two years.

Back on my local patch Peacock, Orange Tip and GVW numbers all reached double figures, but I'll leave that to my PD.

Dave

[David M]

A great session was had yesterday (Saturday)...

Clearly, Paul.

Things look to be moving nicely round your way.

The unh streak on your second rubi is luscious!

[Testudo Man]

A great session was had yesterday (Saturday)...

Clearly, Paul.

Things look to be moving nicely round your way.

The unh streak on your second rubi is luscious!

Thanks David.
Well, a week on, an still rain!!! Had a good session yesterday afternoon (with Dingys an my 1st Small Copper) but really low numbers about, an only 1 tatty Grizzled Skipper seen!
Im over this rain now mate

[Wurzel]

A bit late and there will be a few more on my PD later but this shot came from Martin Down at the end of April. I'd been watching a typical rejection routine. Once the male had gotten the hint the female went to close up again at the same time that the cloud covered the sky. She then remained wings open and fed for few minutes, opening up fully to almost 'pinned' position.

Definitely worth hanging around once the males have been sent packing!

Have a goodun

Wurzel