This is my 79th season seeing Orange Tips (first met as a 7-year-old in 1946). I have never known a year like this one. Marshy ground, lanes, edge of moorland and now today on the coastal Gorse & Broom scrub at Ardersier near Inverness. They are everywhere. And of course, many of the unidentified 'whites' might be female Orange Tips.
I released a home-reared male and a female when I got back this afternoon. They both flew off strongly.
Jack
What a season!
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Jack Harrison
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What a season!
Last edited by Jack Harrison on Fri May 17, 2024 6:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Padfield
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Re: What a season!
My memories of orange tips go back to when I was 7 too, Jack, though that was a mere fifty-three years ago. And even after all this time, and however many thousands of individuals, I still find them exquisite. Seeing the first orange tip of spring is always a highlight of the year.
Guy
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
Re: What a season!
Yes, it's absolutely the highlight of any UK spring.
Nice to hear that they are doing well round your way. Not too many round here compared to previous years, but they are holding their own.
Nice to hear that they are doing well round your way. Not too many round here compared to previous years, but they are holding their own.
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Jack Harrison
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Re: What a season!
Five more home reared flew off today.
I went out to collect more eggs for next year's adults. In fact, I cut off stems of Hedge Garlic which is growing in profusion this year. I haven't checked for eggs on these, but they are now in shady spots around the garden in jars. Plenty of Orange Tips through the garden so they will find the Hedge Garlic.
When I was out this afternoon, I made a rough count along a lane bordering on open agricultural fields. It was approximately one OT males every 100 metres.
Jack
I went out to collect more eggs for next year's adults. In fact, I cut off stems of Hedge Garlic which is growing in profusion this year. I haven't checked for eggs on these, but they are now in shady spots around the garden in jars. Plenty of Orange Tips through the garden so they will find the Hedge Garlic.
When I was out this afternoon, I made a rough count along a lane bordering on open agricultural fields. It was approximately one OT males every 100 metres.
Jack