August 2009 Sightings

[Zonda]

Same time again next week then Lee...xxxxxxx

[Zonda]

I'm not seeing too many Red Admirals up until now.....Is this a poor year for them?

[Vince Massimo]

Hi all,

I have not mentined this before but there is a small Purple Hairstreak colony in an Oak tree in my neighbours garden. However here at Caterham-on-the Hill (pronounced, Caterham-often-quite-windy), conditions are not usually very good for observing them as they fly around the canopy of the Oak and adjacent Ash. Today was a rare treat with warm and calm conditions and I spent a pleasant hour sitting on the patio with my binoculars. There were three individuals identified, one looking very fresh considering the time of year and the hammering they have taken by the weather in recent weeks.

Cheers,

Vince.

[thepostieles]

saw lots painted ladies today on postround, they all on buddlias plus a comma few peacocks and lots small, greenviened and large whites

[Dave McCormick]

I'm not seeing too many Red Admirals up until now.....Is this a poor year for them?

I am not sure, some people are reporing lower numbers. Here is opposite, they are almost as common as Painted Ladies here and they are very common moment.

[Lee Hurrell]

Same time again next week then Lee...xxxxxxx

Yeah I'll be wearing a rose etc....

[Susie]

ask the wardens at horsenden farm about the goings on at the hill, they can tell a few stories, particularly concerning vegetables. I went to the local school and had to do cross country running there and saw a few sights too. Mind you, there are white letter hairstreakin the elm by the road so its not all bad. On arriving in cornwall i was greeted by a hummingbird hawk moth.

[Lee Hurrell]

I did try and find a warden on the day but to no avail. Actually I've just remembered what day it was - 16th March. My first Small White of the year in the warden's garden!

Back to today. Had a nice walk along the river brent between Greenford and Perivale this afternoon:

Painted Lady x 6
Peacock x 1
Comma x 1
Meadow Brown x 21 (including an odd looking male, see below)
Speckled Wood x 15
Gatekeeper x 13
Common Blue x 25 (including I think a female form caerulea, AND an aerial love triangle...see below)
Plenty of Large, Small and Green Veined Whites. (I saw the classic 'no' behaviour again too).
Few Silver Y moths
Riband Wave moth
And a Red Admiral in my front garden as I got back.

Rather a lot of orange on the upperside, is this an abberation?

I think this female is form caerulea?

An aerial common blue love triangle!

[Jack Harrison]

This proves it - women can't drive without bumping into things. (wife's car)

Jack

[Ian Pratt]

I spent an hour or so at Bonchurch Down near Ventnor yesterday and saw the following on amongst other plants thistles, buddleia, hemp agrimony, kidney vetch and bird's foot trefoil:
Red Admiral 1
Peacock 1
Small heath 3
Adonis blue 3
Chalkhill Blue 20+
Common blue 20+
Brown Argus 5
Large White 50+
Small white 20 +
Painter Ladies 30+
Meadow brown 20+
Gatekeeper 20+
Small tortoiseshell 1
Wall brown 2
Marbled white 2
This is a great place to go if you are on the Isle of Wight now, or in May/June.

[Alex]

I live quite near Bath and usually the butterflies I see in my garden have been a very good indication of trends throughout the local area. This year, obviously stacks of painted ladys, plenty of small torts and more than usual numbers of ringlets (and unfortunately, total lack of Holly Blue this year). This weekend, for the first summer in 3 that I've lived here, a small trickling through the garden (5 or 6 individuals) of Small Copper - hopefully this indicates a better than usual August for this delightful little species.

[Denise]

Hi Alex, and welcome to the site.
I don't live too far from you and have similar in my garden except for Small Copper. Now that would really be something.
Peacock numbers increased to 21 today, making it the most numerous butterfly in my garden. Painted Lady just behind with 18. 7 each of Small Tort (always a pleasure to see) and Red Admiral, also Comma, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood and various whites. My biggest surprise today were 3 Common Blue. 2 females and 1 male. The females, (like last years 1) are hanging around the trefoil, but the male is holding territory, and taking on all other butterflies that fly onto "his patch." I'm hoping that this is the start of a small colony.
Also seen today was my first identified garden Silver Y. (thank you Rolf, for putting this one up for ID. I learnt something new there)

Denise

[Susie]

dark green fritillary in the sand dunes

[mikem]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the kind comments on the pics.

Hi Lee & Susie

I'm down by the Shell garage in Greenford. Don't see too many butterflies here, maybe a few large whites.

As for Horsenden Hill, I'll keep your comments in mind Lee!!

Managed to get down to Denbies Hillside today. Didn't get to stay as long as I wanted and spent too much time taking pics. Some below. As for sightings

Brown Argus
Chalkhill Blue
Common Blue
Large White
Green Veined White
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Clouded Yellow
Painted Lady x3
Peacock x1
and one Red Admiral spotted by couple I met whilst walking.

Mike

[ChrisC]

fantastic day in the garden today with 15 species seen

peacock
red admiral
painted lady
comma (also 3 caterpillars on redcurrant)
small tortoiseshell
brimstone
large white
small white
GV white
clouded yellow
smalls/essex skipper
speckled wood
silver washed fritillary
gatekeeper
meadow brown
silver-y (at least 10 nectaring as i type this)

if we have a decent winter again it should be a fantstic year next year

Chris

[Lee Hurrell]

I'm down by the Shell garage in Greenford. Don't see too many butterflies here, maybe a few large whites.

Hi Mike, I'm the other end of Greenford near the BP garage! Where's Denbies Hill though?


Had quite a good day in the garden today:
Large White x 20+
Small White x 8
Green Veined White x 3
Painted Lady x 3
Speckled Wood x 3
Red Admiral x 1
Comma x 1

And between 5.30 and 6.30 pm at Greenford Park Cemetery:
Painted Lady x 1
Large White x 10+
Small White x 8+
Green Veined White x 5+
Meadow Brown x 1
Gatekeeper x 2
Speckled Wood x 3
Common Blue x 25+ including a mating pair (see below)
Small Copper x 2

These last two seemed to have survived the devastation of one side of the meadow anyway.

That's the knee of my shorts they're sitting on...

[sahikmet]

Hi,

Gardens ner Tours France full of butterflies. Lots of fresh Painted ladies, whites. Also large number of Silver-washed Fritillary. One Scarce Swallowtail.

Cheers

Sezar

[mikem]

Hi Lee

Denbies Hillside is down near Dorking.

I also saw this yesteday at DH. I looked it up but couldn't find pic of the underside. I believe it is a Silver-Ground Carpet Moth. Anyone, please correct me if I am wrong.

Mike

[Jack Harrison]

Little i/d quiz. Took off before I could get picture.

Jack

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Jack,
I reckon it's an Adonis. BTW, Brown Hairstreak now well out here - will post later.
Neil