Neil Freeman

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots Neil Willowchiffs are really tricky - I use time of year and their song to separate them usually and illow Warbs often appear more yellow/green...I'vebeen burnt IDing birds from photos before so I', loathe to commit myself - sorry

The Pied Flycatcher is exactly that - and a female I reckon hence the more subtle tones rather than the showy stark black and white of the male, cracking shot again!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks Wurzel, still not heard any 'Chiffchaff' calls and they were in the garden again today

Saturday April 20th - Its (nearly)all Peacocks and Commas again

The weather made good with its promised forecast today so I took a trundle around Solihull. Last year I had started noting promising looking public footpaths and decided today to check a couple out but first I stopped off at Castle Hills for a look.

It wasn't long before I spotted a Peacock basking in a sheltered corner, closely followed by a Comma that the Peacock soon chased off.

Peacock - Castle Hills Solihull 20.04.2013

Circling back to the car I saw another Peacock and Comma and my first Brimstone of the year.

Peacock - Castle Hills Solihull 20.04.2013

I watched the Brimstone as it carried on along the hedge line without stopping, I didn't bother following it as I did not expect it to settle with the sun shining like it was today.

Last year I had seen my first Orange Tips here on April 13th but there was no sign today. Given that things around here are usually a good week or two behind the southern parts of the country and it is a late season everywhere I wasn't really that hopeful, but you never know.

I next carried on round to one of the footpaths mentioned earlier. Walking a short way along I soon found a couple of Peacocks.

Peacock - Solihull 20.04.2013

A little further and crossing a field I soon found some more activity. Along one stretch of hedge there were 2 Peacocks and 3 Commas in a sequence of Comma, Peacock, Peacock, Comma, and Comma.

2 Peacocks and 3 Commas along here

These were all basking in the grass and taking off to intercept each other as they intruded into each other’s airspace. Getting photos was difficult as they were all flighty and when they did settle it was with grass all around them.

Peacock - Solihull 20.04.2013

Comma - Solihull 20.04.2013

Heading back to the car I was passed by a Small Tortoiseshell that went up and over the hedgerow.

I then continued on to a couple more similar spots seeing a few more Peacocks and Commas, usually moving at high speed along hedges.
At the last spot that I stopped at I walked a short way down a footpath alongside a hedge when I spotted another Peacock down in the grass. As it moved over it became apparent that there were in fact two butterflies, a courting couple in fact.

Peacocks - Solihull 20.04.2013

Peacocks - Solihull 20.04.2013

They then flew acoss to a clump of nettles before taking off together up and over the hedge.

I like the shot below because it shows the contrast between the colourful topside and the underside with its subtle dark shades.

Peacocks - Solihull 20.04.2013

I remember last year saying that it was all Peacocks and Commas for me whilst others were seeing plenty of Brimstones. It was nearly the same for me today but I did see my first Brimstone and a single Small Tortoiseshell to ward off the sense of deja vu.

Oh, and one more thing, I should have worn a hat. My head is glowing a bit this evening

Bye for now.

[David M]

Sounds like you had a productive day, Neil.

Must admit, I don't think I've ever seen 'courting' Peacocks. I think I'd have hung around to see if they actually paired as I don't recall ever seeing an image of that before.

[Wurzel]

Cracking stuff Neil the courting pair shot is great

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Nick Broomer]

Hi Neil,

just seen your Warbler pics, you are right it is a Willow Warbler. You can always tell by the fact that the wings reach further down the tail than that of the Chiffchaff`s wings, which normally stop at the rump.

By the way, some lovely photos.

All the best, Nick.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks for the comments Guys

David, I did lurk around for a bit hoping to see if they actually paired but, after changing postion a couple of times as mentioned above, they went over a hedge where I could not follow, the male still pursuing the female. To be honest she did not seem that interested, maybe already mated.

I was well chuffed with the courting shots Wurzel, my favourites of the day and it was only a last minute decision to pull up by the footpath where I saw them.

Hi Nick, thanks for the confirmation of the Willow Warblers, much appreciated

Cheers,

Neil.

[Neil Freeman]

Probably the best day weather-wise so far this year and I was stuck in work

I arrived back home about 4.00pm grabbed a coffee and went and sat out in the garden for a bit. Almost immediatly a Small White flew past me and out the other side of the garden without stopping, my first non-hibernator this year

That was my only butterfly today but looking around the garden there was plenty of other insect activity going on.

Plenty of Bees of various shapes and sizes were buzzing about, most of them too busy to stay still for photos.

Bee - Coverdale 23.04.2013

Also a number of Bee Flies.

Bee Fly - Coverdale 23.04.2013

There was a little swarm of the critters below around a privet, I remember seeing loads of these last year and never did identify them. Looks like a small bee or wasp but maybe something else

Bee or Wasp? - Coverdale 23.04.2012

The sun has brought the cowslips in my lawn into flower, only about 10 days later than last year whereas some other stuff is nearly a month late.

Cowslips - Coverdale 23.04.2013

In previous years I have seen my first Speckled Wood in my garden around a week or so before I see my first Orange Tip. I am curious to see what happens this year, Orange Tips are being reported locally but no Specklies yet.

Colder conditions are being forecast for later in the week, lets see how it turns out, today was a lot better than last nights forecast indicated it would be.

Bye for now.

Neil.

[Mark Colvin]

Happy birthday Neil.

Lets hope the entomological world brings you the presents you deserve ...

[Wurzel]

Happy Birthday Neil
Hopefuly you'll get plenty of Lepidopteran presents!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

p.s. Your first bee looks like a Carder Bee and the Bee/wasp is probably a Andrena sp.

[David M]

Many happy returns, Neil.

Best of luck in the butterflying year ahead.

[Neil Freeman]

Many thanks for the birthday greetings chaps

Thanks for the bee IDs Wurzel. I also posted the Bee/Wasp on twitter and got the response of Andrena sp. but no-one knew which one.

Thanks in large part to the timely post by Tuts in the news thread regarding the Pentax Papilios being reduced on Amazon I became the happy owner of a pair of these today

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-8-5x21-C ... lio+8.5x21

Gave them a tryout this afternoon in the garden between the showers and am very impressed.

Whilst out in the garden my first Green-veined White of the year came fluttering slowly along the border, unfortunatly not settling despite looking like it was going to a couple of times.

I also had a Comma that hung around for about ten minutes where I have some dandelions that have come out this week.

Comma - Coverdale 26.04.2013

It has been a typical April day today, cool breeze with some sun between the showers. The weekend looks like more of the same so hopefully I will get out for a look around, still after my first Orange Tip.

Interesting to see that a couple of people in the midlands have reported seeing female Orange Tips before seeing a male.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Nick Broomer]

Many happy returns of the day Neil, as a birthday present, i hope you get your first Orange-tip of the year this weekend, good luck.

All the best, Nick.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks Nick,

I will be out looking at some point, the weather looks mixed but I learnt last year to not let that put me off.

Cheers.

Neil.

[Neil Hulme]

Belated "Happy Birthday" Neil. Hope you got a warm and sunny spring.
Best Wishes, Neil

[Mark Tutton]

Happy birthday Neil, mine was the 25th, and my Papilios arrived on the day too very impressed with them.
I think you would be hard pressed to better them for the money the close focus is superb and whilst I normally carry a full sized pair these are light and easy to carry 'just in case'.
Would be good to bump into each other again this year if the opportunity arises.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks for the birthday wishes Neil and Mark

And a very belated Many Happy Returns to you Mark.

Saturday 27th April

Not a good day weatherwise, cold wind and thundery showers including a couple with hail. Nevertherless, I decided to continue my scouting of local footpaths and so, with my son Chris, we headed over to the Catherine-de-Barnes/Hampton-in-Arden side of Solihull for a wander about.

A couple of hours, including a bit of sheltering under trees during the heavier showers and we found some likely looking spots that will be worth returning to in better weather.

Public footpath - Solihull 27.04.2013

Public footpath - Solihull 27.04.2013

We did not see any butterflies, in fact apart from a couple of bees there was not much insect life about, not surprising really considering the wind and showers.

There were some birds about including some Pied Wagtails along a stretch of canal towpath. I see these regularly, including around my local Tesco carpark but I think this is the first time I have seen them when I actually had a camera with me.

Pied Wagtail - Solihull 27.04.2013

Other birds seen included Chaffinches, Chiff Chaffs and Various Tits including a couple performing acrobatics amongst some very attractive May blossom.

Chaffinch - Solihull 27.04.2013

Blue Tit - 27.04.2013

The forecast for midweek is looking promising, pity I will be at work.
I will be keeping a close eye on the garden when I get back on the afternoons, I have a feeling the Speckled Woods may be showing up later this week.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[Neil Freeman]

Sunday 28th April

A similar day to yesterday but with a bit more sun in the morning, a little less wind and no rain or hail, just wall to wall gey clouds all afternoon.

The only butterfly seen all day was a White that flew through the garden around midday. It was too far away for a definite ID but going by its flight pattern I would hazard a guess at Small White. I find that Gv Whites have a more delicate 'fluttering' flight whereas Small Whites always seem to be 'going somwhere' with a more purposeful flight. Not sure if I have explained that well but I find there is usually a subtle difference between the flight of the two species.

Did a bit of pottering around in the garden this afternoon and noticed there were more bees about again today including my first Tawny Mining Bees in the garden this year. I could see up to half a dozen females at one time and a couple of what I think are males.

Tawny Mining Bee male (I think) - Coverdale 28.04.2013

Tawny Mining Bee female - Coverdale 28.04.2013

After watching the Country File weather forecast earlier I am feeling more confident that I may get a Speckled Wood in the garden later this week and who knows, maybe even an Orange Tip.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Tawny mining bees are great aren't they? The females like like they've been Tangoed and the males have crazily big jaws Good luck witht eh Secklies and OT's this week

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Cheers Wurzel, I agree on the Tawny Mining Bees, if the sun catches the females right they seem to glow

Tuesday 30th April

The last day of April and my butterfly species count stands at 5, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Small and Green-veined white. No Speckled Wood, Orange Tip or Holly Blue yet

I got home from work this afternoon and as the sun kept popping out went out into the garden for a look.
Almost immediatly I spotted a Comma, the same one from a few days back, identifiable by a patch of wear on its forewing. As before he hung around for a few minutes before flying off over the neighbours.

Comma - Coverdale 30.04.2013

The temperature is set to rise a bit over the next few days and there is a hint of a bit of reasonable weather for the bank holiday weekend, trying not to get too excited as the forecast for more than a day ahead keeps changing but heres hoping.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[Neil Freeman]

Well, it has been a frustrating couple of days stuck in work with hardly a glimpse of outside and not enough time to call in anywhere on my way home, I have however enjoyed reading other peoples diaries and sightings .
By the time I have got in and had a chance to chill out in the garden the sun has been getting low and it has been getting chilly. I have however seen a couple of things

Wednesday 1st May.

I was hopeful for a butterfly or two in my garden to mark the first day of May but it had clouded over a bit when I got in and it was not to be

Some Spiders can actually look attractive, even cute in the case of the little jumping spiders. Others however are definitely creepy looking. The one below reminds me of a mini Shelob from The Lord of the Rings and for me is in the creepy class.

Come into my parlour.....

I also saw this handsome looking bee. I have had a look online and think it may be a Tree Bumblebee but am not 100% sure.

Tree Bumblebee - Coverdale 01.05.2013

Thursday 2nd May

Fortunatly I managed to get out of the office today on an errand to a supplier which helped me from going completely stir crazy. I took the scenic route back to work and saw a female Brimstone and my first Orange Tip of the year along the hedgerows

Finally getting in from work this afternoon I was greeted by a couple of whites and my first Holly Blue in the garden

In November 2011 I had planted 10 small Alder Buckthorn plants at the bottom of the garden, about half of which get full sun all morning, the others in the afternoon. Last year they did not get any visits from female Brimstones and I was wondering if the location was any good. Checking them today I was pleased to find some eggs , 23 at a brief count across all the plants, some with 2 eggs to a leaf.

Brimstone ovum - Coverdale 02.05.2013

Brimstone ova - Coverdale 02.05.2013

Still no Speckled Wood in the garden yet, I have my fingers crossed for the weekend, weather looking good so far with a band of rain coming across Friday night/Saturday morning and clearing up behind it.

Bye for now,

Neil