Thanks David. Just waiting for the weather to improve now... may have to wait a while
The weekends looking promising, particularly Saturday (at least on the apps on my phone!)
The BBC is saying only 6 degrees for Saturday, feeling like 2. I know those are shade temperatures though. I also know I underestimate conditions when butterflies will actually be active. See what happens. It doesn't look particularly favourable through to the end of March .
To me that sounds like perfect conditions for LT photography (as long as the sun actually comes out). Those temps would encourage lots of basking and probably keep them low down where the radiant heat wont be watered down by any northerly breeze. My initial comment was based on the predictions earlier in the week which was saying 13/14 degrees for Saturday .
Next week looks quite promising. Tuesday to Thursday, especially Wednesday and Thursday. I've put in Ashford, and it's full sunshine for most of the three days, with temperatures up to twelve degrees on occasion.
Just need the locals to help out and see if there's any activity on Tuesday, and I'll be tempted to give Wednesday and Thursday a try. A good ten hour round trip so sightings beforehand would give me some encouragement.
A good session with them this afternoon, multiples seen in various parts of the forest complex. Very little action before 2 but after that until 4pm it's all go!
bugboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:20 pm
A good session with them this afternoon, multiples seen in various parts of the forest complex. Very little action before 2 but after that until 4pm it's all go!
Hi Bugboy, I'm coming down from Leeds tomorrow to try for them. Do you have any specific areas, where I've the best chance? Any grid references or pin drops on Google maps would be really appreciated.
Thanks.
bugboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:20 pm
A good session with them this afternoon, multiples seen in various parts of the forest complex. Very little action before 2 but after that until 4pm it's all go!
Hi Bugboy, I'm coming down from Leeds tomorrow to try for them. Do you have any specific areas, where I've the best chance? Any grid references or pin drops on Google maps would be really appreciated.
Thanks.
I'll dm you when I get home. They are spread out throughout the woods though, so any ride that gets good afternoon sun should be attractive to them.
bugboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:20 pm
A good session with them this afternoon, multiples seen in various parts of the forest complex. Very little action before 2 but after that until 4pm it's all go!
Hi Bugboy, also planning to head down tomorrow. Please may I ask if they showed well after 2pm the previous time you visited too? I don't want to head down at 11 and just be wandering idly , unless of course there are other butterflies that show earlier? Thanks very much.
Hi Guys, the car park grid ref is TQ98663480. All the grid refs on the map on page 2 of this thread are still relevant.
My last visit the action also started at 2. I think there have been a few morning encounters but most pictures doing the rounds on the internet seem to be from the afternoon. I'm sure they are active in the morning too but where they are and what they're doing is anyones guess, perhaps feeding on the tall Sallows. With tomorrow predicted to be warmer and not such a chilly night they might turn up earlier but I really don't know having very limited experience of the species myself.
There are plenty of other butterflies to occupy oneself with as soon as the temperature hits the mark. Comma's are numerous, with Brimstones, Peacock and Red Admiral also present.
Thanks very much for the help with directions; David, Bugboy et al. I saw 2-3 today in great conditions. Also present were loads of Brimstone, Commas, a few Peacock, and a Red Admiral. A long drive there and back from Wetherby. I set off at 6.30ish this morning, and have just got in. Nice to meet Zayed, and to co-find with him the first of the day, sunning itself on the ride.
Lawts wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:06 pm
Thanks very much for the help with directions; David, Bugboy et al...Nice to meet Zayed, and to co-find with him the first of the day, sunning itself on the ride.
Pleased for both of you - congratulations on a succesful visit.
Lawts wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:06 pm
Thanks very much for the help with directions; David, Bugboy et al. I saw 2-3 today in great conditions. Also present were loads of Brimstone, Commas, a few Peacock, and a Red Admiral. A long drive there and back from Wetherby. I set off at 6.30ish this morning, and have just got in. Nice to meet Zayed, and to co-find with him the first of the day, sunning itself on the ride.
Glad it was a worthwhile trip . We might well have seen each other in passing today but I tend to stay away from the crowds when I'm out butterflying, especially since I already had plenty in the can yesterday!
Lawts wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:06 pm
Thanks very much for the help with directions; David, Bugboy et al...Nice to meet Zayed, and to co-find with him the first of the day, sunning itself on the ride.
Pleased for both of you - congratulations on a succesful visit.
Lawts wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:06 pm
Thanks very much for the help with directions; David, Bugboy et al. I saw 2-3 today in great conditions. Also present were loads of Brimstone, Commas, a few Peacock, and a Red Admiral. A long drive there and back from Wetherby. I set off at 6.30ish this morning, and have just got in. Nice to meet Zayed, and to co-find with him the first of the day, sunning itself on the ride.
Glad it was a worthwhile trip . We might well have seen each other in passing today but I tend to stay away from the crowds when I'm out butterflying, especially since I already had plenty in the can yesterday!
Thanks everyone for the help! It was nice to find 2/3 Large Torts, they weren't too keen on photographs but alas one cannot be fussy when photographing an "extinct" butterfly!
Dorset Branch of butterfly conservation shows a report of a Large Tortioseshell on 19 3 25 at Bere Regis, Dorset.
Not from the previous Dorset site of Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland, where none have been reported now for a couple of years.
The Orlestone Large Tortoiseshells are nearing their end (at least the overwinterers ) heres two very worn individuals ,from two different sections of the forest .I watched one for some time spiralling with a Peacock .......very different on the wing .One from the fourth of April and one from the 8th. The first was recorded on the 5th March found by Alan Cooper .And i,m fairly sure that they were noted from at least 5different sections of the forest and also at least one record from Hamstreet Woods (possibly Bourne Wood ) I,ve been very lucky and seen 8 individuals ,a very pleasing start to the 25' season.
Yesterday in the local forest on a search for Shieldbugs was most surprised to see a late Large Tort (+ a handful of Peacock,Orange-tips and Speckled Woods ) In reasonable nick too ! I also notice that reports of LT's are coming in from Sussex,Dorset, West Midlands, and other areas including other parts of Kent.
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