Jason Sargerson

[jasonsargerson]

This is my blog about my books, DVDs and magazines.

I hope to include my visits to UK Butterfly sites and also my trips to Swiss Butterfly sites in the summer.

My latest DVD is now available: Swiss Butterflies: West.

The key to my DVDs is that the sites visited are all easy access - you should be seeing some nice butterflies as soon as you arrive by bus, train or car.

Peter Eeles has posted a review on this site, and Bill Stone has reviewed the DVD on Amazon.

Clips from the DVD can be seen on my website, on youtube and on this website.

Full information about the DVD is on my website.

[David M]

Welcome, Jason. I shall look forward to your reports from Switzerland in particular.

[Benjamin]

Hi Jason -
Good idea to post on here - I think there are many users that will very much appreciate your work. Personally I find your DVDs and magazines most useful when brushing up on id skills before trips to Europe - obviously anyone heading to Switzerland will find them particularly beneficial!

[jasonsargerson]

Thanks for the welcome David and Ben.

I have created a new post in the Overseas section for my magazine: European Butterflies Magazine.

The first issue is still available.

[jasonsargerson]

The second issue (2019) of European Butterflies Magazine is now available.

Please see Overseas forum: European Butterflies Magazine for details.

[NickMorgan]

Received my copy of European Butterflies a couple of days ago. Loads of interesting articles and pictures. I am really looking forward to reading it on holiday.

[jasonsargerson]

My first butterfly trip today to Wilberforce Way, Woodmansey near Kingston upon Hull.

This is a footpath along the Barmston Drain, beside what is now a good field of grass, that used to have a lot of flowers for Small Copper, Common Blue and Brown Argus,

There were some Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Orange Tips, Small Whites and a single Comma.

[jasonsargerson]

Are you looking for a bargain book?

My book Southwest USA and Four Corners is available direct from me at £5.00, including postage.

This is a Natural History/Geology guide to the Southwest, covering National Parks and National Monuments.

It covers Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, but also places such as Moab, Monticello and Durango.

There are two good areas to visit for butterflies: the LaSal Mountains and the Abajo Mountains - both green mountain ranges in the red rock country.

Please see my website www.jasonsargerson.uk for further details.

See the front cover and selected pages that follow:

[David M]

Does it cover the area around Aspen, Jason?

[jasonsargerson]

Hello David

The book covers the south west of Colorado - Mesa Verde National Park and the Durango to Silverton Railway.

[David M]

Thanks, Jason. I will take a couple off your hands very soon.

[jasonsargerson]

Here is another clips from my recent DVD: Swiss Butterflies: West.

This is the Marbled Fritillary, found in lowland woodland and rocky steppe areas in Switzerland

https://youtu.be/1YZy8I6KUgU

[David M]

Very nice, Jason. Reminds me of the forest track behind my first hotel in the French Alps!

I've sent you an email regarding your USA publication just now.

[jasonsargerson]

My book Swiss Butterflies second edition is still available, direct from me for £10.00, including postage.

See my website www.jasonsargerson.uk for more details.

This second edition is a significant improvement on the first edition. The key to the book is butterflies are grouped according to habitat, rather than in the traditional taxonomic way. This gives the book a different appearance, with butterflies that appear together in the field, also appearing together in print. Common butterflies were grouped together - I made it 41 species in Switzerland (compare to the UK!). Also the Ringlets appear as one chapter - there are 26 species to be found in Switzerland. The habitats are Lowland, Rocky Steppe, Wetland, Mountain and High Mountain, to go with the chapters on Common Butterflies and Ringlets

In the first edition I did not edit or improve the photographs in any way and I only borrowed one or two. For the second edition I decided all species had to be illustrated and therefore i borrowed quite a few photos from my friends in Switzerland, including Matt Rowlings, Vincent and Michel Baudraz, Guy Padfield and Yannick Chittaro. The text for each butterfly was lined up with the photographs. Photographs were brightened or colour enhanced or cropped to improve them where required.

For each habitat and grouping selected sites are described and illustrated to visit, thus complementing my other Swiss Butterfly book - Swiss Butterflies Site Guide. There are over 200 photos of butterflies and 21 of habitat.

Please see examples of covers and inside pages:

[jasonsargerson]

My book Swiss Butterflies Site Guide is still available from me for £10.00, including postage.

Alternatively, you can buy both the Site Guide and Swiss Butterflies for £18.00 from me, including postage.

The Site Guide covers sites in Bern, Geneva, Graubunden, Jura, Schwyz, Ticino and Valais.

Habitat covered includes Lowland, Rocky Steppe (Dry), Wetland, Mountain and High Mountain.

There are over 150 species illustrated with 250 colour photographs.

The format is based on 'American Butterflies' magazine articles called Definitive Destinations. This means including information about climate, including rainfall and sunshine, the best time of year to go, Geology of the area as well as Natural History including wildlife and nectar plants.

Full details are on my website: www.jasonsargerson.uk

Please see examples of pages and covers.

[jasonsargerson]

Marsh Fritillaries at Chambers Farm, Lincolnshire.

The Lincolnshire branch recent sightings highlighted over 500 Marsh Fritillaries at Chambers Farm.

So I visited today and found hundreds of Marsh Fritillaries - so if you live within an hours journey, it is well worth a visit.

They were nectaring on the dandelions on the path on the way to Little Scrubs Meadow, and in the two meadows there were hundreds.

Dingy Skipper was also seen by others, and I saw Comma and Brimstone.

Some photos:

[David M]

...The Lincolnshire branch recent sightings highlighted over 500 Marsh Fritillaries at Chambers Farm.

So I visited today and found hundreds of Marsh Fritillaries...

Wow! Those are seriously impressive numbers, Jason. Hopefully they'll be out near me by the weekend (although that's when the cloud is set to roll back in after several consecutive sunny days)

[jasonsargerson]

Some more stills from my video of the Marsh Fritillaries yesterday at Chambers Farm and a short video clip.

The Marsh Fritillary is an interesting butterfly because each individual has unique markings.

https://youtu.be/osjgIYYx1x4

[David M]

..The Marsh Fritillary is an interesting butterfly because each individual has unique markings....

Not to mention the regional variation....and regular aberrations, Jason!

A fascinating species for sure.

[jasonsargerson]

I visited Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit, near Market Weighton, East Yorkshire for the first time this year today.

This is probably the best butterfly site nearest to my home in Hull.

I was hoping to see Dingy Skipper and Common Blue.

It was not as sunny as forecast and butterflies were only just showing themselves in the overcast conditions.

I did see Orange Tip, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and a surprise for me, for the first time at this site: a Brown Argus.

See attached photos: