April 2024

[Testudo Man]

..A lovely female Brimstone caught my eye, she spent some time egglaying...

Those are fabulous images, Paul.

Thanks for that David, its good to be back out in the field, after a long wet an windy Winter!!!

This last Saturday, 2 local Kent locations visited, approx 6 hours spent in the field, sunny an warm, but pretty windy!
Target species were Green Hairstreak, an the 1st location produced 5 of the little green jewels.

Other species were - 25+ Peacock, 10+ Brimstone, 8+ Comma, 2 Red Admiral, Large/Small/Green veined Whites, Orange Tip, 1 Speckled Wood...an the 5 GH's made 10 species on the day. Some highlight pics, GH images were cropped some, but the mating GVW's an the Peacock images are not cropped.
Cheers Paul.

EDIT - Also 4 Adders seen in 1st location (2 females, 2 males)...Probably 10+ Common Lizards seen at both locations.

[David M]

Sunday 14th, Lower Kilvey Hill, Swansea:

Brimstone 4
Speckled Wood 2
Small White 1

[millerd]

The major change in the weather arrived exactly as predicted today (15th), with very blustery and chilly winds and some hefty showers late on. However, there were some good sunny periods around lunchtime on my local patch, and in any sheltered spots butterflies were to be found. I saw eight species, including this selection..

A Red Admiral (which I've seen before) had found an extensive bit of young nettle growth near the river which was out of the wind. As I took this shot, the butterfly's abdomen dipped...

...and this was the result.

Hopefully it will be a bit calmer tomorrow.

More details in my PD later on.

Dave

[David M]

Sunday 14th, Cwm Ivy, Gower:

Holly Blue 15
Brimstone 11
Peacock 6
Speckled Wood 5
Red Admiral 4
Comma 4
Orange Tip 4

[millerd]

16th April: Despite some hefty showers and a cold wind, every time the sun came out, so did my local butterflies. A taster...

Dave

[David M]

Tuesday 16th, Park Wood, Gower:

Peacock 7
Brimstone 6
Orange Tip 2

[millerd]

Another day of cool winds in my neck of the woods on 17th, with a few bursts of strong sunshine and a lot of cloud - actually not bad conditions for finding amenable Holly Blues.

They were even nectaring on the willow flowers - either alone...

...or in company.

an unusual combination

That particular Specklie had much paler spots than usual...

...certainly compared to the standard version flying nearby.

In conversation with Bugboy the other day, we found we had both come to the same conclusion that the species (at least down here in the south) was becoming more orange and less pale buff than it used to be.

Any thoughts, anyone?

As usual, a longer narrative will appear idc in my PD.

Dave

[Jack Harrison]

Dave:

In conversation with Bugboy the other day, we found we had both come to the same conclusion that the species (at least down here in the south) was becoming more orange and less pale buff than it used to be.

In the 1970s, work often meant I had some spare time in the Channel Islands. Speckled Woods there (sorry, can't recall if it was Guernsey and/or Jersey) were decidedly more orange than mainland British versions, almost transitional to the southern European form. I believe the same is true on the Scillies.

Jack

[Neil Freeman]

...In conversation with Bugboy the other day, we found we had both come to the same conclusion that the species (at least down here in the south) was becoming more orange and less pale buff than it used to be.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Hi Dave. The first photo is showing a slightly faded female and the second one a more fresh looking male, as evidenced by the condition of the wing fringes. They both look to be within the normal range of what I see around my area.

Not forgetting that lighting conditions, angle of photo etc can also make a difference.

Cheers,

Neil.

[millerd]

For a change this morning (18th), I thought I'd go down to Denbies and see if things were underway down there yet. Well, despite fair amounts of sunshine and a good deal of looking at likely spots, The sum total for the ninety minutes or so was two Peacocks and a Speckled Wood. It was noticeable that spring is not as advanced here as it is near me (the trees aren't quite so far into leaf), but it was disappointing to see so few butterflies. No Green Hairstreaks, no Grizzled Skippers - not even an Orange Tip. The bluebells in the wood at the top of the slope were looking good though.

Returning home at lunchtime, it was discernably warmer, and stepping out onto the first part of my local patch I was immediately surrounded by all the familiar species that have made all these local walks so pleasurable. Until the less ordinary ones get going, it's not really worth heading off anywhere else.

It looks as if the Peacocks have finally decided they should be getting cracking on the next generation - I spotted this courting pair.

Once again, my PD will have more...

Dave

[bugboy]

I went to Wanstead Park today where Speckled Wood, Whites, Nymphalids and a couple of Lycids kept me company. In response to Millerds courting Peacocks above, here's a female in the next stage of the process !

[David M]

Thursday 18th am, Nicholaston Burrows, Gower:

Small Copper 3
Speckled Wood 2
Peacock 1
Orange Tip 1
Green Veined White 1

[Chris L]

Target species were Green Hairstreak, an the 1st location produced 5 of the little green jewels.

Those Green Hairstreak photos are too good for words TM. If I had taken those I would have run around the field with my shirt over my head and taken a booking for throwing my shirt in to the crowd afterwards.

[Chris L]

Small Copper 3

I imagine that the sightings of these cheered you David.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Went to Old Lodge in the Ashdown Forest last weekend, one of my favorite places for a Sunday stroll. It has a special feel to it and you're pretty much guaranteed to see or hear something interesting as you go round. Good for chestnuts and boletes in autumn, too. It's right next to full-on MOD army training land, which was in full swing last Sunday, but the cuckoos and ravens seemed to take it as a challenge to up their volume.

Aside from a handful of Speckled Wood, we saw no other butterflies though. I thought I saw a Peacock flying at some distance, but could have been a male Emperor moth I s'pose. There were decent numbers of Common Heath moths about the place, probably in the van ahead of a much larger emergence. Still a bit too early for any adult dragons or damsels by the ponds.

I've been seeing a lot more butterflies in my garden than in my lunchbreak at work. But as I only get 45 minutes from 1pm, that's not particularly surprising. It's purely luck of the draw as to whether I get a sunny spell in that time, whereas we've had some half decent weather the last couple of weekends.

There were at least two male Orange Tip yesterday (one following the other at a respectful distance) and a camera shy Peacock. Still haven't seen a Small Tortoiseshell anywhere this year and not many Red Admirals either.

The sap is definitely rising in the insect world though.

EDIT: Looking more closely at that redstart, I reckon it might be ringed.

[David M]

I imagine that the sightings of these cheered you David.

Sure did, Chris. I don't normally visit Nicholaston early in the year but it's a good site for that species and being right by the coast and south facing, it's an early one.

[Bertl]

At last my very first butterflies of the season. 3 small tortoiseshell seen on a balmy 10 degrees of temperature on a sunny day in Forres.

[David M]

Thursday 18th pm, Cwm Ivy, Gower:

Holly Blue 6 (including a female)
Red Admiral 6
Speckled Wood 5
Peacock 5
Brimstone 1
Orange Tip 1

[David M]

Saturday 20th, Lower Kilvey Hill, Swansea:

Holly Blue 3
Speckled Wood 2
Small White 1
Brimstone 1

[David M]

At last my very first butterflies of the season. 3 small tortoiseshell seen on a balmy 10 degrees of temperature on a sunny day in Forres.

That's one more than me, Bertl!