essex buzzard

[Wurzel]

Great to see the Lulworth Essex and a cracking Marsh Frit,love the assymmetry with that spot on the panel on the right fore wing You're spot on about the spring as it was a time to wonder, wonder if it was ever going to turn up!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Spring. The most remarkable thing about spring 2023, to my mind at least, is that there was not a single spell of warm, sunny weather...

I think in the south east of the country it was a freakishly cool & cloudy early part of the season, Mark. It wasn't much better here and I agree that March, April & May didn't see any particular warmth, but at least the sun came out fairly regularly round my way.

I doubt this pattern of events will happen two years running (or at least I hope not).

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel. It was lovely to see them. It was also nice to go somewhere warm for a change!

Thanks David. West was definitely best in the first half of 2023!

Despite the weather, the spring flowers were excellent. Here are some Essex bluebells. One of my favourite sights in all the world.

Another glorious sight last year was the hawthorn or May blossom, which was resplendent everywhere I went. It also actually flowered in May!

[essexbuzzard]

Summer. The cold, cloudy conditions continued in East Anglia for the start of June, as any visitor looking for Swallowtails would testify. Meanwhile the rest of the country enjoyed warm sunshine and, eventually, we joined the party. June became a warm and sunny month, and perhaps it was this that resulted in my best emergence yet of Marbled Whites on my local common.

July,in contrast, was cloudy and wet. A week long holiday in Cornwall mid-month was plagued with rain and showers, and very little of note was seen. This means our green and pleasant land remained so throughout the summer! Back at home, numbers of Small and Large Skippers were reasonable, but Commas and, particularly Ringlets and Tortoiseshells were down. Good numbers of Chalkhill Blues emerged late July as well.

The weather gods relented during August. A weekend in Cumbria, despite a lot of cloud, produced my first Scotch Argus for several years, at both English sites. Further south, Silver Spotted Skippers emerged, but numbers at Aston Rowant were a shadow of their former numbers. The number of adults at Lydden Temple Ewell was reasonable, however. And, on a positive note, Adonis Blues were much more plentiful than the previous year, helped my much improved weather.

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots of some cracking butterflies Essex - top notch Scotch Argus Ringlets were also down round my way as well, possibly a reflection of the drought the previous year?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Those spring blossom/bluebell images are lovely, Mark. Shouldn't be too long before we get another serving.

Love the Scotch Argus too. Been a few years since I've seen them. Must put that right.

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel. That’s my suspicion, that numbers of this damp loving species crashes after the drought. I expect a recovery this year.

Agreed David, won’t be long now. Snowdrops in February, daffodils in March.

So much to look forward to.

[essexbuzzard]

Autumn, in contrast to spring, was dominated by stunning heatwaves in September and early October. A visit to Anchor Bottom in Sussex at the beginning of the month produced excellent numbers of Adonis Blues, many freshly emerged. However, it was relatively quiet after that. The much hoped for mass emergence of Red Admirals failed to show, although in fairness many emerging adults probably migrated straight away, given the favourable conditions, and might have gone unnoticed.

October continued the hot theme, with 25C recorded in the second week. However, there was a deluge of rain in the second half of the month. Migrant species were surprisingly poor with very few Painted Lady all year, and a complete absence locally of Clouded Yellows, although that was put right in northern Spain, where fields full of Bath Whites were a delight!. Small Copper were, as usual, a nice way to end the season.

Given the high temperatures, autumn was late in 2023. But that changed in the first two weeks of November-in spectacular fashion! An excellent show of autumn leaves was to be seen, helped, no doubt, by a good dose of November sunshine! Temperatures, though, were bang on average. Red Admirals continued to be seen, but in ever decreasing numbers.

December, the start of winter, could hardly have been more different. Endless grey, rainy days, with no brightness or cheer. Virtually nothing of interest was seen. This month was utterly forgettable.

Over to 2024!!

[Neil Freeman]

Some cracking 'look back' posts there Mark.

The cold, cloudy conditions continued in East Anglia for the start of June, as any visitor looking for Swallowtails would testify.

Having booked a few days in Norfolk from June 11th, I remember nervously watching the weather forecasts for that part of the country prior to our visit, all of which were showing cold winds and incessant dull cloud for weeks on end. As it happened, our visit coincided with a much needed upturn in the weather and we ended up seeing a few Swallowtails although we were told they were very late and numbers were down. Apparently many visitors the week before had failed to see any at all due to the poor weather.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Bath White shot Essex A species I've seen but yet to photograph

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You gave me quite a fright sneaking that Bath White into your late season line-up, Mark, until I realised it was from your Spanish trip!

Lovely array of colours. Won't be long before we're all reacquainted with them.

[essexbuzzard]

After a sunny January, February was very mild, very wet and rather dull. The snowdrops peaked in the first two weeks of February, a couple of weeks earlier than last year. Here is Chippenham Garden,near Newmarket.

The weather brightened mid month, with some much needed sunshine allowing me to find this Red Admiral in a local wood. The following day my first Small Tortoiseshell was at work and, a few days later, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

From mid month, the Myrobalan plum came into full bloom, again, much earlier than last year. It is usually March flowering. Often confused with blackthorn, it flowers a month earlier. Surprisingly, given how common it is, it seems it is not native, and actually comes from Southern Europe. Perhaps a clue lies in where it’s found. Urban areas and road verges, usually. Regardless, as the first tree to bloom each year, it is a very welcome sight.

Right then, it’s now March. The start of metrological spring!

[trevor]

Wonderful snowdrops Mark.

[Wurzel]

That is a fantastic sight Essex And the Red Admiral makes a nice addition to the post

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You certainly do capture some wonderful floral scenes, Mark.

Lots to look forward to these next few weeks. The colour is certainly returning.

[essexbuzzard]

With dull, wet weather throughout February and well into March, a dose of warm sunshine was desperately needed. Gibraltar fits the bill perfectly!

The forecast had been good running into our long weekend there, but I didn’t dare believe it. So imagine my delight at getting off the plane, and feeling the warmth! We arrived lunchtime, so opted to get some lunch, and take it to the botanical gardens. Without even going up to the rock, we saw 10 species of butterfly!

There were plenty of Geranium Bronze in the garden, including egg laying females.

Several huge Monarchs were flying around, and getting plenty of attention from the visitors. Some were already quite tattered, but this one was in better condition.

We also saw our first Spanish Festoons, and we would be seeing plenty more over the next few days. A spectacular butterfly.

We always look foreword to seeing the lizards, and there were plenty around.

With good weather continuing, we would be heading to the upper Rock the following day...

[Wurzel]

Fantastic stuff Essex That Festoon is a right looker

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

With dull, wet weather throughout February and well into March, a dose of warm sunshine was desperately needed...

I had that same urge too, Mark. Hasn't yet reached 13c round my way, although a week on Tenerife has improved my mood somewhat.

I look forward to seeing what else you found (an excellent start though!)

[essexbuzzard]

The next day, with a full day of warm sunshine forecast, we headed to the Upper Rock nature reserve, via the Mediterranean Steps. Amid the glorious views to the African Continent, several butterflies flew past. But the first thing that stopped for pictures was this Small Copper, one of several seen that day.

Lots of lovely Festoons kept us company throughout the day aided, no doubt, by abundant foodplant.

I always hope to see Cleopatras up here, and several were found. Getting them to pose for photos wasn’t easy though!

The Festoons must have already been out for while, for I found this well-grown caterpillar.

One of the main targets for this trip was to see the Orange Tips, Moroccan or Provence, depending on your allegiance. In GBZ they are known as Moroccan. They are certainly nearer Morocco than the south of France here! Both foodplants and adults seemed fewer in numbers than before my last visit in 2017, and I only found the foodplant on a couple of verges. Find the foodplant, find the adults!

The female Moroccan Orange Tip is not very different to our own male Orange Tip.

Lastly, for today. Among many lizards seen on the day, and I’ve never seen so many, was this little gecko.

All in all,a rather brilliant day!

[essexbuzzard]

The next day, Monday 18th March, promised more fine weather. So we headed back to the upper Rock. One of the first butterflies we found was this Painted Lady which was still warming up, the only one we saw in GBZ.

We came onto the Rock from a different direction than before, but apart from a few Whites and Red Admirals, relatively little was seen, and before too long we up near the monkey feeding area, the Ape Den. Here, several Moroccan Orange Tips, Swallowtails, a couple of Two-tailed Pashas and a Dappled Whites were seen, though no chance of pictures in this busy area. So we headed back to the areas we visited the previous day. More Orange Tips present here, occasionally settling on their caterpillar foodplant, buckler mustard. Here is a female.

And a male.

The yellow Orange Tips were fabulous! Cleopatras are pretty splendid, too. This one briefly settled beside the road when a cloud came over. Murphy’s law, at that exact moment a car came down the hi, a managed one shot of it!

But the day belonged to the Spanish Festoons. Dozens were seen, and were probably the most abundant of all the butterflies on the Rock.

The next day, we had an afternoon flight back to Heathrow. We visited the town, had some lunch, and even relaxed on the beach for a while. One last chance to enjoy weather as good as most days in summer in Britain. All in mid March! Then it was time to walk across the runway, and one to the airport.

I’ll do one more report, rounding up the other stuff. Including the monkeys, of course!