Brilliant stuff Trevor Those OTs are particularly resplendent Also the male Small White in the copulating pair seems to be missing the cell spot (ab.obselata?) I managed to find some bits and pieces over the weekend despite the wind - the trick was to find the sheltered spots and wait for the moment when it dropped from force 9 to 7
Sometimes things just fall right, and this was one of those occasions, Trevor.
There are few benefits from it being cool and/or cloudy, but becalmed Orange Tips is one such result, and it's nice to have such great images of them at the start of their flight season.
Many thanks Rob, Chris, Wurzel & David. The OT's were easy on Monday, not so today!
It was a pleasure to show Katrina around the Cuckoo Trail today..
Our main quarry was the Orange Tip, but although the sky conditions were perfect
when she arrived, the air temperature was not. The cool conditions and building cloud
ensured that any butterflies found were largely inactive, so we did find some good photo opps.
For once a male and female Holly Blue came within camera range and opened up, also my first 3
Green Veined Whites of the year were found today. It was good to see another finely marked
female Speckled Wood too.
As we were having lunch the sun appeared, so we hastily returned to the Cuckoo Trail, hopeful
of a few OT's, none were seen in the air, but somehow I spotted a male closed up on a bramble leaf.
Many shots later the OT detected some warmth and opened up. After a short flutter it landed
again on Cow Parsley for some more traditional shots.
Fortunately Katrina's special trip from Brighton for OT's was now rewarded. Thanks for the company!
That Cuckoo Trail looks ideal for Orange Tips and Holly Blues, Trevor - sounds like my kind of spot! That's a great GVW too - it's always worth looking for roosting butterflies on dry cloudy days.
Cheers Dave. If only we could have a spell of consistent good weather I think
the local Cuckoo Trail could have the best Spring for butterflies I've known.
Holly Blues are showing very well, and most other species one might expect
at this time of year are there in good numbers.
Thanks Goldie. Pleased you like my shots, a double lot today!
Cheers David. GVW's seem to be doing well locally.
Today was so manic at the Cuckoo Trail that I've separated the am and pm sessions.
It was one of those days when Holly Blues would land, and OT's would not.
So for the OT's I employed a tried and trusted method in order to at least stand a chance.
In previous years I've noticed that they often pause on Herb Robert flowers, so I selected
a couple of flowering plants, and waited nearby. Luckily it worked 3 times with brief touchdowns.
Other species that obliged for a few shots were a beautiful female Holly Blue, A Peacock
in good condition, male and female Specklies, a Small White, and a GVW.
Returning to the Cuckoo Trail after lunch at home, the first sight to greet me
was a pair of mudpuddling male Holly Blues, and nearby, a new species for the year,
a Large White, one of several this afternoon.
Other species of note were a male Brimstone, a fresh GVW, a male OT which landed
twice in the same area, having a break from non-stop patrolling, 3 frisky Red Admirals,
and finally my first, female OT.
The whole place was alive with butterflies today. The Cuckoo Trail is having a great Spring season.
Thanks Goldie. We had a great day with the OT's today.
I was pleased to meet Katrina again today at the Cuckoo Trail, and hopefully a better day with the OT'S.
Really only the OT was on the menu today, but while waiting for Katrina to arrive, I spotted a very
fresh female Holly Blue near the edge of a ditch.
Obviously given a largely sunny day It was a case of watching patrolling male OT's, but even in these
conditions a few settled briefly. A personal record for me today was the discovery of three female OT''s
on the same day. Two of the three were seen sending would be suitors packing. I managed a couple of Shots
of the unlucky male as he took the hint.
After lunch we drove over to Horseshoe Plantation in the hope of an early Green Hairstreak, but none were seen.
Returning to the Cuckoo Trail we eventually found a male OT which had been calmed by the increasing cloud,
and I hope Katrina had a camera full of the shots she came for!
Thanks for the great company today!
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Last edited by trevor on Sat Apr 13, 2024 6:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Crickey Trevor you'refilling your boots at the moment (and quite right too ). I was going to comment on the cracking Holly Blue shot only to keep scrolling and spy the cracking female...and then another
Thanks Katrina. A truly memorable day. The master stroke yesterday was our
return to the Cuckoo Trail in the afternoon, instead of going home.
That last OT certainly gave great value! Thanks for a great day.
Cheers Wurzel. I think I can safely say that ' my boots overfloweth ' this spring.
Always a great early spring site, it has excelled this year, I've never known it better.
When a female Holly Blue landed in my garden today despite less than ideal conditions
I thought a visit to the Cuckoo Trail might be worthwhile after all.
I had not been there long when I met James Arnott ( B.Saurus Rex ), after initial pleasantries
James offered to show me a resting female OT he had located. She was still there, and partially
opened up as I aimed the camera, before fluttering across the path and landing open wing
on Cow Parsley. We later discovered a perfectly posed, fresh, Green Veined White.
Then a macabre discovery as a Small White was being consumed by a Crab Spider deep in the brambles.
During one of the longer sunny spells between the showers this afternoon it was
just fine enough for a visit to the Cuckoo Trail. A male OT was flying near the
entrance and with one eye towards the sky I decided to follow it. A brief pause
allowed a single shot before it carried on and found a female. While concentrating
on the female I lost sight of the male. This female did not hang around for long.
Retracing my steps back to the car I found another female OT in pristine condition.
This one closed up when the sun faded but soon opened up when it returned.
Another discovery was a female GVW basking flat out, and she was very fresh too.
Not a bad haul in what was less than ideal weather.
Great finds and shots Trevor That seems to have been the way to get butterflies this year - just go out anyway and full of hope Hopefully that's finally about to change
Those OTs are particularly resplendent 
Also the male Small White in the copulating pair seems to be missing the cell spot (ab.obselata?) 
That's a great GVW too - it's always worth looking for roosting butterflies on dry cloudy days.
