Neil Hulme

[Wurzel]

Alright Neil I was just wondering could the North Stoke site become a regular haunt for the Large Tort? If there are possibly two males present how did they get here?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Wurzel,
IMO the short answer is 'yes'. But you'll have to wait until you get your copy of 'The Butterflies of Sussex' to find out why. We're getting it off to the printers in the morning. That's not the wind - it's my sigh of relief.
BWs, Neil

[bugboy]

Fabulous stuff Neil, I'm not going to jinx it by saying it outright (and what everyone else is probably thinking) but could we be on the cusp of the most exciting UK butterfly event of the century....

If your planning on any surveys over the summer count me in

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Paul
I'll let you know when Project Polychloros starts its campaign. Following your recent performance you've been promoted to Major Atkin.
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

Gorgeous Grizzles

On Thursday (6 April) I finished work at 4pm and headed to Mill Hill, with the intention of watching Grizzled Skippers go to roost, as this is the time of day when they pose nicely on low vegetation, before closing down for the night. Numbers are still low (I found three), but should start to build next week, when they will be joined by the first Green Hairstreaks and Dingy Skippers.

[David M]

This sure is a period of encouraging news.

Lovely mating pair of OTs, Neil, but even they have to be eclipsed by a UK Large Tortoiseshell!

[Neil Hulme]

UKB Visitor

I met UKBer William this morning (7 April) to survey for Pearl-bordered Fritillary caterpillars and look at habitat quality in Rewell Wood. Keen to see a PBF cat, Will found one after only about five minutes! This was in a scallop hand-cut by the South Downs Volunteer Ranger Service (affiliated to the National Park Authority), proving beyond doubt the immense value of the work they do, to benefit butterflies and other wildlife. And how was the habitat quality? Excellent - violets flushing everywhere.

[bugboy]

Hi Paul
I'll let you know when Project Polychloros starts its campaign. Following your recent performance you've been promoted to Major Atkin.
BWs, Neil

I shall accept that accolade with pride and await my badge in the post!

[David M]

Those are extremely vivid images of the PBF larvae, Neil. I guess we're still a couple of weeks away from the first emergees?

[Neil Hulme]

Hi David
I suspect that a few are already roasting away inside their pressure-cookers. The first might appear in only a week, given the weather. I very much hope that we're going to see a better year for PBF in Sussex - and some exciting developments for my Fritillaries for the Future project beyond that.
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

UKB Visitor (Part 2)

I spent a warm and sunny day with UKBer William (and others) on Saturday (9 April), starting at North Stoke. Despite the absence of Large Tortoiseshell (hopefully their work is already done) we saw all the usual suspects in good numbers. At Chantry Hill (yet to get going, but looking ready to explode into life) we found a few Brimstone eggs. I finished the day on my own, at a damp Wiston meadow, where 8 Orange-tip, 5 Green-veined White and a Speckled Wood collected by a small stream to roost. This season has a very promising feel to it.

[Goldie M]

It's bit slow here Neil, the first Speckled Wood have only just appeared, I hope your right. Goldie

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Goldie
I'm sure spring is on its way to you too!
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

Green Party

Green Hairstreak off to a good start at Devil's Dyke, with 9 seen on scrub at the base of the valley. In the same area, 2 Small Copper and a few Orange-tip, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell, together with numerous Peacock. A couple of Dingy Skipper nearby on Newtimber Hill.

[essexbuzzard]

Those are gorgeous greens, Neil!

No real sign of any wet and windy weather so hopefully you're right, certainly a good start to the season.

[David M]

Agreed. You've captured that vivid sheen perfectly.

I hope they'll be out next weekend round my way.

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks, Mark and David. A scale-perfect Green Hairstreak is hard to beat. The hunt is on for a mating pair.
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

More North Stoke Magic

Following Paul Cox's amazing sighting of another (different) male Large Tortoiseshell at North Stoke yesterday (9 April), I couldn't resist another visit. Elusive as they always are, it failed to make an appearance, but this site has so much more to offer. A circular walk around the crescent, across the water-meadows, and along the ox-bow, gave a tally of 34 Orange-tip. Also seen were 4 Holly Blue, 5 Speckled Wood, 2 Large White, 2 Red Admiral, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Comma, 6 Brimstone, numerous Peacock and Green-veined White (including a mating pair) and 2 Small Copper.

Image (c) Paul Cox

[bugboy]

More North Stoke Magic

Following Paul Cox's amazing sighting of another (different) male Large Tortoiseshell at North Stoke yesterday (9 April), I couldn't resist another visit. Elusive as they always are, it failed to make an appearance, but this site has so much more to offer. A circular walk around the crescent, across the water-meadows, and along the ox-bow, gave a tally of 34 Orange-tip. Also seen were 4 Holly Blue, 5 Speckled Wood, 2 Large White, 2 Red Admiral, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Comma, 6 Brimstone, numerous Peacock and Green-veined White (including a mating pair) and 2 Small Copper.

BC Large Tortoiseshell (c) Paul Cox.jpgImage (c) Paul Cox

BC Green-veined White pair, North Stoke 10.4.17.jpgBC Small Copper, North Stoke 10.4.17.jpgBC Orange-tip, North Stoke 10.4.17.jpg

It just gets better and better !

[PhilBJohnson]

Hi Neil,
My wife and I really like that Green-veined White picture (pair on a bluebell) & the Large Tortoiseshell news from North Stoke,
Kind Regards