Goldie M

[Goldie M]

Thanks Bugboy,, it looks like they're finally making a move now, just hope they don't get caught in any bad weather next week.

We decided to go back to Hall-Lee-Brook today, my thought is that it could be too soon to go to Gait Barrow
because the weather here has been so cold, hope fully things will brighten up and be warmer at the start of May, having said that today was another lovely day, we'd a cold start but by lunch time things got going.

My haul today, was one Small White, ten or so Speckies two of which were mating, I couldn't make my mind up if the Lady was willing and two or three GVW's which I was eager to get a shot of, my last being Rubbish Also a HB which looks like it's got some dark colouring on it's wings, I thought at first it was just the outer wing until the Butterfly flew onto a branch and slightly opened it's wing and I could see the colour was also on the outside , that's what I think any way, it was an okay day because I actually saw a Male Orange Tip as well but I didn't get a photo, he was off and a way, first time I've wished for cloud cover. I know now there 's still hope to capture one on camera Goldie

[Wurzel]

I'm quite enjoying the cooler weather - it means I can have a bit of a lie-in before butterflying Great behaviour shots of the Holly blues Goldie

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Very well captured Speckled Wood courting behaviour sequence there Goldie. It's fascinating to watch, it always looks so dramatic, especially when the females appear to faint in a attempt to get rid of an unwanted male.

You're doing much better than me with the Holly Blues, my only attempt at photographing one failed terribly. Maybe one day this year.

Best wishes

James

[David M]

I've only ever seen Speckled Woods engaging in courtship behaviour a handful of times, Goldie, so well done in capturing those images.

Looks like your Holly Blue has come into contact with something artificial at some point. So long as it doesn't hamper him, it's not an issue.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, the weather here is cool but the Sun is shining so it's not too bad as long as the Snow keeps off Next week they've forecast 17c towards the end of the week, that's a good start for May ( IF IT HAPPENS ) Goldie

Hi! James, I've caught the sequence of the Speckies before when the Female actually played dead This one just seemed to play hard to get. I've been lucky this year with Hollies, only the first time I've ever managed to see two and get shots of them at HLB, both were puddling. I didn't get an Holly Blue last year while August so there's lots of time yet for you.

Hi! David, I thought at first the Holly Blue had got some of the mud from the puddles on him, when he flew into the tree I knew he was okay. The Speckies were down near the stream in an hollow where the Sun was shining, they were all over the place what a chase that Female gave him.

A brisk wind today but may be I'll pay another visit to HLB. Goldie

[Pauline]

As others have said, great find with the Speckled Wood courtship behavior Goldie and some very nice shots too. Well done

[millerd]

A nice selection, Goldie and you've done much better with the Small White than I've done so far. I've also never seen Specklies behaving like that, and there are lots round here! Looking forward to what you find further afield.

Dave

[Goldie M]

Thank You Pauline and Dave, The weather being so cold has sent every thing for cover, when I went to HLB on Monday the only thing flying were the Speckies and even they were seeking the under growth, thank fully next week looks like being much better
and you never know what's waiting for you when your out with your camera, ( Roll On ) Goldie

[Goldie M]

It's over a week since I posted but at last I've something to post On Monday I decided to go to Hall-Lee-Brook once again and I got another first for the year a Large White, also there were quite a few Whites, you could call it a White day.

Yesterday the weather forecast was once again a good one so we decided to go to Gait Barrow, much too soon as it turned out the only sitings being Peacocks ( great to see them has I've not seen too many) a couple of Brimstone, a Orange tip that flashed past in a hurry and a Comma, which I was very surprised to see not having seen one since March, no Green Hair Streaks, or Dukes yet although the Primroses were lovely and ready waiting for them to appear, I don't think we'll see them for a couple of weeks yet the vegatation around the site (except for the PR's was very late,) infact we saw a notice saying the Slipper Orchids would have an opening day on the 13th and 14th of May so I went to look for them and found just the beginnings of three that had Jars over them to protect them, I'll be very surprised if there ready then, But! I'm no expert.

We decided to call at Warton Craig on our way back the Sun was at it's best and very little wind so the Butterflies like the GVW were there and I spotted a Holly Blue which had it's Antenna down most of the time, I've cut down on my photos but couldn't resist the LW and the cute HB Goldie PS No trouble posting today !

[Wurzel]

Great shot of the Holly Blues Goldie and to get an open winged Large White is no mean feat either

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Goldie,

Nice Large White and Holly Blues

I saw a photo on Twitter yesterday of a Pearl-bordered Fritillary that was taken at Warton Crag so it looks like they are starting to fly up there.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Thanks Wurzel, I was really pleased to see it after the cold weather we've had, it was very still just soaking up the Sun, which helped with the shot.
I went back to HLB today, it was very breezy but quite warm in the sheltered area's, I managed a few more shots of Small White's
and Green Veined White's one Comma and just caught a Speckie before it flew a way, hope fully before the Sun disappears once more I'll manage another Orange Tip shot.

Just got your post Neil, thank you for your comment's, I was at the Craig yesterday briefly because I choose to go to GB first, looks like the Pearls will have to wait until I get back off my Holiday worse luck, I'm a way on the 12th but a lot of gardening to do before then, I didn't see any thing last year until the 22nd of May and then the Duke, the Pearl Bordered/Small PB were all out, so hope fully the same will happen again. Goldie

[Goldie M]

Lovely day again yesterday but very windy, we went to Fleetwood for the day with my cousin and of course I took my camera just in case We went to Wyre CP and kept to the sheltered part of the field a way from the wind which felt Gale Force when we came across a patch of Blue Bells and hanging from one to my surprise was a Male Orange Tip I quickly got my camera working bothered the Butterfly would fly off Not the best of shot's but I was still happy.
Further along the path I spotted another OT, loads of White's one rather tatty STS , lots of SW's but all too busy searching for mates to stop long enough for shots. Goldie

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Goldie - OTs on Bluebells are one of those 'must have' shots I can never work out which side of the OT I prefer - the glaring and vivid orange and white topside or the cryptic, fractual undersides - what a dilemma to have

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Thanks Wurzel, I couldn't believe my luck. After so slow a start things are moving a little quicker now thanks to the Sun we've been getting, hope it gets better down there after the twelfth . Goldie

[Goldie M]

This afternoon I made a quick journey to Hall-Lee-Brook after shopping, I saw lots of Holly Blues which were all reluctant to fly down from their tree so no shots but there was plenty of Green Veined White's which is much better than last year. I happened onto this mating pair only after a GVW landed at the same place and drew my attention to them, they were way back in the greenery so I did my best changing places many times to try for a decent shot. Goldie

[millerd]

Nice to find those GVW, Goldie. I forgot to comment earlier on your Holly Blue with his antennae pointing downwards - they do this when they are sucking up moisture or honeydew. If you look closely he has his proboscis out and is sucking something from the surface of the leaf.

Dave

[Goldie M]

Hi! Dave, I never noticed that, I've looked closely at my other shots and I can see what you mean that much better with this particular shot.
I was lucky finding the GVW's I just wished I could have got a bit closer to them. Goldie

[Goldie M]

I made a quick visit today to Hall-Lee-Brook, with going on holiday this Friday every thing is rushed
The weather here has been lovely but no water for a couple of weeks and very dry winds with hot Sun in-between is making it difficult for the Butterflies who take minerals from the mud,( I'm not complaining ) the Holly Blues how ever have never been easier to find because of this.
Three out of 4 ponds at HLB have dried up, the fourth is still damp if no water and it's there in the tree's that the HB"s are during the day. I went to the stream first thinking I was sure I'd see one there and I was right for once, I noticed this little blue flash which landed next to a damp log and waited patiently for it to settle some where which it did, opening it's wings for us which was great I noticed this Holly Blue had dark spots on the edge of it's wings which I'd not seen before on an HB, my book shows a second brood HB with these marking's so I'm supposing I'm right in thinking this is second brood HB.
On my way back I caught sight of two or three more and quickly took some shots, it was an Holly Blue day today Goldie

[millerd]

That's a nice female Holly Blue, Goldie - unusual to see a female down on the mud, as it's usually the males that do this. This is actually still a first brood example - the black spots in the margins are there on first brood females (though the males don't have them at all), but it's certainly true the second brood have quite a lot more black on them. However, there hasn't been time yet for a second brood to be fitted in yet - they probably won't be around for at least another six weeks or so.

Dave