Jack Harrison

[Wurzel]

You're right Jack, there is an intricacy and subtley in a lot of the 'unappreciated' under wings - things like the yellow banding along the edge of the wing on a Peacock or familiar shapes like numbers or 'hearts' etc

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Jack Harrison]

I wrote yesterday:

Tomorrow (with a cloudy forecast) gonna do a a bit o' the old culture, like - know what I mean? Culloden Battlefield exhibition centre

Just back from my history/culture outing to Culloden.

I learnt from a sign in the cafe that Charles Edward Stuart (aka Bonnie Prince Charlie) “ate his first pineapple in Scotland”.
Not many people know that.

Jack

[MikeOxon]

..........“ate his first pineapple in Scotland”..........

Wow! Thanks for sharing that, Jack

[Jack Harrison]

This Peacock recently showed more interest in the nest box than have any birds.

Still plenty of Peacocks and Red Admirals, a few Tortoiseshells (which have to be discouraged from coming indoors to hibernate into what will be a heated house over the winter), Small White fluttering over Nasturtiums but haven't been able to find any eggs.

A different garden tick today - Common Lizard.

They were only about 7 to 8 cms long so presumably youngsters. (Adults apparently 10 to 15 cms)

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

I am sorting through old photos and came across this taken some ten years ago.

It is from a collection I made as a child, late 1940s perhaps early 1950s. East Norfolk.

That Tortoiseshell looks a bit peculiar. Seems to have fewer dark markings on forewings but more extensive dark areas on hind.
My imagination no doubt but is it just possible that there has been subtle evolution over the past 70 years?

Jack

[David M]

That Tortoiseshell does look to have more extensive black markings on the hindwings than usual, Jack. Have you got any more from that era to compare against?

[Jack Harrison]

I don't think I have any more specimens, but I have found these old photos from that period.

Kodak folding camera with meniscus lens stuck on front with (I think) Plasticine. Correct distance to subject was achieved by means of L-shaped wire frame attached to the tripod bush.

The frame was decidedly 'gash' (my DIY skills have always been minimal) but I could make the calculations as to correct distance and frame size at quite an early age. I suspect DIY talent might have turned out more useful in life than mathematical ability - I still can't even knock a picture hook into a wall.

Excellent example of evolution from these photos. Small Tortoiseshells were black and white 65-70 years ago .

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Diary (!) from 250 years ago. (A bit lengthy!)

John Harryman*

Loosely autobiographical based on my love for butterflies which began around 1945 when I lived in Gorleston near Great Yarmouth, east Norfolk. The butterflies mentioned almost certainly all occurred in the area in the past but some (such as the Pearl-bordered Fritillaries) are long gone. Today we find Speckled Woods, a relatively recent arrival (and Marbled Whites won’t be long). Commas are now one of the more abundant species. Red Admirals survive our milder winters.

*Transcribed in 2017 by Jack Harrison into 21st century English including the replacement of some older names of butterflies with their modern equivalent. The places mentioned are/were real.

Butterfly Diary East Suffolk 1767

The Lily Pit, near Yarmouth in Norfolk, has a sinister reputation. It is said that many years ago a coachman lost his way in fog and stumbled into the water-filled pit. Horses, driver and all passengers drowned. That part of the story may well be true. But inevitably it led to wild rumours of “terrible screaming of the dying” being heard on many a cold foggy night. These ghost stories were probably started by townsfolk who didn’t know a Barn Owl from a Cuckoo. Certainly in all my years living near the Lily Pit, I never heard anything that could not be explained as being a perfectly natural noise.

I drive passenger coaches in East of England, my regular run being between Yarmouth and Norwich. It passes close to the Lily Pit.

Let me first of all acknowledge the help given by my friend, the Rev. Bryan Briggs. He is educated and can read and write far better than I can so he turned my jottings into English. I am not a regular at his church going only for weddings and funerals. That doesn’t bother Bryan. We chat when I take him to Norwich.
“Just off to speak to the Bishop. More accurately, the Bishop wants a word with me.”
Bryan is openly envious of my job:
“You are so lucky being out in the open and able to enjoy – as I’m supposed to call them – God’s creatures. There am I inside my gloomy church reciting the same old story week in, week out.”

A coachman’s job is not what a lot of people imagine it to be. Certainly it is far preferable to unloading cargoes from ships or grave digging. Although the pay is quite good, the work is not without challenges. Perhaps the biggest irritation is when passengers “go missing” and we have to wait for them. Someone might say: “I’ll only be a moment while I go back for my papers.”

There are hazards to the work. People always wonder if an East Anglian “Dick Turpin” might be waiting in the shadows to rob us. To date, that hasn’t happened to me. The greatest problems are the natural ones: fog, wind, thunderstorms, rain and snow. The state of the roads is often dreadful with huge holes that are seldom repaired – and damage my coach or injure my horses.
Lord Beccles will say: “Not my problem, speak to the local village”.
The villagers say: “Why should we pay for repairs? It’s not called the King’s Highway for nothing.” So we give up and don’t bother to waste time sending a request to the Monarch. Meanwhile, another horse has gone lame after stepping into a particularly nasty hole: the vet’s bill falls to my boss.

I usually walk from home just outside Gorleston to and from the coaching terminus in Yarmouth. A little ferry crosses the river. I don’t envy that boatman who rows back and forth all day long. It would be easier if I could take my horse Billy via the bridge but he can’t be left for many hours while I go to Norwich and back; after all, delays do sometimes occur such as when that coach-horse went lame or when a wheel fell off!

My work keeps me in close contact with the countryside and the natural world so I can watch the season go by from my high perch. I am beginning to understand – and with guidance from my friend Peter Short who works at nearby Otter’s Farm – how the seasons progress.

20th March 1767

It was the spring equinox and I wasn’t required to work today. So on this fine morning, I set off on Billy towards Bradwell. Robins were singing noisily, Sparrows chattering. Gulls swooping down to the newly ploughed fields searching for worms and other delicacies. But I was looking for butterflies. I soon spotted a Peacock. I jumped down off Billy and took the Peacock for a little “walk” along the track. It flew on ahead, landed with wings open to feel the warmth of the sun and then when I got near, off it went again. Eventually it reached the end of its “patch”, flew back over my head and repeated the entire process. Then I saw a Small Tortoiseshell which showed much more interest on the early-flowering dandelions and blackthorn blossom. Sadly my “prize” was not to be found. Ragged brown Commas do occur here but are quite scarce and some years go by with me seeing a mere two or three.

I rode over Bradwell Heath and down towards the River Waveney. The land near the river is very different being marshy and in places impenetrable. But many birds are happy here. Huge flocks of Geese swirl overhead. Next month, they will disappear but where to? I’ve heard said that they go to Iceland but that seems a huge distance. One of my townie friends from Yarmouth – and he wasn’t being funny – claimed that the Geese vanished in April because they turned into Swallows! The land near the river is home to Brimstone butterflies. You see these in late summer then they disappear. My assumption is that – like Peacocks – they sleep through the coldest months (I often wish I too could do that). I did see a few Brimstones today but this doesn’t seem to be a good year for them.

I returned home via the edge of The Heath. More Small Tortoiseshells and another Peacock and then a huge brown butterfly attracted my attention as it flew up into an elm tree: Large Tortoiseshell. Large Torties are quite common in East Suffolk and I’m fairly sure their caterpillars must feed on elm leaves. I’ll have to try to confirm that later in the year.

24th April 1767 – perfect weather

Billy was ready early and keen to chase butterflies with me. Today we took the lanes to Burgh Castle village and its old Roman Fort. We used to climb on the walls as youngsters but a local self-styled “important person” said we were doing damage. The walls have been there for 1,500 years (although one section does lean at an alarming angle) so what harm could a few children do?

We paused near “squire’s” house, a pompous little man who seems to think he is still in the army and insists on being called “Major Ansole”. He seems to have a paranoid hatred for children – was he ever young himself? He is – inevitably – chairman of the parish council (population of the village just 67), deputy captain of the bowls team: anything that can give him the semblance of importance. He breeds dogs, not fierce guard dogs as might be expected, but yappy little pugs. But there is something about the Major that concerns me. He never had children of his own and lost his wife a few years ago. Is this overbearing attitude a front to hide loneliness I wonder?

The Major claimed he saw a ghostly apparition one evening and was quoted:
“I met this phantom when I was on my way home from the Queens’s Head!”
His villagers just sniggered:
“Not enough water with his whisky.”

The Major’s house is hidden behind a hedge and on that hedge you could sometimes see Holly Blues butterflies. These blues can fly high up and be difficult to look at closely. Being on Billy’s back helps but how I wish I could have one of those new “magnifying oculars” that had been invented by a scientist in Italy. We did find a couple of Holly Blues but were not able to get a really close look. “The Grange” has extensive grounds and we wondered what butterfly riches might be beyond that hedge.

Just after The Grange, we turned off and went along the splendidly named “Back Lane” (it has a rather crude nickname relating to the Major!) which runs along the edge of the marshes. This is a good spot for Brimstones and this time we weren’t disappointed. There were plenty of white butterflies but when flying, “whites” are difficult to identify with certainty. When they landed we were able to confirm that most were common Green-veined Whites (which prefer damper localities) but there were also a few Small Cabbage Whites. But best of all were my favourites – Orange Tips. When you first see these each year, you know that winter is behind you.

We had a quick look in the churchyard but found only a few Small Tortoiseshells.

So on to the castle itself. And there sunning itself on the Roman Wall was a Comma!

On the way home via the hamlet of Belton we found another couple of Large Tortoiseshells and a distant “large” white. We couldn’t be sure if this was a genuine Large Cabbage or female Brimstone. But of course, chasing butterflies wouldn’t be as much fun if it was too easy.

I was required at work again early next the morning. Not my usual run but instead to Ipswich where I would be staying the night in the “Travelling Coachman”. Good beer in that part of Suffolk. Unfortunately, there would be another early start the following day.

Mid May 1767

This is my favourite month except for the fact that we get less time off from coaching duties. The wealthy want to dip their feet in the sea (why???) so we get extra duties. By and large, these rich people pay well and sometimes give very generous bonuses – and not just carrots for the horses! The owner of Ardnams Brewery presented me with a voucher for five pints of its finest beer. Sadly, even though it was signed by James Ardnam himself, not one of the taverns in Yarmouth or Gorleston was prepared to honour it. Next time Mr. Ardnam travels with me, I’ll politely say that cash in hand is more useful.

Even though we are busier throughout the summer, our manager wants his drivers on top form and ensures that we get adequate rest and free time. Thank you Mr.Duckins. So on one of those free days – by good fortune fine and warm – Billy and I went looking for some of the May specialities.

Sir Horace Fritton (KG plus lots of other letters after his name – you can bet Major Ansole is jealous) owns the estate that is named after his family. There is some splendid woodland. Florence, Lady Fritton, is well known and prominent (in many senses of the word) and rides with the Waveney Hunt; it is difficult not to feel a little sorry for the diminutive Sir Horace. It is said that after a celebratory tipple or two (or three), her Ladyship once slid slowly off her mount. True or not, the vision is priceless. The Frittons (or one of them) are not very keen on intruders and there are numerous foreboding “Keep Out” signs. Nobody knows much about Sir Horace although those villagers who have met him say he’s a kindly fellow. It is presumed that he married Florence to secure the unification of two wealthy families; it is difficult to see any other reason for his marriage.

We knew a way into the Woods away from the watchful eyes of the gamekeepers. Apparently – as we were to learn later - we didn’t need to be over-cautious. It seems that Sir Horace too has a love for the natural world and knows about our clandestine trespassing but keeps that knowledge from his wife. A clearing near the lake is home to Fritillaries. In May it is Large Pearl-bordered, June Small Pearl-bordered and July/August, the Silver-washed and High Brown. We found plenty of Large Pearls but beat a hasty retreat when we heard dogs barking – they might have belonged to her Ladyship!

After leaving the Woods we made our way to the nearby heaths: The Warren, Belton Common and Bradwell Heath. The target was the two skippers, the Grizzled and the Dingy, tiny butterflies that skip about and can be very hard to follow. Grizzlies were quite numerous on the rabbit runs and scrapes, but no Dingies (too early perhaps?) Amazingly, it had slipped our minds that this was the season for Small Copper butterflies, but there they were. As we were just about to leave and go home, a solitary Dingy was seen.

A Large Cabbage White greeted us at The Cottage – but do we really want their caterpillars ruining our cabbages? But all in all, not a bad day – except for those dogs at Fritton that cut short our time there.

Early June

We wanted to follow up some information from one of my passengers. Apparently she had seen some tiny green butterflies (or moths) near the sea at Corton. It was difficult above the din of hoofs and clattering wheels to hear exactly what she said. (Retired coachmen are all deaf!) This rumour had to be investigated: they might be the mythical Green Hairstreaks.

An unexpected day off from coaching provided the opportunity. Billy and I set off, initially to Hopton and then along the cliff top towards Corton. These are not impressive cliffs like those I have heard about in the southeast of England and to call them cliffs is slightly imaginative. On the slope and top is some scrubby vegetation, rather different from other places in the area. It took a lot of searching but then we found them: Greenstreaks superbly camouflaged as they perched on fresh bright green hawthorn leaves. Lovely little butterflies about the size of a Holly Blue. Greenstreaks never open their wings – except of course when flying – and then can look quite dull until the angle of the sun makes the underside flash. A Greenstreak and a Small Copper had a bit of an argument and the combination of green and red was memorable. Common Blues were also found here. But why called common? We didn’t see many. They are almost purple rather than true blue. It is the undersides that are more remarkable – a silver background with dots and circles. We also found what clearly had to be “blues” as the undersides showed that same pattern. Some were the size of Common Blues but dark brown above with orange half-moons near the wing edges. A smaller version was also seen but neither type could be identified with confidence. A few rather boring Small Heaths were also present.

Mid-June saw us repeat the Fritton/Heathland trip. The same butterflies although of course, the Tortoiseshells and Peacocks were almost over now. A few worn Large Pearls were joined by their cousins, the so-called Small Pearl-bordered (but they look the same size to us!) Dingy Skippers were now in reasonable numbers but the Grizzlies had all but gone. However another skipper, the Large Skipper was flying, it favouring areas where there were nearby bushes or trees. Many skippers seem to be a cross between butterflies and moths. The way they hold their wings when resting is unusual.

June is often not the best month for butterflies and the so-called “June Gap” is certainly not a misnomer. Next June I’m going to track down the Swallowtails that live in the marshy areas to the northwest of Yarmouth. A trip to this area will require some planning. I will need at least two consecutive free days.

Early July – another visit to Fritton Woods. We crept in via our secret route but there in the corner of the clearing was a small man. He had obviously seen us so we could hardly escape unnoticed. Billy is a quite distinctive brown and white so would soon be traced. We trotted across to the man; he greeted us in friendly fashion.
“So what are you two up to on Her Ladyship’s land?” hardly hiding a grin – clearly he knew who we were. It was Sir Horace.
“Oh we’re so sorry Sir, we’ll leave.”
“Don’t worry. Butterflies I presume? Follow me.”
I tied Billy to a tree and followed Sir Horace along some forest tracks and then into a wonderful clearing that I hadn’t seen before. It was truly alive with large Silver-washed Fritillaries, High Browns and White Admiral not to mention the inevitable Meadow and Hedge Browns and Ringlets and Large Skippers.
“Good isn’t it?”
“Won’t Lady Fritton get cross if she knows we’ve been here?”
”Between you and me, I couldn’t care less if she is annoyed. She is so obsessed with that ghastly Percival de Chasseur, master of the Waveney Hunt, that I doubt she’d even notice you’ve been here. Funny how so often the name is appropriate? We need a word to describe somebody with a name that fits his work or interests: Like Jim Smith the smithy, or Peter Fisher the trawlerman or Johnnie Carpenter the woodworker. It seems to happen more often than just by chance.”
“Or Robin Bird?”
“Oh shut up!” Sir Horace said with a laugh.
“Anyway, and this is even more hush-hush! Eastwood Farm has a new resident, a baby boy. His mother Emma is a dairymaid - lovely girl. If you ever go there, I’m sure you’ll notice that young Harold bears quite a resemblance to me!”

Oh dear. And I thought I had come to watch butterflies and now this!

Horace – and he asked to be called just plain Horace – said: “watch the top of that tall oak tree”. Some very big butterflies charged around but could only be seen in silhouette.
“Large Tortoiseshells?”
“No John. Purple Emperors. I found them for the first time only last summer. For such big butterflies, they are amazingly elusive. They sometimes come down onto the ground and then you can see the purple on their wings. Look! There’s one. They are often quite tame so we should be able to creep up on it.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Yes but look what it’s feeding on! Emperors have some disgusting habits. Are you able to stay until about six o’clock? At that time we will see the Emperors little attendants – as I call them – Purple Hairstreaks”

What a day it had been. And a new friend in Horace.

The next day was also free so this time is was the heaths and commons. Smallish blues were everywhere and close examination showed a row of silver buttons on the underwings. These were Silver-studded Blues. The blues were chasing some similar size brown butterflies so all became clear. The brown ones – which also had the silver buttons – were the females. So this cleared up the mystery of the “brown blues” I had seen on the cliffs – female Common Blues. Some big butterflies flew in floppy, lazy flight, always keeping wings closed when on the ground. Sometimes, one would land on my shoe and then I could examine it closely: the Grayling butterfly. Small Skippers, almost like miniature Large Skippers, were everywhere. Hedge Browns were numerous even well away from any hedges. Near Howard’s Common - who was Howard I wondered? – some deep digging (building material for the Roman Fort perhaps?) had left very different soil exposed. Even tinier blues were found here but nowhere else. They were the unimaginatively-named Little Blues.

One week later, I decided to try something very different. There are extensive sand dunes at the north end of Yarmouth although these seemed hardly the place to find butterflies. But you never know. I took the ferry and walked into the middle of town. This was still some distance from the North Denes (local name for dunes). However I had just been promoted to senior coachman, so had a little extra money. I used a horse-drawn cab to take me to the Denes. I knew the cabbie and he offered a decent price and refused a tip. We stopped and tied up at the coastguard lookout.
“Are you going to wait here for me Mick or come back in an hour and a half’s time?”
“Would you mind if I joined your butterflying? I have never done that sort of thing before.” We soon found many Graylings and then some very fast orange butterflies. These took a lot of chasing down but eventually we got a good look: fritillaries - Dark Greens. Another orange type caught our eyes. It settled on a wall by the coastguard hut. It was the suitably named Wall Brown.

I asked Mick if we could return via the cemetery where I knew there would be plenty of flowers on the graves. And we were not to be disappointed (although I doubt that the permanent residents of the churchyard were all that bothered one way or the other!) Stunning Red Admirals and a few Painted Ladies.

The season was drawing to a close but had a few more twists. It wasn’t particularly a butterfly hunt but in early August, I took Billy for some exercise to Burgh Castle. We waved in the direction of the Major as we passed his mansion. I wondered how easy Richard Ansole would be to get to know. I am sure he isn’t quite the demon he is made out to be.

We stopped off by the church so Billy could have lunch in a rough field full of tall flowering thistles (Billy knew to avoid those). Nearby was a small copse. But I was more interested in the thistles. White-letter Hairstreaks were in good numbers feeding on the flowers.

September brought a surprise. Clover fields were alive with Clouded Yellows. These are said to arrive from the south in May (although I hadn’t seen any this May) and then breed and multiply. They don’t seem to be able to survive our winters.

And so ended a marvellous butterfly year.

Just before Christmas, a letter arrived from Horace. He asked me to be godfather to young Harold. Although not a godly person myself, how could I possibly refuse?

John

The real Major Castle once claimed he saw a UFO. My father, a newspaper reporter went to interview him.
“As I was going home from the Queen’s Head....”
Dad tried unsuccessfully to persuade him that the reference to the pub hardly lent credence to the sighting but Major Castle was not to be deterred.

I used to climb Burgh Castle walls with my uncle Ted.

Fritton Woods were and still are very private. But there were ways in. I never saw fritillaries there but Sir Peter Scott in an early autobiography mentions Pearl-bordered Fritillaries.

Clouded Yellows abounded in August/September 1947 on Lucerne fields.

The heathland (an extension of the Suffolk Sandlings) is now largely destroyed by forestry (Fritton Warren), caravan parks/holiday homes (Belton), housing (Bradwell). In places it was alive with Graylings up to the early 1950s. Although I never saw Silver studded Blues there, they must have been present.

DG Frits were somehow overlooked as coastal dunes didn’t seem good places for butterflies.

Lord Fritton and Emma are pure figments of the imagination (I think!)

Name fitting the job – “Nominative determinism”

And finally – in case you hadn’t guessed - for “coachman” read “airline pilot” (me), a job with finest view out the office window of any occupation. And we all go deaf in old age!

Jack Harrison December 2017

[Tony Moore]

Nice one, Jack - an excellent read. Took me back to the bumper Clouded Yellow year of 1947...

The mortal remains of Antony Moore.

[David M]

Jack, what can I say? Loved every word of that. I reckon within a few weeks you could put together a book of such short stories.

Might be a 'niche' market but it would be very much enjoyed.

[Jack Harrison]

Old Butterfly Books

I have just bought (from a local second hand bookshop) an original of E.B.Ford’s classic ‘Butterflies’ for a mere £5. Condition is good rather than perfect – certainly better than my own very-well loved copy given by favourite uncle way back in 1946.

The inscription in these old books in some ways tells more than the content inside.
This one says: ‘Xmas 1945. To father from Charles and Phyl. With love’

Another one of my treasured old books is ‘British Butterflies by W.S.Coleman’
This one: ‘To Len. With love Mum and Dad. Xmas 1915’

I trust than Len and then later, Father, got as much enjoyment from butterflies as I have.

Jack

[Pete Eeles]

E.B.'s Butterflies is one of my favourite books - and I still refer back to it today since it goes deep in so many subjects. In fact, it puts some modern-day publications to shame! I happen to own 2 copies since I wanted to get a 1st edition to see what was originally written. The Oxford Uni. Museum of Natural History has his personal copy that is marked up with changes - quite an historical document!

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

I only have the '51 edition of Ford. A quick look on Ebay and first edition copies show up at around £45 so you got a real bargain there Jack

Another one of my treasured old books is ‘British Butterflies by W.S.Coleman’
This one: ‘To Len. With love Mum and Dad. Xmas 1915’

Jack

This one I have two editions of, one dated 1867 and the "up to date new edition" from 1901 complete with the newly discovered "lineola Skipper"

Another favourite book of mine from days yonder is Vere Temple's book, butterflies and Moths of Britain, written like a diary describing the species as the emerge throughout the year whilst traveling the countryside. The colour plates are some of my favourite illistrations of british butterflies as well. Interestingly she refers to the Glanville Fritillary as the 'Isle of Wight Fritillary' the only place I've ever seen it given that name

[David M]

Old Butterfly Books

I have just bought (from a local second hand bookshop) an original of E.B.Ford’s classic ‘Butterflies’ for a mere £5. Condition is good rather than perfect – certainly better than my own very-well loved copy given by favourite uncle way back in 1946.

The inscription in these old books in some ways tells more than the content inside.
This one says: ‘Xmas 1945. To father from Charles and Phyl. With love’

Another one of my treasured old books is ‘British Butterflies by W.S.Coleman’
This one: ‘To Len. With love Mum and Dad. Xmas 1915’

I trust than Len and then later, Father, got as much enjoyment from butterflies as I have.

Jack

I had a copy of Ford's book when I was a kid - a paperback with a Red Admiral on the cover.

I struggled to understand it since much of the material is aimed at a more mature readership, but it left an impression on me, and my father had to field numerous questions regarding terms that I had read but was unable to comprehend.

Interesting to note the inscriptions within these books which were made during a time when such knowledge could not be easily and readily transmitted any other way.

[Jack Harrison]

I have just returned (11th May) from two weeks away getting as far as the south coast in Sussex.

I have never known such an impressive early summer for “whites” – no doubt as a result of the long cold winter. Whites various, Brimstones in very good numbers. I saw Orange Tips at some relatively high altitude villages in the North Pennines on the way north. OTs are out here today (Nairn/Forres area) and one was egg laying on neighbour's perennial candytuft species.

My limited mobility prevented me exploring too far off the beaten track but I managed Bison Hill Whipsnade on that scorching day, Monday 7th May. In my very restricted search area in company with Mike Rubin, Duke of Burgundies were in greater numbers than I ever remember. In the 27C heat, the butterflies rested (wings closed aligned with the sun) for long periods and were only readily detectable when they occasionally flew. They were very approcahable. The total count on that hill must number in the many hundreds if not thousands. I had my “bird camera” (Canon SX50 – good for inflight birds) but lacks a filter thread so the only way I could get close focus without a supplementary lens was at wide angle; hence the “Padfield style”. This wouldn’t have been so easy had the heat not made the butterflies very docile.

Thanks Neil for the pristine Holly Blue in the Five Oaks meadow. It was hardly Neil’s fault that we were a couple of days too early for PB Frits in Rewell. I’ll hold Neil to 10th May 2019 which he promised to be ideal date for PBFs.

Jack

[David M]

Shame you missed out on the PBFs, Jack, but I'm delighted you got to see the Dukes and were able to meet up with Neil again.

I hope going back up to the north of Scotland won't have given you too much of a shock from a climate and butterfly perspective?!

[Jack Harrison]

I have to come out of the closet: I am a betting man.

(thumbnail - click)
Sadly mine was a distant fourth

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Garden first today in N.Scotland - male orange tip on Bowles Mauve.

We might not have the butterflies up here that you do in the south. But...

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

For the first time I have grown Sweet Rocket (also known as Dame’s Violet) albeit a mere four plants. They have proved to be a magnet for Orange Tips and each flower head currently has between two and four eggs on it.
Both purple and white flowers have been used. I have cut the flower stems and they are now in a vase on my window ledge.

I will need to separate the young larvae to avoid cannibalism. Previous experience suggests that they don't deliberately eat each otehr but can do so more-or-less by accident if one is already on a suitable piece of the foodplant and is "in the way".

I had sown the Sweet rocket seeds last year with Orange Tips in mind. I wasn’t especially anticipating the butterflies in the garden as until this season, they could not have been termed “common”. But Orange Tips have had a bumper season in 2018 (which is of course a little later than in south England) and adults have been regulars in my garden this year feeding on Bowles Mauve (which is sterile and does not develop seeds so no use as a larval foodplant)

Now I can appreciate the benefits, I have just sown lots of seeds for next year's flowers. Sweet Rocket is nominally a biennial but can apparently be a short lived perennial.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

I am now somewhat overwhelmed with Orange Tip early stages. A nearby roadside that had a good clump of Sweet Rocket was mercilessly cut down yesterday. I rescued many flower stems which are now in vases: they are attractive regardless of any eggs/caterpillars. Orange Tips defy counting.

GV whites continue to have an excellent season here in N.Scotland. They are very small this year, and seem to fly much higher over bushes and trees than I am used to. Many a time when I have see a distant pale high-flying butterfly, I have instinctively thought “Holly Blue”. Wrong of course: Holly Blues don’t occur this far north.

Jack