Notes and Views - April 2018

[Vince Massimo]

A very rare sighting of Peacock courtship leading to mating was recorded by Paul Atkin on 14th April at Bookham Common, Surrey. Reported in his Personal Diary /viewtopic.php?t=8077&start=1640#p129234

Mating Peacocks (Paul Atkin)

Vince

[David M]

That is indeed a most notable find! Interesting that the cop took place in the later part of the afternoon. I suspect that is why few of us have ever observed such behaviour within this group of butterflies.

[Vince Massimo]

A large Tortoiseshell was photographed by Anthony and Margaret Dobie between Ulwell and Corfe Castle, Dorset on 20th April. Reported on the Dorset BC branch website https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2018/ ... iseshells/

Another was photographed by Owen Leyshon and others at Dungeness, Kent on 23rd April. Reported on Twitter https://twitter.com/LeyshonOwen/status/ ... 5900640256 . A clearer image was posted by Jacques Turner-Moss (also on Twitter). https://twitter.com/JacTurner_Moss/stat ... 7629732865


Vince

[Allan.W.]

A footnote to the above entry ,Owen re-found the Large Tort at the road end of the Long pits(Dungeness) yesterday
May 1st,another appears on the "sightings" section of The Kent and south east London butterfly conservation website.
Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

A Large Tortoiseshell was photographed by Owen Leyshon and others at Dungeness, Kent on 23rd April. Reported on Twitter https://twitter.com/LeyshonOwen/status/ ... 5900640256 . A clearer image was posted by Jacques Turner-Moss (also on Twitter). https://twitter.com/JacTurner_Moss/stat ... 7629732865

Vince

Great sightings! Are these continental in origin though? We had south-easterly winds around that time and a powerful insect such as LT wouldn't find it difficult to traverse 20-odd miles or so of ocean.

[Vince Massimo]

Thanks for the information, Allan. The link to the report on the Dungeness Bird Observatory website is here http://www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk/2018/ . It says that on 1st May a Large Tortoiseshell was seen in the same location as the original sighting. The Kent and South East London BC Branch does indeed report a sighting of a Large Tortoiseshell on 14th April but I cannot find the location, nor is it clear whether the associated image is the actual butterfly or a library image.

I hope someone can venture an opinion to respond to David's question. Alas, I do not feel qualified to do so. Do these butterflies disperse after emerging from the pupa in July (in the period of approximately 7-14 days before they go into hibernation), or after they emerge from hibernation in April (before or after mating)?

Vince

[bugboy]

I hope someone can venture an opinion to respond to David's question. Alas, I do not feel qualified to do so. Do these butterflies disperse after emerging from the pupa in July (in the period of approximately 7-14 days before they go into hibernation), or after they emerge from hibernation in April (before or after mating)?

Vince

I think we need look no further than The Butterflies of Sussex, page 204 where it is stated that the 2007 Sussex influx was between 21st June and 4th August. It's worth noting also that other Nymphalis sp. UK records are mostly late summer/autumn as well.

Of course that's not to say they won't stray in the spring as well, particularly if they have a favourable tail wind. My gut feeling based on location is this is a straggler from the continent.