CallumMac
Re: CallumMac
Well done on finding that WLH larva Callum. I am convinced that the species is massively under-recorded although there isn't as many Elms on my patch as there used to be. Paul (Harfield) has spent a lot of time in this area searching them out (both the Elms and the butterflies) and has discovered several new sites. May be worthwhile to keep checking. Love the owl shot too - that was a great find
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Re: CallumMac
Thanks Pauline. The same seems to go for all of the hairstreaks!
27/05/2018, am - Chambers Farm Wood
Having seen some really nice Marsh Fritillary photos from the Little Scrubbs Meadow SSSI at Chambers Farm Wood posted on Twitter earlier in the week, I decided to drive down and have a look for myself. I found myself faced with a photographic challenge like nothing I've experienced before...
The butterflies were flying - and by the hundred (somebody even said thousand!). Getting close enough for a photo was not a concern - at times, the reverse was true...
Even whilst sitting to eat my lunch, the close-up views came to me.
I stayed for around 4 hours, and took over 300 photos of the fritillaries alone. Amazing.
Given that this site was apparently down to 4 individuals (peak transect count) as recently as 2013, this seems to be a remarkable success story for BC! I have never experienced anything like this, in terms of sheer density of butterflies. I do wonder whether there will be enough host-plant on the site to support the thousands of caterpillars this generation will produce - will the population self-regulate itself at the site's carrying capacity, or will this boom lead to a bust?
Although they were the main attraction, the Marsh Frits weren't the only attraction. A few Dingy Skippers joined them in the meadow, and a Broad-bodied Chaser had taken up station over the pond in BC Lincolnshire's Butterfly Garden.
A Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth was enjoying the Red Valerian, and I spent a while trying to get that perfect in-flight shot! It had a huge mass of pollen at the base of its proboscis. The potential role of moths as pollinators was a key theme of my PhD thesis, so seeing moths covered in pollen in this way always makes me feel vindicated!
Shortly after lunch (and bang on the Met Office forecast), things started to cloud over and cool down. Given that it was supposed to remain sunny all afternoon in Yorkshire, I decided to head for home via:
27/05/2018, pm - Calley Heath
I was really hoping for my favourite species, Small Copper, here. I was disappointed in that regard, but there was still plenty of interest. Several Brimstones were whizzing around, but didn't stop for photos. I was really surprised to spot several fresh Brown Arguses - although this species has now moved right through East Yorks, I hadn't heard it reported from this site before.
On my way out of the site, I spotted a pair of Common Blue in cop.
A nice end to another astonishing day!
27/05/2018, am - Chambers Farm Wood
Having seen some really nice Marsh Fritillary photos from the Little Scrubbs Meadow SSSI at Chambers Farm Wood posted on Twitter earlier in the week, I decided to drive down and have a look for myself. I found myself faced with a photographic challenge like nothing I've experienced before...
Although they were the main attraction, the Marsh Frits weren't the only attraction. A few Dingy Skippers joined them in the meadow, and a Broad-bodied Chaser had taken up station over the pond in BC Lincolnshire's Butterfly Garden.
27/05/2018, pm - Calley Heath
I was really hoping for my favourite species, Small Copper, here. I was disappointed in that regard, but there was still plenty of interest. Several Brimstones were whizzing around, but didn't stop for photos. I was really surprised to spot several fresh Brown Arguses - although this species has now moved right through East Yorks, I hadn't heard it reported from this site before.
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Re: CallumMac
Wow! Amazing Marsh Frit photos and Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth too!
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Re: CallumMac
Your first image of the Marsh Fritillaries on Ragged Robin is spectacular.
You clearly had a fantastic experience on that visit.
Great report Callum,
Trevor.
You clearly had a fantastic experience on that visit.
Great report Callum,
Trevor.
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Re: CallumMac
Shame there weren't any Coppers for you at Calley Heath, Callum, but the Brown Argus doesn't surprise me as I photographed them there back on 24th August 2014. I reported this to the warden(?) at the time.
/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6157&start=620 (down towards the bottom of the page).
The Marsh Fritillaries look terrific and sound magnificent! They do have boom-and-bust years so next year may be different - but it would be good to think otherwise.
Cheers,
Dave
/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6157&start=620 (down towards the bottom of the page).
The Marsh Fritillaries look terrific and sound magnificent! They do have boom-and-bust years so next year may be different - but it would be good to think otherwise.
Cheers,
Dave
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Re: CallumMac
Thanks Katrina I was particularly pleased with the hawkmoth - the Marsh Frits somehow seemed too easy when there was that much choice!
Thanks Trevor There wasn't much nectar about so the little that there was, was covered in butterflies!
Thanks Dave Ah interesting - I've emailed the CBR to check whether he's aware of the colony, but I imagine he will be. Yorks Wildlife Trust have some great reserves but in my experience are not very good at keeping the information attached to those reserves up to date! Sounds like the Marshies have been building up for a few years running at CFW, so you'd imagine the bubble will burst at some point.
I was particularly pleased with the hawkmoth - the Marsh Frits somehow seemed too easy when there was that much choice!Thanks Trevor
There wasn't much nectar about so the little that there was, was covered in butterflies!Thanks Dave
Ah interesting - I've emailed the CBR to check whether he's aware of the colony, but I imagine he will be. Yorks Wildlife Trust have some great reserves but in my experience are not very good at keeping the information attached to those reserves up to date! Sounds like the Marshies have been building up for a few years running at CFW, so you'd imagine the bubble will burst at some point.Diary entries for 2018 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
Re: CallumMac
28/05/2018 - Kiplingcotes
Today wasn't supposed to be warm and sunny, so when it turned out that way I decided to stay local and pop to Kiplingcotes. Compared to last week, the Dingy Skippers were almost over (I only saw four) but had been replaced by good numbers of Common Blues. I spent a happy hour trying to follow Duracell-powered males for long enough to snatch a photo or two as they nectared!
Today wasn't supposed to be warm and sunny, so when it turned out that way I decided to stay local and pop to Kiplingcotes. Compared to last week, the Dingy Skippers were almost over (I only saw four) but had been replaced by good numbers of Common Blues. I spent a happy hour trying to follow Duracell-powered males for long enough to snatch a photo or two as they nectared!
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Re: CallumMac
01/06/2018 - Walmgate Stray
A real shortage of butterflies this week up here. We missed the thunderstorms that seemed to cover the rest of the country, but the consequence of that is that the weather has remained mainly muggy and overcast. Nothing but the braver Whites and the occasional Speckled Wood flying!
On Friday lunchtime I went for a targeted search on the Stray, with two specific objectives in mind. The first was to check on an Orange-tip egg I had found - the only such egg I've found on the Stray this year despite some quite extensive searching. There is both Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard in abundance here; the egg was on a fairly isolated Cuckooflower, and after a short search I was able to track down the first-instar larva!
I've found some of the stories told on this forum of following butterflies through all of their life-stages quite inspiring, so I'll be checking in on Orpheus the Orange-tip for as long as I can find him/her...
The second target was Marsh Pug, which had been recorded the previous day by Peter Mayhew. This is a pretty scarce day-flying moth which wasn't previously known to inhabit the Stray - though the food-plant is in abundance. I didn't track down the pug today, but did find a nice selection of other day-flying species.
Celypha lacunana (Tortricidae)
Blood-vein Timandra comae (Geometridae)
Straw Dot Rivula sericealis (Erebidae)
I also caught a very nice example of Waved Umber in my garden trap last night. Amazing camouflage - imagine trying to spot this on a Silver Birch!
A real shortage of butterflies this week up here. We missed the thunderstorms that seemed to cover the rest of the country, but the consequence of that is that the weather has remained mainly muggy and overcast. Nothing but the braver Whites and the occasional Speckled Wood flying!
On Friday lunchtime I went for a targeted search on the Stray, with two specific objectives in mind. The first was to check on an Orange-tip egg I had found - the only such egg I've found on the Stray this year despite some quite extensive searching. There is both Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard in abundance here; the egg was on a fairly isolated Cuckooflower, and after a short search I was able to track down the first-instar larva!
The second target was Marsh Pug, which had been recorded the previous day by Peter Mayhew. This is a pretty scarce day-flying moth which wasn't previously known to inhabit the Stray - though the food-plant is in abundance. I didn't track down the pug today, but did find a nice selection of other day-flying species.
Celypha lacunana (Tortricidae)
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Re: CallumMac
Some very nice moths there Callum, especially the last one. I'm thinking it's just as well Orpheus is on an isolated plant given their cannibalistic tendencies but they do tend to grow incredibly fast.
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Re: CallumMac
Some wonderful stuff on this page, Callum, but I must say I'm particularly impressed with how you've captured those four Marsh Fritillaries on the ragged robin. Normally, they are swaying in the breeze when nectaring from these delicate plants but you've managed to somehow get them relatively still.
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Re: CallumMac
Thanks Pauline. It's strange, there were loads of Orange-tips flying on the Stray this year, and I checked loads of plants without joy. I only checked Orpheus's plant because it was so isolated - I'd probably have ignored it otherwise!
Thanks David. Probably one of the best photos I've ever taken! It was quite a blustery day, but I think I got lucky with the combination of a sheltered corner and a lull in the wind. I think I took 5 versions of that photo, and this was the only one where all four butterflies were facing the camera open-winged. Just lucky!
03/06/2018 - North Cave Wetlands
With the weather on Sunday hot, but more overcast and muggy than sunny, it seemed a good day for my partner and I to head to North Cave Wetlands and resume our quest to learn the British dragonflies - or so I sold the idea to her! In fact there are also some large patches of Birds-foot Trefoil around the dragonfly ponds at NCW, making this one of the most reliable spots for Common Blue in the region, and I was hoping that any breaks in the cloud might bring some fresh individuals out.
Well, my hunch was correct! Only three Common Blues seen in the end (2m, 1f), but they were some real stunners.
I'm not sure if this was a trick of the light or because she was so crisp and fresh, but you can actually see the underwing patterns through the wings from the upperside on this female!
The same thing was evident on this male, and the chequering on the margins of his wings might have given me pause for thought if we were less than about 200 miles from the nearest Adonis Blue site!
Having got my butterfly fix, I joined my partner in following the dragonflies. Photographing them proved something of a challenge, as there were so many flying that as soon as one settled, it would be up again to chase off a rival. Sounds familiar, somehow... 
However, I managed to get decent shots of the three most abundant species, which we identified as:
Emperor Anax imperator
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
The nicest surprise of the day was a Stoat which ran down the footpath towards us for a few metres before darting into the undergrowth - I was too stunned to react in time, and missed the photo opp! 
Thanks David. Probably one of the best photos I've ever taken! It was quite a blustery day, but I think I got lucky with the combination of a sheltered corner and a lull in the wind. I think I took 5 versions of that photo, and this was the only one where all four butterflies were facing the camera open-winged. Just lucky!
03/06/2018 - North Cave Wetlands
With the weather on Sunday hot, but more overcast and muggy than sunny, it seemed a good day for my partner and I to head to North Cave Wetlands and resume our quest to learn the British dragonflies - or so I sold the idea to her! In fact there are also some large patches of Birds-foot Trefoil around the dragonfly ponds at NCW, making this one of the most reliable spots for Common Blue in the region, and I was hoping that any breaks in the cloud might bring some fresh individuals out.
Well, my hunch was correct! Only three Common Blues seen in the end (2m, 1f), but they were some real stunners.
However, I managed to get decent shots of the three most abundant species, which we identified as:Emperor Anax imperator
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Re: CallumMac
Fantastic Marshies Callum. 
And a great moth selection, good job with the Hawkmoth.
And a great moth selection, good job with the Hawkmoth. Diary entries for 2018 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
Re: CallumMac
Great shots of the Marsh Frits callum lovely, Goldie
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Re: CallumMac
Thank you both!
05/06/2018 - Askham Bog
In the interests of variety, I decided to detour to the YWT reserve at Askham Bog on my way home from work this evening, without really knowing what to expect. It turned out to have some really nice flower-rich damp meadows, one of which in particular was dancing with very fresh Large Skippers - my first of the year!
Just as I was thinking of leaving, one of the Skippers chased up what must by now be a very geriatric Comma!
And on my way out, a Large White posed nicely on a thistle.
I'm off to the Lake District tomorrow evening to spend a few days at my parents' house. Hopefully I'll manage to connect with Mountain Ringlet and Small Blue whilst I'm there.
05/06/2018 - Askham Bog
In the interests of variety, I decided to detour to the YWT reserve at Askham Bog on my way home from work this evening, without really knowing what to expect. It turned out to have some really nice flower-rich damp meadows, one of which in particular was dancing with very fresh Large Skippers - my first of the year!
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Re: CallumMac
Just catching up Callum, a few of these for those Marshies . It's been a few years since I've seen them. Fantastic shots of the Bee Hawkmoth as well.
I got my first pictures of Large Skipper yesterday too, they really do look magnificent when fresh don't they, and also mirroring your day I found an old Comma too, a female still relieving herself of eggs! Good luck with the Mountain Ringlets, my only UK species left to see!
. It's been a few years since I've seen them. Fantastic shots of the Bee Hawkmoth as well.I got my first pictures of Large Skipper yesterday too, they really do look magnificent when fresh don't they, and also mirroring your day I found an old Comma too, a female still relieving herself of eggs! Good luck with the Mountain Ringlets, my only UK species left to see!
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Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: CallumMac
Seems like Large Skippers are proliferating everywhere right now. I must catch up with them over the next few days.
Lovely dragon/damselflies too, Callum. A real feature of summer.
Lovely dragon/damselflies too, Callum. A real feature of summer.
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Re: CallumMac
Thanks bugboy, I love the return of the little golden rockets too!
Thanks David. I'm really enjoying trying to get to grips with the dragonflies this summer. I added this Golden-ringed Dragonfly this evening up the lane behind my parents' house, in the tiny hamlet of Uldale in the North Lakes - apparently an upland specialist of small moorland streams, precisely the habitat in which I found it.
The influx of Silver Y has reached the Lakes as well, with good numbers around the village; and my Mum pointed out several larval webs that I believe belong to Apple Ermine moth - principally because they were exclusively on Crab-apple Malus sylvestris despite other potential host-plants of similar Yponomeutids (e.g. Hawthorn) being locally plentiful.
I took not a single butterfly photo today! Quite a few GVWs around, and even a couple of very late Orange-tips. Tomorrow we go looking for Mountain Ringlets...
Thanks David. I'm really enjoying trying to get to grips with the dragonflies this summer. I added this Golden-ringed Dragonfly this evening up the lane behind my parents' house, in the tiny hamlet of Uldale in the North Lakes - apparently an upland specialist of small moorland streams, precisely the habitat in which I found it.
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Re: CallumMac
07/06/2018 - Whin Rigg
Well - another one of those days!
We have a PhD student in our research group who's just embarking on her first field season surveying Mountain Ringlets. A couple of us went out with her today - her first day of fieldwork on the project - to help out and ensure it all went smoothly. My main job for the day was to teach her how to distinguish the males and females - despite never having encountered Erebia epiphron before, I have plenty of practice of sexing E. aethiops, and many other species besides! Being such a lovely day, and with the combined promise of a rare butterfly and two more Wainwright peaks to tick off their wall-chart, my parents tagged along as well!
The target today was the Irton Fell population - being relatively southerly, westerly, and low-elevation, often the first site to see MR flying. It didn't take long for us to find a very obliging female...
She was quite happy to pose - and sat patiently as we tried out best to move stray grass stems and shadows out of the way! Having seen a lot of Scotch Argus, and seen in photographs that the two Erebia species look fairly similar, I had wrongly assumed they were the same size as well, so I was charmed by these dainty little butterflies!
We moved further up the site, and it quickly became clear that there were hundreds of Mountain Ringlets flying. The site is massive, and we pretty reliably saw a butterfly every few metres for almost three kilometres, so the population must number in the thousands here. The population of Small Heaths will be ten times that - but I didn't even attempt to stalk one today!
The females were the more obliging, of course, and in retrospect most of the photos I managed to get were of females.
It looks as though I caught this one in the act of laying an egg - amazing, and a great pay-off for my habit of always trying to get a few face-on shots!
There were a few interesting moths about on the fellside as well. We netted a rather tired looking Clouded Buff, and then found this much fresher Mother Shipton.
Having completed the day's surveys, my colleagues headed back to their car whilst my parents and I headed onwards for the summits of Whin Rigg and, up a spectacular ridge-walk above the Wasdale Screes, Illgill Head. The Mountain Ringlets were also flying on the summit of the latter - at much higher elevation, and with some distance walked between the two peaks without a single MR seen, I presume this functions as a largely independent population from the main Irton Fell colony. As we started our descent into Miterdale, just before leaving the MRs behind, the mountain had a final gift for me - as a Mountain Ringlet came to sip my sweat, first from my leg before fluttering, without any encouragement, up to my hand.
The descent through Miterdale was long, hot, and not so interesting as we had hoped, but there was a last surprise in store halfway down - my first Wall Brown of the year!
Well - another one of those days!
We have a PhD student in our research group who's just embarking on her first field season surveying Mountain Ringlets. A couple of us went out with her today - her first day of fieldwork on the project - to help out and ensure it all went smoothly. My main job for the day was to teach her how to distinguish the males and females - despite never having encountered Erebia epiphron before, I have plenty of practice of sexing E. aethiops, and many other species besides! Being such a lovely day, and with the combined promise of a rare butterfly and two more Wainwright peaks to tick off their wall-chart, my parents tagged along as well!
The target today was the Irton Fell population - being relatively southerly, westerly, and low-elevation, often the first site to see MR flying. It didn't take long for us to find a very obliging female...
The females were the more obliging, of course, and in retrospect most of the photos I managed to get were of females.
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Re: CallumMac
Terrific report on the Mountain Ringlets, Callum, a species I have yet to catch up with. If you get the right weather at the right time of year in the right place, it seems you just trip over them! Great set of photos.
Dave
Dave
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Re: CallumMac
I am in awe of your Mountain Ringlets, a distant dream for us southerners !.
It is quite surprising how often one hears, ' I've seen every UK species, except
the Mountain Ringlet '. I suppose it's because of their remoteness.
For me I've yet to see any of the Northern species, must put that right !.
You must take some mrgreens Callum !
Trevor.
It is quite surprising how often one hears, ' I've seen every UK species, except
the Mountain Ringlet '. I suppose it's because of their remoteness.
For me I've yet to see any of the Northern species, must put that right !.
You must take some mrgreens Callum !
Trevor.
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