June 2018

[David M]

Sunday 24th June

Nice to see plenty of fresh Marbled Whites flying at Whiteford Burrows on the north Gower coast:

The recent warm spell has led to an explosion of butterfly numbers. Meadow Browns in particular were ubiquiyous, with Small Skippers, Ringlets & Small Heaths numerous too.

I crossed the estuary to Loughour in the late morning to see if I could locate White Letter Hairstreaks at a park which contains multiple mature elms. There were quite a few buzzing about but the were all wedded to the upper sections of the trees:

It was also nice to see three fresh summer brood Commas:

[Jack Harrison]

Ringlets by the beach (Nairnshire)

And perhaps more typical habitat just along the road near my home.

Scottish Ringlets seem to be far happier in open country than are their English cousins. They also occur on dunes.

Jack

[David M]

...p.s. I think I was in Alun Valley on the same day as you (Saturday) and didn't see hardly any large Frits. Some, but not many... lots of horseflies though.

I was there the previous Thursday, Michael. The Frits seem to be concentrated towards the SE end of the Down, near the footpath down towards the minor road that leads to the ford.

I've received an email today telling me that numbers have suddenly shot up so if you get chance, pay another visit as we could see serious figures over the next week or so.

[David M]

Ringlets by the beach (Nairnshire)

That looks like a scene from the parched lands of southern England, Jack.

I take it your part of Scotland has been abnormally dry lately?

[Kip]

I post this Large Heath, one of a pairing, photographed on 25th June in North Yorkshire, because it was very green to the eye, not a product of hue tampering in image development...

[Jack Harrison]

Re David's comments:
Yes, we desperately need more rain although abut ten days ago about 20 mms fell one day. But the sun is so strong that the vegetation dries out very quickly.

Sunshine total yesterday = 17.0 hours. Sunday had been 'miserable ' with a mere 13.5 hours. Today: early satp;cs show some cloud just to the south but I doubt we'll see any.

Mercifully it hasn't been quite so hot as in the south. Yesterday I recorded 23C, the day before 22C

Jack

[P.J.Underwood]

P.E.'s at Chiddingfold.
Once it was hot,they came to ground again.They seem to enjoy the new surface on the rides.I am sure it is full of tasty minerals.Generally they were reluctant to open their wings in the bright light,but one or two are now getting the idea.
P.J.U.

[David M]

Re David's comments:
Yes, we desperately need more rain although abut ten days ago about 20 mms fell one day. But the sun is so strong that the vegetation dries out very quickly.

Sunshine total yesterday = 17.0 hours. Sunday had been 'miserable ' with a mere 13.5 hours. Today: early satp;cs show some cloud just to the south but I doubt we'll see any.

Mercifully it hasn't been quite so hot as in the south. Yesterday I recorded 23C, the day before 22C

Jack

Thanks, Jack. I forgot to factor in the additional daylight up there. Looks set to stay dry for a while too. There's thunder expected by the weekend but mainly for the south.

[Jack Harrison]

Slightly unusual today was fresh Small Tortoiseshell. The species is traditionally single brooded here in north Scotland. Some 50 years, in south England it was normal for the summer brood to emerge around end of June (but earlier these days). So might the Scottish Tortoiseshells be on the verge of becoming double brooded in north Scotland with this June emergence. If not this year with its superb weather, then when?

I’m still awaiting my first Comma here. It can only be a matter of time.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Findhorn Dunes 20 minutes today (approximate totals)
Ringlet 5: Meadow Brown 4: Small Heath 4: DG Fritillary: 4

Nearby woods (wife's sightings) Speckled Wood, unidentified white.

In garden, male Large White, a scarce species in these parts.

Jack

[Allan.W.]

Finished work early today and had a couple of trips out locally ,the first was a "Hairstreak" visit ,of which more later
The other a late afternoon / early evening visit to Dungeness ,where the second brood of Small Copper is now building ,and in less than ideal conditions (very windy !) I managed around 25 ,with some very fresh and unusual individuals about . Also high numbers of Small Skipper and Meadow Browns ,also very pleased to see 7 Marbled Whites.
Regards Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

Early afternoon I visited an area in Orlestone forest ,where last year large numbers of Purple Hairstreaks were coming down really low
Approaching the Small Oak,i could see from some distance ,that once again the Hairstreaks were descending.too around chest height .
watching them ,as last year feeding on the forming Acorns ,of which individuals would protect for all their worth ,I watched several pitch battles
with up too four Hairstreaks ,laying claim to a particular Acorn, One insect looked as though it had been glued to its Acorn .not moving once while I was there. Beside the Oak tree is a large bank of Bramble ,and not once did I see a Hairstreak visit it to nectar.

[bugboy]

Been to Bookham the past 3 mornings looking for you know who. Stars of the shows though were the Purple Hairstreaks which are literally raining down from the trees. Dozens flitting low over bracken and grass of both sexes with lots of groundings. Very fidgety and difficult to approach but quite an incredible sight to witness nevertheless.

[Jack Harrison]

CONTINENTAL SWALLOWTAILS
I am surprised not to have seen any reports (maybe I have missed them). This weather (warm easterly winds in south England) would seem to provide the perfect opportunity for enough to come across to enable colonisation. Maybe the storms expected in SW England on Sunday will do the trick when butterflies could be carried aloft rather than deliberate migration.

Jack

[aeshna5]

CONTINENTAL SWALLOWTAILS
I am surprised not to have seen any reports (maybe I have missed them). This weather (warm easterly winds in south England) would seem to provide the perfect opportunity for enough to come across to enable colonisation. Maybe the storms expected in SW England on Sunday will do the trick when butterflies could be carried aloft rather than deliberate migration.

Jack

Migrant numbers do seem low at the moment. Not seeing Clouded Yellow being mentioned much + few Painted Ladies. Also few migrant dragonflies. Last year was a near record year for Red-veined Darters + so far in the London recording area just one probable sighting.

[aeshna5]

Plenty of butterflies in the meadows + woodlands of the outer west London area. Plenty of browns with lots of Meadow Browns, Ringlets + Marbled whites (the latter two making big advances in recent years) + the first Gatekeepers now appearing. Both White-letter + Purple Hairstreaks, especially the latter seem to be having a good season. Reasonable numbers of small Skippers while Large Skippers looking rather tatty now.

Not too many vanessids- though a few Commas appearing in the last week or so + pleased to see a few small Tortoiseshells, including 2 in my garden yesterday.

Managed 4 White Admirals at Ruislip yesterday + a possible Purple Emperor disappearing over an oak. Didn't see the latter species at the well known spot here despite 20 minutes of looking.

[dilettante]

This should be in the July thread when it opens up, but good numbers of Chalk-hill Blues in Therfield Heath, Herts today (1st July). I only saw males. Hoping their numbers will continue to build with this good weather.