jackz432r
Re: jackz432r
Interesting last couple of posts, Paul.
The WLH sequence is extremely informative. This is not a butterfly one normally sees indulging in such intimate behaviour.
Your more recent update is uplifting too, especially that Red Admiral who decided to make a roost in the artificial flowers. It reminded me of the Southern Comma I saw in France that kept alighting on artificial blooms in the doorway of one of the local residents!!
The WLH sequence is extremely informative. This is not a butterfly one normally sees indulging in such intimate behaviour.
Your more recent update is uplifting too, especially that Red Admiral who decided to make a roost in the artificial flowers. It reminded me of the Southern Comma I saw in France that kept alighting on artificial blooms in the doorway of one of the local residents!!
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Re: jackz432r
Thanks Mike, Wurzel & David for your comments . That Red Admiral is still in there
Saturday 3.11.2018 Knowle Village
The tracks and field margins around Knowle Village have been one of my favourite butterfly spots over the last few years. Saturday midday was sunny with quite an increasingly stiff gusty breeze blowing, but I was still hopeful. The wind kept any butterfly activity to a minimum, but a couple of Red Admirals, a single Speckled Wood and a surprise Peacock made it all worthwhile. They were all either hunkered down out of the wind or battling against it in flight. Sunday 4.11.2018 Fareham
When I spoke to my Father a few days ago he was quite excited to tell me what he had found whilst cleaning out his log store. What he initially thought was fungus growing from a piece of plywood on closer inspection turned out to be three identical butterflies in a group. Unfortunately 2 had already gone before I had a chance to investigate. Whilst visiting on Sunday I thought I should check things out and sure enough one remaining Peacock was still in situ. A cursory inspection of another storage area close by revealed 2 more hibernating Peacocks. I am sure a more detailed inspection might have turned up more, but they have now been left not to be disturbed any further. Hopefully they will all survive till the spring.
Saturday 3.11.2018 Knowle Village
The tracks and field margins around Knowle Village have been one of my favourite butterfly spots over the last few years. Saturday midday was sunny with quite an increasingly stiff gusty breeze blowing, but I was still hopeful. The wind kept any butterfly activity to a minimum, but a couple of Red Admirals, a single Speckled Wood and a surprise Peacock made it all worthwhile. They were all either hunkered down out of the wind or battling against it in flight. Sunday 4.11.2018 Fareham
When I spoke to my Father a few days ago he was quite excited to tell me what he had found whilst cleaning out his log store. What he initially thought was fungus growing from a piece of plywood on closer inspection turned out to be three identical butterflies in a group. Unfortunately 2 had already gone before I had a chance to investigate. Whilst visiting on Sunday I thought I should check things out and sure enough one remaining Peacock was still in situ. A cursory inspection of another storage area close by revealed 2 more hibernating Peacocks. I am sure a more detailed inspection might have turned up more, but they have now been left not to be disturbed any further. Hopefully they will all survive till the spring.
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Re: jackz432r
That's great news Paul fingers crossed they settle down and make it through to next season I'll have to take more care when I top my logs up next time just in case
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Re: jackz432r
Good to see a Peacock still active in the November sunshine, Paul. Perhaps even better to know that a few are safely hunkered down for the winter.
Personally, I'm concerned at how few vanessids will be on the wing next spring given their scant numbers during this late summer/autumn.
Personally, I'm concerned at how few vanessids will be on the wing next spring given their scant numbers during this late summer/autumn.
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Re: jackz432r
Thanks David & Wurzel
Wednesday 21.11.18 In The Garden
On the 27.10.2018 I reported that a Red Admiral had found an unlikely roosting spot in my garden, amongst plastic foliage. I have been keeping tabs on it and surprisingly it is still there .At one point I thought it had gone, but then realised the following day that it had just adjusted its position and was tucked further in. I have no idea if it has been away and come back to the same spot of course. Even on those few sunny days recently this basket is in a very cold spot out of the sun.
When I checked yesterday I was amazed to find it had been joined by a second Red Admiral
Wednesday 21.11.18 In The Garden
On the 27.10.2018 I reported that a Red Admiral had found an unlikely roosting spot in my garden, amongst plastic foliage. I have been keeping tabs on it and surprisingly it is still there .At one point I thought it had gone, but then realised the following day that it had just adjusted its position and was tucked further in. I have no idea if it has been away and come back to the same spot of course. Even on those few sunny days recently this basket is in a very cold spot out of the sun.
When I checked yesterday I was amazed to find it had been joined by a second Red Admiral
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Re: jackz432r
Hello Jackz432r,
Nice find on the hibernating Peacocks. I hope they make it through to Spring.
I love the Admirals in the plastic planter. You are getting quite a collection in there
Nice find on the hibernating Peacocks. I hope they make it through to Spring.
I love the Admirals in the plastic planter. You are getting quite a collection in there
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Old Wolf.
Re: jackz432r
Great find there Paul - the white legs, face and markings on the trailing edge of the wings really help to break up the outline, for a while I couldn't quite work out what I was seeing
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Re: jackz432r
An interesting post on the Red Admirals, Paul Were they still there after the heavy frost we had a couple of days ago?
Mike
Mike
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Re: jackz432r
An interesting find is that, Paul. I wonder whether they'll stick around for a while? I also wonder whether they are fooled into thinking the artificial blooms are real? I've noticed at this time of year that Red Admirals will make a beeline for any apparent nectar source, and those are usually late flowering garden plants or non-indigenous species, such as hebe, which is where I find them in Swansea between November and March, as we have quite a bit growing (and flowering) on the coast during this period.
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Re: jackz432r
Thanks Old Wolf, Wurzel, Maximus & David for your comments
Mike - As I write this both Red Admirals are still present!
All further updates on them will be here
viewtopic.php?f=8&p=139095#p139095
Mike - As I write this both Red Admirals are still present!
All further updates on them will be here
viewtopic.php?f=8&p=139095#p139095
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Re: jackz432r
So one last White-Letter Hairstreak post including a few random images before I look back at everything else I saw during 2018.
White-Letter Hairstreak - 2018 - Conclusions and Plans for Next Year
This year has been even more successful than last year in finding new sites. 100% good weather for the whole flight season, careful planning, some well chosen days off and an understanding family have all contributed to that. There was one weekend during the flight season that I did not spend looking for the White-Letter Hairstreak, so there is scope for fitting a bit more in . However, my intention to continue to locate new sites as well as monitoring those already found will very quickly (has already?) reach saturation point. It could easily have been very unsuccessful if the weather had been poor. I am sure that will come at some point, but 'make hay while the sun shines' as they say. I am now even more convinced than ever that this butterfly is very much more widespread than is generally reported. I have found White-Letter Hairstreak at 3 locations this year by making completely unplanned stops at places that just looked promising on the spur of the moment. I also now have 7 or 8 locations within 3 miles of where I live where I can reliably see White-Letter Hairstreak. I don't believe I live anywhere out of the ordinary so I have to believe that the story would be much the same wherever I lived (within its distribution). I have been informed that eastern Hampshire and The New Forest are areas where the White-Letter Hairstreak has its weakest counts. Those are areas I shall focus on next year. I already have some locations in mind. This year I have also found Elms in locations which are already well known butterfly spots, but where White-Letter Hairstreak never features in any species list. I am always up for a challenge, so it will be interesting to see if I can find the butterfly in these locations. The site I reported in my previous post which was under development is apparently to be a football hub for the local area. My enquiry with the local council as to the future of the Elms there was met with an encouraging response:
Dear Mr Harfield,
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
I have passed this query over to one of our colleagues at Natural England and to one of our Enforcement Officers to investigate. The elm trees – and a number of others – in this area appear to be subject to a large Area TPO (Tree Preservation Order) and the butterfly species are registered as “Conservation Priority: High,” as well. While the Area TPO will have been considered in details in the initial application for North Stoneham Park, we are grateful that you have brought the presence of this rare butterfly colony to our attention.
The Public Register links for the planning application is O/15/76023, which you can use to search at this link for all public documents pertaining to the Major Planning Application known as North Stoneham Park. You are free to view these in the intervening time it takes for us to investigate.
Kind regards,
White-Letter Hairstreak - 2018 - Conclusions and Plans for Next Year
This year has been even more successful than last year in finding new sites. 100% good weather for the whole flight season, careful planning, some well chosen days off and an understanding family have all contributed to that. There was one weekend during the flight season that I did not spend looking for the White-Letter Hairstreak, so there is scope for fitting a bit more in . However, my intention to continue to locate new sites as well as monitoring those already found will very quickly (has already?) reach saturation point. It could easily have been very unsuccessful if the weather had been poor. I am sure that will come at some point, but 'make hay while the sun shines' as they say. I am now even more convinced than ever that this butterfly is very much more widespread than is generally reported. I have found White-Letter Hairstreak at 3 locations this year by making completely unplanned stops at places that just looked promising on the spur of the moment. I also now have 7 or 8 locations within 3 miles of where I live where I can reliably see White-Letter Hairstreak. I don't believe I live anywhere out of the ordinary so I have to believe that the story would be much the same wherever I lived (within its distribution). I have been informed that eastern Hampshire and The New Forest are areas where the White-Letter Hairstreak has its weakest counts. Those are areas I shall focus on next year. I already have some locations in mind. This year I have also found Elms in locations which are already well known butterfly spots, but where White-Letter Hairstreak never features in any species list. I am always up for a challenge, so it will be interesting to see if I can find the butterfly in these locations. The site I reported in my previous post which was under development is apparently to be a football hub for the local area. My enquiry with the local council as to the future of the Elms there was met with an encouraging response:
Dear Mr Harfield,
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
I have passed this query over to one of our colleagues at Natural England and to one of our Enforcement Officers to investigate. The elm trees – and a number of others – in this area appear to be subject to a large Area TPO (Tree Preservation Order) and the butterfly species are registered as “Conservation Priority: High,” as well. While the Area TPO will have been considered in details in the initial application for North Stoneham Park, we are grateful that you have brought the presence of this rare butterfly colony to our attention.
The Public Register links for the planning application is O/15/76023, which you can use to search at this link for all public documents pertaining to the Major Planning Application known as North Stoneham Park. You are free to view these in the intervening time it takes for us to investigate.
Kind regards,
Last edited by Paul Harfield on Mon Dec 10, 2018 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: jackz432r
The feedback does look encouraging Paul especially as they already have the trees covered by a TPO, fingers crossed that it all pans out It was good meeting again at the Social perhaps we'll catch up in the field again - Shipton maybe?
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Re: jackz432r
Excellent report, Paul. Well done for eliciting the (ostensibly) positive response from the authorities and I sincerely hope there IS a TPO on those elms.
I'd like to think you are right too regarding how much commoner WLH is than we think. It's possibly the most inconspicuous species in Britain but even here in the Swansea area, I have found quite a few in the only location I know which harbours multiple elms.
I'd like to think you are right too regarding how much commoner WLH is than we think. It's possibly the most inconspicuous species in Britain but even here in the Swansea area, I have found quite a few in the only location I know which harbours multiple elms.
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Re: jackz432r
Thanks David & Wurzel for the coments
There is a bit of a backlog of stuff I did not have time to post about during the year. So here goes in no particular order:
Silver-Washed Fritillary
I had reasonably good year with this species and saw it 5 different locations. I saw my first on the 24th June at Curdridge. I saw my first mating pairs and also my first Valezina during an evening visit to West Wood in July (sadly no photo of that). I also saw several at West Meon. This was notable as it is the first time I have seen this species at this location. As well as a couple of males, I watched an egglaying female. Thankfully this is a secluded location, I spent some time on all fours trying to locate the eggs she had laid . The position where these eggs were laid seemed less shady than I have seen previously and I was able to capture the moment.
There is a bit of a backlog of stuff I did not have time to post about during the year. So here goes in no particular order:
Silver-Washed Fritillary
I had reasonably good year with this species and saw it 5 different locations. I saw my first on the 24th June at Curdridge. I saw my first mating pairs and also my first Valezina during an evening visit to West Wood in July (sadly no photo of that). I also saw several at West Meon. This was notable as it is the first time I have seen this species at this location. As well as a couple of males, I watched an egglaying female. Thankfully this is a secluded location, I spent some time on all fours trying to locate the eggs she had laid . The position where these eggs were laid seemed less shady than I have seen previously and I was able to capture the moment.
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Re: jackz432r
Great news that you got to see a Valesina Paul - they're cracking looking butterflies - when I've seen them they are often more in the shade just wondering if yours was as well? You did better than me with the egg-laying female as well she's got her abdomen right round
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Re: jackz432r
Hi Paul,
Have you any idea that mature English Elm has survived at East Tisted? Do you think it's due to it's isolation, or it's resistance to DED?
Mike
Have you any idea that mature English Elm has survived at East Tisted? Do you think it's due to it's isolation, or it's resistance to DED?
Mike
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Re: jackz432r
Hi Wurzel - My first Valesina was seen early evening gone 7pm. Most of the wood was in shade at that time but the Valesina was on Bramble in a pool of sunlight with several other Silver-Washed Fritillary
Hi Mike - I have just noticed I had described that Elm as an Oak! At least you knew what I meant I have edited it accordingly. There is plenty of other Elm close by so I guess it is just a resistant individual (they do exist)
Hi Mike - I have just noticed I had described that Elm as an Oak! At least you knew what I meant I have edited it accordingly. There is plenty of other Elm close by so I guess it is just a resistant individual (they do exist)
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Re: jackz432r
Thanks, Paul,I knew what you meant, my question was not well worded either
Mike.
Mike.
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Re: jackz432r
Holly Blue
I don't profess to be able to compete with Dave Miller (can anybody ), but nevertheless I had a reasonably good year with this species. At least at the sites I visit regularly, I do not really notice the supposed cycles this species goes through due to parasitism, every year seems like a good one. Though looking back I did not manage any open wing shots this year.
I don't profess to be able to compete with Dave Miller (can anybody ), but nevertheless I had a reasonably good year with this species. At least at the sites I visit regularly, I do not really notice the supposed cycles this species goes through due to parasitism, every year seems like a good one. Though looking back I did not manage any open wing shots this year.
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Re: jackz432r
I agree with you about Shipton Bellinger and Holly Blues - there are always loads there every year. I've found quite a few Brostreaks by watching the Holly Blues and then they spook or irritate a Brostreak Can you imagine what would happen if Dave Miller with his HB Whispering ways was to visit this site
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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