CallumMac

[Wurzel]

Great shots Callum especially the Tort on the wall - it looks like its landed on its own staging resting on the blue spot as it is

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[CallumMac]

Thanks both - I loved that shot as soon as I saw it!

26/02/2019 - Walmgate Stray

On a lunchtime walk today, I saw another 3 Small Torts (at least 2 likely to be different to yesterday's, as they were on a different part of the Stray), and also added Comma and Brimstone to my year list. No photos though - nothing stopped to pass the time of day!

[CallumMac]

...and a further Small Tort upon leaving the office in the early evening. Unless I'm imagining things, they seem to show a clear preference for the graffitied sections of the Retreat wall - perhaps the paint is a better absorber of heat than the bare bricks?

[Wurzel]

Another cracking Small Tort Callum Will this one be going on Insta as well ?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[CallumMac]

Will this one be going on Insta as well ?

Ha ha, maybe not this one, it's good to keep my literally TENS of followers hungry for more!

[Wurzel]

"Ha ha, maybe not this one, it's good to keep my literally TENS of followers hungry for more! "...I hear that and know the feeling

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Early in the year is the best time to catch butterflies resting on stonework. I guess the temperatures are fairly marginal so any additional warmth available is at a premium.

It's interesting to see them favouring certain colours though. I presume some absorb more heat than others.

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Callum,

Just seen your article in the latest issue of 'Butterfly'...interesting stuff, nice one

Cheers,

Neil.

[CallumMac]

20/03/2019 (am) - Walmgate Stray

Here we go - for real this time? The sun is back and with it, the vanessids! I popped out at coffee-time yesterday onto the Stray and was quickly able to find Small Tortoiseshells in the usual spot along the cemetery wall. There was a supporting cast of Brimstones and (unlike in the February rush) a Peacock or two - though neither of the latter stopped for photos!

20/03/2019 (pm) - RSPB Blacktoft Sands

I had a bit of time in the bank and that sunny morning walk was enough to convince me that this was the afternoon to cash it in! I finished a few urgent jobs whilst wolfing down sandwiches at my desk, and hopped in the car towards the Humber. Blacktoft is one of the RSPB's premier reserves in the north-east, but it's also just slightly too far for regular visiting. Today I hoped I hadn't left it too late to catch a wintering Hen Harrier!

...In the end, I was too late (or too unlucky). But there was plenty around the reserve to keep me entertained - not least the slightly unusual sight of a Peacock basking on the tops of reeds!

Both Peacocks and Small Torts were spending much of their time basking on the footpaths.

A fine supporting cast, as well, including several Toads (a couple seen - erm - with their pants down!), lots of Marsh Harriers, and plenty to keep me entertained on what was (according to the RSPB) "World Sparrow Day"...

[millerd]

Good to see the butterflies out round your way, Callum. For once the sun is out up there, while down here in the south the cloud has been relentless...

Dave

[trevor]

Very pleasing to see your Small Tortoiseshells, they were very scarce in Sussex last year.
Great to see the north enjoying some Sun, only grey gloom here.

Trevor.

[CallumMac]

Thanks both. I was slightly surprised that there didn't seem to be much forum activity on Wednesday after such a glorious afternoon - but if it wasn't glorious down south, that explains it!

21/03/2019 - Walmgate Stray

...it remained glorious on Thursday! Just another couple of Small Tortoiseshells to show for it. Based on patterns of wing-wear I reckon I've seen at least 5 different individuals along the cemetery wall, which does indeed bode well for the rest of the summer.

[millerd]

More from me Callum, after another grey day (and chillier too )

Dave

[Wurzel]

Great set of shots Callum and a great range of fauna too - Marsh Harrier, Tree Sparrow, a few Anurans as well as some lovely Small Torts. If I had to pick though I'd go with the shot of the Peacock clinging to the tops of the reeds - brilliant

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...But there was plenty around the reserve to keep me entertained - not least the slightly unusual sight of a Peacock basking on the tops of reeds!

That IS unusual, Callum, and you did extremely well to capture it.

Nice supporting cast as well. Good to see somewhere in the UK had a bit of sunshine last week.

[CallumMac]

Many thanks for your kind words. That Peacock was indeed remarkable, and it was no chance shot - I watched it move from reed to reed for several minutes. I suspect that this behaviour had much to do with a hedgerow sheltering that patch of reeds from what was a chilly breeze sweeping along the footpath.

25/03/2019 - Walmgate Stray

Another Walmgate Stray lunchbreak today, and as the numbers of Small Tortoiseshells on the move soared into double figures, they were finally joined by a supporting cast of Commas and Peacocks. I didn't manage a single picture of the latter species as they were being constantly harassed by their smaller cousins, and rarely spent more than a few seconds settled in one place. However, the Commas were proving quite effective at holding a territory and one chose a very attractive perch to defend, on the tip of a broken bramble stem.

It was also nice to come across a 7-spot ladybird - in the sense that these days, it's nice to find any ladybird other than a Harlequin!

[Wurzel]

Commas in the Spring are really good value for money aren't they Callum? You can get some shots, wander away and check something else out and come back later for some more shots and there they'll be

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...as the numbers of Small Tortoiseshells on the move soared into double figures, they were finally joined by a supporting cast of Commas and Peacocks.

If you can see Small Tortoiseshells in double figures then I'm highly envious, Callum. This is increasingly becoming a species to covet at this time of year, even in south Wales where they are still supposed to be common.

Right now, I've just seen but three, but I'll be keeping an eye out for them over the next few weeks.

[CallumMac]

Commas in the Spring are really good value for money aren't they Callum? You can get some shots, wander away and check something else out and come back later for some more shots and there they'll be

Indeed! Although in this case, my first and last Comma shots (half an hour or so apart) were within ~50cm of each other, but looking at the wing-wear, show different individuals - I guess the first male must have been chased off in that time!

If you can see Small Tortoiseshells in double figures then I'm highly envious, Callum. This is increasingly becoming a species to covet at this time of year

I've seen a few folk this spring saying that they're thin on the ground down south, but that's certainly not my impression here in Yorks. Perhaps our summer up here was a bit milder/wetter last year than down there? Our winter has certainly been mild enough for most to survive.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Callum, we seem to be getting a few more Tort's here this year than last year, they were so scarce at my local spot ( HLB ) and I didn't see many at all in my garden until September, I was certainly glad when they started to arrive.Goldie