April 2019

[David M]

March was a reflection of February - started badly but ended spectacularly.

How will April fare? With a late Easter this year let's hope for some mild conditions mid-month!

[Allan.W.]

Although not an April record ,I thought some may be interested in some Large Tortoiseshell information that I stumbled across . I was looking through Lee Evans ( The birder ,not the comedian !) Twitter feed ,and there are some very interesting pictures ,comments
and a short video (from Dungeness ) of various Large Torts ; I found the comment for March 31st ,by Lee ,particularly interesting . The Large Tort ;
interest ,starts on March 26th...….. take a look (that's if you don,t mind twitter )
Regards Allan.W.

[Essex Bertie]

We've had a Large Tortoiseshell in central Essex on April 1st. I saw one in spring 2018 at another Essex site where a total of 4 individuals were photographed that spring.

[David M]

We've had a Large Tortoiseshell in central Essex on April 1st. I saw one in spring 2018 at another Essex site where a total of 4 individuals were photographed that spring.

Wow! Another one. They seem to be popping up over quite a wide area this year. Could this signal a permanent comeback?

[peterc]

While searching for Purple Hairstreak larvae on the oak branch where I saw some eggs earlier in the year I think I found one on an oak bud - note the hatched egg towards the bottom right hand corner. I have not seen one before and not 100% sure.

ATB

Peter

[bugboy]

I'm inclined to say yes Peter, I'm on my phone so don't have the best view but it certainly looks Lycid which would narrow it down to one species!

[MatthewRoss]

Hi everyone,

Just seen my first Green Hairstreaks of the year in the Peak District - on Lantern Pike, to be precise. I've never known them this early up here; usually they're not around until at least the end of April/start of May!

There were at least five, all very flighty. Here's a quick phone snap of one before it took off:

Also Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell about

Best,

Matt

[David M]

Hi everyone,

Just seen my first Green Hairstreaks of the year in the Peak District - on Lantern Pike, to be precise. I've never known them this early up here; usually they're not around until at least the end of April/start of May!

That's really surprising, Matt. Normally here on the Gower in south Wales they only emerge towards the end of April, and this year I reckoned they might be out by next weekend. I certainly wasn't anticipating reports of them from further north THIS weekend.

[MatthewRoss]

I was quite amazed to see them myself, David! They're pretty widespread in the cloughs across the Dark Peak, so I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if they're waking up early in other spots, too.

[James M]

Hi everyone,

Just seen my first Green Hairstreaks of the year in the Peak District - on Lantern Pike, to be precise. I've never known them this early up here; usually they're not around until at least the end of April/start of May!

There were at least five, all very flighty. Here's a quick phone snap of one before it took off:

IMG_20190406_135044.jpg

Also Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell about

Best,

Matt

Ooh amazing! You’ve just beat my earliest record for the Peak District that was 8th April back in 2017 at RSPB Dove Stone.

[David M]

After a night of storms and even snowfall (which could still be seen on Saturday morning) it was hardly surprising that hardly any butterflies were about on Castle Meadows, Abergavenny, on 6 April.

In just less than an hour and a half, I saw just two. The first was a fly-by Peacock, but the second was this weather-beaten Small Tortoiseshell, notable only for the fact that it was only the fourth I've seen in 2019 (this site is normally teeming with them).

[badgerbob]

I a little search for Wall Brown pupa yesterday 2 Marbled White larva found. Still very small at 1cm long. Unfortunately, no Wall pupa found!!

Marbled White larva. Seaford 7/4/2019.

Marbled White larva. Seaford 7/4/2019.

[maverick]

Orange tips on the wing in Warrington, second day I have spotted this little chap

[David M]

First Speckled Woods and Large White seen on Kilvey Hill, Swansea during late morning on Sunday 7th:

[David M]

The following species seen at Cwm Ivy on the north Gower coast on the afternoon of 7 June:

Speckled Wood 10-15
Brimstone 5-10
Peacock 5-10
Orange Tip 6
Red Admiral 4
Holly Blue 4-6
Comma 1
Green Veined White 1

[Vince Massimo]

I have been monitoring a number of Brown Hairstreak eggs in the Crawley area and they are now starting to hatch.

Brown Hairstreak egg - Crawley, Sussex 10-April-2019

Last year the first hatchings were around 18th April.

Vince

[David M]

Finally, the numbers of Speckled Woods, Orange Tips and Holly Blues are overtaking those of the adult overwinterers. All these three were into double figures on the Gower Coast on Thursday, with Peacocks numbering just 5, Red Admiral 4, Brimstone 2 and Comma 1.

All the Holly Blues seen were males, and they appear to be unusually approachable (and content to come down to ground level) this year; I don't know if that's due to the cool weather.

This one was nectaring from celandines, something I've not seen before:

[Jack Harrison]

North Scotland. I (and wife) have seen a few butterflies since end of February but today 13th was first “real” day. Dawn to dusk sun albeit with max temperature a mere 10.5C. Peacocks seen in numerous localities and Small Tortoiseshell in several. Even saw Small White at Cawdor - needed a long range photo to confirm Small and not GV.

Tomorrow Sunday I am returning to Cawdor, this time to the castle gardens. If I don’t see a Comma in the excellent gardens then I will conclude that they have not yet reached this far north. But last year Commas weren’t far away and seen at Boat of Garten north of the main mountains (which I had presumed might be a barrier to range expansion). So if not already in my area, Commas can’t be absent for much longer.

Jack

[David M]

Good luck with the Comma hunting, Jack. They've been around in good numbers further south so far this year so it wouldn't surprise me if they've eked their way further towards your neck of the woods.

[Jack Harrison]

Cawdor Castle gardens were rather bare in preparation for summer planning so no butterflies seen.
However nearby in sheltered spot, single Peacock in temperature only 7.5C.

This smart pair on Cawdor Castle Lake. Last year only one duckling so hope for better this time.

Jack