April 2019

[Allan.W.]

At Samphire Ho ! (Dover ) earlier ,10+ Small White . 1 Clouded Yellow ,1 Green Hairstreak , 2 Small Copper ,
3 Wall (all males ) and 1 Dingy Skipper. Also 30 + Early Spider Orchids in flower. Not a bad return in sunny but cold weather ,with a temperature rarely above 9 degrees.
Regards Allan.W.

[David M]

At Samphire Ho ! (Dover ) earlier....1 Clouded Yellow...3 Wall (all males ) and 1 Dingy Skipper....

Fabulous, Allan. Wasn't expecting Dingies for another week!

[Allan.W.]

Yes I was pleased to find the Dingy as well David ,I think its my earliest although one was found in Sussex last Thursday ,
also very pleased to find an early Cloudie,i wonder if it managed to overwinter or did it hop across the channel ?
The Green Hair; was a pleasing find as well ,the warden at Samphire Ho (who I,d been chatting with ) had just told me that The Green Hair is a pretty scarce insect at SH, two minutes later (as he disappeared up the track !) I found my first of the year !
The two Coppers are my first and second of 19' the second (slightly worn ) individual had very pale markings at the top of the forewings ,at first
I thought it was a pathological AB; but looking more closely .I believe ,that it is just a bit different ,not seen one like it before.
The Bee species is (I think !) a Common Carder bee from a couple of days back along the Royal military canal at Kenardington.
Regards Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

As a footnote to the above entry ,and looking at "Callumacs " diary I now reckon my bee could be a Tawny mining bee
as I;D'd by another UKBer. Regards Allan.W.

[millerd]

Just read about your splendid variety of sightings from Samphire Hoe, Allan. You did brilliantly considering the conditions - my experience of the place is that it would be amazing if the wind ever dropped! I reckon the Cloudie must most likely have breezed in from across the water, as the wind has been just right for that, though if the area managed to get through the winter frost free it could be locally grown. Walls and a Dingy are pretty good going as well.

Cheers,

Dave

[Allan.W.]

Thanks for that Dave ,must admit ,I leaned more towards the Cloudie being an early migrant,it was totally undamaged
with no wear or nicks. I agree with the wind comments ,there is rarely not a breeze ,but the main area that I generally stick to is along the beach section (Lydden Spout ),where there are several sunken hollows,and these tend to be a degree or two higher and out of the breeze , and as you probably know ,along with the species I ,ve mentioned ,these hollows also hold Adonis Blue and Small and Common Blue ,and seeing these species here can be quite surreal as you are literally just a few metres from the sea.
Regards Allan.W.

[Alexc]

Grizzled Skipper today at Ubley Warren in Somerset, thought it might be the first for the county, but see that the first was logged over a week ago! Also a couple of redstarts there today, which are always very nice to see.

[Jack Harrison]

Allan:

also hold Adonis Blue and Small and Common Blue ,and seeing these species here can be quite surreal as you are literally just a few metres from the sea.

Anvil Point (Durlston Country Park Dorset) used to have a superb colony of Small Blues – and no doubt still does today. The butterflies flew right up the edge of the sea cliff and on the steep upper slope just below to top. I have never visited at the appropriate time for other blues but I presume they occupy similar cliff habitat.

Jack

[Wurzel]

The Small Blue colony is still there Jack

Sidbury Hill
2 Small Heath, 2 Greenstreaks, Small Copper, Comma, Specklie, 6 Brimstones, 2 GVW, 5 OTs, Large White, 2 Small White and about 8 Peacocks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Lee Hurrell]

A female Small Copper, 4 Grizzled Skipper and 1 Dingy Skipper at Denbies Hillside, Surrey this afternoon.

All were very fresh (and photogenic ).

Lee

[millerd]

Hi Lee - how did I miss you? There were a couple of Green Hairstreaks as well - see my PD in due course.

I was at Noar Hill earlier and saw a Duke and a Duchess: the latter was a particularly attractively marked individual.

Dave

[Deborah]

Nothing as interesting here as previous posters... but, a lovely Wall, enjoying the sunshine. Otherwise, Brimstones, Orange Tips, Holly Blues, Peacocks... hopefully the good weather forecast for the next few days will keep them all coming!

[NickHull]

You always did enjoy the birds, Jack judging by having to wait for the butterflies and the pictures of ducks....
Meanwhile back in Hull today, Brimstone, Orange-tip, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small and GV White, and my first Holly Blue of the year....

Speckled Wood

Holly Blue, male

Brimstone

[aeshna5]

Allan.W- your bee is totally wrong structure for any of the carder bees which are bumblebees, but is a Tawny Mining Bee, Andrena fulva- sometimes called a Lawn Bee as it makes miniature "mole hills" on well drained lawns where they have their nest chambers. Great shot of it.

[David M]

Looks like things are really moving now. With 5 days of warm sunshine to come there could be upwards of 15 species on the wing in the most favoured areas.

[Padfield]

I couldn't find any green hairstreaks near Woodbridge today but female orange tips were flying for the first time in the garden - only males up until now - and green-veined whites had joined the small whites.





All the hibernators are still flying. The first speckled woods were on the wing a couple of days ago and there are a few small coppers on the heaths.



Guy

[David M]

Butterfly explosion at Whiteford Burrows/Cwm Ivy on the NW Gower coast today. This time of year is always a joy with the juxtapositioning of the newly emerged chrysalis hibernators in ever increasing numbers with those adult hibernators that are ekeing out their last days.

Orange Tip 80-100
Speckled Wood 30-40
Holly Blue 20-25
Brimstone 6-10
Peacock 6-10
Green Veined White 3
Red Admiral 2
Large White 1
Brown Argus 1
Comma 1

[Allan.W.]

Blimey ,that's a really early Brown Arg : Dave ,great find ! For me its a pathological ab , who Knows the pupa may well
have got a soaking ,or affected by weather extremes ,a good find.
Superb Holly Blue shot as well ,I,ve never come even close to an open winged shot ! Nice one.
Thanks for the Bee confirmation Aeshna 5 ,I had reached the same conclusion myself (ie ; Tawny Mining bee ) especially after viewing Callumacs individual …………… Bee's are definitely not my Forte ! And as you rightly say ,certainly not Common Carder Bee . Thanks Again .
Hello Jack.
We,re due a trip down to Dorset ……...its been a while , and I've always fancied Durlston Country park ,but never been ,so perhaps we'll give it a go . Regards Allan.W.

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Lee - how did I miss you? There were a couple of Green Hairstreaks as well - see my PD in due course.

I was at Noar Hill earlier and saw a Duke and a Duchess: the latter was a particularly attractively marked individual.

I don't know, Dave! We usually bump into each other several times at various locations, don't we! It'll probably be for Marsh Fritillaries next I guess.

I went to Noar Hill today and found two Dukes and one Duchess. I then went to Chiddingfold to see if Wood Whites were out. They weren't

Lee

[David M]

Blimey ,that's a really early Brown Arg : Dave ,great find ! For me its a pathological ab , who Knows the pupa may well
have got a soaking ,or affected by weather extremes ,a good find...

Thanks, Allan. Yes, it was a real surprise....I've even sent the record to BC in case it's the first recorded in the UK this year, although I suspect someone else will have seen this species over the last day or two.

Round my way, they're usually a couple of days behind Common Blue, i.e. third week of May!!