David M

[David M]

Thanks, all. Having lived in Swansea for 9 years now I like to think I know all the best spots! Sometimes though, you just have to travel further afield….

Monday 22nd April 2019 – Dukes….

I missed out on UK Dukes of Burgundy last year, and with the weather set fair I felt I needed a trip to Rodborough Common as next weekend is looking rather dire in comparison.

I arrived just after 10am and made my way to the hotspot, which is at the bottom of the steep dip at the right hand edge of the shrub line in this image:

Sure enough, there were a handful whizzing about down there, along with several Green Hairstreaks:

The vegetation still has a very ‘early’ look about it, and there were no Dingy Skippers nor Small Heaths, species that are usually seen in good numbers here in a normal season.

In fact, there were very few other species at all – a couple of Peacocks and Speckled Woods, and fly-by Brimstone, Holly Blue, Orange Tip and Small White.

[David M]

Monday 22nd April 2019 - Pearl Bordered Fritillaries...

Rather than risk a return home on Bank Holiday Monday on the M4, I decided to detour via Ewyas Harold Common, on the border between Herefordshire and Wales.

I figured there may be an early Pearl Bordered Fritillary on the wing and fortunately, there were at least four, all concentrated in the 'hotspot' on this site, which is located in a steep gully on a SW facing bracken-covered slope.

Shame that the next week at least looks very problematic weatherwise, but I expect that by the early Spring Bank Holiday weekend, if the sun shines there could be hundreds flying on this reliable site for this rare butterfly.

[Neil Freeman]

Hi David,

Interesting comment about the Holly Blue's favourite trees, and Trevor's also. I must try harder to try and find something like that around here, the Holly Blues that I see are usually behaving like male Brimstones or Orange-tips i.e, patrolling hedgerows or passing through gardens.

Nice Dukes from Rodborough Common and also the Pearls from Ewyas Harold

Cheers,

Neil

[Andrew555]

Some brilliant sights and shots from your recent reports David, you seem to have pretty much everything covered and very nicely recorded as well!

Cheers

[Goldie M]

Great find those Pearl's David I missed them altogether last year and the Dukes , your off to a great start with the Butterflies you've posted so far Goldie

[David M]

Thanks, all. We're getting to that time of the year when specialised species start to emerge, so 'covering everything' is not going to remain possible for long!

[Pauline]

Lovely Pearls David. That may be my next target if I ever get out Have to say I prefer the underside. Also remiss of me not to comment on your mating Speckled Woods - well spotted. Not something I've ever seen.

[David M]

Thanks, Pauline. Yes, the undersides are the 'big deal' with this species. One of the most striking of all UK species.

I'd put aside a moment or two this coming week or so for them. Once they've gone it'll be a year before they return.

[ernie f]

David - Nice to see your report that the Dukes are doing well at Rodborough Common. I lived only a few miles away from this site some years back but I don't think they were there then.

[David M]

Saturday 4th May 2019 - Wall Brown.....

I didn't fancy climbing Kilvey Hill this morning to see if the colony of Wall Browns up there was flying. Not only was it cool (around 12c) but it was quite breezy too. So, I decided to have a nose about in Dan-y-Graig cemetery at the foot of the hill, where it is warmer and more protected, particularly along this uppermost bank, which is sheltered by the perimeter wall and mature trees at the back of it:

The first butterfly I saw was a male Holly Blue, but as I was tracking him, I noticed that unmistakeable, almost playful flight of a Wall Brown. He was very frisky, and I never got particularly close to him:

The only other butterfly I saw in the cemetery was this Small Copper:

A quick walk up the lowest path on Kilvey Hill threw up a handful of Speckled Woods and a male Small White.

[trevor]

Two very fresh male Wall Browns from your local cemetery, David.
Their escape no doubt aided by the breeze today.
As we both know of cemeteries with a Wall Brown population,
it might be an idea for others to check their local church grounds.

Just a thought,
Trevor.

[ernie f]

David - Yet another person getting Walls. I am very envious 'cos I have never seen one round my way.

[David M]

Yes, Trevor, Wall Browns are pretty reliable in this coastal cemetery. It's amusing how they only ever settle on the grey gravestones though; never the black or the marble ones. They seem to know what camouflages them best.

ernie, there must be somewhere near the coast with rocky outcrops round your way? Surely worth a try?

Saturday 4th May 2019 - Common Blue...

After leaving Dan-y-Graig cemetery, I made my way to Crymlyn Burrows on the coast just east of Swansea.

This is a site that holds good numbers of many of the late spring grassland species, and it was here where I saw my first Common Blue of 2019:

A bit surprising that I have seen both Common Blue AND Brown Argus before Dingy Skipper, but try as I might I couldn't locate tagis at all. This was the only icarus I saw, so it is still early days. I expect the next bout of warm weather will see things explode here.

This stretch of track is always a hotspot:

There were 20+ Orange Tips, 3 Brimstones, 5 Speckled Woods, several Green Veined and Small Whites, 2 Large Whites, and 3 Peacocks. Most notably however, I saw 8 Small Coppers here, which is pretty good going for any location on my 'patch'.

[millerd]

A very nice Common Blue, David - as you say, no doubt the vanguard of many more once things warm up again.

Dave

[David M]

...and it does look to be warming up by the weekend, Dave, and set to continue through next week.

With any luck, we'll have a fine second half to May!

Friday 10th May 2019 - Dingy Skipper....

With all these images of Dingy Skippers abounding on here, this was one species I wanted to track down and pay a little attention to this year.

Fortunately, by my workplace, there is a plot of disused land where industrial buildings used to stand. This is covered in bird's foot trefoil, which of course attracts Dingy Skippers:

Other than a solitary male Orange Tip, the only species I saw was Dingy Skipper, but there were 7 or 8 of them, and the dull conditions meant they were reasonably approachable

Nice to be able to concentrate on this rather overlooked butterfly without the distraction of several other brighter species flying in the same spot.

[David M]

Saturday 11th May 2019 – Small Heath…..

Finally, sun and relative warmth returned today, so a visit to Cwm Ivy and Whiteford Burrows was an easy choice to make.
I hadn’t gone more than 100m onto the dunes when I saw my first Small Heath:

As ever, they were troublesome to photograph, choosing to settle in areas where grass blades tended to obstruct the view:

Pleased to say I counted 22 individuals, which augurs well for better numbers when they hit their peak.

I climbed the limestone hill for the first time at this site, and here are a couple of views from the top.

This first one is looking NE, with the woodland glade clearly visible cutting between the pine trees:

This one is looking west and out to the open sea:

The glade itself was still buzzing with butterflies, although Holly Blues were absent this time. I did see this fresh Red Admiral though:

Brimstones were surprisingly numerous again. They’ve had a fantastic spring:

Some males still clearly think there are virgin females around:

Orange Tips are on the wane, but I reckon I still saw a dozen plus:

Other species seen were Brown Argus, Dingy Skipper, Peacock, Green Veined White & Speckled Wood. Strangely though, there were no Common Blues.

[Pauline]

Stunning views David. I do miss living right next to the coast. When I left the NE it didn't have much going for it but the coastline up there is some of the best around imo.

[David M]

Yes, Pauline, coastal sites are always scenic, especially if there are a few hills nearby.

Sunday 12th May – Small Blue….

Encouraging signs today that butterfly numbers are increasing. However there are still things which are puzzling me, and two of those occurred during my two and a half hour trip to Crymlyn Burrows on the Swansea coast.

This is a great site for Small Blue, and it was the commonest species seen today with 40-50 spotted:

By contrast, Common Blues were practically absent. I saw just three, one of them being a female which I thought would signal plenty of males. Not to be, sadly.

I fortuitously managed to bag this image when a Small Blue gatecrashed this male’s chosen perch:

The other puzzle was the dearth of Small Heaths. Usually, they number well into the dozens and having seen 22 yesterday at a coastal site just 15 miles away, I reckoned there would be plenty. There were just 3 though.

Dingy Skippers were absent too, but Brown Argus, which usually appears here in ones and twos, numbered 7 or 8, which may even be the best return I’ve ever had for them here:

The other pleasant statistic came in the form of 14 Small Coppers, which is very good going indeed. This one had a pronounced tail spike:

This female, with a hint of caeruleopunctata blue, was on an egg laying mission (saw one being deposited on dock) and was very accommodating:

Still good numbers of Brimstones and Orange Tips, whilst other species seen in low numbers were Large, Small & Green Veined Whites, Speckled Wood and Peacock.

[Goldie M]

Lovely Butterflies David, not seen any of those yet CB, etc, but hope fully will before long , your shots will keep me going Goldie

[Pauline]

Evening David. Pleased to see you caught up with the Dingy Skippers at last.... and with 40-50 Small Blues, well that must have been a great opportunity to observe interaction between them. I've never seen that many in one place