April 2020

[Jack Harrison]

Wow! I have only ever seen one Large Totoiseshell and that was 72 years ago - yes 1948.

Is it going to colonise? Looks promising.

Jack

[Edward_P]

To me what is most promising about Rosalyn's record is how far inland it is. It's west of the A1. So this is not just a few individuals scattered along the coasts. How many more are there out there that are going unnoticed?

[David M]

To me what is most promising about Rosalyn's record is how far inland it is. It's west of the A1. So this is not just a few individuals scattered along the coasts. How many more are there out there that are going unnoticed?

Yes, Edward, this is significant in the sense that it has occurred well away from the southern coastal areas where this species has regularly been recorded in spring these last few years.

Encouraging discovery.

[The Doc]

..I'm happy with that.

Quite rightly, Doc. I have Orange Tips all over the damp common near me but I've never had any visiting my garden flowers.

Our neighbours hate it, they have typical Cheshire manicured gardens with 'Green Thumb' vans visiting to service the grass (!!!!) and we've got a garden full of Garlic Mustard, Dandelions, Cleavers and all sorts of wild stuff. It's certainly paying off now with some great sightings. Following on from the male Orange-tip we then had them mating and the female egg laying Then today a Holly Blue was in the garden (our trees are all covered in Ivy).

[Padfield]

I've been looking in suitable places and will continue doing so. Large tortoiseshells are quite long-lived butterflies. In Switzerland the big action would be in March but they still flew in the valley throughout most of May.

In our Suffolk garden the female commas are now laden with eggs and stocking up on energy for the laborious business of laying them all:



And in the meadow, the white-letter hairstreak catepillars are guzzling and growing. Here are three of them, taken this evening, after dark:







I think the first one, eating, is a newly moulted fourth instar, taking a first meal after being laid up for some days. The others I'm not sure about. All are about 7-8mm long now.

Guy

[Deborah]

Good numbers of Orange Tip males and females, Brimstones, a couple of Holly Blues, three Speckled Woods and this Green Veined White enjoying the late evening warmth yesterday.

[CallumMac]

On the subject of Large Torts being seen away from their usual areas, one was reliably reported "coming in off the sea" at Flamborough Head, Yorks on 12th April. More reason to suppose they may be much more widespread than usual this year.

[David M]

On the subject of Large Torts being seen away from their usual areas, one was reliably reported "coming in off the sea" at Flamborough Head, Yorks on 12th April. More reason to suppose they may be much more widespread than usual this year.

Very interesting, Callum. It'd be quite something if this species began to be reported from more northern/eastern areas of the UK. We have had easterly winds for a while now (that's why Swansea is so sunny at the moment!!)

[Jack Harrison]

On a warm Spring evening, I'm about to go out to my North Scottish garden again - with my second glass of Sainsbury's best plonk.

I am confident that I will see Camberwell Beauty, Scarce and Large Tortoiseshells and more by the end of the third glass.

Hic!

Jack

[Edward_P]

Our twitcher friends have posted a nice summary of Large Tort. records. Scroll to the bottom of this
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Cont ... dup2020_16

[David M]

Our twitcher friends have posted a nice summary of Large Tort. records. Scroll to the bottom of this
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Cont ... dup2020_16

Getting an 'HTTP Error 404.0 - Not Found' message when I click on that link, Edward.

[Edward_P]

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Cont ... =159880331

Let's see if this works?

Sorry

[Jack Harrison]

The first link gave a 404, the second was blocked by my anti-virus software.

Maybe a copy-and-paste of the reports wouldn't upset Rare Bird Alert.

Jack

[David M]

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Cont ... =159880331

Let's see if this works?

That's better. Thanks, Edward.

[Jack Harrison]

Got it now. Thanks.

Jack

[Deborah]

Two Green Hairstreaks sparring so ridiculously quickly in front of my eyes it made me dizzy trying to keep track of them! In my garden. One finally perched inches away from me and I was able to get the closest look at one in my life. Which made an already sunny day an even happier one.

[Ian Pratt]

Bluebell woods will sadly be out of bounds to many people at the moment, so I thought you might like this photo from several years ago.

[Allan.W.]

Terrific picture that Ian !...…………...Nice One.
Grotty old day (butterfly-wise ) in my part of Kent today ,so a few highlights from my "exercise" walks over the last couple of days,,i,ve found a couple of excellent ,reliable Speckled wood sites on my new patch ,I actually had 5 Specklies flying around me in one section of a little wooded area,
and most that I,ve found have been immaculate ……….bar one ,which was at the other end of the condition scale !
Orange -Tip numbers have also been particularly high locally this year ,and again I've discovered a good area about a hundred metres from my front door ,this spot also seems to be a good spot for my "bogey " species ………… Holly Blue …………….. butterflying for lord knows how many years and haven't managed a single open winged shot …………………………..maybe this season !

Regards Allan.W.

[Ian Pratt]

Lovely photos Allan. Disappointing time for us butterfly watchers. I am yet to see a speckled wood this year.

[David M]

My 'bogey' species this year is definitely Green Veined White. Never had problems with them in previous years, but for some reason they're leading me a merry dance in 2020.