Goldie M

[Goldie M]

Just got your post Bug Boy, seems we're at cross purposes tonight I'd love to see a Painted Lady but I bet there's not as many this year, they seem to come every so often Goldie

[Goldie M]

Only two Small Whites in the Garden today, they arrived early morning, nothing in the afternoon the heat really getting to the Butterflies now plus the lack of water so I went out tonight and watered every thing. Goldie

[Wurzel]

More lovely shots Goldie - especially the second in the sequence - a bit of a corker! Early morning does seem to be the best time in the current sunny climes - but I found this morning there's quite a short window of opportunity between the shade being forced back and it getting too hot

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

Only two Small Whites in the Garden today, they arrived early morning, nothing in the afternoon the heat really getting to the Butterflies now plus the lack of water so I went out tonight and watered every thing.

Not surprising the butterflies disappeared, Goldie. I'm seeing the same thing round my way. The heat is causing them to burn themselves out by noon. Everything's beginning to look a little 'tired'. We could do with a day or two's rain in all honesty.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I'm still in the Garden these days, I went over to HLB yesterday and saw nothing so I went up to Rivington which has two Lovely Reservoirs and is a local Beauty spot , I didn't even get out of the car, the place was packed, car's on the road, car park full, I believe they'd to send for the fire brigade again some idiot set the moor on fire again

Hi! David, I watered the garden to no avail there really is a big gap between Butterflies now but I thought at least the Meadow Brown would be out by now and may be the Skipper's , I'll have another go at HLB next week. Goldie

Only two Butterflies again today , one a Small White was in a bad way but still flying the other one A GVW was really nice, it came in early again, in the morning, that's it really ,I'm still looking for some different species Goldie

[Wurzel]

"I believe they'd to send for the fire brigade again some idiot set the moor on fire again" - that's the thing with the easing of Lockdown - the Muppets have gotten it in their heads that that's it, it's all over - not helped by the ridiculous "Stay Alert" message
At least the garden is still producing some great butterflies - that GVW is gurt lush, fantastic markings

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

Hi! David, I watered the garden to no avail there really is a big gap between Butterflies now but I thought at least the Meadow Brown would be out by now and may be the Skipper's , I'll have another go at HLB next week.

Looks like we might get some rain tomorrow, Goldie. We certainly need some.

I'm sure your Meadow Browns & Large Skippers are out now. In fact, the large Fritillaries should be flying at Morecambe Bay any time now.

[essexbuzzard]

Take heart, Goldie. Good stuff is just around the corner. Meanwhile, that’s a lovely GV White!

[Goldie M]

Thanks for your posts, Wurzel, David, essex,

Hi! Wurzel, i believe the fire was started by two guys in their 20's with a Bar-be-cue of all things, now the Fire men are asking for a ban on there sale There's another fire tonight this time on Saddle Worth Moor
The Garden is ready for tomorrows rain, I'm not sure I am

Hi! David, I went to HLB today and I saw a Skipper, it was to quick for me It was great to see it, no Meadow Brown's though, I did manage to see a Small Tort .

Hi! essex, I still keep seeing the odd ones in the Garden, a Small Tort shot through this morning no shots though

With the weather changing tomorrow I decided on one last trip to HLB, I didn't expect much because it was so hot, I managed to see a Skipper has I said to David but no shots, I'd better luck with the Small Tort I saw, I think the way it looks and where ,sums up the hot day and why we're all waiting for the rain Goldie

[millerd]

Those GVW shots are terrific, Goldie, especially the last one - what a lovely butterfly that is.

Cheers,

Dave

[Goldie M]

Thank's Dave, I've had some good luck with my Garden and the Butterflies, what Butterflies I've seen have been really great, i've had a few disappointments when I've been out, like yesterday at HLB when I missed a shot of a Skipper but after this rain we've had today and some yet to come I'm hoping it will help the Butterflies, they need moisture badly, trouble is it's going much cooler,
we can't win Goldie

[Wurzel]

Yep that Small Tort does has a desiccated and fed up look Goldie Fingers crossed the coolness only slows the butterflies down a bit and doesn't put them off entirely

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

Shame to hear about the fires, Goldie. We had this round my way a few weeks ago and it decimated the breeding grounds of the Marsh and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries.

I guess you will find conditions rather tricky for observing butterflies over the next few days, but at least we've had some rain which was much needed. Don't feel afraid to venture out. You may not see so many on the wing but those you do see will be less hyperactive than those around during the hot weather recently.

[Goldie M]

Thanks again Wurzel and David for your posts, the weather is really making the garden fresh and we are getting some Sun in between the Showers, but it's too cold and windy for the Butterflies I'm afraid with none being seen at all, may be next week will be calmer, we've to expect 40 mile an hour winds tomorrow, I'm just hoping my fencing holds up. roll on next week Goldie

[David M]

Yes, both windy and wet here right now, Goldie. Happy to take it on the chin so long as it doesn't last too long or cause any damage.

As you say, roll on next week when things ought to look a little more refreshed.

[Goldie M]

Sorry to take so long in answering David, I've been trying to get some sense out of the gardening I've been doing
One of my Butterfly bushes as taken a beating with the wind also my Fox Gloves, it's rained here a lot and been windy, the nice weather I thought we'd have for this week as not yet appeared, I thought this morning there was a chance, the Sun kept popping out now and then, I've been fed up

I decided to get going again because for once it didn't rain, although the clouds were thick at times like I've said I did see the Sun at times, I went to Hall-Lee-Brook looking for the large Skipper and may be some Meadow Browns but saw none, I'm beginning to wonder if MB's will appear there I did see two Small Tort's and managed some shots so it wasn't a total waste of time

When I see everyone's shots of all the Butterflies now on the wing I get really envious because I can't get to see them
hope fully I'll get to Kent before they all disappear, rain again tomorrow Goldie

[Wurzel]

Those Small Torts must have made up for the lack of Meadow Browns Goldie I hope you can get down to Kent Goldie as you're due a butterfly fix for sure

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Thanks Wurzel, I hope so to, I'm feeling bored at the moment, it's going on and on, I've been to a couple of shops usually just before 4pm and found it okay, no queuing, but I really want to go again to Brockholes to see if the White Hair Streaks are out yet but it's still closed.

There's no Butterflies like White Admirals round here, and they don't want people to go to the Lakes, every thing's still closed, so you feel like your in a rut I'm optimistic though and hope things will move soon, I know I'm not on my own in this Until then I'll get stuck into the Garden All the best Goldie

[Goldie M]

I went once more to Hall-Lee-Brook , there was a very strong wind but the Sun was shining so I thought I'd look care fully in the sheltered area's, the grass was very high and being blown about, in fact it blew my hat off once Once again I saw three Small Tort's, one nearly had no black spots
I moved on to where the Blackberry bushes were full of flowers and was surprised to see a Red Admiral, it wasn't in such good shape and looked like it'd been a round for a while, still it was the first I'd got a shot of
I didn't see any Meadow Brown but just has I was ready to go back home I passed more Berry bushes and to my surprise saw two Large Skipper's sitting there quite still, I was really pleased, I couldn't get near to them but managed to zoom in and get some shots, I came home well pleased with my Butterfly fix. Goldie

[essexbuzzard]

I recon your Meadow Browns will appear next week, Goldie, with warmer weather forecast. However, it will probably be late June or July before White Letters emerge up North.

Until then, keep enjoying those Small Tortoiseshells!