October 2020

[zigzag_wanderer]

Ah, that's great to know David, I really appreciate that. She certainly looked very fine in the October sun. I must admit there seem so many varieties of female CB that I still don't yet really know what constitutes unusual markings.

[Deborah]

Numbers dwindled to single sightings of each butterfly today apart from Speckled Woods. Is there anything special about the one with less clear markings - or is it just rather worn?

[badgerbob]

The one with less clear markings is due to it being a female. In fact it looks rather fresh.

[David M]

Thursday 1st October, Port Eynon, Gower:

Small White 30-40
Large White 8-12
Red Admiral 4
Small Tortoiseshell 2

[millerd]

Definitely still two male Clouded Yellows flying on my local patch near Heathrow in this morning's sunshine...

...plus (amongst other things) a new female Common Blue.

Full report i.d.c. in my PD...

Cheers,

Dave

[Deborah]

My last Swallowtail caterpillar has left my carrots and moved a yard down the garden to pupate on a Calendula plant!?
I’m pretty sure I’m going to put it somewhere else, as it’s very vulnerable on the edge of the path, but where and when? I can see the silk where it’s lashed itself to the stalk. But when to move it and where to?

[David M]

Definitely still two male Clouded Yellows flying on my local patch near Heathrow in this morning's sunshine...

Impressive, Dave. If the weather stays reasonably mild, what chance of a November Cloudie?

[Deborah]

And today that same caterpillar has shed its skin and is now a chrysalis. It’s still twitching occasionally which, bizarrely, makes me feel a little queasy. But it’s been a real privilege to have watched it from when the egg was first laid, and all the stages in between until now

[Padfield]

And today that same caterpillar has shed its skin and is now a chrysalis. It’s still twitching occasionally which, bizarrely, makes me feel a little queasy. But it’s been a real privilege to have watched it from when the egg was first laid, and all the stages in between until now

It may be twitching because it senses its old skin is still attached. If it doesn't succeed in ridding itself of it, you can remove it gently with a soft twig or similar. Apart from anything else, the old skin ruins the camouflage!

[zigzag_wanderer]

Grand total of one butterfly and one green caterpillar seen on my local wanderings today. I've put the latter up for ID.

Again, my butterfly was a Common Blue in my local field. Another fairly fresh female but not the same one as last Sunday.

Also had the quandary of a very likely looking ring of parasol mushrooms, unfortunately it was just over a fence in a farmer's field. I was good and didn't sneak over. Last year I was similarly conflicted by some giant puffballs....the farmer took any sneaky raid options off the table by mowing the field the following week.

[millerd]

I think your unidentified grubby yellow-green creature may be Jake the Dog (from Adventure Time)...

Cheers,

Dave

[zigzag_wanderer]

Thanks for the ID Dave, I can open a new folder !

Must admit from a distance, I thought I was walking towards a green woodpecker that had come to a sticky end, so finding it was this was a relief. There was a trail of white stuffing behind it though.

I envy your Clouded Yellows - we had two in our local fields for a few weeks, but I haven't seen either for a good while now, so all over on the yellow front I think.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Saw a single female Common Blue today, it shot off before I could take a pic, but probably one of the two I've posted in the last week.

Also a single Speckled Wood and what I think must be a Caddis Fly - but that is based purely on the recent post on the ID forum (would have gone moth but for that). There do seem to be quite a few about right now.

The interesting one was the one that got away. It flew over my head twice - both times along south-facing hedgerows at a height of 7-8 feet. I'd say about the size of a large Brown Hairstreak and with a strong but zig-zagging flight. In flight it looked an orange red and when it was over my head it looked quite triangular in shape. It was one of those where you try your best to follow its flight whilst screaming inside for it it land, but it wouldn't - it was very determined. The first time I lost it and the second time it just carried on and probably left the fields going west. I assume it must have been a small Comma or Small Tortoiseshell - but it just would not land !!

Also the first metal detectorist I've ever seen in there. He said there's loads of Georgian coins and he's found one hammered coin from the late 16th century, but only found one Victorian coin. Plus loads of modern rubbish.

[millerd]

I reckon your mystery zig-zag flyer might well have been a male Vapourer moth.
https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/vapourer
Alleged sightings of Brown Hairstreaks are sometimes misidentifications of this moth in flight (actually seeing a stationary one is highly unusual unless it's found a female).

Dave

[zigzag_wanderer]

Just had a read of that Dave - it certainly seems to tick the boxes.

Never knowingly seen one of those before so I'm really chuffed to think I might have done.

Really appreciate the pointer !

[Deborah]

A good day. Sunny and warmer than of late so a sighting of a Clouded Yellow, a Comma, a couple of Whites, a male Brimstone, a Small Copper, a Peacock, a Speckled Wood... and then, in the house I inadvertently disturbed a Small Tortoiseshell that was thinking to hibernate, and then, all windows open - a Large Tortoiseshell flew out from under the wardrobe and settled on the window frame! Stayed for several minutes in the warm sun before flying off.

My first sighting of any butterfly this year was a Large Tortoiseshell in my porch on the 17th March. It would be amazing - and quite magical, if my last sighting of this butterfly year should be a Large Tortoiseshell leaving my bedroom window. (But I’m optimistic that it won’t be!)

[zigzag_wanderer]

A good day. Sunny and warmer than of late so a sighting of a Clouded Yellow, a Comma, a couple of Whites, a male Brimstone, a Small Copper, a Peacock, a Speckled Wood... and then, in the house I inadvertently disturbed a Small Tortoiseshell that was thinking to hibernate, and then, all windows open - a Large Tortoiseshell flew out from under the wardrobe and settled on the window frame! Stayed for several minutes in the warm sun before flying off.

Well give or take 8 species and 9 or 10 butterflies, it sounds like my lunchtime walk today matched your numbers from yesterday (.....I wish).

[David M]

My first sighting of any butterfly this year was a Large Tortoiseshell in my porch on the 17th March. It would be amazing - and quite magical, if my last sighting of this butterfly year should be a Large Tortoiseshell leaving my bedroom window. (But I’m optimistic that it won’t be!)

That would be quite something, Deborah.

[Wolfson]

A lunchtime visit to a Norfolk beach and saw six Wall some looking pretty fresh, several Red Admiral and Comma feeding on ivy flowers and a late Peacock enjoying the weak sunshine, not expecting that. Strangely no Small Copper, Brown Argus or Speckled Wood that normally fly late in the year at this site.

[David M]

Great to see all these third brood Wall Browns, Wolfson. This is the first year I've really noticed how wide an area they seem to be being recorded in.