Katrina

[trevor]

Well done with the Grizzled Skipper Katrina. You must have found an area out of the cool breeze.
Not much happening around here except for that bit of excitement a couple of weeks back.

Stay safe and well,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cracking find that Grizzlie and a cracking shot It really is a beautifully marked individual

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Chris L]

Nice to read the Grizzled Skipper has put in an appearance.

[Katrina]

Thanks Bugboy I had been thinking the same myself although the weather was a bit unpromising.
Thanks Trevor your LT was a great find, I am yet to see one.
Thanks Wurzel it was a pretty one.
Thanks Otep hopefully the first of many when the weather improves.

[millerd]

Hi, Katrina - you did well to find that splendid Grizzly.

Was there snow on the South Downs this morning? There certainly was for a while in parts of Surrey... All butterflies with any sense were well tucked away.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

At Mill Hill today I saw my first Grizzled Skipper.

Lovely stuff, Katrina. Well done.

You've put that species on my radar now and given that I missed it last year I'll need to make an effort this time (if the weather ever warms up )

[Katrina]

Thanks Dave. I read there was snow on Monday but I was at work so didn’t see it.

Thanks David. I think there may have been 2 grizzlies. As you said we need some better weather though.

[Katrina]

This afternoon I went to look for orange tips. I only got a photo of one caught by a spider.
Then I went on to Mill Hill where I found 2 roosting Grizzlies . It was also a pleasure to bump into John.

[trevor]

Congrats with your Grizzled Skippers, including a national first recently.
Shame about the OT. that Crab Spider must have been quick!.

Stay safe and well,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Cracking Grizzlies Katrina I know it's a bit gruesome but your OT shot is brill - it really shows the power in the Crab Spider holding onto the OT that's several times bigger

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

Very nice images of the Grizzlies, Katrina, and I suppose your other image is equally grisly.

Something sneaky and underhand about those crab spiders. Can't say I like them very much.

[Katrina]

Thank you Wurzel, I suppose it is proof that spiders aren't put off by the orange colour.
Thanks David - good pun!
I recently went to visit / help my sister who has a broken elbow. We did manage to see some butterflies . Her eagle eyes also spotted the orange-tip eggs.
I was reading that eggs on the edge of a leaf are more likely to be GVW eggs but the colour looks more orange than photos of GVW eggs I have seen.
Also seen that day were Speckled Woods, a Holly Blue , Peacocks and a GVW.

[Katrina]

Re the egg just looked up the Life cycles of British and Irish butterflies which does say the orange-tip eggs are found rarely on a leaf so I am definitely going with orange-tip egg.

[Wurzel]

Brilliant sequence of shots Katrina - you almost got in the whole range there - just missing the mating pair

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Some very nice behavioural shots there Katrina, especially the female rejecting the male. I was more than happy to get a roosting shot after a couple of days with very few butterflies.

[Katrina]

Thank you Wurzel and Pauline. There is always a degree of luck with these things. It was third outing lucky.

[David M]

Great sequence, Katrina. I've seen plenty of Orange Tips this spring but only three females, which is disappointing as I was (am) particularly looking for mating pairs and ovipositing given the general lack of overall butterfly numbers.

Still time though, and I hope that, like you, I will get an opportunity to see this myself over the next couple of weeks.

[bugboy]

Just seen your orange-tip egg pics. I've seen them on leaves relatively frequently. Considering the female is laying them blind (she can't see where her abdomen is at the point of laying most the time) it's quite clever how the majority end up on flower stems in the first place .

[Katrina]

Thanks David, you may like the next post.
Thanks Paul, good to know

[Katrina]

I went to Abbots Wood mid morning. On the way to a site for the Pearls I saw Red Admirals and Painted Ladies. I was a pleasure to bump into Trevor who spotted a pair of Orange-tips right next to where I was standing. Thank you Trevor.
Overall across two areas and the walking there 4 PBFs, 6 Painted Ladies, 3 Red Admirals, 2 Brimstones, one GVW, one Large White, and about 6 Orange-tips.
Also one Painted Lady in my patio when I got home.