April 2021
Re: April 2021
Yes very casual sorry about that We have six ST pupae saved from last Autumn which have not begun 'colouring up' yet. Looking forward to their emergence
Re: April 2021
Had our first Green-veined White in Greenford yesterday. Otherwise only a couple of Small Whites-disappointing!
Re: April 2021
Had our first Green-veined White in Greenford yesterday. Otherwise only a couple of Small Whites-disappointing!
Re: April 2021
I saw 56 today in South Derbyshire across 9 species.
- 20 Peacock.
- 17 Small Tortoiseshell.
- 11 Orange Tip.
- 2 Brimstone.
- 2 Small White.
- 1 Comma.
- 1 Green Veined White.
- 1 Speckled Wood.
- 1 Holly Blue.
That was my first Holly Blue of 2021.
- 20 Peacock.
- 17 Small Tortoiseshell.
- 11 Orange Tip.
- 2 Brimstone.
- 2 Small White.
- 1 Comma.
- 1 Green Veined White.
- 1 Speckled Wood.
- 1 Holly Blue.
That was my first Holly Blue of 2021.
Re: April 2021
Two new for the year today at Hartslock NR, Oxon with 3 male Orange Tips & a pristine Grizzled Skipper.
Otherwise 5 Brimstone, 2 Peacock & 2 Comma.
Otherwise 5 Brimstone, 2 Peacock & 2 Comma.
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Re: April 2021
Minimum of 8 Green Hairstreaks today at Wye NNR in a sunny sheltered spot. Usual Brimstones, Peacocks, Small & Large Whites but only one Orange Tip.
Very busy with walkers but still an enjoyable hour or so. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing, but still lacking numbers of common migrants.
Very busy with walkers but still an enjoyable hour or so. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing, but still lacking numbers of common migrants.
Re: April 2021
dave brown wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 5:44 pmMinimum of 8 Green Hairstreaks today at Wye NNR in a sunny sheltered spot..
Right, I must take a look on my local Common this coming week. They can't be far away here in south Wales.
Re: April 2021
After 10 days or so with a nasty N/NE wind that put paid to much butterfly action despite the sunshine, today was sunny and warmer. Orange Tip males and females, a Red Admiral, Male Brimstone, a couple of Speckled Woods and a Holly Blue made it a good day.
Re: April 2021
Numbers of Green Hairstreaks building on the hill with 7 or 8 counted. Also my first Grizzled Skipper of the year. Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire
Re: April 2021
Great news, Stevie. I've booked a couple of days off this week to see if I can find those in my neck of the woods. Wall Browns won't be long either!
Re: April 2021
A similar story today (19th) at Denbies Hillside on the North Downs - a dozen Grizzlies including one or two in spots away from the main hillside.
Just one week ago, this hillside was under an inch of snow...
Dave
There was only one Green Hairstreak though, which I suspect was a female as it was encountered low on the ground rather than perching up on the hawthorns as is customary here. Full report to follow in my PD.Just one week ago, this hillside was under an inch of snow...
Dave
Re: April 2021
My quest involves an ascent of Kilvey Hill in Swansea. Think I'll save it till the weekend so as not to be disappointed. I reckon they are 3 or 4 days away still round here.
Re: April 2021
Had my first Holly Blues- 2 males yesterday at work in west London. Also a male Brimstone & Small White.
Re: April 2021
Saturday 17th - 10 species in total in a combined visit to Dan-y-Graig cemetery and the nearby Crymlyn Burrows, although overall numbers weren't terribly impressive:
Small White 15-20
Large White 5
Orange Tip 5
Brimstone 4
Holly Blue 3
Speckled Wood 3
Peacock 3
Small Copper 2
Green Veined White 2
Comma 1
Small White 15-20
Large White 5
Orange Tip 5
Brimstone 4
Holly Blue 3
Speckled Wood 3
Peacock 3
Small Copper 2
Green Veined White 2
Comma 1
Last edited by David M on Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: April 2021
once again for the Small Copper, David...
After yesterday's success at Denbies, I had a look today at the Chiltern slopes of Aston Rowant (north side). A change of emphasis here with a dozen Green Hairstreaks and only three Grizzlies, but I imagine both species must now be out at all their usual haunts in this part of the world. Cheers,
Dave
After yesterday's success at Denbies, I had a look today at the Chiltern slopes of Aston Rowant (north side). A change of emphasis here with a dozen Green Hairstreaks and only three Grizzlies, but I imagine both species must now be out at all their usual haunts in this part of the world. Cheers,
Dave
Re: April 2021
And two for you with those Green Hairstreaks/Grizzled Skippers, Dave, although I have managed to catch up with one of those (with the other any day now hopefully).
Re: April 2021
A visit to my local Dry Sandford Pit reserve, Cothill, on Tuesday 19th found rather few butterflies, despite the very warm and sunny weather.
The large patch of Primroses just inside the entrance gate was, unusually, devoid of Brimstones, although a I did see my first Orange Tip there - definitely not stopping for a photo! Several of the Primroses were frost-burned, which may be the explanation for there being few butterflies about.
By the sun-trap quarry face, there was a very well worn Peacock and roughly equal small numbers of Orange Tips and Green-veined Whites, all restlessly patrolling the entire length of the face. As the afternoon wore on, a few began to make brief re-fuelling stops at the flowers and I managed a few record shots, all taken at long range with my 100-400 mm lens.
I have never noticed the ridges on the wings of a GvW before, looking almost like a planked surface!
One or rwo more Peacocks rose momentarily from basking spots and I saw one Comma, visiting a rather spiky-looking perch on a Teasel.
Very occasionally, a male Brimstone passed through briefly.
In my garden, Holly Blues have now emerged.
Mike
The large patch of Primroses just inside the entrance gate was, unusually, devoid of Brimstones, although a I did see my first Orange Tip there - definitely not stopping for a photo! Several of the Primroses were frost-burned, which may be the explanation for there being few butterflies about.
By the sun-trap quarry face, there was a very well worn Peacock and roughly equal small numbers of Orange Tips and Green-veined Whites, all restlessly patrolling the entire length of the face. As the afternoon wore on, a few began to make brief re-fuelling stops at the flowers and I managed a few record shots, all taken at long range with my 100-400 mm lens.
I have never noticed the ridges on the wings of a GvW before, looking almost like a planked surface!
One or rwo more Peacocks rose momentarily from basking spots and I saw one Comma, visiting a rather spiky-looking perch on a Teasel.
Very occasionally, a male Brimstone passed through briefly.
In my garden, Holly Blues have now emerged.
Mike
Re: April 2021
Mike - that GVW shot is incredible (for the 'decking' detail).