April 2021

[Maximus]

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

[aeshna5]

Had our first Green-veined White in Greenford yesterday. Otherwise only a couple of Small Whites-disappointing!

[aeshna5]

Had our first Green-veined White in Greenford yesterday. Otherwise only a couple of Small Whites-disappointing!

[Chris L]

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.

[aeshna5]

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.

[David M]

Yes very casual sorry about that

Must admit that caught me out until I realised where you had relocated to.

[dave brown]

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.

[David M]

Minimum 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.

[Deborah]

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.

[Stevieb]

Numbers of Green Hairstreaks building on the hill with 7 or 8 counted. Also my first Grizzled Skipper of the year. Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire

19th April

19th April

19th April

19th April

[David M]

Numbers of Green Hairstreaks building on the hill with 7 or 8 counted. Also my first Grizzled Skipper of the year.

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!

[millerd]

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.

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

[Stevieb]

Wall Browns won't be long either!

Indeed David, that’s why I keep bursting my lungs climbing Beacon Hill. Back up there again tomorrow

[David M]

Indeed David, that’s why I keep bursting my lungs climbing Beacon Hill. Back up there again tomorrow

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.

[aeshna5]

Had my first Holly Blues- 2 males yesterday at work in west London. Also a male Brimstone & Small White.

[David M]

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

[millerd]

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

[David M]

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).

[MikeOxon]

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.

Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill, Oxon - 19th April 2021
Olympus E-M1-ii with 100-400mm lens - 1/2,500s @ f/8 ISO 640

Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill, Oxon - 19th April 2021
Olympus E-M1-ii with 100-400mm lens - 1/2,500s @ f/8 ISO 640

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.

Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill, Oxon - 19th April 2021
Olympus E-M1-ii with 100-400mm lens - 1/400s @ f/11 ISO 640

Very occasionally, a male Brimstone passed through briefly.

In my garden, Holly Blues have now emerged.

Mike

[jonhd]

Mike - that GVW shot is incredible (for the 'decking' detail).