May 2021

[Stevieb]

Very breezy on the hill this lunchtime. Most butterflies were being swept along on the wind. Nice to see Small Heath and Wall Brown. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire.

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[David M]

That's a nicely marked Small Heath, Steve. The ocelli are quite pronounced.

Envious of your Wall Brown. I'm sure they're about round my way but here it's either raining, or when it's sunny it's too windy.

[Stevieb]

Envious of your Wall Brown. I'm sure they're about round my way but here it's either raining, or when it's sunny it's too windy.

I'm certainly getting fed up with this weather too David.

[Allan.W.]

A flying hour and ten minute visit to the local Grizzled Skipper sites ,late afternoon today ,found seven possibly eight ,on one site the other two were too shaded ,of the 5 i saw settled ,4 were abberant and one (quite a rarity here ) was "normal "
Also seen several Small Heath ,Peacocks,a couple of male O-tips and very pleased to see 4 Painted Ladies .The Taras ,is a better shot from the other day.

Regards Allan.W.

[bugboy]

Had the butterflies to myself at Abbots Wood today. Painted Ladies pretty much everywhere, guestimate 40+ seen. PBF numbers building slowly upon last week, females observed laying. Also seen Peacock, Red Admiral, Green Hairstreak (sorry Trevor), Large & GV White, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Grizzled and Dingy Skipper and Small Heath. Speckled Wood were notable by their complete absence

[David M]

That last Grizzled Skipper is a gem, Allan. Beautifully marked.

[Chris L]

Spoilt for lovely photos on this page !

I like that Peacock photo Stevie. It is like it is set in stone, like an ornament. An old fashioned paper weight perhaps.

The Grizzled Skippers are too good for words Allan. Awesome.

No butterflies to report in South Derbyshire. We have cornered the market in torrential rain. Lots of it. Frequently.

[millerd]

Painted Ladies pretty much everywhere, guestimate 40+ seen.

This, and other reports, seem to indicate that there is a notable migration of Painted Ladies underway. I saw four today on my local patch near Heathrow, so they are already well inland. The strong southerly/southwesterly winds have no doubt helped them along a bit.

Here's hoping for a strong summer generation (or two)!

Cheers,

Dave

[Padfield]

To add to the other posts, I had my first painted ladies today in East Suffolk: four zooming with purpose across Martlesham Heath. Just one stopped briefly for a photo:



Guy

[PhilBJohnson]

May 12th 2021
I was still waiting for some good butterfly, long distance flight days (temperatures above 15ºC) and light winds, so that an ovipositing Brimstone and/or Orange-tip butterfly, might visit my semi urban garden. Up until now, this year, there was no sign that they had been there yet. I know there is still time.
Here is a picture of a Green-veined white, picture taken on Perennial wallflower, Erysimum "bowles mauve".

Monday May 10th 2021 Green-veined white on Erysimum, stopped after direct sunlight was lost

Perennial Wallflowers were native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean and can be pruned to flower from April to November and provided a nice nectar source for the "Whites". Cuttings were quite easy to propagate during the growing season, if a plant was looking "old and straggly".
My Wife and I had a fond memory of volunteering in the Butterfly Garden at Chambers Farm Wood, where a cutting was taken from an old plant that had been removed, on one of the volunteering days.

The cultivar "Bowles's Mauve" has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It can become a bushy evergreen perennial in milder locations. It is strongly scented and attractive to bees. -Referenced Wikipedia May 12th 2021

To prolong the "bowles mauve" flowering season, do not be afraid to prune the longest flowering "spikes" back to the green leaves, so that it did not put much energy into "seeding habits". It is a member of the Brassicaceae family of plants (like cabbages).

[Stevieb]

A window of 30 minutes of warm sunshine enabled the Marsh Frits to pop out with a total of 6 seen plus 8 Dingy Skippers. Hazelbury Common, Wiltshire

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[Chris L]

How lovely to have a Marsh Fritillary on one's hand. They are cute little butterflies. I have never seen one of those before and they are on my 2021 hit list.

I had a look at the location of Hazelbury Common with a view to a visit (have car, will travel). Alas my next stop was to look at the weather forecast for that area for the next two weeks. Rain and more rain. Oh well.

[millerd]

A visit to Mill Hill (Sussex) today in mostly glorious sunshine conjured 16 species, including another first for the year for me: Adonis Blue.

There was just the one as far as I can tell: it spent most of its time being harrassed by the relatively numerous Common Blues.

As ever, a full report of the visit will appear in my PD in a few days time.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

A window of 30 minutes of warm sunshine enabled the Marsh Frits to pop out with a total of 6 seen..

Wondered how long they would be, Stevie. I guess I should start looking myself over the next few days. Can't be long on the Gower surely.

[Chris L]

...another butterfly that I have never seen and on my 2021 hit list.

[David M]

Finally saw my first Wall Brown of the year this afternoon on the cliffs at Southgate, Gower. I wasn't able to get an image without risking my life over the near sheer drop but I'll be venturing back soon as the habitat looks perfect and if we ever get a sunny, warm day, I'm confident there could be quite a few of them at this location.

[Stevieb]

Wondered how long they would be, Stevie. I guess I should start looking myself over the next few days. Can't be long on the Gower surely.

I think going on your sightings David, you are only a few days behind me in Wiltshire

[Stevieb]

I had a look at the location of Hazelbury Common with a view to a visit (have car, will travel). Alas my next stop was to look at the weather forecast for that area for the next two weeks. Rain and more rain. Oh well.

Any time you are in the area Otep please pm me. Happy to meet up and take you out.

[David M]

Wondered how long they would be, Stevie. I guess I should start looking myself over the next few days. Can't be long on the Gower surely.

I think going on your sightings David, you are only a few days behind me in Wiltshire

Probably a week behind you with this species, Steve. They're out on the windswept common by me and they're generally on the late side at the best of times (like Green Hairstreak).

I reckon another 6 or 7 days to be honest.

[Chris L]

I had a look at the location of Hazelbury Common with a view to a visit (have car, will travel). Alas my next stop was to look at the weather forecast for that area for the next two weeks. Rain and more rain. Oh well.

Any time you are in the area Otep please pm me. Happy to meet up and take you out.

Thank you Stevie. That is very good of you. Still with my butterfly L plates on I need all the help that I can get.

As an aside, I have just been studying Dukes online in the last few minutes and wondering to myself if I would be able to identify one with ease if I saw one. I aim to be put that to test in the next fortnight if I find a time when I am not working, it is not raining and the sun is out. I can manipulate the first of the 3 variables.