May 2021

[Medard]

Thanks  Matsukaze,  scutulana looks like a good match ,I will log it on Dorset records.
I recall finding my first Marsh Fritillaries at a site East of Bath, North of the A4  towards Colerne, my Mothers ancestral home, but cannot recall directions, can you help.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/

[peterc]

Long-tailed Blue seen in Alexandra Palace, London today

ATB

Peter

[millerd]

Reasonable numbers of fresh Wood Whites flying at Chiddingfold Forest this morning before the heavens opened around midday (luckily, I had just set off for home... ).

Full report to follow in my PD.

Cheers,

Dave

[P.J.Underwood]

Dukes,Pearl borders and Wood Whites.
Between the showers we have managed to see pristine specimens of the Duke of Burgundy at Noar Hill and Kithurst Hill,Pearl borders at Rewell and Wood Whites at Chiddingfold.
Let's have more sun.
P.J.Underwood

[Stevieb]

A successful couple of hours this morning in search of Pearl-bordered Frits. Bentley Wood, Wiltshire/Hampshire

19th May

19th May

19th May

19th May

19th May

19th May

19th May

[David M]

Nice to know quite a few are still on the wing after the battering they've had this last couple of weeks, Steve. I'm sure their 'flight minutes' have been markedly down on last year's.

[Stevieb]

Nice to know quite a few are still on the wing after the battering they've had this last couple of weeks, Steve. I'm sure their 'flight minutes' have been markedly down on last year's.

As you can possibly tell from the photos David, although the sun came out it was absolutely sodden there Lucky not to come away with trench foot!

[Charles Nicol]

had a lovely visit to the Bedfordshire Chilterns today.
there was enough sun to bring out our fluttery friends

i saw plenty of Dingy Skippers and a couple of Green Hairstreaks, as well as the usual suspects.
i looked out for Grizzled Skippers but did not see any... maybe next time

the little valley was buzzing with tiny bees... they were about 1cm long, with orange tails & the rest black ( see pic ).

i saw this pretty blue flower ( there were also pink examples )... not sure what it is called ?

the blue might be a Brown Argus... can anyone confirm ?

thanks for your help

[millerd]

Hi Charles.

Yes, that is indeed a Brown Argus. The second of the black spots in the row inside the orange lunules on the hindwing is out of line, forming a "colon" with the first one. It's also a lovely silvery-grey.

It was indeed glorious in that part of the world today (I visited Totternhoe this morning...).

Cheers,

Dave

[Charles Nicol]

Hi Charles.

Yes, that is indeed a Brown Argus. The second of the black spots in the row inside the orange lunules on the hindwing is out of line, forming a "colon" with the first one. It's also a lovely silvery-grey.

It was indeed glorious in that part of the world today (I visited Totternhoe this morning...).

Cheers,

Dave

thanks for your help with the Argus Dave

i have been to Totternhoe in previous years to see the Dukes

Charles

[bugboy]

Hi Charles.

Yes, that is indeed a Brown Argus. The second of the black spots in the row inside the orange lunules on the hindwing is out of line, forming a "colon" with the first one. It's also a lovely silvery-grey.

It was indeed glorious in that part of the world today (I visited Totternhoe this morning...).

Cheers,

Dave

thanks for your help with the Argus Dave

i have been to Totternhoe in previous years to see the Dukes

Charles

And your blue flower is Milkwort Polygala vulgaris

[Neil Hulme]

And your mystery bee is Red-tailed Mason Bee (Osmia bicolor), see viewtopic.php?p=162383#p162383
BWs, Neil

[zigzag_wanderer]

Productive 25 minute sunny spell during my lunch break today.

[David M]

Nice to know quite a few are still on the wing after the battering they've had this last couple of weeks, Steve. I'm sure their 'flight minutes' have been markedly down on last year's.

As you can possibly tell from the photos David, although the sun came out it was absolutely sodden there Lucky not to come away with trench foot!

I can believe it, Steve. My local Marsh Fritillary site is even worse. It's practically impassable right now with several more days of rain on the way.

[Charles Nicol]

And your blue flower is Milkwort Polygala vulgaris

thank you so much bugboy ! i shall read up on this pretty plant

[Charles Nicol]

And your mystery bee is Red-tailed Mason Bee (Osmia bicolor), see viewtopic.php?p=162383#p162383
BWs, Neil

thank you for helping with that one Neil !! several of the bees were around or inside snail shells. i think they must have been females, as this page indicates:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@ ... 277037831/

Charles

[Deborah]

First Green Hairstreak today; a full month later than last year. So gusty that I don’t know how it managed to cling on to the Bluebell!

[zigzag_wanderer]

Although it takes me less than 5 minutes to get onto my local patch from my house, no sunny spell today lasted more than 5 minutes !

Did spot a Mother Shipton making the most of a very brief period of sunshine until it started raining again.

Seems to have lost most of its right antenna.

[Chris L]

The weather for June is looking much better by the forecast.

Being relatively new to butterflies, what difference will a month of pretty much constant rain make?

[PhilBJohnson]

I was really pleased to have found these today (May 22nd 2021):

Did they huddle together for communal warmth, like Emperor Penguins, unlike Red Admiral Larvae and Painted Lady Larvae, on Nettles, (that might not have life cycled round on Nettles in England, before climate change)? On nettles, Red Admiral & Painted Lady Larvae had a nettle leaf shelter, but not communal warmth #Baitball #Comma

Nettles in a Sunny, sheltered location

I was more than 50% sure, I got the instar number correct, quickly referencing Pete Eeles book:
Life Cycles Of British & Irish Butterflies
My guess was (temperature dependent) that a Small Tortoiseshell might emerge from pupa mid-late June and a Peacock butterfly, about mid-late July,
(Later than last year)

Kind Regards