2021 - Large Tortoiseshell

[Pete Eeles]

Please note - 3 seen on Portland today!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Allan.W.]

Talking of Large Tortoiseshells ,i,m sure i,ve read somewhere or other that breeding evidence has also now been found somewhere in Sussex ,but for the life of me ,i can,t remember where I read it........................Bit vague ,i know.
Regards Allan.W.

[Mark Tutton]

It’s on the Sussex BC sightings page for 25 July Allan

[Pete Eeles]

Indeed! This page is for sightings of adults only, given that only one of the sightings of immature stages has been published in full. The others are referenced at the start of this article: https://www.dispar.org/reference.php?id=177

Cheers,

- Pete

[Allan.W.]

Thanks for that Mark (knew i,d seen it somewhere !)
Sorry about that Pete ! My mistake . Allan.W.

[Neil Hulme]

Fresh Large Tortoiseshell seen in a Clayton (West Sussex - Mid Sussex) garden by Kim Jones on 1 August (BC Sussex website).
BWs, Neil

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Neil - added.

Cheers,

- Pete

[SolomonGilbert]

Hello all, and a pleasure to meet you on this fantastic forum.
First time member, long time conservation and butterfly nerd.

Gosh it's so exciting to hear about various Large Tortoiseshell sightings happening.

I'm going away with my partner to the Isle of Purbeck from 10th to 16th Aug and will be making a visit to Portland in the hopes of seeing these marvellous creatures. If, by God's grace, we are able to see one (we've done pretty well with other butterfly species this year so luck seems to be on our side), I'll keep everyone here updated. I'll also do by absolute best to get some photos. Also looking out for Silver Studded Blues and hopefully the tail end of the Lulworth Skippers.

We're definitely going to be visiting all the Portland sites mentioned in this topic thread - responsibly may I emphasise - but if anyone has any tips or advice for how to best maximise our chances, please let me know! Obviously I understand the sensitive nature of this discussion so I understand if anyone feels there is information they can't impart in public forum. My messages are open

Solomon x

[Mark Tutton]

Saw at least four individuals in Tout Quarry on Tuesday - none were stopping to nectar but having fights with Red Admirals, Peacocks and Painted Ladies mainly in the gullies leading to the sea on the western side. Best views were from above looking down into the gulley where you could watch the LT’s patrol along the buddleia with binoculars and occasionally they would come up over the top and fly over the meadow - nearly landing but not quite. One was also patrolling bramble stands at the top of the SW coastal path. Some worn Lulworth Skippers but a couple of moderately fresh ones too.

[millerd]

Saw at least four individuals in Tout Quarry on Tuesday - none were stopping to nectar but having fights with Red Admirals, Peacocks and Painted Ladies mainly in the gullies leading to the sea on the western side.

I spent over four hours in Tout Quarry the following day in constant sunshine, spending a good percentage of the time in and around the gullies mentioned.. My unfamiliarity with the species probably means that at least one of the many butterfly squabbles I witnessed contained a Large Tortoiseshell, but I could never say for certain! As well as the other species mentioned, other large butterflies present included Dark Green Fritillaries and female Graylings, and even one or two female Walls required longer looks. However, it's good to know the LTs were almost certainly around and that in all probability I unknowingly saw one.

Cheers,

Dave

[Mark Tutton]

You probably did Dave. I was fortunate enough to have extended views of them last year so was able to get my eye in, the tawny colour and black markings on the forewings is especially obvious from above. They also have a flight pattern that is distinctly different from Painted Ladies where there could be a slight similarity given a brief sighting.
Kind Regards
Mark

[Allan.W.]

A fresh Large Tortoiseshell was seen and photographed AT Darland banks, Gillingham Kent ,also another was reported there in March
Reported on "Kent butterflies twitter page " August 11th.
Allan.W.

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Allan - do you have a link to the relevant info (was the most recent sighting on Twitter)? I'm not sure which user 'Kent Butterflies' is. Thanks.

Cheers,

- Pete

[SolomonGilbert]

Hello all.

Back now from our trip to Purbeck and Portland. I'm sad to say that we didn't see anything for long enough to call it definitive while we were down there. Judging by other testimony it's likely that we saw one in flight at Tout Quarry on the 11th Aug, but all I can tell you is "big, fast, orange thing flew past me and wasn't another species". Other efforts to see them at both Church Ope and Tout on the 11th and 16th rendered fruitless despite considerable time and energy spent looking for them.

The potential for mis-identification in flight seems high given how prolific other species are on the site. Saw many Commas, Graylings, Walls, Chalk-hill Blues, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Coppers, etc... I would be uncomfortable calling it a confirmed sighting, and can only judge by my recognition of other species in flight - of which this sighting seemed to differ considerably.

Also for those visiting Church Ope - watch out for two very territorial Commas that got my hopes up considerably when flashes of orange were glancing around the elms. On several occasions on both dates did these admittedly beautiful specimens temporarily fill me with suspense...

Sorry that our expedition didn't prove more productive, but there's always a next time!

[Allan.W.]

Hello Pete ,
Sorry not on "twitter".....................but Kent butterflies facebook (public )
Heres the link . Regards Allan.W. https://www.facebook.com/groups/667187863426229/

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Allan! Sighting added.

Cheers,

- Pete

[badgerbob]

My apologies for not posting this earlier but at the time I was requested not to report it as the sighting was in one of the main breeding areas for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries and the sighting was at a time when many pupae would have been in the area that could have been damaged with additional footfall.
The sighting was on March 31st in Abbotts Wood, in East Sussex. There was also a sighting in the same general area in 2020 so it is possible that breeding has happened in the wood.
After spotting the butterfly it chased away a couple of Peacock that it spotted some distance away, but fortunately it returned to the same spot. After getting a few photos it then took off after 2 more large butterflies and this time didn't return.
I still wonder if it was chasing after a female Large Tortoiseshell as it didn't return to the spot it was obviously favouring?

[Neil Hulme]

Nice one, Bob! Is that now three in just a couple of years for you? The body of circumstantial evidence for residency in that part of Sussex has grown considerably over the last five or six years. I doubt that you've seen your last.
BWs, Neil

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Bob - added!

Cheers,

- Pete