June 2009 Sightings
- Jack Harrison
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June 2009 Sightings
Getting the ball rolling.
Jack
Jack
- Dave McCormick
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
Numerous small whites so far on my travels and a few small whites and one painted lady. Good day so far. Got to go hunting for common blues soon.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- Jack Harrison
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
1st June Brown Argus in unusual habitat. Wide lane (Babraham, Cambridgeshire) arable one side, woodland other. This Brown Argus feeding on Hogweed. It certainly looked like Brown Argus and the diagnostic pointers suggest not female Common Blue.
Jack
Last edited by Jack Harrison on Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: June 2009 Sightings
8+ pristine looking Small Torts @ Tickenham Moor this afternoon. It was quite warm with brilliant sunshine & the instant they landed they shut their wings. I also observed this behavior in similar conditions with some small Blue's over the weekend. Anyone know why or care to speculate on this. Just curious.
- Padfield
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
Butterflies thermoregulate to a great extent by using their wings - they have little capacity for the internal generation of heat energy (though they can use muscle contractions to raise their thorax temperature above that of the surroundings) and are largely dependent upon their environment. Thus, in the mornings and in weaker sun they will bask, to heat up, while on blazing hot afternoons many species will avoid opening their wings at all. Frequently, you will see them turn so their wings are not only closed but actually edge on to the sun's rays. It does depend on the species, of course. Some actively seek shade, others do it more with posture.
I recently posted this photo in my 'photoshop challenge' post:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/aurelia093.jpg)
It was a very hot day and these fritillaries (Mellicta aurelia) simply would not settle with their wings open. But if I cast the shadow of my head or body over them they immedately opened up. I could make them open or close at will!
Guy
I recently posted this photo in my 'photoshop challenge' post:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/aurelia093.jpg)
It was a very hot day and these fritillaries (Mellicta aurelia) simply would not settle with their wings open. But if I cast the shadow of my head or body over them they immedately opened up. I could make them open or close at will!
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
- Dave McCormick
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
We are invaded by Silver-Y moths, loads here, I counted over 10 in a few yards of walking, there was more. It seems the days have the painted lady and nights have silver y moths now.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4639
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- Location: Nairn, Highland
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
I mentioned this on Sunday in this post about Speckled Woods.
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... 488#p22526
Jack
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... 488#p22526
Jack
-
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- Location: North Wales
Re: June 2009 Sightings
One female Orange Tip in my garden.
Shirley
Shirley
- Charles Nicol
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
first large skipper of the year on Cockway Lane near Spaldwick, Cambs:
Charles
Charles
- Dave McCormick
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
Did not see any Painted ladies today yet, but saw lots of Speckled woods (about 10) and a few small whites and one large white. A small white feeding on a buttercup earlier:
Also saw a Male Silver Ground Carpet which I must have woken up when I was walking through some grass in a forest near my house: (I orignally thought this to ne female, but females don't have feathery antennae like males)
Also saw a Male Silver Ground Carpet which I must have woken up when I was walking through some grass in a forest near my house: (I orignally thought this to ne female, but females don't have feathery antennae like males)
Last edited by Dave McCormick on Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
Re: June 2009 Sightings
Torr Works is an extremely large limestone quarry in the East Mendips, off the Frome to Shepton Mallet road. On the southern fringes of the quarry there is a bund to hide the quarry, and a bridleway below the bund. Patches of calcareous grassland still exist at the bottom of the slope, and yesterday I found Small Blue, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Common Blue and Wall Brown, amongst others, here.
The quarry itself is off-limits but said to contain a sizeable Grizzled Skipper colony. Adjacent to it, the butterflies sometimes disappear in clouds of limestone dust thrown up by the giant quarry vehicles being driven at speed, and butterfly-watching is conducted to the thump of the drivers' stereos occasionally interspersed with engine roars. The expanses of kidney vetch and wild strawberry however are well worth a look.
The quarry itself is off-limits but said to contain a sizeable Grizzled Skipper colony. Adjacent to it, the butterflies sometimes disappear in clouds of limestone dust thrown up by the giant quarry vehicles being driven at speed, and butterfly-watching is conducted to the thump of the drivers' stereos occasionally interspersed with engine roars. The expanses of kidney vetch and wild strawberry however are well worth a look.
- Jack Harrison
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
2nd June
Strumpshw Fen and Upton Fen Norfolk, one Swallowtail each locality. At Upton, two fresh Small Tortoiseshells, four Brown Argus. One late female Orange Tip.
Jack
Strumpshw Fen and Upton Fen Norfolk, one Swallowtail each locality. At Upton, two fresh Small Tortoiseshells, four Brown Argus. One late female Orange Tip.
Jack
Re: June 2009 Sightings
Really pleased with the work done at Ningwood Common Reserve on the Isle of Wight by the Hants and IOW Wildlife Trust. A very large area of scrub has been cleared and the small PBFs are now moving out on to the newer parts which have grown over the past couple of years. I saw 6 there this evening plus 3 grizzled skippers, 2 small heaths and 3 emperor dragonflies. ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- Rogerdodge
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
Thanks for that Jack.Strumpshw Fen and Upton Fen Norfolk, one Swallowtail each locality.
I have a "Weekend Pass" so may well be at Strumpshaw first thing Saturday .
Any other takers?
Roger
Cheers
Roger
Roger
- Jack Harrison
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- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
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Re: June 2009 Sightings
Norfolk – impressive Zeiss lens seen. Details (and request for info) on the photo thread:
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... f=7&t=3210
Jack
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... f=7&t=3210
Jack
Re: June 2009 Sightings
He keeps that picture on his box-brownie just to p**s-off us DSLR users.....jackharr wrote:2nd June
Strumpshw Fen and Upton Fen Norfolk, one Swallowtail each locality
Jack
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
(I'm sure he rolls-it out each season....
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
As in when I arrived yesterday;
I was just a few minutes too late..."but look what I managed to get...."
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Strumpshaw is a good place; watched the Harriers soar, get mobbed, display and pass food in the afternoon with my twitcher sister
Usually do see more Swallowtails tho' - surprisingly not a huge amount of nectar sources out around the Fen. Some of the flowers like Red Campion were looking as though they had suffered in the early heat and drought and were not as prolific as usual.
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
Re: June 2009 Sightings
Another PassRogerdodge wrote:Strumpshw Fen and Upton Fen Norfolk, one Swallowtail each I have a "Weekend Pass" so may well be at Strumpshaw first thing Saturday .
Any other takers?
Roger
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Given my abject failure yesterday, I may well be there - but early this time, (eh Jack?)
N
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4639
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: June 2009 Sightings
Possibly got my Swallowtail "fix" for this year. Three seen in three different places.
I might be trying for SS Blue at the weekend if I can be sure they are flying, eg in Surrey.
Jack
I might be trying for SS Blue at the weekend if I can be sure they are flying, eg in Surrey.
Jack