July 2009 Sightings

[Denise]

The weather here has been petty appalling since Saturday, but at least today it's mostly dry and the sun came out as well. This must have had an effect on the local butterflies, as I have just been out in the garden and there were no less that 9 Painted Lady spread out sunning themselves on the path. 6 looked really fresh, but the other 3 looked a little weather worn. There were also 4 very fresh Comma, a Red Admiral and lots of the usual feeding up.
I was beginning to wonder if summer would come back.

Denise

[Dave McCormick]

I was beginning to wonder if summer would come back.

Yeah I am wondering the same thing.... still wet here, only sun for a little while. Only seen one small tortoiseshell and many large whites in garden today. Weather sure has gotten a it colder and wetter than June thats for sure.

[eccles]

I think a warm front has passed over Bristol today as this afternoon was quite warm. At Willsbridge were:
Leps:
hutchinsoni comma
red admiral
painted lady
ringlet
meadow brown
small skipper
marbled white
large white
small white
gv white
speckled wood
peacock
six spot burnet
Ods:
common darter
southern hawker
azure damselfly
bluetailed damselfly

[Pete Eeles]

Last year I saw Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Common Blue in my garden - and my house is a long way from suitable habitat and always wondered where they were coming from.

Today I found out. There's a water catchment "bowl" next to a roundabout near my house (100 yards away) that is hidden from view by large bushes. I took a look in there today and - yikes!!! - it's full of flowering thistles, plantain, Bird's-foot Trefoil, flowering Bramble, tall grasses etc. etc. And very sheltered.

Suffice to say, I found around a dozen fresh Common Blue, 8 Small Skipper, 2 Peacock, various "whites", lots of Gatekeepers and around 20 Painted Lady (all fresh). Made my day.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Rogerdodge]

Pete
At the back of the factory I work in we have a steep bank leading up to some rough ground.
Today I saw, during my lunch 1/2 hour, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large and Small Skipper, Ringlet, Small White, Small Copper, Painted Lady and a possiblr Small Heath.
These tiny nature "reserves" are so important, and heart-warming.
I daren't wander around with a camera though, as the guys at work think I am mad enough already!

[Pete Eeles]

That's good to hear (about the site, that is, not your weird hobby)

It amazes me just how resilient something as fragile as a butterfly can be, and how such small areas of habitat can make all the difference. I can now see why farming "set aside" land is so important - as well as corridors that allow movement of populations. Good stuff!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Rogerdodge]

That's good to hear (about the site, that is, not your weird hobby)

Pete
That reminded me of last week.
I had to attend a confernce just outside Brussels. You know the sort of thing: Airport, Hotel, Conference Center, Hotel, Conference Centre, Airport.
No chance to explore anything.
Anyway, I am sat in this conference room, and behind me is a huge plate glass window looking onto the car park, but with a Buddlea bush just behind me (Davidii if you are interested). It was heaving with fresh Painted Ladies, and for a few minutes a skittish Swallowtail joined in. It was all I could to stop myself screaming "Sod this for a game of soldiers", and charging out of the room and out into the countryside. But I didn't - I need the job............

[Pete Eeles]

I always choose a windowless office when abroad for this very reason

Cheers,

- Pete

[Jack Harrison]

Roger wrote:

.....Anyway, I am sat in this conference room, and behind me is a huge plate glass window looking onto the car park, but with a Buddlea bush just behind me. It was heaving with fresh Painted Ladies, and for a few minutes a skittish Swallowtail joined in....

The best I ever saw from my “office window” was a quite unmistakeable Scarce Swallowtail.

My “office window” was the flight deck of my “Company Transport” (airliner) as I taxied at Innsbruck, Austria.

Jack

[Lee Hurrell]

Pete,

I get Gatekeepers and Speckled Woods in my back garden and I assume they come from the cemetery opposite my house. I found Small Copper and Common Blue over there in May since then Meadow Brown and Skippers!

Wouldn't mind seeing a Scarce Swallowtail though I did see one at my Dad's but then he does live in Spain...

Oh, nearly forgot - saw a Painted Lady right outside the front of Victoria station today. No idea what train it was after though...

Lee

[Pete Eeles]

Good stuff!

Talking of Gatekeepers, I found a funny looking female today - and put her in a plastic tub to take a closer look. Turned out she was perfectly normal, but had deformed wings. But what she did do - was lay 3 eggs (I assume, "in flight"). So I now have another 3 children to look after - and looking forward to it

Cheers,

- Pete

[Lee Hurrell]

Marvellous feeling being a 'butterfly parent' eh? I haven't done that for a few years...

Talking of deformed wings, check out this Meadow Brown from the North Downs above Kemsing weekend before last:

Lee

[Denise]

A bumper morning of butterflies in my garden today. Painted Lady numbers have increased to 15!
7 Peacock, 6 Comma, (with 2 being the form hutchinsoni making for ready comparison,) 3 Red Admiral, more whites than i've had in a while (20+) and lots of Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper. May the sun keep shinning.

Denise

[Dave McCormick]

so far, one male GV White, 20+ Large Whites and 3 small tortoiseshells. One Small Tortoiseshell on my buddleiah:


One Large White Male:

[Denise]

Painted Lady numbers have massed to 21 including a mating pair!
Also my first second brood, Holly Blue male in the garden

Denise

[Rogerdodge]

This weekend I shall mainly be watching Wood Whites.

[Jack Harrison]

Chalkhill Blues at /Devils Dyke (Cambs) at the old railway near Burwell. Plus plenty of other species.

But this somehow sums up the present situation – my garden 2009. Blue skies and butterflies.

Jack

[eccles]

Good numbers of fresh looking chalkhill blue seen at Draycott Sleights today. A detour by Chew Valley Lake turned up purple hairstreak although they're looking a bit tired now.

This weekend I shall mainly be watching Wood Whites.

Where will you be heading for those, Roger?

[NickB]

...
I daren't wander around with a camera though, as the guys at work think I am mad enough already!

Would having a camera make any difference, really...
I have started training my colleagues at work in butterfly id and they often report-back their weekend sightings...
...they already know I'm mad ...so I take my camera in all the time in case I see a shot walking through the local cemetery....
...and most of my neighbours and local dog walkers have got used to me creeping around with my camera...
...where I can get 1/2 to 1hr of "butterflies & photography" fix before work and take things like this lady from today...

N

PS Nice Hairstreak Eccles

[Rogerdodge]

Where will you be heading for those, Roger?

Mike
I am heading for Ebernoe Common, Oaken Wood, Botany Bay and probably Pulborough for Brown Hairstreak (thanks Neil!).
What are your plans?