September 2009 Sightings

[Denise]

Good day in the garden today. At least 5 very fresh Red Admiral, very few 'whites' 2 Painted Lady, about a dozen worn Speckled Wood and about 6 Comma.

Denise

[Zonda]

Well,,,hate rears its ugly head...Been trying to locate a Comma all day.

[thepostieles]

yeah lovely sunny day here in cheshire, saw 3 red admirals, 3 or 4 painted ladies, one small tort,peacock large white, and a worn speckled wood while out on post round

[Bioboy]

Spotted a Brown Hairstreak just east of Redhill, Surrey today (10/9/09) on the Nutfield road. Also saw saw a number of whites, pair of commas and a red admiral - just out for a walk. The hairsteak was too quick for the camera.

Cheers

Rob

[James M]

Another lovely sunny day today, saw several Speckled Woods out and about and a few whites, 3 Red Admirals, 2 Peacock and a Painted Lady in the garden.

[James M]

Good day in the garden today. At least 5 very fresh Red Admiral, very few 'whites' 2 Painted Lady, about a dozen worn Speckled Wood and about 6 Comma.

Denise

A Comma is one butterfly that has been very scarce around here, only seen one all year

[Dave McCormick]

A Comma is one butterfly that has been very scarce around here, only seen one all year

Your luckier than me to see one, I don't think any Commas were spotted in Northern ireland this year. I do recall a sighting somwhere in South of Ireland, but so far, non here

[Zonda]

It is as i suspected,,,they've become extinct in most areas.

[Jack Harrison]

It is as i suspected,,,they've become extinct in most areas.

There will always be pessimists as per your tongue-in-cheek comment. Last year some were moaning about the impending demise of the Small Tortoiseshell. Then (certainly in my part of the world Cambridgeshire and adjacent parts of the south and east) 2009 has been a bumper year for Small Torts; I think the same is true in many parts of the south.

Commas had a good summer emergence (pale form) and now the autumn dark form is just appearing. Just because few, if any Commas are seen in a particular area where they have been seen in recent years, there's no reason to jump to conclusions about “extinction”; they will probably bounce back next year or the year after.


Jack

[Zonda]

Yeh! It was tongue in cheek Jack, and i indeed am an old pessimist.

[Mandie]

Another sunny day up here, so the buddleia was the favourite nectaring spot, but a few went for the sweet peas and gladioli. Three red admirals, one very small and pale painted lady, peacocks, small + large whites and small tortoiseshells.

Plus a Silver Y moth, which hung around all day.

[NickB]

As a kid in the 1950's seeing a Comma (in Yorkshire) was a real rarity; down here in Cambs they have been doing really well. But, searching out the nectar sources at this time of year - particularly the ivy - will bring more sightings than simply leaving it to chance sightings in the garden or on a country walk for instance where you don't hunt-out these places......eg I have seen only one in my garden in the last month - but at least 10 when I search them out in the nearby cemetery....
N

[Zonda]

I would like to thank Pete and Eccles for their sound advice about staking out blackberry bushes. Also, i'd like to thank my wife who has given me much needed support throughout this whole process, and driven me around a whole lot. Also, i'd like to thank an annon. farmer in Wool Dorset, for not cutting his hedges, and leaving brambles in his gateways. Lastly, i'd like to thank the Comma that posed and pouted for my camera like Samantha Fox in her heyday. Yes folks,,,i have a Comma this year.

[NickB]

Persistance eh? Nice ones - they always look good on blackberries!

[Zonda]

Thanks Nick

[Dave McCormick]

Got warmer here, sun was shining bright today and I went out around where I live and saw:

60+ Silver Y moths (I stopped counting as I saw so many)
3 Red Admirals
1 Small White
2 Speckled Woods
1 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Large White Caterpillar pupating on my postbox
Large White eggs Nasturshums (sp?)

A few from today:

Small Tortoiseshell on Wall

Red Admiral on Hops

Large White Caterpillar, Pupating on Postbox

[Icarus]

Hi folks.........

Newly registered at last, but been viewing the board for a couple of years now. Very impressed with your great pics, so feel it is time I made the effort.
Located 10 miles or so east of Manchester, and bordering the local country park. After a real wash out this summer here - I think July&Aug were even wetter than last year - there was plenty to see yesterday and today.... painted lady, red admiral, L & S whites, peacock, speckled wood x10s many very fresh, holly blue, comma, first small tortoiseshell since early 2007,and small copper, ......with the sedum, verbena and buddleia all popular. Interesting that the speckled woods seemed to prefer the odd over-ripe blackcurrant left on the bush. Also seen GV white, large skipper and meadow brown earlier in the year.

Hope the attached are of interest, ...........and sized correctly.

[Pete Eeles]

1 Large White Caterpillar pupating on my postbox

That's not a Large White larva - they don't pupate head down attached only by the cremaster (as you know!). Looks more like a Red Admiral that can't find a decent bunch of nettles

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

Hi folks.........

Newly registered at last, but been viewing the board for a couple of years now. Very impressed with your great pics, so feel it is time I made the effort.
Located 10 miles or so east of Manchester, and bordering the local country park. After a real wash out this summer here - I think July&Aug were even wetter than last year - there was plenty to see yesterday and today.... painted lady, red admiral, L & S whites, peacock, speckled wood x10s many very fresh, holly blue, comma, first small tortoiseshell since early 2007,and small copper, ......with the sedum, verbena and buddleia all popular. Interesting that the speckled woods seemed to prefer the odd over-ripe blackcurrant left on the bush. Also seen GV white, large skipper and meadow brown earlier in the year.

Hope the attached are of interest, ...........and sized correctly.

Welcome Icarus - nice photos!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

1 Large White Caterpillar pupating on my postbox

Not sure that's a Large White larva - they don't pupate head down attached only by the cremaster (as you know!). Looks more like a Red Admiral that can't find a decent bunch of nettles

Cheers,

- Pete