April 2010 Sightings

[NickB]

A Grizzled Skipper Neil?.... Yaaayyyy ... Now that really IS a sign of spring. The season starts here!
Trev

Over....to you Trev?

N

[NickB]

First Butterfly of 2010..Brimstone..driving to Eastbourne just past Cuckmere Haven. Do I win a prize?
Danny

Sure - Gold Star
N

[Jack Harrison]

Neil:

First Grizzled Skipper this afternoon

It has been a long winter and late spring. How does that Grizzled Skipper date compare with those of other recent years in your part of the world Neil? I would have thought that despite the late spring, 6th April is pretty much on schedule. But of course, Grizzled Skipper hibernates as a pupa so can probably more quickly respond to better weather than say a Pearl Bordered Fritillary which still has growth as a larva to complete. I would suggest that the pupal hibernators won’t be particularly late but the larval hibernators that have an early flight season could well be. Doubtless by the end of June (Silver Washed, Purple Emperor, etc season) even the larval hibernators will have caught up.

An even more compressed season perhaps? Thoughts?

Jack

[Trev Sawyer]

Hi Nick,
You little devil ... I got your cryptic clue about "Over" (a local site for Grizzled Skipper) ... Just don't get me started

Trev

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Trev/Jack,
Grizzled Skipper +/- Orange Tip + Bombylius (Bee Flies) = Spring
Yes Jack, this Grizzled Skipper is very much 'in line' with recent years for West Sussex (9.4.07, 7.4.08, 30.3.09), although these sites (Mill Hill, Levin Down) are notably 'warm and early'. Despite the cold and prolonged winter, Marsh Frit larvae do not seem to have been delayed, so spring is going to arrive with an almighty 'thump'. The main effect of the weather pattern has been to compress the latterly 'normal' sequence of events; the emergence (late winter) of increasing numbers of post-hibernators, followed by their en masse 'Great Awakening', followed by the emergence of species (including Grizzled Skipper) from pupae. The real fun starts from now.
Neil

[Jack Harrison]

Nick:

I got your cryptic clue about "Over"

I haven't been there for a few years since the inspired Guided Bus project began. Last time I was in the general area, some roads were closed off. But of course, in the greater scheme of things, that is all in the general good.

For those not in the know, this Guided Bus project is a going to be a wonderful money-maker for Cambridgeshire tax payers. If the average fare is say £3, it will need a mere 40-50 million users to re-coup the cost. That shouldn’t take too long. Assuming 1,000 users per day, that will only take about 100-140 years. Oh, I forgot interest and maintenance costs, so maybe a little bit longer. But undoubtedly money well invested. (Did anyone mention what all those millions could have done for the A14 instead? But that little country lane doesn’t get much traffic so what a waste that alternative expenditure would have been!)

http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.asp ... tegoryid=0

What is the access to the Over cutting like nowadays?

Jack

[Trev Sawyer]

D'oh! Nick,
Now you've gone and got Jack started

The link Jack gave was from August last year... needless to say the busway didn't open in November and even now there is no firm date for opening... £160 million and counting
I heard the other day that the only thing currently using the mis-guided busway is the collection of trapped frogs/toads trying to get from one side to the other.

Damn... now you've got me started

Trev

[Jack Harrison]

Trev:

The link Jack gave was from August last year

Sorry, I had been left behind by the dazzling rate of progress of this wonderful scheme. I guess it must be up and running now - well ahead of schedule. Can you buy tickets online? Could be an efficient way to visit the Over Cutting later in the month

Jack

[Deano]

Hello everyone,

I know I'm well behind most other members of this site, but I finally saw my first Peacock yesterday, in our garden. Last year's first for me was on 18 March, so this is a fair way behind.

I am pleased to attach a pic of what turned out to be a really camera friendly butterfly, happily letting me snap away while it fed! Incidentally, this is I think the first time I've seen a butterfly nectaring on Hyacinths.

Best regards,
Deano.

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Deano,

Yes me too. Lovely shot by the way, I've yet to see a Peacock this year...

Cheers

Lee

[felix123]

I saw my first orange tip(male)of the year today quickly flying around and not stopping for a rest. I aslo saw 4x peacocks 7x small tortoishell and a comma. I managed to get these two as they rested

Small Tortoishell

[Jack Harrison]

Not the best forum but I know there have been several Cambs members here recently so you are more likely to read it here.

I will be attending. Thought you Cambs ukb members too might be interested.

The BENHS have a regional meeting at University of Cambridge on Saturday 17th April 2010. The theme of the day is Fenland Insects.
There's a full day of talks, discussions and a chance to go round the insect collections of the University Museum of Zoology.
Further details can be found on the BENHS web site at:
http://benhs.org.uk/portal/node/46
If you're interested then let Ian McLean know - details on the above web page. Non-members are welcome as long as they register.

Jack

[NickB]

I saw my first orange tip(male)of the year today quickly flying around and not stopping for a rest. I aslo saw 4x peacocks 7x small tortoishell and a comma. I managed to get these two as they rested

Nice ones!
Up here in colder Cambridge, still waiting to see our OT's - and they are constant motion, always on the go and difficult to chase - well, at my age
Best chances are when it is dull or early when they are still cold, resting or drinking nectar from flowers - then they may stay long enough to get a shot. I have very few decent OT male or female shots. Good luck, I'm sure you will be quicker than me!
N

[Deano]

Hi Deano,

Yes me too. Lovely shot by the way, I've yet to see a Peacock this year...

Cheers

Lee

Thanks for the compliment Lee, and I hope you see a Peacock soon!

Best wishes,

Deano.

[Dave McCormick]

I saw my first orange tip(male)of the year today quickly flying around and not stopping for a rest. I aslo saw 4x peacocks 7x small tortoishell and a comma. I managed to get these two as they rested

Thats it, I am going to go to the river here, its always a great colony of OTs there, going to see if any are about. Found a male and female large white today, on a fallen cherry tree that fell in the wind. They were resting on the blossoms

[Charles Nicol]

Up here in colder Cambridge, still waiting to see our OT's - and they are constant motion, always on the go and difficult to chase - well, at my age

N

have just been back to Woodwalton Marsh to see if the "Tips" have appeared yet... no they haven't

Will have a look at Stirtloe at lunchtime since the sun is shining.

Charles



PS None at Stirtloe either... but a lovely walk

[55bloke]

I'm sooo envious of all you southern types!! Spotted my 1st butterfly of the year today, the 1st half-decent day of the year! A Small Tort flashed through our garden about noon, but it's all I've seen so far. Can't believe people saying they see 10 Brimstones in a morning- I've not seen that many in my LIFE!!

[Jack Harrison]

55bloke:

Can't believe people saying they see 10 Brimstones in a morning- I've not seen that many in my LIFE!!

Yes but you are in Sheffield area so Brimstones would be scarce there. But I bet you get more Wall Browns than we do in Cambridgeshire. Win some, lose some.

Today in one hour South Cambs, 15+ Brimstones, (all males) 6 or 7 Peacocks, 5 or 6 Commas and 2 Small Tortoiseshells. The Wild Cherry is just bursting into flower so good nectar source over next few days.

Jack

[55bloke]

You're right, of course, but it's still frustrating! Spring's REALLY late here, though it's a lovely day today. Not even our Daffodils are flowering yet (though they are flowering in other places around the city) and no sign of Black Thorn blossom, which should be everywhere by now.

[NickB]

Yes - beautiful day down here - another quick trip out at lunchtime from work and 2 Comma, a Peacock, Brimstone(male) and Small Tort in Mill Road Cemetery. Waiting for my first Holly Blue (2nd April last year - should soon catch-up)
Cherry blossom, cherry-plum, blackthorn just starting, daffodils and violets out
- plus some speedwell, dandelion, daises, red dead-nettle, chickweed, celandine coming thro' for nectar sources in the grass and grave-sets.
Unfortunately the council have just undertaken their first mow of the year - so scrub that last list
N