April 2010 Sightings

[Dave McCormick]

Excellent Vince, I have never seen this in Peacock butterflies either, only Small Tortoiseshell, nice observation. Now what would be rarer if someone managed to get Red Admiral courtship or even mating as thats pretty rare to observe in wild.

Saw a small tortoiseshell today flying along the water edge of Strangford Lough as I was waiting for bus this morining, sat in good place, just too bad I didn't have a camera with me.

[NickB]

My first Holly Blue of the year - a male, in the Cemetery. It is 13 days later than last year and 14 days later than the year before that, so things seem to be catching up fast..
If the weather holds, I'll be out on Saturday with the camera...

[NickB]

Excellent observation Vince - I've never come across anything like this myself. I've seen Small Torts courting, but never Peacocks.
Cheers,
- Pete

Reminded me of last year about this time. I saw a pair of Peacocks displaying in a similar way to Vince. (I had just seen my first Dingy Skippers and Hairstreaks and tended to ignore it.) Following sequence was over about 5 mins or so; he (I presume "he") became very excited and started to display and flick his antennae over her wings, then stopped for a while and repeated the performance. I left after about 10mins after he had resumed his vigil next to her. She remained unmoved and closed-winged throughout - unimpressed not doubt...

[Matsukaze]

Small Tort, Purple Hairstreak (egg) today - Midford, S of Bath.

[55bloke]

AT LAST!!! Finally, I had an hour or so strolling round some open ground, armed with my camera,this afternoon, and can officially report that Spring has arrived in South Yorkshire! Nothing like the numbers and variety reported by you Southerners, but several Small Torts (or perhaps just one, very active one?!!) a single Peacock, and a very battered Comma:

Sorry about the inevitable intrusive blades of grass!!





Oh, and LOTS of large Bumble Bees flying back and forth across the ground, looking for nest sights at a guess. Tricky to photograph:

[Deano]

Hello everyone

Nice to see so many nice photos of courting butterflies. I came across several pairs yesterday, including this strange "match".

Has anyone else seen this sort of thing before?

[IAC]

Hi all,

Hello everyone

Nice to see so many nice photos of courting butterflies. I came across several pairs yesterday, including this strange "match".

Has anyone else seen this sort of thing before?

Yes Deano, last year in fact...he was not taking no for an answer either...the Peacock did what any decent individual would do under these circumstances, and tried best to pretend that nothing was happening. The Peacock finally escaped his amorous clutches. But I bet she never mentioned this incident to any of her mates.....THE SHAME.........

Today in volcanic ash strewn South East Scotland...52 Peacock, 28 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Comma, 5 Green Veined White, 1 Small White.

Cheers IAC.

[Deano]

Thanks IAC.

You certainly did well with your butterfly count in the volcanic ash then!

Best wishes,

Deano.

[Lee Hurrell]

Blimey, that you did IAC!

I bet the Small Tort was bragging to his mates later though.....

Cheers

Lee

[Jack Harrison]

I bet the Small Tort was bragging to his mates later though.....

You reckon? I think the Peacock was under age.

Jack

[NickB]

Another beautiful day - and with no planes from Stansted, very quiet! Cycled out to the Devils Dyke and visited the Burwell railway cutting where it cuts the Dyke. Lots of Brimstones, Peacocks; a few Small Tort and the odd Small White, and a very light Comma. Highlight was a colony of Green Hairstreak - several males vying for top GH, in between posing and nectaring.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 200mm macro, f14, @1/250th, -0.7ve

[Jack Harrison]

Ahha! Methinks Devils Dyke Burwell on Sunday (after the Grand Prix of course).

Jack

[Pete Eeles]

Hello everyone

Nice to see so many nice photos of courting butterflies. I came across several pairs yesterday, including this strange "match".

Has anyone else seen this sort of thing before?

Never seen this before, but this is excellent field work! Given other recent observations (and I hate to jump to conclusions), the courtship of the Peacock doesn't seem too dissimilar to that of the Small Tortoiseshell. Very very interesting!

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

Beautiful day in south wales today and after having seen a male Brimstone fluttering around yesterday I was charged with enthusiasm for the first serious butterfly spot of the year.

Numbers weren't great, but the Mayflower is coming out and I saw 5 male Orange Tips (no females though). I also saw 4 Peacocks, 3 Tortoiseshells, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Large White and a Comma.

Mayflower is abundant on Castle Meadows in Abergavenny and much of it is yet to flower. I'm hoping that if the sunny weather continues then in a couple of weeks the fields will be full of these delightful butterflies.

[Vince Massimo]

Sticking with this mini-thread, I have just noticed a report on the Sussex pages for today from Jonathan Wood who saw a mating pair of Peacocks in his garden. He did not mention whether he got a photo. This would be a rare thing indeed .

Vince

[Deano]

Hello everyone

Nice to see so many nice photos of courting butterflies. I came across several pairs yesterday, including this strange "match".

Has anyone else seen this sort of thing before?

Never seen this before, but this is excellent field work! Given other recent observations (and I hate to jump to conclusions), the courtship of the Peacock doesn't seem too dissimilar to that of the Small Tortoiseshell. Very very interesting!

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Pete!

Best wishes,

Deano.

[Charles Nicol]

Cycled out to the Devils Dyke and visited the Burwell railway cutting where it cuts the Dyke.

i walked all the way from Reach to the railway crossing near Dullingham... no Green Hairstreaks !! i spent half an hour at the Burwell cutting...some idiot had lit a huge bonfire which was blowing straight down...koff koff

but a lovely day..

Charles

[Zonda]

That's a stunner of a GH shot Nick. In fact it's made me acutely jealous.
Orange tips in double figures today,,,, couldn't get near any.

[NickB]

Thanks Zonda - a little heavy on the post-processing....
Hi Charles - well they were there yesterday! As you approach the railway cutting as it cuts the Dyke from Reach, the bank down the left (Burwell) side has a steep path and Blackthorn in blossom, next to taller Hawthorn bushes. This is where they were displaying - I found a just-emerged one which was a poor flyer....
Went to the Dyke at Newmarket today - no Hairstreak but lots of Brimstone, Peacock and the odd Small And GV White. A few Small Heath moths too.
Also lots of ST; caught a couple of ST's displaying - very much like the Peacock, you're right Pete
Given the run around (as was he) by a very flirty female - several flights, each time followed by "the one", displaying and flicking wings with antennae. I lost them when they flew over the bushes after about 15mins was hoping for an "in cop" shot. Will post when downloaded....
N

[Jack Harrison]

Nick. I think that was a "Freudian slip". Common Heath moths, not Small Heath. I saw several today at/near the Burwell cutting.
See my report for the day:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4056#p31739

Jack