September sightings

[NickB]

Did the Fleam Dyke again today - a few CHB, CB and Speckled Wood with a the odd Small Heath and a single Meadow Brown with surprisingly few Small White. Was overcast but warm. Earlier a nice Small Copper in the cemetery...

..getting a bit worn now Zonda; they were quite late over here...
and a dragonfly...

N

[Lee Hurrell]

New Small Coppers have appeared in my local cemetery this week with a few older tatty ones still about.

Also, what do you make of this? I saw this female Speckled Wood, while being quite old, still noticably had both yellow and white spots....maybe an ab?

Cheers

Lee

[Gibster]

...
and a dragonfly...

Hi
judging by the extent of black on the frons (basically, your beast's 'moustache'!) I'd say your dragonfly is a Common Darter. But I'm notoriously rubbish with such things, lol.
Cheers
Gibster.

[NickB]

..wasn't expecting an ID - here's a slightly better one...

[Michaeljf]

West Yatton Down – Saturday 4th September

After David M’s success at West Yatton Down (Wiltshire) we decided to go there yesterday to see if we could see some Adonis Blues and Chalkhill Blues. Arriving just after 9am, again we found a lovely reserve, though the slightly wet/grassy/steep walk up to the top of the hill proved a bit of a rude awakening first thing. Up the top of the hill we could almost see the Castle Coomb Race Track (we could certainly hear the cars, anyway!). We also saw our first deer of the day in the distance and could hear Buzzards above the fields. There was no trace of butterflies though, so we scampered down the hill and walked to the other end of the reserve, walking the far side of the hill nearer Yatton Keynell. Again, there wasn’t much happening - only one female blue (that evaded a photograph) and a Yellow Underwing moth. The good news is that there were plenty of Field Scabious flowers if the butterflies ever decided to turn up! We saw a second deer and wandered to the opposite ridge (Hammerdown Wood?), hoping we might have more success there. There were some nice wild flowers (Clustered Bellflower) and some Small Heaths and a few Common Blues, but no other species. I wondered at this point if David had been a lot luckier with his timing. It had got quite warm by this point, as we walked back to the initial ride.

Soon it was apparent that the Butterflies had decided on a late get-up, as I suddenly saw dozens and dozens of Chalkhill Blues. In fact, now there were too many at once and following a good specimen proved tricky, especially as the ridges on the side of the downs were all fairly steep. The Blues weren’t really stopping for long. Although quite a few of them were a little ‘worse for ware’ it was great to see so many butterflies, especially after the initial lack of anything! A lone small orange butterfly passed me that could have been a small fritillary or male Vapourer moth – but it wasn’t around for long so no ID was possible. There were now three Buzzards overhead (making a lot of noise) as I tried my best to get half decent shots of the Chalkhill Blues whilst trying not to fall down the ridge. There must have been over 30 Chalkhill Blue adults though I don’t think I saw any Adonis Blues. There were also plenty of Small Heaths sharing the flowers.

We left West Yatton Downs about 1:30 and made a brief detour on the way back via Prestbury Hill near Cheltenham. Unfortunately it had mostly clouded over and there was nothing to be seen, though we did come across a Kestrel with its prey right in the main road driving to the Radio Masts at the Prestbury Hill site. Unfortunately it was too quick for a photo, bit a wonderful sight nevertheless.

Michael

Morning view across West Yatton Downs from the hilltop

Early sighting of a deer from the hill

Some big mushrooms were present..Zonda?

Plenty of Scabious on the other side of the Hilltop

Clustered Bellflower amongst the grass

Chalkhill Blues..and not enough knapweed to go around!

I still have problem identifying females..

Single Chalkhill Blue Male

This one deciding my boot is a good spot!

One last shot before heading to Prestbury Hill.

[JohnR]

I still have problem identifying females..

I find it much easier these days, it was only a problem in the 1960's

[David M]

Michael, all the Adonis Blues I saw were at the bottom of the south facing slope in the central part of the site quite close to the barbed wire fence. The Chalkhill Blues, by contrast, were mostly on the west facing bank.

There's plenty of blackthorn growing there as well. Made me wonder whether Brown Hairstreaks could eke out a living in this sheltered spot.

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Michael,

Looks like a lovely spot!

I'm fairly sure your female is a Chalkhill.

Cheers

Lee

[Michaeljf]

I'm fairly sure your female is a Chalkhill. Cheers Lee

Lee,
thanks for that - yeah, that's what I thought, but one doesn't like to make a beginner's mistake on here eh?

David,
I guess you were lucky either way. I could have gone to Prestbury for the Chalkhill Blues (only), but the West Yatton site was better for them too, at least yesterday, due to the weather. It struck me that WY is a lovely little site, though I don't suppose I'll return there for a couple of years, such is the lack of time at the weekend to go places next year!!! I have a date with Marsh Fritilaries, Green Hairstreaks, Scotch Argus, British Swallowtail etc etc which will probably come first!
Michael

p.s. On the subject of Marsh Fritillaries, have you been to Welsh Moor? We went this year and saw nothing but Dragonflies. Went there a few years back and didn't see MF or SPBF there either - I wonder if the site is still any good for them...

[Cotswold Cockney]

I didn't know British Swallowtails had a second brood.

It depends mostly on the weather doesn't it? The same applies to some of our smaller fritillaries (hmm...I now wait for the real explanation to come up!)

No explanation from me except that any natural variations in any species could be advantageous for that species on a Darwinian basis...

Broads Boating Holiday back in the 70s during late August saw a few second brood examples. The summer was dead average weatherwise.

Never seen a small second brood Fritillary. When rearing Silver Washed back then, checking a cage previously prepared for egg laying females I discovered a pupa hanging from the top of the cage in early September. Produced a slightly undersized otherwise perfect male a few days later. It was a hot summer and the cage was kept in my south facing rear garden all the time.
.

[Lee Hurrell]

I'm fairly sure your female is a Chalkhill. Cheers Lee

Lee,
thanks for that - yeah, that's what I thought, but one doesn't like to make a beginner's mistake on here eh?

I wouldn't worry Michael, I make them all the time I also struggle with these two females sometimes.

To me, the female Chalkhill normally seems more chocolatey brown than the Adonis, even to the chequered fringe and yours does have the white edging to the hind wing marginal lunules that normally differentiates the two, female Adonis typically having blue scales here.

Cheers

Lee

[David M]

On the subject of Marsh Fritillaries, have you been to Welsh Moor? We went this year and saw nothing but Dragonflies. Went there a few years back and didn't see MF or SPBF there either - I wonder if the site is still any good for them...

Marsh Fritillaries are but a few miles from your door, Michael.

Check out Aberbargoed Grasslands at the end of May/early June. There are plenty to be found there.

I believe Green Hairstreaks are present at Ewyas Harold reserve, near Pontrilas (halfway between Abergavenny & Hereford). It is also alleged that the Pearl Bordered Fritillary can be found there too. I'll certainly be checking this out next year and have already reserved a week's leave at the end of May to do just that.

[Gibster]

..wasn't expecting an ID - here's a slightly better one...

Hi Nick,

I think you've definitely got yourself a female Common Darter, and somewhat past her best. Body colour darkens to the brownish tone shown as they mature. Next stage would be ragged or missing wingtips and damaged hindwings followed by that long sleep in a warm reedbed way, way up in the sky...

Cheers matey,

Gibster.

[Michaeljf]

Marsh Fritillaries are but a few miles from your door, Michael. Check out Aberbargoed Grasslands at the end of May/early June. There are plenty to be found there. I believe Green Hairstreaks are present at Ewyas Harold reserve, near Pontrilas (halfway between Abergavenny & Hereford). It is also alleged that the Pearl Bordered Fritillary can be found there too. I'll certainly be checking this out next year and have already reserved a week's leave at the end of May to do just that.

David,
thanks - I had known about Aberbargoed Grasslands, but never been around at the right time, plus I think I couldn't find it ! Now I am a regular on this website...it's much easier to find specific reserves with the map references. I also saw your post about the Graylings being there, so I must go up there in the new year. In fact, if the weather is at all good later this month it may be worth going to see if there are any of the gregarious caterpillars? With the Green Hairstreaks, I have often gone to Buckland Wood near Waterloo (Somerset) because I know it's a good spot. But as you'll know, sometimes it's a bit risky trying to find a good day for weather with a site that's a good distance away, especially if you don't know if the species concerned is 'a bit early' or 'a bit late'. Once again, the UKButterflies website has proved invaluable regarding times-of-sightings etc.

Regarding the Small Pearl Bordered (as opposed to the PB) there is supposed to be a colony at Silent Valley Local Nature Reserve near Ebbw Vale and there is a definite colony at Lower Milkwall (Coleford, Forest of Dean) at SO588086. I'll keep the Ewyas Harold reserve in mind for the Pearl-Bordered as well. We've been to the Castle Ruins and I think they advertise the butterfly on their information boards.
Michael

[David M]

thanks - I had known about Aberbargoed Grasslands, but never been around at the right time, plus I think I couldn't find it ! Now I am a regular on this website...it's much easier to find specific reserves with the map references. I also saw your post about the Graylings being there, so I must go up there in the new year. In fact, if the weather is at all good later this month it may be worth going to see if there are any of the gregarious caterpillars? With the Green Hairstreaks, I have often gone to Buckland Wood near Waterloo (Somerset) because I know it's a good spot. But as you'll know, sometimes it's a bit risky trying to find a good day for weather with a site that's a good distance away, especially if you don't know if the species concerned is 'a bit early' or 'a bit late'. Once again, the UKButterflies website has proved invaluable regarding times-of-sightings etc.

Regarding the Small Pearl Bordered (as opposed to the PB) there is supposed to be a colony at Silent Valley Local Nature Reserve near Ebbw Vale and there is a definite colony at Lower Milkwall (Coleford, Forest of Dean) at SO588086. I'll keep the Ewyas Harold reserve in mind for the Pearl-Bordered as well. We've been to the Castle Ruins and I think they advertise the butterfly on their information boards.
Michael

I've also seen SPBFs at this site (albeit in the most inaccessible spot to the south of the site). The Graylings inhabit the old waste tip from the coal mining days which is on your left as you enter the site (assuming you park by the school which is on Heol Tir y-Llan - Google it if you need a map).

Ewyas Harold claims to have recorded 34 different butterfly species on its reserve information signs. I find that hard to believe although the site itself is huge and has a massively diverse range of natural habitats.

[NickB]

Thanks Gibster...
N

[Dave McCormick]

Turns out, at Murlough NNR, Co Down, Northern Ireland, when I went to look for Marsh Fritillary cats I didn't find any. Although someone I know found them a few days later in the same place

Anyway, havn't seen much except speckled woods (quite a lot though, saw near 20 on saturday around a large bramble, they were feeding on oversized, ripe blackberries, these blackberries were twice size of marbles). Also a Small Tortoiseshell somehow made it into my house and is on the ceiling of my hall, I think it went into hibernation as its been sitting there for 3 days straight (I can't get it down as its so high up) would it make it overwinter if it hibernates now?

Won't have much time to look for butterflies this week (weathers supposed to be wet and I am busy anyway) but I am going to hear a talk by Paul Waring on Wednesday night which should be good, always wanted to meet him myself.

[sahikmet]

Hi,
At Bold Hill Aston Rowant lots of fresh looking Speckled wood. One common blue tears in wing. No SSS.
Cheers, Sezar

[Rogerdodge]

David M wrote:
I didn't know British Swallowtails had a second brood.

Hi
I met a very good friend of mine at Birdfair this year (Aug 20th) and he was off to Strumshaw Fen on the Sunday for second brood Swallowtails.
Despite horrific weather he did see a couple of individuals in the few sunny breaks in the weather.

Incidentally - for anyone with an interest in wildlife in any shape or form, Birdfair is a must-see.
Dozens of specialist second hand book stalls, and stalls selling art and photographs from famous names.
The opportunity to play with really exotic glass at the Canon/Nikon et al stand including bins, scopes and ludicrously expensive super telephoto lenses.
If you want to handle THAT lens or play with THAT tri/monopod it is THE place to do it.
Endless companies selling mouthwatering specialist holidays in every conceivable corner of the planet.
Clothes, Clubs, gadgets and magazines all well represented.
Lectures and entertainment from the great and good in the wildlife world. "Press the flesh" with clebs.
Also a beer tent!!!!!
One day is not enough to see and enjoy everything. They have a camp site available also.
Usually last wekend in August and always at Rutland water.

[Mikhail]

Now don't all rush. A Long-tailed Blue female was seen at Cheyne Weares, Portland yesterday. Photos can be accessed via http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk.

Misha