March 2011

[Rebecca]

Rebecca
I hope your camera gets better - or your bank balance does so you can replace it!
We are about to hit (IMHO) the best time of the year for butterflies - DoB, Marsh Frits, PBs, Green Hairstreak, Orange tip, Glanvilles, Dingy and grizzleds and all those other archetypal butterflies of Spring - wonderful.
I notice you are in Somereset. A fabulous county for butterflies - I spend much time there myself as I liove just over the border in Devon.
You must try to get hold of (if you haven't already) the book I have attached to this post.

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It is really good, giving "Third bush on the left" directions to all the Somerset butterflies.
Good luck - and maybe see you at Sand Point for Glanvilles?
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Thank you for your post. I'm on the hunt for a camera. its my birthday soon so lots of hints being dropped! I live in a good part of Somerset being only a couple of miles from babcary meadows. Had some fabulous days there last year. Also discovered today that a meadow that some cows from this farm graze on isn't allowed to be grazed from now on and its very similar ground to babcary, so another place for butterfly hunting this year!
I'm definately going to get that book, I shall have a look on the site shortly. I have made a note in my diary for sandpoint, would love the chance to see some Glanvilles. Would anyone have any objections to my 8 year old daughter coming along? She is into butterflys too and she is well behaved, just like her mum

[David M]

Some of you lucky people in the south and east may see sunshine and 21C temperatures tomorrow. We're destined for 16/17 in Swansea though it's forecast to be cloudy

Could be a great start to the April Sightings thread.

[NickB]

......Could be a great start to the April Sightings thread.

Who do you think you're fooling.....

[David M]

......Could be a great start to the April Sightings thread.

Who do you think you're fooling.....

LOL! Hadn't thought of that. Remember to dismiss any morning reports of Camberwell Beauties and Large Tortoiseshells.

[Butterflymax]

Had my first chance to go hunting for butterflies yesterday afternoon, and happily had my first sightings of the year. Walking along Ashlawn Cutting I saw about 8 x Peacocks, 6 x Commas and 4 x Small Tortoiseshells. There were a number of butterflies on the wing, but they were probably the same three species I just mentioned. I had hoped there might have been some Brimstones or Orange Tips about, but none were seen. Hopefully I'll get to see a Green Hairstreak or a Marbled Whites this year!

Max.

Back in 2004 I saw 2 male Orange Tips there on 20th June! Always saw plenty of Marbled Whites in their season there (best time seems to be the last week in June) but never a Green Hairstreak When I worked on the railway I used to visit a small triangle of land just across the west coast mainline from the Ashlawn Cutting, it lies to the southern side of the old branch line to Peterborough, it was always good for Common Blues, Skippers etc, there may be access to it from the road.

Hi Torbay Flyer. There were plenty of Orange Tips and Brimstones about at Ashlawn Cutting in April last year. Your comments re Marbled Whites echo what I've read elsewhere. Earlier this week I discovered that Butterfly Conservation workers haven't seen a Green Hairstreak at Ashlawn Cutting since 1988, however elsewhere it is still included on lists of locations where you can supposedly find them!
I'm a little confused as to whereabouts in Rugby the triangle of land is. Ashlawn Cutting is on the southern side of the town, forming the stretch of Great Central Walk between the old Rugby Central station and Onley Lane, whereas the West Coast Mainline runs through the northern half of the town. The northern section of the Great Central (well, north of Rugby Central) crossed the WCML to the east of the current railway station via the Birdcage Bridge. The old line to Peterborough branched off close to there but much of that land now forms part of the Butlers Leap industrial estate.
Max.

[celery]

Had a holly blue in my garden (south Notts.) on Sat. 26th March and again on Tues. 29th. That's the earliest I've seen one here.

Butterfly Conservation is reporting Green Hairstreak sightings in Leicestershire on March 31st. Anyone know exactly where? (Brown's Hill quarry? Ketton quarry?). I'd love to go out and see one this weekend (weather permitting of course)...

[Zonda]

If you see one, a GH, you'll be my hero,,,, forever.