Jack Harrison

[Zonda]

Sorry, but whenever i hear this piece of music, i thnk of 'The Lone Ranger'.

[NickB]

After your previous post, Jack, about patriotic butterflies, I guess I'm supposed to respond to the William Tell Overture in the background of that movie!
Guy from CH

How about this, Guy?

[Padfield]

Cap'n Jack finally earns his pips...

Guy

[Gibster]

A thoroughly nice chap right through to the core (groan....)

[Trev Sawyer]

Stop these puns at once boys - they are making my eyes sting.... They're getting cornea and cornea

Trev

[Jack Harrison]

When I met Zonda recently, I was surprised to hear that he had never flown.

“I wouldn’t be happy that I had no control over the situation being in other people’s hands.”

“Come on Frank, you would be flying with people like me.”

But I suppose Zonda does have a point. If you boarded your aircraft and saw that the pilot had an apple on his head.......

Jack

[NickB]

..I try to comfort people who dislike flying by telling them that it isn't flying at all!
...it's actually a controlled fall....!

Somehow, that doesn't seem to help...
N

[NickB]

[Jack Harrison]

As Guy said once: "This is MY diary".

So - to quote Sir Mick (including the appalling grammar)

"Hey! You! Get off of my cloud"

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

15th May – Local meadows

Rather cloudy with only occasional sun. 12°C.

Observed how two species, Small Heath and Brown Argus went to ground immediately the sun became hidden behind cloud.



But just a little sun and they were active again. This Small Heath obligingly landed on Cow Parsley but within a few seconds (as normal) retracted its forewings. But giving the merest of shakes on the plant this was the result.



Jack

[Jack Harrison]

22nd May

I have stayed locally the past few days. The meadows are rapidly dying out although last night’s magnificent 0.5 mm of rain will have helped

Yesterday was typical. In an hour’s amble, Small Heaths seen about once every 20 metres with Brown Argus (a very good year for this species) at about half that density. Just one Orange Tip, half a dozen each of Small Whites and Brimstones. GV Whites seem to be over for this brood. One possible Large Skipper in flight but not confirmed. Several fresh Speckled Woods.



The crunch will come in the next few weeks when the Browns and Skippers emerge. I would anticipate lower numbers in particular Ringlets which enjoy damper conditions. Marbled Whites should do well enough though. However, unless it rains substantially and there is some new growth, I fear very much for next year.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

4th June

I visited Monk's Wood to the north of Huntingdon and came across two people acting very strangely.



Apparently these two grown men WERE PHOTOGRAPHING BUTTERFLIES!!! And after speaking to them, I learn that Nigel (on the right) won't be chasing butterflies on Sunday but instead is planning to whack a little white ball around hoping it will disappear down a hole in the ground. What strange interests some people have!

It is Black Hairstreak silly season. Nigel was holding down a branch so that Bill could take a photo.
I was persuaded to join in this daft game.




Perhaps 40+ sightings although how many were repeats is hard to say.
Speckled Woods were numerous.

and Large Skipper numbers are building up but so far only males seen.


Jack

[Jack Harrison]

14th June Local.

Indeed, very local. First Ringlet of year seen in garden before my walk. Didn't see another.

Meadow Browns now in good numbers but nearly all males expect this pair.


Small Heaths still in extraordinary numbers; the brood timings are difficult to fathom as they have been around for many weeks now.

First Small Skippers, again in good numbers.


Fewer Large Skippers.


Three aged Brown Argus.

The meadow doesn't quite compare with the Alpine ones that make us so jealous but not a bad showing of Pyramidal Orchids for Cambridgeshire.


Jack

[Jack Harrison]

16th June

Another useful 5 mms of rain today making a total so far this month of 27 mms. I had hoped that the rain might have resulted in a mass emergence. Well, local meadows were full of new individuals but not in truth in spectacular numbers.

First Marbled White of year, but newly emerged and weak and was blown hither and thither by the wind.


Ringlets in small numbers


Meadow Brown building but still mainly males.


Small Heaths as always in this locality in very good numbers.
Large Skippers less active than usual but temperature was a mere 16° with cloud.



Very fresh male Common Blue, presumably 2nd brood.



Jack

[Jack Harrison]

19th June Bedford Purlieus

An excellent morning with Nick, Phil and Rosalyn. S.W.Fritillaries were amazingly co-operative. Nick was in heaven when one landed on him.




Jack

[Jack Harrison]

More 19th June Bedford Purlieus










Jack

[Rosalyn]

Nice pics Jack

[Jack Harrison]

20th June

This might be a new garden tick - not sure if I've seen Large Skipper here before. Resting on Choisya ternata. They could be breeding in the garden as the grass in the background is left long and rough "in hope".



Jack

[ChrisC]

i hope its a regular Jack, they are great fun to watch. i had one make its territory slap bang in the middle of the garden last year it chased everything. fantastic creatures.

Chris

[Jack Harrison]

25th June Sharpenhoe Clappers (near Barton-le-Clay, Beds)

Very disappointing 40 minutes. Instead of the usual clouds of Marbled Whites, I saw just five. Meadow Browns were even worse with three. Three Small Whites. One Red Admiral but not a single Dark Green Fritillary. The hillside is now lush but clearly the earlier drought had a devastating effect.

Jack