a busy weekend

[markatbath]

hi all
just back after a very busy weekend.Sunday was spent at mount Fancy where we managed to see 4 wood whites( no photos though, they wouldn't settle in the heat), then onto Thurlbear in the afternoon. lots of common blues,small heath,green hairstreak (no duke of burgundy though).Monday was spent at Sand Point where we saw 7 Glanville frits.
more to come soon
regards
mark

[John]

Hello Mark,sounds like you've had an excellent weekend of butterfly spotting.Must of been nice to see the Wood Whites(i've never seen one),but a pity they didn't pose for a photo or two,lol.It's always nice to see some Green Haistreaks & to see seven Glanville frits,is just well cool(i've never seen them either.lol).
Good luck for spotting/photographing a Duke of Burgundy next time your out.
John

[Andrew Cunningham]

Hi Mark,

With the others being in Somerset, I assume Mount Fancy is too? Is there any chance of a grid reference so I can see where it is.

I live in Devon so this site is of interest for me as I have never had a conclusive view of a Wood White.

Thanks,
Andrew.

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Andrew,

In general terms (i.e. on the web!) if you click on the "Wood White" link on the home page, and then on the Distribution and Sites link, you'll see Mount Fancy Reserve listed, which is a link to

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/sites_ng ... %20Reserve

However, I do think it's a good idea to get a second opinion on the UK Butterflies sites, since I've not personally been to them all

Cheers,

- Pete

[Andrew Cunningham]

Thanks Pete. Much appreciated.

[markatbath]

hi andrew
we parked at mount fancy farm which is grid ref ST251163 , then walked to the edge of the wood which is grid ref ST249165.
hope this helps
regards
mark

[Andrew Cunningham]

Thanks for that. Hope to give Mount Fancy a go soon.

[George]

Hi,

Just been going back over the years postings and spotted markatbath had seen Glanville Fritillaries at Sand Point. Is this the Sand Point near Weston-Super-Mare? I am going to Gloucestershire next year (June) mainly to see Marsh Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy but if there is a chance of Glanville as well that would be great. Can you tell me the best sites in your area? It would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
George

[Danny]

I've read in this forum that there is a Glanville Frit site near WS Mare and that it is the result of an unofficial release, so I guess this is it. Somebody must know something more about it out there.

Danny

[Pete Eeles]

Yes - it's at Sand Point. I've not come across any official statement of introduction, so assume it's an unauthorised release.

There's also a colony in Somerset, I believe. Again, unauthorised.

Cheers,

- Pete

[markatbath]

hi
I can give you exact directions to find the glanvilles next year ( they are always found in the same spot) I can also help you locate Marsh Frit and Duke is you would like . The colony of marsh frits is normally in excess of 1000 adults !! . Please email me markatbath@yahoo.co.uk and I will sent precise directions
I will not have access to a pc for the next 4 days but will get back to you after next tuesday
regards
mark

[Matsukaze]

Hi folks,

According to Butterflies of the Bristol Region (Barnett et al, 2003)
the fritillaries at Sand Point were introduced there, without any kind of authorisation, in 1983 before possibly going extinct around 2000 through scrubbing-up of the habitat. They reappeared in 2005, whether from a fresh release or an increase in population after survival at a very low number is not known - recolonisation from its natural range can probably be safely ruled out!

Pete - Sand Point is in one of those bits of Somerset hived off into made-up counties at various local government reorganisations - perhaps it is the same as the Somerset colony you mention. Your photos of the Glanville larvae are some of my favourite on this site, by the way. There must be several hundred of them in some of those pictures - how did you feed them all?

Mark - do you know if Duke of Burgundy still exists near to Bath? They used to occur in Cleaves Wood, but are now surely extinct there, but I wonder if they have escaped notice somewhere else, the Combe Hay area being one possibility.

[Pete Eeles]

Sand Point is in one of those bits of Somerset hived off into made-up counties at various local government reorganisations - perhaps it is the same as the Somerset colony you mention.

Yes - sounds like the same place! Thanks for this - I had been wondering!

There must be several hundred of them in some of those pictures - how did you feed them all?

With difficulty

Cheers,

- Pete