May 2013

[badgerbob]

In cool cloudy conditions only one butterfly seen during a short visit to Abbotts Wood and that was a fine Pearl Bordered Fritillary. Also nearby was a mating pair of Muslin Moths.

[Jack Harrison]

Isle of Mull Glen Frisa, 17th May

Wife did a 13 km walk through Glen Frisa. I meanwhile lingered at the drop-off northwest end of the glen for a while, then drove round to meet her at the far end.

She counted 14 whites (presumed GV), a handful of Peacocks and a couple of Speckled Woods. I saw a Peacock and few whites. Neither of us saw the targeted species, Green Hairstreak. I suspect they are late this year; this was only the second warm sunny day this spring. Several calling Cuckoos. They do seem to be widespread in the open moorland of Mull.

Jack

[Rogerdodge]

There are horrible things happening at work at the moment. So I took the afternoon off to stop me slaughtering someone, and to get a little personal healing done.
Where better to go than Marsland on the North Devon, North Cornwall border.
Sitting on a sun soaked hillside in a huge clearing in this beautiful wood with no one else around and surrounded by Pearl and Small Pearls, listening to the birdsong and just soaking up the peace and solitude.
I was joined by a friendly Small Pearl that took a liking to my hand. She basked for a while on the back of my hand, and then, when the sun went behind the clouds, she closed up shop.
I placed her gently on a bracken frond, and took a few photos.
I left the site relaxed and happy, healed and full of wonder at this little jewel who came along to cheer me up.
Life is great.

Roger

[ChrisC]

i'm loving the tones of that 2nd shot roger. they are uplifting creatures aren't they.

Chris

[Buchan Boy]

A Dingy at Dawcombe whilst orchid hunting on the Bucklands.

Most welcome.

[Reverdin]

Anything but dingy, aren't they, brilliant, and what a cracking small pearl shot Roger, wish I could have been there!!

[David M]

A Dingy at Dawcombe whilst orchid hunting on the Bucklands.

Excellent image. I hope to finally see this species this weekend too.

[Rogerdodge]

Chris
Thanks for the comment. It was a lovely experience - it really seemed as if she came along to cheer me up - and it worked.

Paul
You would love this place. How about coming down for another Large Blue, Heath Frit, HB Frit weekend when I get back from my little trip?

[Neil Freeman]

....I was joined by a friendly Small Pearl that took a liking to my hand. She basked for a while on the back of my hand, and then, when the sun went behind the clouds, she closed up shop.
I placed her gently on a bracken frond, and took a few photos...
Roger

Lovely photo of the SPBF, I really like the background that sets it off beautifully

I am going to be in North Devon 3rd week in June, stopping at Croyde Bay for a family break. I am hoping to be able to get out for a couple of days butterflying, looking on the map should be well placed for Braunton Burrows and Heddons Mouth but would welcome any suggestions of good sites and any information on what is likely to be flying given the late emergences of some species so far this year.

Cheers,

Neil F.

[adrian riley]

my first Large White of the year this morning - a much underrated butterfly IMO

Hoorah!
People are often surprised to hear that the Large White is my favourite butterfly. One of the great old authors once described it as '...a giant summer snowflake...'
Adrian Riley http://www.bugalert.net.

[Ian Pratt]

Just a few photos of GHs on bluebells in the west of the Isle of Wight this morning.8 were seen at one time on a clump of bluebells!

[Rogerdodge]

Third time lucky perhaps.
Previous visits to Buckland Wood and Thurlebeare Quarrylands had drawn a blank in my annual search for early Dukes.
Today, with an excellent forecast, I headed out to Thurlebeare again.
I arrived early, and after a while of warming up butterflies started to appear.
Grizzlies in really good numbers, a few Dingies, and the patrolling Orange Tips, Green-veins and Brimstones - not to forget a solitary Small Heath.
All of a sudden I was no longer alone. Butterfly fanciers were all over the place.
None of us spotted any Dukes. We looked in everyone's "best spots" to no avail.
It didn't take long for the crowds to get too much for me - so I changed location.
Buckland Wood was amazingly devoid of people.
It wasn't, however, devoid of Dukes.
Happy days.

[ChrisC]

Ian, what I would give to see those Green hairstreaks on bluebells like that. a once in a lifetime experience i'll bet let alone catch it on camera.
Amazing shots!

Chris

[David M]

Ian, what I would give to see those Green hairstreaks on bluebells like that. a once in a lifetime experience i'll bet let alone catch it on camera.
Amazing shots!

Chris

That truly is an uncommon sight. I've been watching Green Hairstreaks myself today and DID see a couple nectaring on bluebells (which I personally hadn't witnessed before), but this species usually won't tolerate the presence of another close by so that image has great rarity value.

[MikeOxon]

Just a few photos of GHs

I don't think 'just' is the right word - these are splendid pics, especially the last, with the two butterflies beautifully posed

Mike

[David M]

Morning trip to Crymlyn Burrows on the Swansea coast produced decent numbers of butterflies:

Orange Tip 30-40
Green Veined White 20-30
Small Copper 7
Brimstone 3
Peacock 2
Small Blue 2
Speckled Wood 2
Dingy Skipper 1
Large White 1

I was delighted to see Small Blues here as I did not know there were colonies present:

[Buchan Boy]

Got to Abbots Wood early afternoon to grab a two hour sunny window of opportunity(sheer luck!)
4/5 Grizzled's about,found a female laying eggs.

Egg laying Abbots

Egg Abbots

Adult Abbots

Felt somehow privileged to watch this,left me in awe,again,at the pure brilliance of nature.
About half a dozen Pearl Bordered Frits were legging it around unstoppable until the sun went behind clouds.
I seized my chance.

Pearl Abbots

Pearl at roost Abbots

That was that,most cool.

[Pete Eeles]

Just a few photos of GHs

I don't think 'just' is the right word - these are splendid pics, especially the last, with the two butterflies beautifully posed

Mike

I agree. Great stuff Ian!

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

After a 2 hour walk around Crymlyn Burrows on the Swansea coast this morning, I headed to Welshmoor on the Gower peninsula to see if I could find a few Green Hairstreaks.

Thankfully, there were about 2 dozen fidgeting around, and with conditions being quite cool (15c with light winds) they were fairly approachable if you showed a bit of patience.

Only other butterflies seen were a dozen or so Orange Tips, 5 or 6 Green Veined Whites and a single Small Copper and Large White.

[Philzoid]

Weekend weather was forecast as cool and cloudy (again) with the best day being Saturday with some sunny breaks. I had been planning to go to Chiddingfold for Wood Whites and other species and in previous years I have come across Wood White on dull days so with this in mind the trip was on..
Arriving early at around 10:30 I was soon treated to a Speckled Yellow moth with which actually sat still for its photo.

Speckled Yellow moth

Following on from that no butterflies were seen until I reached the "Triangle" area where I came across my first Wood White, clinging on to an Early Purple Orchid.

While photoing the WW the sun put in an appearance and it took to the wing and made its way along the ride. This spell of sunshine brought out more Wood White; Green-veined White (my first for the year );Speckled wood and Brimstones including a courting pair. On this occasion (like on other occasions I've seen) the female went to ground and the male followed her. After a brief tussle they both settled down. The female had a raised abdomen telling the male she was not interested but it appeared he didn't get the message and remained with her for some time.

Male in pursuit

Getting there

Male standing over his female

Shortly afterwards the I met up with Phil Underwood who regularly visits these woods as it is his local patch. We searched the meadow area for Green Hairstreaks and Skippers but eventually came across another Wood White and a female Orange-tip (perhaps I should've checked out the Bluebells Ian? fantastic pics )

The weather then deteriorated as the afternoon progressed. Phil took me on a tour around Oaken Wood (and area I haven't been to before) and showed my the results of scrub clearance (the three B's Birch, Bramble and Bracken) as part of Butterfly Conservation's woodland management initiative (aiding among others, such species as the Coleophora wockeella, the Betony Case Bearing moth). It is also planned to re-introduce the Pearl and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary once the conditions are right.
It was an enjoyable experience to walk around this lovely woodland with the spring sights of wildflowers and the sound of woodland birdsong including Nightingale and Cuckoo. On another day in good weather we would undoubtedly have seen better numbers of butterflies.

Phil