Long Tailed Blues in Sussex

[Mark Tutton]

Just in case it might save anyone a long journey I spent a few hours at Shoreham cement works ( thanks Neil) this morning and saw two pristine male LTB. I will post photos later but first look I think they are different specimens but the condition is so good it's difficult to tell had two other brief and distant sightings over the fence.
I arrived at 8.30am and saw the first one about 10 am as it flew over the fence and spent 10 mins nectaring on the ivy giving good open and closed wing views.
Fellow UKB member Vince arrived along with several other hopefuls and after about an hour Vince spotted one making its way towards the fence and sure enough it came up and over and made a bee line for the ivy quickly settling to nectar - much to everyone's delight. It spent long enough to give everyone present great views and photo opportunities - a lifer for most present
The weather was perfect and I hung around until 12.30 but no more sightings. Did have great views of Honey Buzzard - first for me - being harangued by a peregrine that stooped off of the top of the chimney.
Fantastic morning
Mark

[Susie]

Thanks! I'll be there tomorrow. Think I will be out of luck as no sunshine forecast but it is my only chance this week.

[John W]

I was at the cement works too this morning (Sunday) and was lucky enough to see the second of the butterflies that Mark refers to above. I think it nectared on the ivy bush for about 10-15 minutes, long enough for all the enthusiasts there to take some shots

Cheers
John

[Vince Massimo]

Long-tailed Blue sightings in Sussex started with migrants in Arundel (on 8th August) and Pett (near Rye on 9th August), where eggs were also seen to be laid on Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea. Also a sighting in Newhaven (on 17th August) plus eggs in the general vicinity later.

The progeny of the August pioneers began appearing around the middle of September and site-specific reports included Newhaven (on 20th September), near Beachy Head (on 24th September), Bury (near Pulborough on 27th September) and Beeding Cement Works (near Shoreham on the same day), Seaford Head (on 1st October) and Southwick (in Shoreham on 2nd October). However, probably the most significant sighting of all was of three individuals in a private garden near Beachy Head on 2nd October including a mating pair.

Today I visited Beeding Cement Works (near Shoreham), arriving at 10.45 and kept watch against the fence near the parking area. A male long-tailed Blue appeared from inside the site at 11.35 and landed beside me on a large clump of flowing Ivy, staying until 11.45 when it flew eastwards back over the fence. To say that I was chuffed was an understatement .
These are my best two images:

Long-tailed Blue male 6-Oct-2013

Long-tailed Blue male 6-Oct-2013

I then continued on to the seafront at Lancing where 3 Clouded yellows were seen.

It was good to see UKB members Mark and John on site today and I hope that others who are still trying to connect with this species manage to do so soon.

Vince

[Neil Hulme]

Congratulations Mark, John and Vince. I was initially worried that this site was too small and difficult to work for many others to have any success here, as so much of the habitat is out of reach. I would have loved to have seen the Honey Buzzard. Good luck tomorrow Susie!
BWs, Neil

[Mark Tutton]

Just compared vince and my photos and it confirms that the two I saw were different individuals
Mark

[John W]

Thanks to Neil for finding the site in the first place!

The following two images were taken 4 seconds apart. In the first the tails are pointing upwards at a jaunty angle, but in the second the tails are pointing downwards. Can the butterflies control the position of their tails? If so, for what purpose?

[Padfield]

Hi John. The tails are in fact very flimsy affairs, like thin cotton threads, and they move with any air movement. In many pictures, especially in books, they look like straight wires sticking out of the tail but this is an illusion.

It feels sacrilegious, but here's one of several videos I took last year, not in the UK, when we had our invasion in Switzerland. There were very few around this year ...

Watch the tails.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ramnndcoiyc[/video]

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Can the butterflies control the position of their tails? If so, for what purpose?

I believe the tails move due to the wind and, perhaps, the butterfly orients itself to ensure this happens. The purpose is to provide birds with the illusion that its tail end is actually its head so that they attack the wrong end.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Neil Hulme]

... and the tails seem to have been very cleverly designed! There are small, flat 'pads' at the end of each of these mock antennae, which catch the slightest breeze and impart movement, presumably drawing a bird strike more effectively.
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

More reports on the BC Sussex website Sightings Page at http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html
"Henceforth and from this day forward, 6 October should forever be known as "Long-tailed Blue Day"." (Bob Foreman, Webmaster)

[Butterflysaurus rex]

More reports on the BC Sussex website Sightings Page at http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html
"Henceforth and from this day forward, 6 October should forever be known as "Long-tailed Blue Day"." (Bob Foreman, Webmaster)

Sounds like a perfectly good reason for a new national holiday to me

[badgerbob]

On Saturday I received a phone call from Nigel (Downland Boy) telling me had a male Long-tailed Blue near Beachy Head. I shot over there but by the time I arrived the Blue had vanished and he was having a cuppa!! However, after a long search I relocated it and after a short flight it landed in a bush where it allowed several pictures. Since the first sighting by Colin I have now managed to see them on several occasions with just into double figure different specimens. Most have been in overcast conditions strangely. My biggest regret was missing the mating pair by just a couple of minutes!!!! All because I couldn't find the spot where James was.
http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

[Susie]

I've just got back from the cement works near Shoreham and am very pleased to report that I saw a long tailed blue there this morning

Huge thanks to everyone who has posted information about this species at this and other sites.

The day is still fine so if you are reading this now there is still time to go and try your luck if you are in the area.

I met some lovely people this morning and it was a great experience, even if seeing the LTB was far too fleeting. Also seen were some pristine red admirals, a small white and a brown hairstreak.

It was nice to meet up with Neil Hulme again and Mia. She's a real beauty and turning into a really delightful little girl.

[Vince Massimo]

Excellent
Well done Susie. Did you get any photos?

Vince

[Butterflysaurus rex]

Fantastic news Susie, congratulations

[Pete Eeles]

Indeed. Well done Susie!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Trev Sawyer]

Yeayyy! Good news Susie.
That's just about everyone who's looked now isn't it?

Trev

[Lee Hurrell]

Not yet, Trev...

Lee

[Rosalyn]

Thank goodness. I've been on the edge of my seat with fingers crossed for the best part of 2 weeks now hoping everyone that went got to at least see them