Pauline
Re: Pauline
Hi Pauline, Great shots of your babies!! Keep them coming. As far as the Redpolls go there was a heavily twitched Common (Mealy) Redpoll at Warnham this winter. I'm sure that Neil H went up to see it and he has photos on his PD.
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Re: Pauline
Some really interesting stuff there, Pauline. I love the birds all lined up on the feeder. You'd think they'd all be out foraging naturally given the mild weather this year so far, wouldn't you?
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Re: Pauline
I was thinking about having a go at the rearing of caterpillars next year but it seems very complicated and it's hard enough trying to rear children
Good luck with all your cats Pauline, I'm sure all your attention and affection will pay off
Have a goodun
Wurzel
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Re: Pauline
Thank you for that explanation Dave, I am very grateful for it. I had seen the image in Neil's diary Bob and I guess that led to some of the confusion as some of my visitors look quite similar. If I get anything unusual I shall definitely keep quiet about it
Thank you David. My garden is teeming with birds all year round, probably because I have 5 bird tables - you wouldn't want my bird food bill tho!!
I didn't mean for it to sound difficult Wurzel - but actually it is!
I'm glad you like the photos Bob. For various reasons I have been unable to get out recently so a few more shots below:
I am convinced that several of my PH cats are determined to pupate, despite my best efforts to stop them. I have tried to shove fresh greenery in their faces and encourage them to eat more but keep finding them on the back of dead leaves and one persists in burying itself in the soil. They are just over 2 weeks old - I am not sure how big they should be at this age and I have no idea how big they need to be before they can successfully pupate. Perhaps they're dying![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
Problems with the BH too
. I am sure some have disappeared - even one of the plants is dying and I have had to transfer 2 tiny, tiny cats to another plant. Surely they should have grown more than this, even if they were one of the last eggs to hatch. I shall need to be more vigilant and investigate further. I have located a couple of the larger cats but as usual not easy to spot:
Only the hairs on its back give its position away:
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Thank you David. My garden is teeming with birds all year round, probably because I have 5 bird tables - you wouldn't want my bird food bill tho!!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I didn't mean for it to sound difficult Wurzel - but actually it is!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I'm glad you like the photos Bob. For various reasons I have been unable to get out recently so a few more shots below:
I am convinced that several of my PH cats are determined to pupate, despite my best efforts to stop them. I have tried to shove fresh greenery in their faces and encourage them to eat more but keep finding them on the back of dead leaves and one persists in burying itself in the soil. They are just over 2 weeks old - I am not sure how big they should be at this age and I have no idea how big they need to be before they can successfully pupate. Perhaps they're dying
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
Problems with the BH too
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Only the hairs on its back give its position away:
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Re: Pauline
Your PH cats may just be changing their skin. They often go off their food for a day of two when they do this. But the i'll leave it to the experts to confirm.
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Re: Pauline
Nice photos showing how well camouflaged the BH cats are Pauline. I agree with EB that your PH cats are probably moulting and will remain motionless for a day or so before resuming normal activity.
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Re: Pauline
I hope the others are right - imagine what it must be like when the skin gets tight - like wearing a hyper-tight corset. No wonder they don't feel like eating
(as part of my railway-modelling activity, I've been investigating Victorian fashions and the vogue for tiny waists - see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... -cat-walk/)
Mike
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
(as part of my railway-modelling activity, I've been investigating Victorian fashions and the vogue for tiny waists - see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... -cat-walk/)
Mike
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Re: Pauline
It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it Mike - I would love to see those figures after you have 'tarted' them up a bit.
Thank you for your helpful comments Mike (Maximus) - much appreciated.
Hi Mark, I am now convinced that all my cats have gone down to pupate. They have shown no interest in staying on the branches, preferring to be in the soil and leaf litter. One thing I have noticed is the relatively large pile of frass (is that the right word?) beside each cat just before it attaches to a dead leaf. I don't know much about larva but before a tortoise hibernates it is important that it's gut is emptied to avoid food decomposing during hibernation. Could this be similar I wonder?
There definitely seems to be some disparity relating to how well the BH are doing. Many have hardly increased in size since hatching and still need a hand lens to be seen whilst others seem to be thriving:
At Christmas Philip cautioned me that I was on 'borrowed time' with my old cat whom I love dearly. At 19 years of age and with a multitude of health problems I knew he was right, but we have struggled on for several years with more than one crisis point. Sadly she is now losing weight very rapidly and despite having every test the vet could suggest it would seem that the weight loss will probably continue and remain unexplained. At her age I shall not be going down the road of invasive surgery, endoscopy, tissue sampling etc etc just for a diagnosis when the likelihood is that nothing further can be done. Naturally this has significantly curbed my ability to get out there for the time being. However, unsuspecting, unwary visitors are given a crash course on cat-sitting allowing me to occasionally escape my nursing duties for an hour. Today was one such day and despite the chilly wind and cloudy skies I decided on a quick trip to Wrecclesham combined with some food shopping. It was hardly surprising that not many butterflies were on the wing but I did manage to see 7 species, including a first for the year, the Holly Blue. It settled at the top of a steep bank and I scrambled up there just as fast as I could (great way to get fit, this butterflying!). Arriving at the top I failed to see it immediately but just as it was spotted it took off - my 2nd frustrating moment of the season but we've all been there. A few shots from today:
Thank you for your helpful comments Mike (Maximus) - much appreciated.
Hi Mark, I am now convinced that all my cats have gone down to pupate. They have shown no interest in staying on the branches, preferring to be in the soil and leaf litter. One thing I have noticed is the relatively large pile of frass (is that the right word?) beside each cat just before it attaches to a dead leaf. I don't know much about larva but before a tortoise hibernates it is important that it's gut is emptied to avoid food decomposing during hibernation. Could this be similar I wonder?
There definitely seems to be some disparity relating to how well the BH are doing. Many have hardly increased in size since hatching and still need a hand lens to be seen whilst others seem to be thriving:
At Christmas Philip cautioned me that I was on 'borrowed time' with my old cat whom I love dearly. At 19 years of age and with a multitude of health problems I knew he was right, but we have struggled on for several years with more than one crisis point. Sadly she is now losing weight very rapidly and despite having every test the vet could suggest it would seem that the weight loss will probably continue and remain unexplained. At her age I shall not be going down the road of invasive surgery, endoscopy, tissue sampling etc etc just for a diagnosis when the likelihood is that nothing further can be done. Naturally this has significantly curbed my ability to get out there for the time being. However, unsuspecting, unwary visitors are given a crash course on cat-sitting allowing me to occasionally escape my nursing duties for an hour. Today was one such day and despite the chilly wind and cloudy skies I decided on a quick trip to Wrecclesham combined with some food shopping. It was hardly surprising that not many butterflies were on the wing but I did manage to see 7 species, including a first for the year, the Holly Blue. It settled at the top of a steep bank and I scrambled up there just as fast as I could (great way to get fit, this butterflying!). Arriving at the top I failed to see it immediately but just as it was spotted it took off - my 2nd frustrating moment of the season but we've all been there. A few shots from today:
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Re: Pauline
I'm lucky enough to be only 10 mins away from an excellent Duke site so I was able to nip over there today to witness what looks to be the start of a mass emergence of Dukes, especially given the weather forecast. There seems to be a lot of diversity in colours and markings this year but I stumbled upon what I initially thought was a Skipper chasing a Duke. It was a very dark butterfly in flight and at best about half the size of a Duke (I have witnesses
), very fast also. Certainly smaller than any Duke I have ever seen and tho I was not able to get a clear underside shot, to the eye this looked quite dark too:
I wasn't at Noar Hill long but saw a total of 7 Dukes, all male. A few more shots of 'normal' Dukes:
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I wasn't at Noar Hill long but saw a total of 7 Dukes, all male. A few more shots of 'normal' Dukes:
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Re: Pauline
Well done Pauline, great Duke photos.
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- Neil Freeman
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Re: Pauline
Great Duke photos Pauline
That first one does look dark. This is not a species that I am very familiar with, only seeing it once a year if I make a trip down to Prestbury Hill at the right time and those that I see there look like your other photos. I do not know how much normal variation there is in DoB but I have noticed in the past some examples posted from Sussex that look quite dark to me.
All the best,
Neil.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
That first one does look dark. This is not a species that I am very familiar with, only seeing it once a year if I make a trip down to Prestbury Hill at the right time and those that I see there look like your other photos. I do not know how much normal variation there is in DoB but I have noticed in the past some examples posted from Sussex that look quite dark to me.
All the best,
Neil.
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Re: Pauline
Wow! I feel I've been instantly transported forward in time by a fortnight.
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Re: Pauline
Fantastic Dukes Pauline
Hopefully there will be a few more around by next weekend when I'll be able to 'get at them'
Have a goodun
Wurzel
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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- Mark Tutton
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Re: Pauline
Hi Pauline
Manged to track down the "micro duke" again after you left and managed to get an estimate of the wingspan against a blade of grass and it was approx 15 mm from tip to tip making it about half the normal size of a male. As you say the insect looked noticeably darker in flight as the ground colour was very dark brown, almost black, making it look like a dingy in flight. The nearest named abberation I can find is ab. semibrunnea, perhaps Pete can shed some light?
Kind Regards
Mark![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Manged to track down the "micro duke" again after you left and managed to get an estimate of the wingspan against a blade of grass and it was approx 15 mm from tip to tip making it about half the normal size of a male. As you say the insect looked noticeably darker in flight as the ground colour was very dark brown, almost black, making it look like a dingy in flight. The nearest named abberation I can find is ab. semibrunnea, perhaps Pete can shed some light?
Kind Regards
Mark
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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The wonder of the world, the beauty and the power, the shapes of things, their colours lights and shades, these I saw. Look ye also while life lasts.
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Re: Pauline
Very nice work Pauline, Duke of Burgundies on the 13th of April! Somebody fetch the smelling salts ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
B'saurus
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
B'saurus
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- Pete Eeles
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Re: Pauline
I think the chap is either "within the normal range of variation" or an unnamed aberration. ab. semibrunnea is quite distinctive:Mark Tutton wrote:Hi Pauline
Manged to track down the "micro duke" again after you left and managed to get an estimate of the wingspan against a blade of grass and it was approx 15 mm from tip to tip making it about half the normal size of a male. As you say the insect looked noticeably darker in flight as the ground colour was very dark brown, almost black, making it look like a dingy in flight. The nearest named abberation I can find is ab. semibrunnea, perhaps Pete can shed some light?
Kind Regards
Mark
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/ ... ame=lucina
Cheers,
- Pete
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Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
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British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
Re: Pauline
Thank you all for such fantastic comments; they are all very much appreciated. I would have thought that the tiny Duke with the very dark markings and lack of orange was outside any normal variation, certainly the oddest one I have ever seen, but having looked at the chart Pete kindly enclosed I can see that it is certainly not a named aberration. Perhaps it should be christened ab. Paulinus
My brief time out today went even quicker in great company. The early temperatures and wind chill did not deter the Dukes from going about their business, nectaring and guarding their territories in the more sheltered spots. Still no females around but a few shots from this morning:
It was also a pleasure to see my first Green Hairstreak of the season - and not just one!!!
I can't wait to go back.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
My brief time out today went even quicker in great company. The early temperatures and wind chill did not deter the Dukes from going about their business, nectaring and guarding their territories in the more sheltered spots. Still no females around but a few shots from this morning:
It was also a pleasure to see my first Green Hairstreak of the season - and not just one!!!
I can't wait to go back.
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- Pete Eeles
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Re: Pauline
Here's a similar critter from last year. I think I see a couple every year so I guess they're not that unusual!Pauline wrote:I would have thought that the tiny Duke with the very dark markings and lack of orange was outside any normal variation, certainly the oddest one I have ever seen, but having looked at the chart Pete kindly enclosed I can see that it is certainly not a named aberration.
Cheers,
- Pete
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Re: Pauline
Ahhhhh - more stunning Dukes and Grenstreaks and I'm in West Wales where nothing is flying and with the weather looking to get bad for my return
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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Re: Pauline
If you stop off at Old Castle Down/Kenfig Dunes on your way back I'd be confident you might see Dingy Skipper/Small Copper.Wurzel wrote:Ahhhhh - more stunning Dukes and Grenstreaks and I'm in West Wales where nothing is flying and with the weather looking to get bad for my return![]()
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![]()
Merthyr Mawr is a hotbed for Grizzled Skippers too, and I'm confident they're on the cusp of emergence right now.
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