www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Since my last post, I've made two more trips to Ashlawn Cutting in Rugby, Warwickshire. 6th April was a gloriously warm, sunny day and off work, so off to GCW. Orange Tips and Brimstones now about in good numbers. Peacocks were highest in number, followed by Commas. A number of little white butterflies about – possibly female Orange Tips or Small Whites or Green Veined Whites. Small Tortoiseshells were also to be found, and I got my first photo of one for 2011. Interestingly, I was not the only person there looking for butterflies. Met and got chatting to Phil Parr from BC, who was very interesting. Near one of the larger ponds (the one with a bench next to it) we spotted a Holly Blue in flight. Later on I spotted another Holly Blue (or possibly the same one again) near the large pond again. Some of the Peacocks were looking incredibly tatty. The Brimstones and Orange Tips were not landing on anything. I attempted some shots of Brimstones on the wing with limited success, but failed to get a single shot of an Orange Tip.
I returned on 10th April, which was slightly cooler, but quite humid. As I entered GCW at the Lower Hillmorton Road entrance I was greeted by a Small Tortoiseshell, which was to prove to be the only example of that species I would see on during this visit.. Plenty of Peacocks about again, and plenty of Orange Tips. The latter were occasionally landing on flowers, but only for about half a second at a time and so still impossible to obtain a decent photograph. The first butterfly I was able to photograph was Green-Veined White nectaring on a dandelion near the former site of Central station. I was also pleasantly surprised to come across a single male Holly Blue fluttering about, often landing on the ground at the junction of the footpaths leading to the lake (with the bench) and the meadow, and it willingly posed for a few photos. Later on I saw my first two Speckled Woods of the year, one of which posed for photos. Curiously, Brimstones and Commas were conspicuous by their absence, despite their abundance four days earlier. Something a bit different however, I discovered some interesting graffiti art under the arch of Pytchley Road Bridge. They’re certainly not Wall Browns!

Totals for visit: Small Tortoiseshell x 1, Peacock x plenty, Orange Tip x plenty, Speckled Wood x 2, Small White x 6, Green Veined White x 1, Holly Blue x 1.

Will try to attach a few photos from my Ashlawn visits this year... Uh-oh... they're too big. I'll post them next time!

Max.

Back from Spain and straight into a cold, grey, cloudy day. Just been reading up on what I've missed so was really hoping to get out there and join the fun. But no.

Spain was AWESOME for birds and reptiles, but a bit disappointing for butterflies. Apart from multitudes of Small Whites and Large Whites, butterflies were pretty few and far between. Although I did have my eyes in the skies and treetops most of the time...

New for me was Black-eyed Blue, Green Underside Blue, Spanish Festoon (wow!), Western Dappled White, Green-striped White, Nettle Tree Butterfly and Iberian Marbled White. Also managed Swallowtails (including one with no scales which caused initial confusion as I chased it down a lane!), Painted Ladies, Clouded Yellows, a Wall, Speckled Woods (very smart too), Cleopatras, a Red Admiral, a Holly Blue (much chasing to secure a pic - imagine my disappointment, lol), Small Heaths, Green Hairstreaks and Small Coppers. We probably overlooked Portuguese Dappled Whites and Bath Whites. Plus what looked like a large fritillary cruising the underside of tall canopy. No idea what that was.

Birdwise I added Spanish Imperial Eagle, Crested Coot and Village Weaver to my list. Other highlights were hordes of flamingos, more Glossy Ibis and Spoonbills than I've ever seen before, a field full of wheeling Collared Pratincoles, Alpine Swifts trilling below us at one precipitous bridge, Azure-winged Magpies sitting on our campervan roof, displaying Great and Little Bustards, three vulture species sharing a thermal with Black Storks and a Short-toed Eagle, Scops Owls and Quail from the bed and many many more.

We managed 11 reptiles including Mediterranean Chameleons (W-O-O-O-WEEE!!!) and both Natterjack and Western Spadefoot Toads. Stripeless Treefrogs are easily the noisiest animal in the world. (Jack, I see you've been moaning about the dawn chorus. Just try treefrogs for a night...) We found a False Smooth Snake and posed it next to the pic in our book! Also managed 3-toed Skink, Iberian Worm Lizard (!), 7 species of Odonata including my first Scarlet Darters and Iberian Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Sam got burnt to a crisp, I suffered just one insect bite (although narrowly avoided a scorpion when flipping logs for snakes) and now I'm ready for more. Except it's grey, cloudy and cold...

Check out our website in a day or two for the write-up.

Gibster.

Check out our website in a day or two for the write-up

Gibster
Make sure you post a link when you have it ready.
Sounds like a great trip.

...speaking of snakes... I went To Ketton Quarry in Rutland last Saturday (9th April) in search of those purported early-emerging East Midlands Green Hairstreaks (none), Grizzled Skippers (nope), Dingy Skippers (zip!)... but I still had a great time... and saw this male Adder scudding amongst the undergrowth...

Gibster wrote:... and Iberian Marbled White... Plus what looked like a large fritillary cruising the underside of tall canopy. No idea what that was.

Hi Gibster,

Are you sure you weren't seeing Spanish marbled white? I think early April is very early for Iberian marbled white, which is essentially a summer butterfly, like its sister species, the marbled white. But if you got a good look, then the two are very different so I don't doubt you.

The large 'fritillary' could possibly have been a large tortoiseshell. These glide and swoop around the canopy and sometimes look very bright tawny. I think it's too early for cardinal.

You might have seen less than you expected, but your butterfly list contains some nice species! And it is difficult to keep an eye open for pallid swifts at the same time as scanning for false baton blue...

Guy

Hmm! not sure all these foreign sightings/species are of interest to people logging in to a UKB website, as our season is just coming to life. Most subscribers to this website reside in Britain, and as such,,,, UKButterflies presumably are their main interest. Its a personal opinion, and i know there is something of a species overlap from Continental Europe, but some of us are not off on continental holidays. Maybe changing the site name to 'The Butterflies of Britain,Europe, and the Middle East' would be appropriate?

Zonda
I have to disagree with you here.

Although, perhaps the "Overseas" section of the Forum may have been a more suitable place for Gibster's (fascinating) posting.

"not sure all these foreign sightings/species are of interest to people logging in to a UKB website"

Well, I reckon they are - the amount of responses to postings from Guy Padfield and Roger Gibbons, and the various reports from members foreign trips are teatament to this. As are the amount of members who regularly travel abroad on butterflying/nature watching trips.

"Maybe changing the site name to 'The Butterflies of Britain and Europe' would be appropriate?"

Again I disagree. This website is all about UK Butterflies.
The relatively few foreign butterfly mentions are in the occasional Forum posting, and the very few Trip reports. There is virtually nothing in the main body of the site.
I notice that Guy even takes pains to concentrate on "British" species in his learned and unmissable postings from the Swiss Alps.

I reckon no change need be done - except, perhaps, taking a bit more care in which section postings are made.

Or perhaps, in view of your excellent posted photographs, we should call it UKButterflies and Birds?

Calm down, Papa Grumps ...I was specifically asked by UKB members to let them know how I got on. So I have. I ended my post by letting folks know that I'd be doing a trip report on my own personal website, rather than clog up this thread/forum/website.

Sorry to intrude. All the very best to all,

Seth.

Roger,,, you must know by now that i am in essence a 'wind up merchant', and on dull days i come to life. All points taken.
Thanks for the photo compliments.

i am in essence a 'wind up merchant'

Well - if it gives you pleasure........................

Zonda wrote:Hmm! not sure all these foreign sightings/species are of interest to people logging in to a UKB website, as our season is just coming to life. Most subscribers to this website reside in Britain, and as such,,,, UKButterflies presumably are their main interest. Its a personal opinion, and i know there is something of a species overlap from Continental Europe, but some of us are not off on continental holidays. Maybe changing the site name to 'The Butterflies of Britain,Europe, and the Middle East' would be appropriate?

I can only speak for myself, and as such I would like to say that I enjoy reading about the species encountered wherever an individual may be. Sure, it can make me envious, but at the end of the day these butterflies are resident in foreign countries, most of which have better climates than ours.

Personally, I'll be off to study the butterflies of the Massif Central in France at the end of June. The idea that I shouldn't post my observations is simply preposterous. Surely it will be of minor interest to many and of major interest to only a few. Those who don't wish to read about/acknowledge the information I provide are perfectly within their rights to be like that, but that shouldn't mean that the information must be suppressed from those who DO wish to read about it?

For instance, I have enjoyed reading Guy Padfield's reports of butterflies in Switzerland over the winter even though there have been occasions where I have cursed my bad fortune in being a resident of the UK and as such missing out on such rare moments of unseasonal serendipity.

Hi. Here's a few of my photos from Ashlawn Cutting (Great Central Walk) taken during 2011, which I attempted to post yesterday!

Max.

padfield wrote:Are you sure you weren't seeing Spanish marbled white? I think early April is very early for Iberian marbled white, which is essentially a summer butterfly, like its sister species, the marbled white.

Hi Guy,

Sam distinctly recalls asking me why the "Marbled Whites" had red spots...something I'd forgotten in my haste to see some good birds. So yeah, we had Spanish Marbled Whites not Iberian Marbled Whites. As every good birder knows, check the distribution AND season...and take descriptions!!!! Butterfly list now adjusted, thanks.

Apologies for continued hijacking!

Not much flying today - did manage to find an OT male that sat down when the sun went in.... N

celery wrote:...speaking of snakes... I went To Ketton Quarry in Rutland last Saturday (9th April) in search of those purported early-emerging East Midlands Green Hairstreaks (none), Grizzled Skippers (nope), Dingy Skippers (zip!)... but I still had a great time... and saw this male Adder scudding amongst the undergrowth...

Hi I was thinking of going to Ketton Quarry this Sunday, (17th). The weather looks fair. A bit of a drive from Wetherby, but I still need Grizzled Skipper - have you been back, or do you know if they are flying yet or indeed at any other sites in the area?

Thanks.

Location - Stockbridge Down

Species found -

17 Brimstone
15 Orange-tip
3 Peacocks
3 Green-veined White
2 Large White
2 Grizzled Skippers

I spent this morning at Kingcombe Meadows with the OT girls:



Some were very pretty.



And some were really rude, to a prude like me.



I DID NOTHING,,,,,, HONEST!!

Very nice Zonda!
I guess you got the message she was giving you

It's amazing that even without a middle finger, or any digits at all, she still manages to get her point across

Loads of Orange-tips, Brimstones and Holly Blues on the wing in Northamptonshire today.