www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Good to see you back Bill. I enjoyed your diary last Summer and I am looking forward to more of your postings this year. I am a bit out of touch myself as, due to other commitment, I too have to (sadly) leave this site over Winter, so have a lot of catching up to do still.

Pauline wrote:Good to see you back Bill. I enjoyed your diary last Summer and I am looking forward to more of your postings this year. I am a bit out of touch myself as, due to other commitment, I too have to (sadly) leave this site over Winter, so have a lot of catching up to do still.

Thanks Pauline, I find that I'm constantly chasing my tail at this time of year, so much to pack into a day...between showers that is but once that sun comes out...well, who can stay indoors

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Many thanks,Bill , that Holly Blue seems to have caused a minor sensation, even those on high
have commented!!. That site is certainly brilliant for them.

Have a cracking season,
TREVOR.

A belated 'great to see you're back' Willrow Lovely Small Blues I hope you get many times of luxury this year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

trevor wrote:Have a cracking season,
TREVOR.

That's very nice of you Trevor...I'll do my best

Wurzel wrote:A belated 'great to see you're back' Willrow Lovely Small Blues I hope you get many times of luxury this year

That's also nice of you Wurz...luxury...one of my favourite words

Kinds regards gents,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Last Wednesday I took advantage of the sunshine and Met Office forecast of little or no wind to cross the Severn Estuary into Gloucestershire and a morning at Breakheart Quarry, Near Dursley which is a real stronghold for both Grizzled and Dingy Skipper the short grasses that surround the old quarry are made for these species, there's also much in the way of Bugle to nectar on in and around lots of bare earth patches which the insects also enjoy sunning themselves on, all in this could be as good as it gets for skippers
I counted at least two dozen Grizzlies and easily treble that amount of Dingy Skipper during a couple of hours, I'm certain as the day got warmer the count would have been considerably higher, but I took some pics and moved on just after eleven o'clock.
My days primary destination was Rodborough Common, Near Stroud which incidentally is the nearest place to Wales where many 'downland' and 'limestone' loving species are found, I have always made an effort (its not hard ) to visit the common several times a year and have never gone home disappointed. Last year I succeeded with a personal record count for Duke of Burgundy with more than forty being recorded, my count was less than half that amount on this occasion, with seventeen individuals seen. I will admit being somewhat concerned to find one of the species 'hot-spots' being rather 'trodden-down', obviously visitors seeking the butterfly had ventured away from the several footpaths available in search of a photograph and I only saw one insect in this particular area (where previously there were many ), last year I spoke to Matthew Oates (on site) about this problem and I'm wondering what the National Trust could do here to offer more protection for this delightful but highly vunerable little butterfly
Apart from the Duke of Burgundy my search turned up in excess of two hundred Dingy Skipper - in fact I lost count at that figure and I think the species is now going from strength to strength nationwide...long may it continue for this lovely photogenic little critter
I was expecting to see far more Brown Argus than the ten or so counted, but I probably missed lots because of concentrating on DofB
Small Heath is another 'under-valued' species of butterfly and I'm not seeing this species in anything like the numbers of years gone by...am I by myself
Lots of Green Hairstreak seen (30+) but most were among the course grasses on steep slopes and I had no intention of chasing down such slopes for a record photograph...I've given up 'grass-skiing'...I went out at the top

A bonus for the day was a solitary Adonis Blue which caused confusion at first sight with a near disturbed Common Blue but you know an AB once that incredible colour catches you and this is the second year running that I've put up AB within yards of the same patch of ground!
I'm going to close this post with a couple more pics of Duke of Burgundy simply because I cannot resist...and also cos' I want to catch up with some kip...early start tomorrow, crack of dawn for Herefordshire and hopefully an adventure with Wood White and Pearl-bordered Fritillary...yippee
Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Lovely photos Bill the Duke profile shot is a real stunner

Mike

HI Bill,
That quarry certainly came up with the goods !. Lovely set of images too.

Best wishes,
TREVOR.

Cracking Dukes Willrow Good luck with the Wood Whites and the Pearls

Have a goodun

Wurzel

HI Bill,
Thanks for the confirmation ( PBF ab ).

All the best,
TREVOR.

Mike, Trevor and Wurz, your comments are much appreciated

Best Wishes,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Early morning start to beat the city traffic through Hereford yesterday morning - destination Haugh Wood which is about 5 miles outside the city in some lovely Herefordshire countryside. The wood has always been a good location for Wood White and Pearl-bordered Fritillary and yesterday the former species were in reasonable numbers with perhaps 40+ recorded, the P-b F are I believe teetering on the brink here, only five seen personally, but some visiting friends mentioned another 2 were seen in an area I ommitted to search during this visit, the rides have become too rank with vegetation and Violets are being smothered out, having said that several areas have been coppiced since last year - when I saw just 6 during my visits
When not actively seeking out potential mates the WW were happy to take some Bugle for refreshment...all this love-making takes energy
Big bonus was a lovely female Holly Blue found nectaring on Bluebell, she allowed several shots, the wind causing her to open her wings for balance and I took advantage to snap away happily
The woods was quite busy with Speckled Yellow which happen to be a favourite day-flying macro moth of mine, fortune smiled on me once again when a pair decided to practice procreaction right under my nose...(no offence taken though )...that type of thing is not to be sniffed at
Apart from the infernal clouds of midges my visit was much enjoyed and we must hope that the Pearl-bordered Fritillary survive at Haugh Woods with good habitat management more vitally important now than ever...cos'... 'when they're gone they're gone'

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Nice report, Hope those Pearls make it through. Great shot of the Speckled Yellows. I saw hundreds down in Abotts Wood earlier this week when I was after Pearls, only managed a distant shot of one, they never seemed to settle!

Thanks for the response Buggy, Speckled Yellow can be challenging critters to photograph all you need is a bit of luck

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

HI Bill,
It was your turn for an open winged Holly Blue !. Lovely shot .

TREVOR

Great stuff Bill I'm pretty jealous of those Speckled Yellows never seen them like that before It's always struck me as odd that Wood White aren't found at Bentley Wood as the habitat seems right, a lot like Haugh Wood from the look of it. And it does have Pearls and Small Pearls

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Couple of nice reports there,Bill-nice to see you have been out and about. The Dukes were fantastic as were the speckled yellows. And the holly blue on bluebells?

Great reports and photos Bill I have not been down to Rodborough Common for a couple of years now, seeing your report is tempting me to make a visit soon.

Cheers,

Neil.

trevor wrote:HI Bill,
It was your turn for an open winged Holly Blue !. Lovely shot .

Nice coincidence Trevor...thanks for the response

Wurzel wrote:It's always struck me as odd that Wood White aren't found at Bentley Wood as the habitat seems right...

Thanks Wurz, yes it is rather unusual, hard to understand why really

essexbuzzard wrote:Couple of nice reports there,Bill-nice to see you have been out and about. The Dukes were fantastic as were the speckled yellows. And the holly blue on bluebells?

Cheers Mark, trying to make the most of things...in the wind that is...

Neil Freeman wrote:Great reports and photos Bill I have not been down to Rodborough Common for a couple of years now, seeing your report is tempting me to make a visit soon

Time for another visit then Neil, it's a smashing place ...appreciate the kind words!

Best Wishes Gents,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Rodborough Common & Selsley Common, Gloucestershire. Myself and that other superb UK Butterflyer David M met up yesterday in wonderful sunshine to spend the day at these two species rich locations. The special thing about these locations are that they offer most of the limestone/downland butterflies that are absent from Wales; in the case of Adonis Blue perhaps it's at the most northerly point of it's range in the UK (I stand to be corrected on this point though!).

The first session was at Rodborough where we saw 16 species - this provided both of us with our best single day species count of the year, the species seen were as follows:- Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Large, Small & Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Holly Blue, Duke of Burgundy, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Heath. Please see David's sightings post if you want to know the numbers of each species counted at these locations.

Interestingly our second mid-afternoon seesion at Selsley proved very productive for Duke of Burgundy but the terrain may prove rather difficult for the less active visitor. This location is similar to Rodborough and the views towards the Severn are wonderful and merit a visit, however I personally believe the latter common mentioned is more interesting and diverse.
Adonis Blue happen to be one of David's favourite butterflies and he pushed me aside in his haste to get a photo of the superb creature the sheer excitement was all too much for the poor chap he apologised profusely once he had come to his senses...ahem!
Brown Argus out-numbered all other species, it was good to see them in such robust health and their good condition suggested a recent mass emergence.
Mother Shipton, Forester and the rare Cistus Forester were among the day-flying moths seen. Burnet Companion was also in fair numbers, however Silver Y were conspicuous by their absence - they often arrive with Painted Lady which I've yet to see this year!
We also counted good numbers of Common Blue and also three Holly Blue which also appear to be having a good first generation.

A much enjoyed day out...thanks for the company David

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"